How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Square and Helcim cover the widest range of selling styles, from a phone reader to a counter system with inventory and invoicing.
- Venmo business profiles have the lowest percentage rate in this list for direct payments, at 1.9 percent plus 10 cents, but Venmo is US only and is not a full point of sale system.
- Zettle by PayPal has the lowest in-person card rate among the card reader options here, at 2.29 percent plus 9 cents, with no monthly fee for the app.
- Flat-rate pricing is simple to budget, while Helcim interchange-plus pricing can cost less on larger sales and on debit-heavy sales, because the card network cost is passed through at cost plus a stated margin.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Square | All-round in-person and online selling | $0 per month on the Free plan, plus 2.6 percent plus 15 cents in person and 3.3 percent plus 30 cents online | Yes |
 Stripe | Online checkout and subscriptions | $0 per month, plus 2.9 percent plus 30 cents for online cards and 2.7 percent plus 5 cents in person | Yes |
 PayPal | Checkout trust and invoicing | $0 per month for a standard business account, plus 3.49 percent plus 49 cents for PayPal Checkout in the United States | Yes |
 Helcim | Transparent pricing that falls with volume | $0 per month, plus interchange plus 0.40 percent plus 8 cents in person and interchange plus 0.50 percent plus 25 cents online at the lowest volume tier | Yes |
 SumUp | Mobile and market sellers | $0 per month for POS Lite, plus 2.6 percent plus 10 cents in person and 3.5 percent plus 15 cents online or manually entered | Yes |
 Zettle by PayPal | Low-cost in-person card sales | $0 per month for the app, plus 2.29 percent plus 9 cents for card-present sales | Yes |
 Clover | Counter hardware and restaurant or retail systems | $0 per month for Clover Go Starter, plus 2.6 percent plus 10 cents in person, with hardware from 199 dollars for Go | No |
 Venmo | Customers who already pay with Venmo | $0 per month for a business profile, plus 1.9 percent plus 10 cents for direct and QR code payments | Yes |
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We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best mobile payment apps for small business
#1Square
Best for: All-round in-person and online selling4.6/5 on
G2 (1,208 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit squareup.com
Starting price$0 per month on the Free plan, plus 2.6 percent plus 15 cents in person and 3.3 percent plus 30 cents online
Free planYes
Square suits a seller who wants to start with little setup and add tools later. The Free plan includes point of sale software, invoicing, and an online store, with payment processing charged per transaction. A phone can take contactless payments, and Square sells readers, terminals, and registers for counters that need more.
The trade-off is the online rate on the Free plan. At 3.3 percent plus 30 cents, online sales cost more than in-person sales, and the fixed fee weighs more on small orders. Paid plans lower the online rate to 2.9 percent plus 30 cents, so the upgrade only pays when monthly volume is high enough to cover the monthly fee.
What we like- Free point of sale software, invoicing, online store tools, and a wide hardware range
Watch out for- Online rate on the Free plan is higher than some rivals, and paid plans cost 49 dollars or 149 dollars per month per location
#2Stripe
Best for: Online checkout and subscriptions4.2/5 on
G2 (462 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit stripe.com
Starting price$0 per month, plus 2.9 percent plus 30 cents for online cards and 2.7 percent plus 5 cents in person
Free planYes
Stripe is built first for online sales, and that focus shows in its checkout and billing tools. A business can send payment links, build a hosted checkout page, send invoices, and run subscriptions without a separate billing product. Support for many currencies and payment methods also helps sellers who sell outside the United States.
The cost is clear for standard online sales, at 2.9 percent plus 30 cents per successful domestic card charge in the United States. International cards add 1.5 percent, and currency conversion adds 1 percent where required. Stripe Terminal covers in-person sales at 2.7 percent plus 5 cents, but a seller who wants a full counter register will need to pair Stripe with other software or hardware.
What we like- Strong checkout, subscription billing, invoicing, and support for many payment methods and currencies
Watch out for- In-person hardware is limited compared with full point of sale systems, and setup can need developer help for a custom checkout
#3PayPal
Best for: Checkout trust and invoicing4.4/5 on
G2 (2,751 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit paypal.com
Starting price$0 per month for a standard business account, plus 3.49 percent plus 49 cents for PayPal Checkout in the United States
Free planYes
PayPal earns its place because many buyers already have an account and look for the button at checkout. A standard business account has no monthly fee, and the same account can cover online checkout, card payments, invoices, and Pay Later. That breadth matters for a service business that invoices clients and also sells online.
The price is the main drawback. PayPal Checkout costs 3.49 percent plus 49 cents on a United States online sale, while standard card payments cost 2.99 percent plus 49 cents. QR code and card-present payments through PayPal Point of Sale cost less, at 2.29 percent plus 9 cents. A sensible pattern for many sellers is to offer PayPal beside a lower-cost card processor, so the higher rate applies only to buyers who choose PayPal.
What we like- Widely recognised checkout button, invoicing, Pay Later, and QR code payments
Watch out for- Highest online checkout rate in this list, and a 20 dollar chargeback fee in the United States
#4Helcim
Best for: Transparent pricing that falls with volume3.9/5 on
G2 (19 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit helcim.com
Starting price$0 per month, plus interchange plus 0.40 percent plus 8 cents in person and interchange plus 0.50 percent plus 25 cents online at the lowest volume tier
Free planYes
Helcim takes a different pricing path from most apps in this list. Instead of one flat rate for every card, it passes the interchange and network cost through at cost and adds a stated margin on top. The statement shows both parts, so a seller can see what Helcim earns on each sale. At the lowest volume tier, the margin is 0.40 percent plus 8 cents in person and 0.50 percent plus 25 cents online, and it falls as monthly volume rises.
The software is included at no monthly cost, with point of sale, invoicing, virtual terminal, recurring payments, online checkout, and inventory tools. That makes Helcim a strong fit for a business with larger average sales or a high share of debit sales, where flat rates tend to overcharge. The drawback is clarity at first glance, because the total cost moves with the card type. A seller who wants one fixed number for every sale may prefer a flat-rate app, even if it costs more at higher volumes.
What we like- No monthly, setup, PCI, or cancellation fees, and automatic volume discounts on the margin
Watch out for- Interchange-plus statements take more reading than a flat rate, and low-ticket sellers may not see the same savings
#5SumUp
Best for: Mobile and market sellers4.6/5 on
G2 (24 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit sumup.com
Starting price$0 per month for POS Lite, plus 2.6 percent plus 10 cents in person and 3.5 percent plus 15 cents online or manually entered
Free planYes
SumUp is a practical pick for a seller who works from a stall, a truck, a market table, or a client site. The card readers are portable, connect by Bluetooth to a phone, and accept contactless cards and mobile wallets. The free POS Lite plan covers a card reader or basic point of sale use, with payment links and invoicing included, so a seller can start with only the one-time hardware cost.
In-person pricing is competitive, at 2.6 percent plus 10 cents. Online or manually entered payments cost 3.5 percent plus 15 cents, and invoice payments cost 2.9 percent plus 15 cents, so remote sales need a closer look. Paid POS Plus costs 49 dollars per month and adds multi-device sync and front-of-house tools. SumUp also sells the Plus reader for 54 dollars and the Solo reader for 99 dollars, which keeps the entry cost low for a mobile seller.
What we like- Low-cost portable readers, payment links, invoicing, and a free business account option
Watch out for- Paid point of sale plans add monthly cost, and advanced inventory is thinner than full counter systems
#6Zettle by PayPal
Best for: Low-cost in-person card sales4.4/5 on
G2 (34 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit zettle.com
Starting price$0 per month for the app, plus 2.29 percent plus 9 cents for card-present sales
Free planYes
Zettle by PayPal, now sold as PayPal Point of Sale, is the leanest card reader option in this list for in-person sales. The app is free, there is no monthly fee, and the seller pays per transaction plus any hardware bought. Card-present sales cost 2.29 percent plus 9 cents, and PayPal and Venmo QR code sales cost the same rate. That rate beats Square, Stripe, and SumUp for a face-to-face sale.
Hardware is also low cost at entry. A first card reader costs 29 dollars for a new business, with further readers at 79 dollars, and an all-in-one terminal costs 199 dollars. The app covers product lists, discounts, low-stock alerts, and sales reports, with sync to QuickBooks, Xero, and Shopify.
What we like- Low in-person rate, no monthly fee, simple app, and PayPal and Venmo QR code payments
Watch out for- Limited depth for multi-location or full-service restaurant needs, and it only works with PayPal processing
#7Clover
Best for: Counter hardware and restaurant or retail systems3.8/5 on
G2 (108 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit clover.com
Starting price$0 per month for Clover Go Starter, plus 2.6 percent plus 10 cents in person, with hardware from 199 dollars for Go
Free planNo
Clover stands out when the counter itself matters. The hardware range runs from the Go mobile reader at 199 dollars to the Mini counter terminal, the Flex handheld, and the Station Duo register with a customer display. That range suits a cafe, a shop, or a restaurant that needs a fixed till, a handheld for tables, and a kitchen display in one system. The app marketplace adds ordering, loyalty, and reporting tools on top of the core software.
Pricing needs care, because it varies by business type and by seller. Clover Go Starter has no monthly fee and charges 2.6 percent plus 10 cents in person, while Go Essentials adds 29.95 dollars per month and lowers the in-person rate to 2.5 percent plus 10 cents. Retail, restaurant, and service plans start higher, with published retail Standard plans at 84.95 dollars per month and restaurant plans higher still. A seller should get the full contract, hardware cost, and processing rate in writing before signing, because dealer pricing can differ from the published list.
What we like- Purpose-built hardware range, offline card payments, large app marketplace, and 24/7 phone support
Watch out for- Pricing varies by seller and plan, full systems cost far more, and hardware is tied to Clover processing
Starting price$0 per month for a business profile, plus 1.9 percent plus 10 cents for direct and QR code payments
Free planYes
Venmo works best as a second way to get paid, not as the whole till. A business profile sits inside an existing Venmo account, keeps business and personal payments separate, and lets customers pay by QR code or direct payment in the app. Tap to Pay turns a phone into a payment terminal for contactless cards and wallets. Setup is quick, and there is no monthly cost for the profile itself.
The direct payment rate is the lowest percentage in this list, at 1.9 percent plus 10 cents. Tap to Pay costs more, at 2.9 percent plus 9 cents, and instant transfers to a bank cost 1.75 percent, with a minimum of 25 cents and a maximum of 25 dollars, while standard transfers are free. Venmo is available only in the United States, and it does not offer the inventory, staff, or reporting depth of Square, Clover, or Helcim. A seller who serves many Venmo users can save on fees, but should keep a card processor for buyers who do not use Venmo.
What we like- Low rate for direct business payments, no monthly cost, QR codes, and Tap to Pay on a phone
Watch out for- US only, no full inventory or point of sale system, and instant bank transfers cost extra
How we chose
We compared vendor pricing pages, product documentation, and public reviews on G2, Capterra, and Reddit, with a focus on features that matter to a small business: in-person and online rates, fixed fees, hardware costs, invoicing, inventory, and integrations. Products were kept only when they are available in the United States, accept card payments through a phone or reader, and fit a small business budget. We gave weight to clear pricing, a usable free or low-cost entry point, and a fit for a stated selling style, rather than to a single headline rate.
We also checked each vendor homepage to confirm the product still exists under that name and that the website listed belongs to that vendor. Prices change, and some vendors list different rates by country, plan, or sales channel, so the rates here are United States rates as published in October 2026.
How to pick the right payment app for your sales pattern
Start with where the money comes from. A market seller who takes most payments face to face should weight the in-person rate and the reader cost first. An online seller should weight the online rate, the fixed fee, and checkout tools, because a 30 cent or 49 cent fixed fee changes the cost on a 10 dollar sale far more than on a 100 dollar sale. A service business that invoices should check invoice rates, bank transfer options, and whether recurring billing is included.
Match the plan to average sale size
Work out the cost on three real sales: a small sale, a typical sale, and a large sale. A flat rate looks simple, but the fixed fee can make a low-ticket business pay a high effective rate. Interchange-plus pricing can help on larger sales, while a low percentage rate such as Venmo direct payments can help when buyers already use that app. If most sales are small, a lower fixed fee often matters more than a slightly lower percentage.
Check hardware, contracts, and payouts before you commit
Add hardware, monthly software fees, and any contract term to the processing cost for the first year. Check payout timing, chargeback fees, and whether offline payments are supported, because a reader that stops at a market with weak signal can cost sales.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest mobile payment app for a small business?
There is no single cheapest app, because the answer depends on sale size and sales channel. Venmo direct payments cost 1.9 percent plus 10 cents, which is low for small to mid-size sales from Venmo users. Zettle by PayPal costs 2.29 percent plus 9 cents for in-person card sales, which is low for face-to-face card sales. A seller should model the cost on real sales, including fixed fees, hardware, and monthly fees, before choosing on price alone.
Do I need hardware to take mobile payments?
No, not always. Several apps accept Tap to Pay on a phone, and all of the apps here offer payment links or QR codes for remote or counter sales. A reader still helps when a customer wants to insert a chip card, when the phone signal is weak, or when a printed receipt is needed. A reader also gives a clearer checkout at a busy counter, even when Tap to Pay is available.
Is a free plan enough for a new small business?
A free plan can be enough at the start, when sales are low and needs are simple. Square, Helcim, SumUp, Zettle by PayPal, and Venmo all offer a no-monthly-fee entry point, with payment processing charged per sale. A paid plan becomes worth it when lower processing rates, staff tools, inventory depth, or reporting save more than the monthly fee. Review the plan after a few months of real sales, rather than paying for features that are not yet used.
What is the difference between flat-rate and interchange-plus pricing?
Flat-rate pricing charges one percentage plus one fixed fee for most cards, which makes budgeting simple. Interchange-plus pricing passes the card network cost through at cost and adds a stated margin, so the total moves with the card type. Flat rates can overcharge on low-cost debit cards, while interchange-plus can cost less on larger sales and debit-heavy sales. The trade-off is a statement that takes more reading, and a total that is less predictable sale by sale.
Can I use more than one payment app?
Yes, and many small businesses do. A common pattern is a main card processor for the counter or website, plus PayPal or Venmo for buyers who prefer those apps. That mix can raise the blended rate on some sales, but it can also close sales that would otherwise be lost. Keep records in one place where possible, and check that each app reports sales in a way that fits the accounting tool used.
Sources we checked (14)
- https://squareup.com
- https://stripe.com
- https://www.paypal.com
- https://www.helcim.com
- https://www.sumup.com
- https://www.zettle.com
- https://www.clover.com
- https://venmo.com
- https://www.posusa.com/square-fees-pricing/
- https://www.helcim.com/guides/processors-with-the-lowest-credit-card-processing-fees/
- https://www.sumup.com/en-us/credit-card-processing-fees/
- https://wisesmallbusiness.com/paypal-pos-system/
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/business/software/reviews/clover-pos
- https://venmo.com/business/profiles
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.