Payment Review
HomeReviewsComparisonsBlogContact
Provider login
Payment Review

Your trusted source for payment industry insights, analysis, and expertise. Stay informed about the latest developments in payments technology and regulations.

Quick Links

  • Reviews
  • Comparisons
  • Blog
  • Request a Review
  • Provider Login

Contact

  • Contact Us
  • info@paymentreview.com

Follow Us

© 2026 Payment Review. All rights reserved.

Terms of ServicePrivacy Policy

Payment Processor Reviews

In-depth reviews and analysis of payment processing companies. Our comprehensive reviews cover pricing, customer service, features, and real user experiences to help you make informed decisions.

11 reviews

PayKings

High-Risk Specialist
A+

PayKings is a specialized payment processor offering tailored solutions for high-risk industries with a strong emphasis on fraud prevention.

Online rate
Interchange + 0.80% - 1.10% + $0.10 - $0.25 per transaction
★ 4.7 googleRead review →

Helcim

Payment Processor
A-

Helcim is a Calgary-based payment processing company that offers genuinely transparent interchange-plus pricing with no monthly fees, no hidden charges, and a comprehensive suite of free payment tools.

Online rate
Interchange + 0.5% + $0.25 per transaction
Payout
Two business days
★ 3.17 bbbRead review →

Shopify Payments

Payment Processor
A-

Shopify Payments is Shopify’s native payments service that gives merchants one-click access to accepting cards and wallets inside Shopify, simplifying setup and eliminating third-party gateway fees for supported merchants.

Online rate
2.9% + $0.30 (Basic) down to ~2.4–2.5% + $0.30 on higher plans — rates are tiered by plan. (Shopify’s pricing page shows plan-based card rates.)
Payout
Varies by merchant risk profile and bank (typically 1 - 3 business days)
★ 1.01 bbbRead review →

Adyen

Payment Processor
A-

Adyen is a global, enterprise-grade payments platform that unifies acquiring, processing, routing and risk management into a single stack for merchants with international and omnichannel needs.

Payout
Commonly funds arrive to merchants in 1–2 business days depending on currency, bank, payout model and cut-off times
★ 1.3 trustpilotRead review →

PayPal

Payment Processor
A-

PayPal is a global, feature-rich digital payments platform (consumer wallet + merchant services) with extensive integrations and brand reach. It is trusted by many businesses but criticized in public reviews for dispute handling and account-hold practices.

Online rate
2.89% + $0.29 per transaction
Payout
Standard Bank Transfer: 1 - 3 Business days
★ 1.12 bbbRead review →

Braintree (PayPal Enterprise Payments)

Payment Processor
A-

Braintree is a full-featured, globally-capable payment gateway solution (online + mobile) backed by PayPal, offering robust APIs, developer tooling, and enterprise-class features for merchants. Primarily deals in mobile and web payment systems.

Online rate
2.59% + $0.49 per transaction
Payout
Most gateways/acquirers, settlement typically occurs after batch submission and depending on acquiring bank (often 1–2 business days for online payments)
★ 3.4 g2Read review →

Authorize.net

Payment Processor
A-

Authorize.Net is a mature, Visa-owned payment gateway that offers robust, developer-friendly payment tools, strong fraud controls, and wide platform integrations. Pricing and merchant-account terms that vary depending on whether you use Authorize.Net’s all-in-one plan or attach your own processor.

Payout
Most merchants see funding within ~1–2 business days after settlement
★ 1.62 bbbRead review →

Zen Payments

Payment Processor
A+

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.

Online rate
2.9% + .10
★ 4.8 trustpilotRead review →

Payment Cloud

Agent / Reseller
A+

PaymentCloud is a highly-rated merchant services agent specializing in high-risk payment processing, known for its personalized support, broad integrations, and success in approving hard-to-place merchants, though its pricing is custom-quoted and merchants should be prepared for standard high-risk measures like reserves.

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.
★ 3.46 bbbRead review →

Stripe

Payment Processor
A

Stripe is a leading payment processor known for its developer-friendly API, transparent pricing, and comprehensive suite of payment solutions for businesses of all sizes.

Online rate
2.9% + $0.30
Payout
First Payout takes 7 - 14 days / After that transaction + 2 business days (in many countries)
Expert grade ARead review →

Square

POS System
A

Square offers simple, transparent payment processing ideal for small businesses. Flat-rate pricing, no monthly fees, and excellent software make it a top choice — but account holds and limited support are key concerns.

Online rate
2.9% + $0.30
Payout
Next business day
★ 1.06 bbbRead review →

The Importance of Payment Processor Reviews

Choosing the right payment processor is one of the most important decisions for any business, whether you're a startup, an established retailer, or an online ecommerce brand. A payment processor determines how you accept payments, manage cash flow, and keep costs like processing fees, interchange fees, and card processing fees under control. That's why payment processor reviews and merchant processor reviews are valuable resources for comparing companies like PayKings, Zen Payments, Stax, Helcim, National Processing, Heartland Payments, Global Payments, Shift4, and Chase Payment Solutions.

Key Features to Evaluate in Merchant Services

As you're looking through reviews and comparing providers, don't only look at the price or percentage per transaction. Consider these factors as well:

  • Merchant account setup – How easy is it to open a merchant account and link a bank account?
  • POS and virtual terminal support – Do they offer modern point of sale (POS) systems, mobile payment options, or a virtual terminal for remote credit card processing?
  • Payment card compatibility – Look for support for credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Google Wallet, Mastercard, and even QR code payments (if you're looking to give your clientele more options).
  • Accounting and finance tools – Many processors integrate with accounting software like Xero, Intuit, QuickBooks, or Salesforce for smoother bookkeeping, payroll, and tax management.
  • Data security – Strong encryption, tokenization, and authentication ensure compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).

Keep in Mind the Customer Experience and Usability of Payment Processors

Beyond functionality, the usability and interface of the system matters. Smooth shopping cart integration, compatibility with iOS and web browsers, and additional features like inventory management, printer support, and barcode scanning all improve workflow. Be sure to look for reviews that highlight whether these features are included with a specific payment processor and how well they work. Reliable customer support that quickly responds is critical when it comes to payment processing. Be sure to choose a payment processor with a solid reputation with good feedback about their customer support.

Choose a Payment Processor That Takes Advantage of New Technology

The best processors are adapting with artificial intelligence, analytics, and automation to improve fraud prevention, chargeback management, and overall risk management. Many also enable outsourcing tasks like bookkeeping and education on compliance, which helps businesses stay aligned with evolving regulatory compliance standards. Look for a payment processor that is constantly improving to better serve your needs.

Payment Review's Mission

Our mission is to make comparing credit card processors easy by combining detailed evaluation, transparent breakdowns of costs, and side-by-side reviews of leading providers. Both consumers and business owners benefit from trusted reviews. Reading evaluations from Payment Review, Capterra, and Forbes, provides real-world insight into how providers handle money, credit, debit cards, and card payments. This helps entrepreneurs find reliable payment processing services that match their business model, advertising strategy, marketing goals, and sales needs. Whether you're looking for flat-rate pricing, a subscription model, or payment processor for an enterprise ecosystem, our goal is to give you the information you need to help you choose the right partner to process payments securely and profitably.