What to Know Before Getting Started
Starting a New Business?
Selecting a credit card processor is often more complicated than most people expect. How much should you be paying in fees? Should you lease or buy equipment? Should you be locked into a service agreement for anything length of time? These considerations and several others are imporant to understand before signing up with any merchant account provider. Mistakes are easily made and can be very costly to your business. Along with seeing our top choices for payment services below, be sure to checkout this post to avoid common traps in the merchant services industry.
Considerations For Current Business Owners
Changing merchant accounts can be an expensive, complicated, and time consuming process. Are you really going to save as much as promised? Do you need to buy to new equipment or sign new lease agreements? Will there be other less accountable costs such as those associated with employee retraining? Before selecting one of our choices below, you may want to consider renegotiating your fees with your current payment processing vendors using the help of a contingency-compensated consultant. It can result in a dramatic decrease in costs without the pains of switching. In some cases business owner have also obtained substantial refunds of prior overcharges along with saving thousands in future processing costs. See this post to learn more about this little-known alternative to changing merchant account provider.
Accept Payments With Your iPhone
These top iPhone credit card processing applications make it easier to run your business from anywhere (also see: Best Android Credit Card Processing Apps). Whether you are selling crafts at a trade show or providing in-home services, you can now accept credit cards with your iPhone through a variety of applications. These low-cost apps also make for great backup processing options in the event of a service disruption from your primary processor.
Find the Best
Below are our top mobile credit card processing picks based on pricing, customer support, and user satisfaction. Some of these options are ideal for small one-register locations, while others are useful additions to full-service traditional merchant accounts. Many of these providers also offer integration with third-party services like QuickBooks or online marketplaces. Check out each provider’s website to get a full list of current features and pricing.
Our unbiased articles are supported in part by helping you find highly reviewed merchant accounts. You can learn more here.
Why These Merchant Account Providers
Fattmerchant
Best Overall Option
Active since early 2014, Fattmerchant is a merchant account provider leading the industry’s move toward flat-rate, subscription-style pricing. In addition to an EMV-compatible mobile app and card reader for iPhones, the company’s products and services include countertop terminals, a virtual terminal, an online payment gateway, an online shopping cart, QuickBooks integration, online invoicing, and recurring billing. Fattmerchant offers a mobile app called NPC Mobile that is priced according to Fattmerchant’s unique rate structure.
Fattmerchant Reviews
Fattmerchant offers multiple pricing plans with different rates. Merchants can select either a plan that charges a flat fee on all transactions or a plan that charges a fixed monthly fee plus a fixed per-transaction dollar amount above interchange. In other words, merchants can choose whether or not they are charged a percentage markup on each transaction. Fattmerchant currently has an “A” rating on CPO and an “A-” rating with the Better Business Bureau.
For more information, visit the Fattmerchant website, or call (866) 397-9826.
Fattmerchant Highlights
- Subscription-style or flat rate pricing
- Custom tip settings
- Live customer support
Fattmerchant Mobile Overview
Host Merchant Services
Great for E-Commerce
Host Merchant Services is a Newark, Delaware-based merchant account provider that offers a free mobile processing app called “HMSPay” for iPhone along with a free mobile reader for eligible businesses. Host is more than just a mobile payment processor, however, as it also provides point-of-sale solutions, online marketing tools, an online payment gateway and virtual terminal, gift and loyalty programs, and merchant cash advances. Host Merchant Services specializes in e-commerce businesses but is able to serve mobile merchants just as well.
Host Merchant Services Reviews
Host Merchant Services has received only positive feedback on public forums, with most reviewers singling out the company’s customer service for praise. Like Payline, Host offers interchange-plus pricing with no early termination fees to all of its merchants, meaning that users will enjoy the most transparent pricing model available and can cancel service without penalty. The BBB gives Host an “A+” rating, and CPO also gives the company an “A+.”
For more information, visit the Host Merchant Services website or call (888) 727-4538.
HMSPay Highlights
- Free card reader (eligibility varies)
- Interchange-plus pricing
- Live customer support
Shopify
Easy Sign-Up
Shopify is primarily known as an e-commerce platform for online merchants, but the company recently launched a point-of-sale software solution for iPad and iPhone. The Shopify POS app can accept cards via a free headphone jack card swiper or an $89 EMV reader and includes features like inventory syncing with a webstore, emailed receipts, automatic tax calculations, basic email marketing, and in-store refunds. The service can also be paired with a Shopify online store, which comes with numerous customization options. Shopify POS is a great fit for mobile merchants who would like to accept payments on-site using their phones as well as through a webstore. Service-industry merchants should note, however, that Shopify’s POS app does not currently support tipping.
Shopify Reviews
Shopify offers month-to-month pricing plans with variable pricing and product tiers. The company is headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, and has been in operation since 2005. The company provides phone, email, and live chat support to all of its merchant tiers and enjoys very few online complaints despite its massive user base. The BBB gives Shopify an “A+” rating at this time, while CardPaymentOptions.com awards the company an “A.”
For more information, see the Shopify website.
Shopify POS Highlights
- $89 EMV card reader
- 2.4% to 2.7% swiped
- 2.4% + $0.30 to 2.9% + $0.30 keyed
- Live customer support
Other Merchant Account Options
The providers in this section may not have been researched as thoroughly or may lack a quality that prevented them from being listed above. We have listed them here to provide a broader view of potential merchant account options. Are you a decision maker with your company and believe that you should be listed below? Tell us here.
Innerfence
What is Innerfence?
Inner Fence, which also owns “Swipe” by AppNinjas, is a joint venture with Merchant Focus to offer a mobile credit card terminal for Apple and Android devices as well as Mac and Windows computers. Of the other picks in this list, Inner Fence offers the widest platform availability enabling merchants to use the system on just about any of the devices they own. Features include most found with the other picks in this list, but with card readers available for computers as a standout option. Inner Fence offers unlimited phone support and email support, as well as service in Canada.
Innerfence Reviews
The only drawbacks are a monthly fee of $39 and that the service also requires an Authorize.net payment gateway account in order to use the card reader, which may subject merchants to additional fees. As of this review, Inner Fence only offers one card reader for free with additional readers costing $79 each.
Learn more in our Inner Fence Review, or visit the Inner Fence website.
Inner Fence Highlights
- Free card reader
- 2.9% + $0.30 swiped
- 2.9% + $0.30 keyed
- Live customer support
Inner Fence Video Demonstration
SalesVu
What is SalesVu?
SalesVu is a software development company that has partnered with Mercury Payment Systems to offer a mobile credit card processing application for the iPhone, iPad, and iTouch devices. The application is feature-rich and nearly acts as a full mobile Point-of Sale (POS) System. Some of the most useful tools the application offers are features such as cash drawer management, bar-code scanning, pre-programmed prices, and employee timekeeping. SalesVu is best suited for established businesses that process credit cards on a daily basis, have multiple sales representatives, and/or desire a basic POS system. This sentiment is mirrored in merchant feedback with reports stating that the signup process is much more in-depth than most other mobile payment apps.
SalesVu Reviews
See our SalesVu Review for more detail, or visit the SalesVu website.
SalesVu Highlights
- Free card reader
- 2.6%-2.75% + $0.00/$0.10/$0.25 swiped
- 2.6%-2.75% + $0.00/$0.10/$0.25 keyed
- Live customer support
SalesVu iPad/iPhone Overview
Payline Data
What is Payline Data?
Operating out of Chicago, Illinois, Payline Data is consistently one of the top-rated providers on CPO. In addition to its wide array of traditional merchant services for businesses of all sizes, the company offers two separate mobile processing plans that come with free card readers. Payline Data’s other products and services include merchant cash advance, an online payment gateway with QuickBooks integration, wireless terminals, EMV and NFC acceptance, and a USB swiper for desktop computers. Payline’s “Start” plan is intended for smaller and newer businesses and offers a free magnetic stripe card reader with no monthly fee, while its “Surge” plan is meant for established businesses and provides a free EMV/NFC card reader as part of its $9.95 monthly fee.
Payline Data Reviews
Payline Data earns its spot on this list due to the widespread praise that it has received from merchants for its interchange-plus pricing structure with no cancellation fee and its friendly, helpful live customer support team. It is a solid all-around processor that will be a good fit for large brick-and-mortar locations as well as smaller merchants who are trying to avoid high monthly fees. Our review of Payline Data gives the company an “A+” rating, and the Better Business Bureau also gives Payline an “A+.”
Payline Data Highlights
- Free card reader
- Interchange-plus pricing
- Live customer support
Payline Data Mobile Overview
Square
What is Square?
Square is top-notch in terms of function and style. There are no startup costs, no additional merchant accounts or payment gateways needed, and no monthly fee or processing minimum requirements. Square is ideal for individuals, low-volume merchants and micro-merchants, and businesses that want an occasional mobile option or credit card processing backup.
No Live Support
Square does have some limitations that may dissuade mid-to-high volume merchants. For instance, Square lacks a dedicated merchant support phone number, which has caused hundreds of complaints to be filed on our review of the company. In addition, the Square’s policies regarding holds on swiped (card-present) transactions lack transparency, and there are numerous reports from users complaining about experiencing sudden, long-term holds without explanation or notification.
Square Reviews
You can learn more in our full Square review, or visit the Square website.
Square Highlights
- Free card reader
- 2.75% swiped
- 3.5% + $0.15 keyed
- Limited customer support
Square Swipe Tutorial
ProPay
What is ProPay?
ProPay Jak comes in low on this list only because of its card reader cost ($39.95) and annual fee ($39.95 to $69.95 depending on account type), which makes it less than ideal for new and low-volume merchants but great for mid-volume users who regularly accept credit card payments. The additional features that ProPay offers over many of the picks in this article make it a great solution for most businesses. Some of these features include the ability to store encrypted payments for later charging if a phone is not getting service at the time of sale, storage of customer information for future billing or refunds, and use of ProPay’s virtual terminal which comes with a variety of its own features including detailed tracking and reports. ProPay also has month-to-month service agreements, no processing minimum requirements and lower processing rates than most of its competitors.
ProPay Reviews
You can learn more in our full Propay Review, or visit the ProPay website.
ProPay JAK Highlights
- Free card reader
- 2.40% to 2.60% swiped
- 3.20% to 3.40% keyed
- Live customer support
ProPay JAK Overview
PayPal Here
What is PayPal Here?
Although PayPal was one of the first digital payment methods to gain widespread popularity on the Internet, its mobile processing app is relatively new to the market. In fact, PayPal has restructured its account types to incorporate mobile technology and is leveraging its existing user base in an attempt to become the dominant mobile credit card processing player. Users of the system must first sign up for a PayPal account and then install the PayPal Here application on their smartphones. From there, PayPal will send the user a free card reader which can be used immediately. PayPal Here works in conjunction with a user’s normal PayPal account, so all the transactions are tracked and stored in the same place. Additionally, PayPal offers a variety of customer support options including phone support and email support. The only drawbacks that have been reported so far appear to be issues with the app itself, so it looks as if PayPal may still have a few bugs to work out. With three different account types, PayPal can serve businesses of most processing volumes.
PayPal Reviews
Learn more in our PayPal Here Review, or visit PayPal.com.
PayPal Here Highlights
- Free card reader
- 2.7% swiped
- 3.5% + $0.15 keyed
- Live customer support
PayAnywhere
What is PayAnywhere?
PayAnywhere (sometimes spelled “Pay Anywhere”) is a mobile credit card processing application launched by North American Bancard. The service is similar to that of GoPayment and Square with many of the same features. In addition to being compatible with iPhone and Android devices, Pay Anywhere can also be used with the Blackberry. The company offers email support, FAQ pages, video tutorials, and phone support; however, it appears that calls are routed to North American Bancard’s traditional call centers which receive numerous complaints of poor service in our review of the company. Like Square, merchant feedback suggests that PayAnywhere uses fund holding as a primary defense against risk, which can cause problems for legitimate merchants. The service appears to be best suited for low-volume and micro-merchants who can swipe the majority of their transactions.
PayAnywhere Reviews
Learn more in our Pay Anywhere Review, or visit the Pay Anywhere website.
PayAnywhere Highlights
- Free card reader
- 2.69% swiped
- 3.49% + $0.19 keyed
- Live customer support
PayAnywhere Promotional Video
Don’t Get Left Behind
These iPhone credit card applications can help you to run your business more effectively. The ability to collect credit card payments in the field can greatly increase your bottom line. Not only will you get paid faster but you will avoid the added cost and risk of invoicing customers online. With so many options available to accept mobile payment, there is no reason not to take advantage of them. We live in a mobile world and if you and your business are not part of it you should get on board before the train leaves the station without you. If we are missing any great apps that should be included in this list, please let us know in the comment section below.
About Phillip Parker
Thank you for reading my review. I hope that it has helped you with your research.
Why I'm Qualified to Write About Credit Card Processing and Merchant Account Services
I'm a former credit card processing sales director who left the industry because I didn't like how it takes advantage of small business owners. It feeds like a leech on businesses and thrives by imposing fees that are nearly impossible to comprehend. Seeing a need for change, I left and built this website help business owners better understand the industry, research merchant services providers, and get refunds of excessive merchant account fees. My experience of working "behind the curtain" in the industry, and using that knowledge for good, has resulted in millions of dollars returned to hard-working small business owners as well as enterprise-level companies.
From the time that I starting working in the merchant services industry to when I left to create this website, I've been on the pulse of payments for nearly 15 years. It didn't seem fair to keep this "insider" knowledge to myself. To lift the fog, I've reviewed hundreds of companies, read thousands of user reviews, and learned the pricing tricks of every provider. If you have questions about credit card processing, you can find the answers on this website.