The bottom line
Helcim doesn’t charge one flat rate. You pay the card networks’ cost for each card (called interchange), plus Helcim’s markup of 0.40% + 8¢ per in-person sale. There’s no monthly fee, no contract and no cancellation fee.
Helcim says most of its merchants end up with a total in-person rate near or below 2%, and below 2.5% for keyed and online payments. That’s their claim, not ours, so check it against your own card mix.
Helcim fees at a glance
Visit Helcim- Pricing model
- interchange plus (rates below are the markup on top of interchange)
- Contract
- No contract, no cancellation fee
- Payouts
- Next business morning
| Payment type | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| In person (card present) | Interchange + 0.4% + 8¢ | helcim.com |
| Online | Interchange + 0.5% + 25¢ | helcim.com |
| Keyed in | Interchange + 0.5% + 25¢ | helcim.com |
| ACH | 0.5% + 25¢ | helcim.com |
Monthly fees and plans
- Account monthly fee: $0
- PCI fee: $0
- Helcim POS / payments software: $0/month
Checked October 19, 2026 on helcim.com. Prices change, so confirm with Helcim before you sign.
The rates in the table above are Helcim’s markup only. Your total rate is that markup plus interchange, so it will always be higher than the number shown.
Who it’s for
- Businesses with steady volume. The markup gets smaller as you grow, and there’s no monthly fee to cover in a slow month.
- Shops where customers pay with PIN debit. Helcim says US PIN debit runs through its interchange-plus pricing, so “effective rates for debit processing can often be below 1%.” That’s Helcim’s claim.
- Owners who want to leave if it doesn’t work out. Helcim says there are “No contracts, leases, termination fees or cancellation fees.”
- Anyone who wants money fast. Helcim says credit and debit deposits arrive the next business morning, free.
Who should skip it
- Owners who want the same bill every month. Interchange changes with the cards your customers use, so your cost moves around.
- Businesses that take a lot of American Express. Helcim’s pricing page doesn’t say how Amex is priced. Ask before you sign.
- Shops with many small online or keyed-in sales. The fixed part of the markup is 25¢ for those payments, against 8¢ in person.
The catch
The headline number isn’t your total. Helcim’s 0.40% + 8¢ is what Helcim keeps. Interchange is added on top, and it changes with each card.
The pricing page doesn’t name a currency. Helcim’s main pricing page is shared with Canada and doesn’t label its markups in US or Canadian dollars. Its hardware pages list prices in US dollars.
Online and keyed payments cost more. The markup is 0.50% + 25¢ at the entry tier.
Some extras cost more. Recurring payments add 0.4% per payment. ACH payments cost 0.5% + 25¢, capped at $6, with an extra 0.05% on amounts over $25,000.
Chargebacks cost $15 if you lose. Helcim lists $0 when a dispute is resolved in your favor.
Financing the terminal costs more. The Smart Terminal is $349 to buy, or $32 a month for 12 months. That’s $384 in total, $35 more.
What it costs at your size
We can’t give you a total for Helcim without your statement, because interchange depends on which cards your customers use. What we can show is Helcim’s share, which is published.
Example: $10,000 a month in person, 400 payments.
- Helcim’s markup: 0.40% × $10,000 = $40, plus 400 × 8¢ = $32
- Helcim’s share: $72 a month, plus interchange on top
That $72 is not your bill. Your bill is $72 plus the interchange on all 400 payments.
Helcim’s markup drops as your monthly volume grows:
| Monthly volume | In person | Keyed and online |
|---|---|---|
| $0 to $50K | 0.40% + 8¢ | 0.50% + 25¢ |
| $1M to $5M | 0.15% + 6¢ | 0.15% + 15¢ |
Helcim publishes more tiers between these two, so check its pricing page for your volume. All rates above are Helcim’s markup on top of interchange. Helcim says its discounts “automatically apply based on the average of your last three months of processing volume.”
The best way to compare: take last month’s statement, work out your real rate in the fee calculator, then ask Helcim for a quote on the same month.
Compared with
Beyond the rate
What the rate table doesn't show, taken from Helcim's own terms and help pages.
Can they hold your money?
Helcim can pause or delay your payouts, or make you keep money in a reserve, to cover what you owe it.
Source: legal.helcim.comHardware lock-in
Helcim says its POS app only works with an iPhone, the Helcim Card Reader and the Helcim Smart Terminal, so you can't use other hardware with it.
Source: helcim.comLeaving
Helcim says it has no contracts or cancellation fees, and you close your account by calling its support team during business hours.
Source: helcim.comSupport
Monday to Friday 7am to 5pm MT; Saturday 9am to 5pm MT. phone +1 (877) 643-5246,contact form (reply within one business day)
Source: helcim.com
Common questions
How much does Helcim charge per transaction?
Helcim uses interchange-plus pricing. You pay the card's interchange cost plus Helcim's markup. At under $50,000 a month, that markup is 0.40% + 8¢ in person and 0.50% + 25¢ for keyed-in and online payments. The markup gets smaller as your monthly volume grows, down to 0.15% + 6¢ in person.
Does Helcim have a monthly fee?
No. Helcim says there are no account monthly fees, minimums, software fees or statement fees, and its PCI compliance self-assessment is $0. You pay for hardware if you want it. Helcim lists its Card Reader at $199 and its Smart Terminal at $349, and Tap to Pay on iPhone needs no hardware.
Is Helcim cheaper than Square?
It depends on your card mix. Square Free is 2.6% + 15¢ in person, all in. Helcim's markup is 0.40% + 8¢, but interchange is added on top. Helcim says most merchants end up near or below 2% in person (its claim, not ours). Compare your own statement before you switch.
What is Helcim's chargeback fee?
Helcim lists $15 if you lose a chargeback and $0 when the case is resolved in your favor. For comparison, Stripe charges $15 for each dispute you receive plus $15 if you respond, and PayPal lists a $20 chargeback fee plus its own dispute fees. If disputes are common in your line of work, this fee matters.