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.
PayKings
High-Risk Specialist · 4.0/5 mean
PayKings is a specialized payment processor offering tailored solutions for high-risk industries with a strong emphasis on fraud prevention.
Read the full review →Zen Payments
Payment Processor · 4.8/5 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.
| Criterion | PayKings | Zen Payments |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing transparency | 3.5 | 5.0wins this criterion |
| Feature set | 4.5 | 5.0wins this criterion |
| Ease of use | 4.0 |
Straight from each provider's published documentation. Where a number isn't published, we say so rather than estimate.
| Metric | PayKings | Zen Payments |
|---|---|---|
| Online rate | Interchange + 0.80% - 1.10% + $0.10 - $0.25 per transaction | 2.9% + .10 |
| Monthly fee | $13 | 29 |
| Payout | Not disclosed | 1 business day |
| Contract | Typically 3 years with auto-renewal clauses | Not disclosed |
| In-person rate | Interchange + 0.80% - 1.10% + $0.10 - $0.25 per transaction | 2.9% + .20 |
| Keyed rate | Interchange + 0.80% - 1.10% + $0.10 - $0.25 per transaction | Not disclosed |
| PCI fee |
From the Zen Payments review
PayKings publishes interchange-plus pricing across three tiers and unlocks account-management perks at $100K per month, which suits mid- to high-volume merchants in restricted verticals. Zen Payments holds up for high-risk businesses that value same-day approval decisions, 15+ bank relationships for placing difficult files, and its 4.8-4.9 star customer ratings.
Pick PayKings if you process higher volume and want published interchange-plus pricing with a dedicated rep
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.
| 5.0wins this criterion |
| Customer support | 3.5 | 4.0wins this criterion |
|---|
| Contract terms | 3.5 | 5.0wins this criterion |
|---|
| Industry reputation | 5.0 | 5.0 |
|---|
| $4.50/month |
| 5.95 |
| Statement fee | Varies; not publicly disclosed | 0 |
|---|
| Chargeback fee | $25 per incident | $45.00 |
|---|
| Early termination | $100–$500 depending on contract terms | Not disclosed |
|---|
| Last fact-checked | August 19, 2026 | August 19, 2026 |
|---|