
Helcim provides a full suite of merchant services encompassing in-person, online, mobile, and virtual payment processing. In addition to basic credit and debit card processing, Helcim features proprietary card readers, an integrated payments platform, ACH/EFT transfers, payment links, QR code payments, and online invoicing — all accessible through one account. The platform includes POS software for in-person sales, online invoicing, a virtual terminal for phone and mail orders, recurring payments for subscriptions, and the ability to build an online checkout and storefront. Helcim has also invested significantly in its developer stack, offering a robust API, webhooks, HelcimPay.js for embedded checkout, and a Smart Terminal API that enables third-party platforms to embed Helcim's processing directly into their own systems.
The company's defining strength is its pricing model. Helcim charges interchange plus 0.4% + 8¢ per in-person transaction and interchange plus 0.5% + 25¢ per online transaction, with automatic volume discounts for higher-processing merchants — and there is no monthly fee, setup fee, PCI compliance fee, or cancellation fee. This combination is genuinely rare. Most interchange-plus processors either require monthly subscriptions (Stax) or charge additional fees for PCI compliance, statements, or gateways. Helcim bundles virtually everything into the per-transaction cost. The automatic volume discount mechanism is also standout — merchants don't need to negotiate lower rates as they grow.
The primary weakness is that Helcim does not offer same-day funding. Deposits are available within two business days, and no same-day deposit option is available. The hardware lineup is also limited: Helcim sells a card reader and a handheld terminal, but no full countertop POS systems with dual-screen customer-facing displays, which can be limiting for busy brick-and-mortar retailers. Additionally, Helcim does not work with high-risk businesses, and some merchants report account holds or closures tied to risk policy compliance.
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.
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Based on 1,550 reviews across 4 rating platforms
Positive reviews praise fast setup, fair rates, and good customer support. Negative reviews describe instances of funds being held during risk reviews, lack of communication around account closures, and equipment return difficulties.
Positive reviews note pricing savings, easy onboarding, and good customer service; negative reviews often relate to account holds or closures.
Positive reviews frequently mention individual support reps by name, praising onboarding assistance, transparent pricing, and the platform's ease of use. Negative reviews cite unexpected account closures, funds held, and the feeling that decisions are made without adequate explanation.
Card-not-present, e-commerce, and online payments
Card-present retail and point-of-sale transactions
Manually entered card-not-present transactions
Cross-border and foreign currency transactions
Recurring monthly account fee
One-time account setup and onboarding fee
Annual PCI DSS compliance and security fee
Monthly account statement and reporting fee
Per-incident chargeback dispute fee
Fee for canceling before contract end
Regular deposit schedule to your bank account
Faster deposit option (may have additional fees)
Minimum balance required before payout
Required commitment period
No long-term contracts
Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard compliance level
Full PCI compliance — AES-256 encryption for all sensitive merchant and cardholder data
Fraud detection and prevention tools
Risk review processes; KYC/KYB compliance; AML policies; account holds for flagged transactions
Encryption standards for data at rest and in transit
AES-256 encryption
Replace sensitive card data with secure tokens
Compatible shopping cart and online store platforms
Sync transactions with your accounting tools
Additional third-party integrations and tools
Manage recurring subscriptions and billing cycles
Create and send professional invoices
Multi-vendor marketplace functionality
Accept payments manually via web interface
Automated recurring payment processing
Accept and process multiple currencies
Multi-Currency support for the United States and Canada only
Based on 126 employee reviews
Positive employee feedback highlights a great culture, responsive leadership, collaborative teammates, a strong startup spirit, transparent communication, and a hybrid work schedule. Negative feedback cites the fast pace of change, high expectations, and some concerns about micromanagement and job security as the company scales.
Helcim's customer support is one of its most-praised attributes, consistently rated highly across review platforms. The team is in-house (not outsourced), and reviewers frequently name specific representatives by name, indicating personalized service.
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2006
440 2 Avenue Southwest, Suite 400, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
145