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Are You Overpaying in
Card Processing Fees?

Enter your monthly sales volume, pick your region, and instantly see what you're paying — then compare the top processors to find out how much you could save.

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🧮 Your Payment Details
$
$25,000

Drag the slider or type your monthly card sales volume

📊 2.6% — typical for Stripe US

Check your statements or use the pre-filled estimate above.

💵 Your Fee Breakdown
Current Monthly Fees
$650
at 2.6%
Current Annual Fees
$7,800
per year
Best Alternative (Monthly)
$538
Square at 2.15%
Potential Annual Saving
$1,344
by switching
💡 You could save by switching processor
$112/mo
potential monthly saving
📊 Processor Comparison

Based on your $25,000/month volume.

Processor Rate Monthly Fee Est. Monthly Cost Best For Action

* Standard published rates. Your actual rate may vary. Always verify directly with the provider.

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Understanding Card Processing Fees

Card processing fees are one of the most overlooked costs for businesses worldwide. Whether you run a restaurant, retail shop, salon, or e-commerce store, the rate you pay per transaction directly impacts your margins. In the US, UK, Australia, and Canada, the average business pays between 1.4% and 3.5% per transaction — but many pay far more than necessary.

What Is a Good Processing Rate?

  • US businesses: 2.2%–2.9% is typical. Stripe, Square, and PayPal dominate. High-volume merchants can negotiate below 1.8%.
  • UK businesses: 1.4%–1.9% is standard. SumUp and Takepayments are competitive. Regulated interchange caps keep rates lower than the US.
  • Australian businesses: 1.4%–1.9% for domestic cards. Square and Stripe are popular. Surcharging is legal and common.
  • Canadian businesses: 1.5%–2.5% is typical. Moneris, Square, and Stripe are widely used. Visa/Mastercard rate caps introduced in 2024.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the cheapest payment processor for small businesses? ▼
For small businesses, Square and SumUp (UK/AU) consistently offer the lowest flat rates with no monthly fees. In the US, Square charges 2.6% in-person. In the UK, SumUp charges 1.45%. Both are ideal if you process under $10,000/month and want simplicity.
Is Stripe or Square cheaper? ▼
It depends on your use case. For online payments, Stripe is typically cheaper (2.9% + 30¢ US vs Square's 3.3% + 30¢). For in-person payments, Square is often more competitive (2.6% flat vs Stripe's 2.7%). Both have no monthly fees, making them great for businesses wanting predictable pricing.
How do I reduce my card processing fees? ▼
The most effective strategies: (1) Compare providers using this calculator; (2) Negotiate — if you process over $50k/month, call your provider; (3) Switch to interchange-plus pricing for more transparency at higher volumes; (4) Encourage chip/contactless payments over keyed-in transactions; (5) Avoid premium/rewards cards where possible as they attract higher interchange fees.
Do I need a merchant account to take card payments? ▼
Not necessarily. Modern payment service providers (PSPs) like Stripe, Square, and SumUp act as aggregated merchant accounts — you can start taking payments immediately. However, for high-volume businesses (over $50k/month), a dedicated merchant account through providers like Worldpay, Moneris, or Takepayments typically offers lower rates and more stability.