Helcim
Helcim's cheapest published rate is Interchange + 0.15% + 6c (in-person, $1M-$5M tier). Pricing model: interchange-plus. Monthly fee: $0. Dispute fee: Not published on pricing page. Cross-border: Passed through interchange. FX: Passed through interchange.
Tier table (vendor-published)
| Tier | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| In-person $0-$50K | IC + 0.40% + 8c | - |
| In-person $1M-$5M | IC + 0.15% + 6c | - |
| Online $0-$50K | IC + 0.50% + 25c | - |
| Online $1M-$5M | IC + 0.15% + 15c | - |
| ACH | 0.5% + 25c (capped $6) | - |
Source: https://www.helcim.com/pricing/ (verified 2026-06-19).
What Helcim is best for
- SMB and mid-market merchants who want true interchange-plus with no monthly fee.
- Higher-volume merchants where 0.15% markup beats both flat-rate and Stax's subscription cost.
- Owner-operators who want the cheapest published US in-person rate, full stop.
Hidden costs and gotchas
Wholesale interchange-plus with no monthly fees. Markup steps down with volume. Best-known transparent SMB processor.
- Dispute fees not published on the pricing page.
- Markup steps down with volume; you do not need to negotiate.
When this vendor wins, when it loses
FAQ
Is Helcim really cheaper than Square?
Above roughly $300K/yr, yes, for typical mid-ticket merchants. Below that, Square's no-monthly-fee flat-rate model often wins on simplicity.
What is the interchange proxy?
Qualified retail interchange runs roughly 1.6%-2.0% blended on US credit. Helcim's 0.15% markup at the $1M-$5M tier puts you in the 1.8%-2.2% all-in band.
See the full vendor index, run the cross-vendor cost calculator, or read how we verify every rate.