Head to head
Compared side by side on published facts and the same six criteria every review is graded on — generated from the live directory, not a sales page.
High Risk Pay
Agent Office / Reseller · 3.2/5 mean
High Risk Pay is a merchant account provider specializing in high-risk merchant services and payment processing solutions including credit card and ACH acceptance for businesses that struggle with traditional payment processors.
Read the full review →Zen Payments
Agent Office / Reseller · 3.6/5 mean
Zen Payments is known for quick setup of merchant accounts and accepting businesses that mainstream providers turn away. Businesses should familiarize themselves with the terms of their contract to avoid disruptions.
Read the full review →Zen Payments holds the higher standing — by grade, then mean category score. The row-by-row picture below is what should actually decide it for your business.
Both graded against the same six criteria. How we grade · Last fact-checked August 19, 2026 and September 7, 2026.
| Criterion | High Risk Pay | Zen Payments |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing transparency | 3.0wins this criterion | 2.5 |
| Feature set | 3.0 | 4.5wins this criterion |
| Ease of use | 3.0 |
Straight from each provider's published documentation. Where a number isn't published, we say so rather than estimate.
| Metric | High Risk Pay | Zen Payments |
|---|---|---|
| Online rate | Starting around 2.19% + $0.25 for good-credit merchant accounts | From 2.9% + $0.10, quoted rather than published. |
| Monthly fee | Starting at $9.95 | $29. |
| Payout | Next business day (advertised) | About 1 business day. |
| Contract | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| In-person rate | Around 1.79% + $0.25 | From 2.9% + $0.20, quoted rather than published. |
| PCI fee | Not specifically disclosed | $5.95/month. |
| Statement fee |
From the High Risk Pay review
Zen Payments maintains 15+ bank relationships, offers same-day funding for qualifying volume, and holds 4.8-4.9 star customer ratings, a stronger verified track record than High Risk Pay's single Trustpilot page. High Risk Pay still holds up for high-risk merchants who prioritize its no-application-fee onboarding and quick approvals.
Pick Zen Payments if you want multiple bank relationships so a declined application can be re-placed
Ideal for
Not recommended for
Ideal for
Not recommended for
The full reviews carry the pricing narratives, contract analysis and everything else behind these numbers — or let the matching funnel score the whole directory against your business.
| 4.5wins this criterion |
| Customer support | 4.0 | 4.0 |
|---|
| Contract terms | 3.0wins this criterion | 2.5 |
|---|
| Industry reputation | 3.0 | 3.5wins this criterion |
|---|
| Not disclosed |
| $0. |
| Chargeback fee | Not disclosed | $45 each. |
|---|
| Last fact-checked | August 19, 2026 | September 7, 2026 |
|---|