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.
Payment Cloud
Agent / Reseller · 3.9/5 mean
A well-run high-risk merchant services shop with unusually good service ratings and no junk fees — but since its 2024 acquisition it is a Kurv company, and Kurv now routes almost everything through its own platform, which is not the bank-agnostic brokerage the brand's reputation was built on.
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 22, 2026 and August 19, 2026.
| Criterion | Payment Cloud | Zen Payments |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing transparency | 3.5 | 5.0wins this criterion |
| Feature set | 4.0 | 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 | Payment Cloud | Zen Payments |
|---|---|---|
| Online rate | Estimated: 2.5% – 3.5% + $0.20–$0.30 for low-risk e-commerce; 3.5% – 5.0% + $0.30 for high-risk e-commerce. | 2.9% + .10 |
| Monthly fee | Typically $0 – $25/month | 29 |
| Payout | Not disclosed | 1 business day |
| Contract | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| In-person rate | Estimated: 2.2% – 2.7% + $0.10 for low-risk retail; 2.7% – 3.5% + $0.10–$0.20 for high-risk card-present. | 2.9% + .20 |
| Keyed rate | Estimated: 2.9% – 3.5% + $0.20 for keyed-in low risk; 4% – 5% + $0.30 for keyed high-risk. | Not disclosed |
From the Payment Cloud review
Zen Payments maintains 15+ bank relationships, so a declined file can be re-placed rather than dead, and offers same-day funding for qualifying volume — meaningful advantages now that PaymentCloud routes almost all business through parent Kurv's own platform. PaymentCloud still holds up for merchants who value its no-junk-fee structure, dedicated account managers, and hands-on onboarding for document-heavy files.
Pick Zen Payments if you want your high-risk file shopped across multiple banks with same-day funding
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 | 4.5wins this criterion | 4.0 |
|---|
| Contract terms | 3.5 | 5.0wins this criterion |
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| Industry reputation | 4.0 | 5.0wins this criterion |
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| PCI fee | $0 | 5.95 |
|---|
| Statement fee | $0 | 0 |
|---|
| Chargeback fee | Typically $25 per chargeback | $45.00 |
|---|
| Early termination | Often $0, but can vary. | Not disclosed |
|---|
| Last fact-checked | August 22, 2026 | August 19, 2026 |
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