Top 10 Best Credit Card Processing Companies

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Last offers update: April 2025

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Top 3 Merchant Services

98% Approval Rate
Leaders Merchant Services - Transparent pricing with low rates & fees
Exceptional
9.9
Paysafe - Helping businesses of all sizes process payments globally
Excellent
9.7
Clover - Secure payment processing solution for restaurants and retail businesses
Very Good
9.6
98% Approval Rate
1
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Leaders Merchant Services - Transparent pricing with low rates & fees

  • Check Icon Ideal for merchants of all sizes
  • Check Icon Get approved within 24 hours
  • Check Icon 24/7 technical support
  • Check Icon Accept POS, in-store, mobile, and online payments
  • Check Icon Industry-low rates starting at 0.15%
Exceptional
9.9
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Safe Payments

Exceptional
9.9
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Safe Payments

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2
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Paysafe - Helping businesses of all sizes process payments globally

  • Check Icon Supports over 260 payment methods
  • Check Icon Get 50% off the latest POS terminals
  • Check Icon Customized for your business
  • Check Icon 24/7 personalized support
  • Check Icon Trusted by 250,000+ merchants
Excellent
9.7
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Safe Payments

Excellent
9.7
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Safe Payments

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3
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Clover - Secure payment processing solution for restaurants and retail businesses

  • Check Icon Save up to $500 on your next purchase
  • Check Icon Automatic surcharging compliance
  • Check Icon Access to all Clover hardware
Very Good
9.6
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Safe Payments

Very Good
9.6
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Safe Payments

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Free Credit Card Reader
Same Day Approval
4
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Fast & reliable payment processing solutions

  • Check Icon Up to $500 in statement credits for new sign-ups
  • Check Icon Omnichannel payment solutions
  • Check Icon Flexible contract options for businesses of all sizes
Very Good
9.5
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Safe Payments

Very Good
9.5
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Safe Payments

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5
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Get $100 off the Chase Point of Sale (POS)™
Code: CHASEPOS

  • Check Icon Trusted brand with decades of financial experience
  • Check Icon Comprehensive payment solutions for businesses of all sizes
  • Check Icon Seamless integration with Chase Business Banking
  • Check Icon 24/7 customer support from Chase specialists
  • Check Icon Advanced fraud protection and data security measures
Very Good
9.3
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Reliable Payment Solutions

Very Good
9.3
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Reliable Payment Solutions

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6
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GoDaddy - All-in-one merchant services with low fees

  • Check Icon Accept payments in person, online and on-the-go
  • Check Icon Get paid out as fast as the next business day
  • Check Icon 24/7 support by phone, text, and chat
Good
9.1
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Safe Payments

Good
9.1
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Safe Payments

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7
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Payment Depot - Wholesale rates ideal for minimizing fees

  • Check Icon Rates as low as 0.2% - 1.95%
  • Check Icon Pricing customized for your business
  • Check Icon $0 setup + no cancellation fees
Good
9.0
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Safe Payments

Good
9.0
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Safe Payments

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8
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Merchant One - Credit card processing for businesses of all sizes

  • Check Icon No application fees
  • Check Icon Automatic surcharging compliance
  • Check Icon 24/7 support
Good
8.9
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Safe Payments

Good
8.9
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Safe Payments

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9
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Square - Accept payments quickly, easily, and securely

  • Check Icon Intuitive and easy to use
  • Check Icon Accept payments anywhere, even offline
  • Check Icon Rates from 2.6% + 15¢
Good
8.8
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Safe Payments

Good
8.8
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Safe Payments

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10
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Payment Nerds - Specialized payment solutions for all customer types

  • Check Icon Flexible payment options
  • Check Icon Secure with encryption & fraud detection
  • Check Icon 24/7 dedicated support
Exceptional
9.8
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Safe Payments

Exceptional
9.8
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Safe Payments

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Our Best Overall Provider

98% Approval Rate
1
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Leaders Merchant Services - Transparent pricing with low rates & fees

  • Check Icon Ideal for merchants of all sizes
  • Check Icon Get approved within 24 hours
  • Check Icon 24/7 technical support
  • Check Icon Accept POS, in-store, mobile, and online payments
  • Check Icon Industry-low rates starting at 0.15%
Exceptional
9.9
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Safe Payments

Exceptional
9.9
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What Does Credit Card Processing Involve?

Have you ever wondered what's involved in credit card processing? Every credit card transaction involves four key parties: the customer making the purchase, the merchant receiving payment, the acquiring bank (the bank that provides credit card processing services to the merchant), and the issuing bank (the bank that issued the customer's credit card). Understanding the role each plays is essential to grasp how funds move from a customer’s account to a merchant's business.


How Does Credit Card Processing Work?

Acquiring banks, also known as merchant banks, enable merchants to accept credit card payments by providing them with merchant accounts. These banks handle the transfer of funds from customer credit cards into merchant accounts, furnish software and equipment such as card readers and terminals, and offer customer support and other credit card processing services.

A merchant account functions as an unsecured line of credit. When a customer makes a purchase, the acquiring bank essentially loans the amount to the merchant before retrieving it from the customer’s issuing bank. This loan is then settled once the issuing bank transfers the money.

However, merchants do not receive the full transaction amount. Both the acquiring and issuing banks deduct fees that include a percentage of the transaction amount, and sometimes fixed per-transaction charges. These fees vary based on the nature of the business and perceived risk.


The Cost Involved With Credit Card Processing

If you're considering opening a merchant account, one of your primary concerns will likely be the fees. These depend heavily on your business type. Industries considered high-risk due to frequent disputes or chargebacks—such as online sales or high-value transactions—typically incur higher fees.

Chargebacks occur when a customer successfully disputes a transaction. Transactions where customers physically swipe and sign for inexpensive goods (like in restaurants or gas stations) are seen as lower risk, thus associated fees are lower. In contrast, phone or online orders involving expensive or shipped products are riskier and costlier in fees.


Conclusion

Whether you're operating a brick-and-mortar store, an online shop, or a phone/mail order business, credit card processing is essential for staying competitive. While you'll need to pay for these services, they are crucial to success. To ensure you're getting the best deal, always compare offers and confirm that all fees—both fixed and percentage-based—are clearly included in any quote. Choosing the right provider can make a significant difference in your bottom line.


Our Top 3 Credit Card Processing
1
Leaders is one of the best credit card processing services in the industry. It’s been around for 20 years, and its parent company is the reputable Paysafe Group Subsidiary. Leaders gives businesses a lot of reasons to love it, including some of the best credit card processing rates in the industry. We’re talking about rates that start at just 0.15%. Plus, Leaders has a 98% approval rating. So, businesses having a hard time getting the green flag will find Leaders’ process refreshing. What's more, Leaders offers a solid $500 Assurance guarantee. This states that if the company can't save you money within the first 6 months of your contract, you'll be awarded $500 in compensation. Leaders works with the reliable Clover point of sale system, and it also integrates with QuickBooks. New SMBs will appreciate the helpful glossary of terms and 24/7/365 customer service for troubleshooting any issues. Additionally, Leaders offers value-added services such as business cash advances, loyalty programs, gift cards, check guarantee services, and point of sale systems.
  • Pros $500 Assurance Program
  • Pros Integrates with QuickBooks
  • Pros Rates starting at 0.15%
  • Cons Pricey early termination fee
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Leaders Merchant Services

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2
Paysafe is a comprehensive payment solution that is transforming how businesses handle transactions. It accepts global payments in 17 currencies, including credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets, POS systems, cash cards, and installment payments. The scale-based pricing starts at 15% for low volume, 3.9% per volume, and 9.5% for higher volume. There's also a fixed fee of 1.5 euros per transaction. Paysafe offers various services, including online, digital wallet, and in-person payments, and additional benefits like POS systems, receipt management, and currency conversion. This makes it a versatile choice for businesses of all sizes and types. Paysafe offers several tools to assist businesses with their in-store payment processing. One of the notable equipment offerings is Paysafe's Android tablet POS (Point of Sale) system, which facilitates on-the-spot payment acceptance. This POS system, combined with Paysafe's sophisticated in-store payment structure, allows businesses to provide their customers with various payment options, including installment payments and mobile purchasing. For detailed pricing, contact Paysafe directly for a tailored quote.
  • Pros Flexible pricing
  • Pros Integrates with major Ecommerce platforms like Shopify
  • Pros Advanced security measures including tokenization
  • Cons No clear application process mentioned for setup
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Paysafe

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3
Many top credit card processing companies sell Clover’s point-of-sale systems. But did you know that Clover itself offers credit card processing through parent company Fiserv? That’s right. While Clover is primarily known for its POS hardware, it also offers a range of other services including payment processing, gift cards, invoicing and payroll solution, and working capital financing. That said, if you’re looking for a payment processor that offers Clover devices, you should compare Clover to the many other payment processing companies that are authorized to resell Clover products. Clover’s flat-rate processing may seem convenient, but it looks less attractive when you consider the hundreds of poor reviews it has received from small business owners that have used its service.
  • Pros Predictable, flat-rate processing
  • Pros Access to all Clover hardware
  • Pros Large app store
  • Cons Monthly fees
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Clover

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