If you run an online or offline business and want to take payments, you will most likely need to set up a merchant account to allow you to receive payments via credit and debit cards.
In addition, if you sell offline you’ll also need a card machine and if you sell online you’ll need a payment gateway.
You can choose whether to get your merchant account, card machine and/or payment gateway separately or together. We’ve taken a look at many of the available merchant account and payment processing providers below to see what they can offer.
The table below gives a quick price comparison of the top UK providers merchant account and payment processing.
| Company | Basic Card Processing Fees |
|---|---|
| Worldpay | 2.75% + 20p |
| Square | 1.75% |
| PayPal | 2.75% |
| Shopify | 2.2% + 20p |
| Barclaycard | Not stated |
| Stripe | From 1.4% + 20p |
| Klarna | Not stated |
| Opayo | Not stated |
| PayPoint | Not stated |
| Payzone | Not stated |
| Adyen | Not stated |
| First Data | Not stated |
| Paymentsense | Not stated |
| Elavon | Not stated |
| Global Payments | Not stated |
| Ingenico | Not stated |
| Trust Payments | Not stated |
| Verifone | Not stated |
| Digital River | Not stated |
| Retail Merchant Services | Not stated |
| CCBill | From 3.9% |
| Handepay | Not stated |
| nochex | Not stated |
| CyberSource | Not stated |
| Paysafe | Not stated |
| Worldline | Not stated |
| WePay | Not stated |
| NMI | Not stated |
| ecoPayz | Not stated |
| Checkout.com | From 0.25% |
| 2Checkout | From 2.5% |
| i-Payment | Not stated |
| EVO Payments | Not stated |
| Braintree | From 1.9% |
| Card Cutters | From 15p per transaction after first 100 |
| BlueSnap | From 1.4% |
| Cardstream | Not stated |
| Takepayments | Not stated |
* The facts and figures included here come from each company’s website and were accurate at the time of writing but may have since changed. Also, please keep in mind these may not be apples to apples comparisons as each provider offers different solutions. This guide should be used as a starting off point for more research on your part.
Below we profile each of the companies’ services and features in a bit more detail.
Note companies are ranked based on search popularity but this in no way indicates that one solution is better than another.
Topics
1. WorldPay
Some of the features and benefits of WorldPay’s merchant account and payment processing.
- Simple and transparent pricing
- No joining fees
- 24/7 UK based support
- Reliable security offering advanced fraud protection
- Accepts a wide range of payments
- Offers services across multiple channels including card machines, online, email and telephone
- Accepts payments from anywhere in the world
- Supports contactless, mobile payments, chip & pin, and magnetic swipe
- Flexible pricing plans to support businesses of all sizes
- A large well-known provider with vast experience
WorldPay is one of the leading payment processing companies across the globe who offer a broad range of offerings for businesses that want to accept payments through different payment routes.
WorldPay customers can receive payments through physical card payments through all payment technologies, online transactions, and virtual payments over the phone, mail or email. They offer four payment plans the allow businesses the flexibility they need whether it is a simple plan, fixed monthly plan to give stability, customised plan to better suit your needs, or pay as you go plans for lower volume users.
2. Square
Some of the features and benefits of Square’s merchant account and payment processing.
- Fast deposits by the next business day
- Free POS app
- Accept physical payments via chip & pin, contactless and mobile payments
- Accept payments online and virtually over the phone, mail and email
- Send out invoices
- Manage all your locations through one account
- Dedicated support by phone, email, tweet and online guides
- Sales reporting tool and real-time analytics available
- Inventory management tool
- Dispute resolution and chargeback protection
Square is a payment services provider that offers a broad range of services which include point of sale systems and equipment, online and virtual payments, cash app to send money instantly, send invoices, and paying employees.
Square’s payment processing service allows their customers to receive payments online securely and accept virtual payments over the phone, via email or mail. They offer card payment terminals which work with their point of sale app that is available for mobiles and tablets and they provide iPad POS stand. Through their systems, you can manage payments, digital receipts, inventory and run reports.
3. PayPal
Some of the features and benefits of PayPal’s merchant account and payment processing.
- A well-known brand that gives confidence
- Payments cleared quickly
- Accept online payments via PayPal and card payments
- Accepts Apple Pay and Android Pay
- Card terminals that can accept card, contactless and mobile payments
- Payments are protected by PayPal’s world-class security
- Use the payment app on any device in conjunction with the card reader
- Create customised receipts
- Manage your inventory through the app
- Run customisable reports
PayPal offers more than just simple online transactions to businesses as they provide a complete payment service which enables businesses to accept payments online and in person. PayPal enables their customers to accept PayPal and card payments on their website through either built-in checkout or online forms.
PayPal offers both card and contactless payments as well as Apple Pay and Android Pay for point of sale purchases through their card terminals. Money taken through the card terminal will be paid into your accounts almost instantly. The PayPal app and terminal are protected by PayPal’s security that is world class.
4. Shopify
Some of the features and benefits of Shopify’s merchant account and payment processing.
- Support sales through a wide variety of platforms and in person
- Offer a 14-day trial
- Point of sale card readers
- Online payments on your website
- Receive payments through the Facebook shop on your Facebook page
- Receive payments through Facebook Messenger
- Offer a buy button which can be added to any site or blog
- Create automated order updates
- Scalable solution that can grow with your business
- Create your own Shopify shop front
Shopify has been built to help smaller businesses to make transactions with its customers regardless of their location and payment choice. Businesses can utilise Shopify to allow them to set up an online shop or they can use their payment processing services independently. It also enables businesses to set up automated communications with their customers about their orders.
Shopify offers the ability to take online payments and payments in person through their card readers. They specialise in being able to assist their customers in creating sales opportunities across all platforms by providing support for Facebook and Messenger sales as well as buy buttons that can be added anywhere.
5. Barclaycard
Some of the features and benefits of Barclaycard’s merchant account and payment processing.
- Competitive and transparent merchant service
- Point of sale solutions
- Portable and mobile card machines
- In-app payments
- A wide variety of card readers
- Online payment solutions
- Virtual terminals by phone and mail
- Payment gateway solutions only
- Cater for a wide range of businesses and sizes
- Secure service with proactive fraud monitoring
Barclaycard is a well-known division of Barclays bank that offers payment processing solutions to businesses of all sizes and types. Their service gives established business support and secure service that offers peace of mind with their proactive fraud monitoring from a trusted provider.
Barclaycard uses a wide range of card readers to give their customers a choice of reader that suits their business needs which also includes portable and mobile card readers. They support all payment routes including online, in-store, over the phone and in the mail through their virtual terminals. They offer merchant services and payment gateway solutions.
6. Stripe
Some of the features and benefits of Stripe’s merchant account and payment processing.
- Specialise in providing the tools required for an internet business
- Scalable service to grow with your business
- Mobile commerce available on Android and iOS
- Payments on the go for a wide range of services and products
- Online payments
- Simple pricing with no setup fees, monthly fees or hidden charges
- Reporting facilities
- First-class support for subscription businesses
- Supports accounting processes and can export data to popular accounting software
- Millions of businesses already use Stripe
Stripe is a payment software provider who supports businesses of all sizes from new start-ups to large businesses. Their software enables businesses to not only accept payments online but also manage their business online.
Stripe’s payment platform combines useful apps that help businesses to increase their revenue which includes managing income and preventing fraud. They use a powerful engine that makes transactions easier and their cloud-based infrastructure delivers reliability and security. They offer both internet payment services and point of sale card terminals for card transactions. They specialise in supporting businesses to grow and develop online by providing a wide range of payment routes.
7. Klarna
Some of the features and benefits of Klarna’s merchant account and payment processing.
- Quick and easy consumer finance
- Offers a variety of online payment options
- Ability to sell goods and pay 30 days later
- Offer monthly instalments
- Automatically schedule payments
- Integrates on any platform
- Credit checks
- Risk-free guarantee that you’ll get paid even if Klarna isn’t paid by your customers
- Support a wide range of businesses and sectors
- Provides payment solutions for over 100,000 merchants
Klarna is a Swedish bank and payment solutions provider that was founded in 2005 with the aim to make online shopping easier for both merchants and customers.
Klarna’s online payment processing offers businesses a different type of payment service as they offer a variety of payment options which include spreading payments. They offer three payment solutions which include Pay Later where customers can pay up to 30 days later. They also offer two instalment products which are Slice it and Slice it in 3 which allow monthly instalments. Slice it offers a credit check and quick consumer finance. Slice it in 3 offers scheduled payments with no interest or consumer fees.
8. Opayo
Some of the features and benefits of Opayo’s merchant account and payment processing.
- Fast, simple and secure payment solutions
- Multiple payment route solutions
- In-store card terminals accepting contactless, mobile, chip and pin
- Portable and mobile card machines
- Secure online payments
- Process mail orders and over the phone payments
- Invoice payment solution with online or over the phone payments
- 24/7 support that is UK based
- Integrates with Sage accounting software
- High level of security
Opayo, formally Sage Pay, is a well-established payment processing provider that was established in 2001 in the UK to help small to medium-sized businesses to access online payment services. They were part of the Sage Group who provide other financial and accounting service products.
Opago offers a wide range of payment solutions which include face-to-face payments using portable and mobile card terminals which accept contactless, chip and pin, and mobile payments. They offer online payment processing and virtual payments taken through mail order and over the phone. Their invoice capability also allows customers to pay invoices online and over the phone.
9. PayPoint
Some of the features and benefits of PayPoint’s merchant account and payment processing.
- MultiPay is a multi-channel payment solution
- Easy to use portal to manage all payment channels
- Real-time reporting
- Economies of scale through combining your payment channels with a single provider
- Direct debit solution
- Secure online payments
- Virtual payments taken over the phone
- App integration solutions
- Text message payment
- Established payment provider
PayPoint maybe a familiar name that you recognise as you may have seen the name at convenience stores where they accept utility payments or return parcels, but PayPoint has a lot more to offer all types of businesses than just this. PayPoint offers a wide range of payment processing solutions that enable businesses to combine all their payment channels into one simple payment portal, a single contract and reduce your overheads.
MultiPay is PayPoint’s multi-channel payment solution which enables businesses to receive payments through a variety of channels including online, virtual payments over the phone, integration with your app, text message payment, direct debit payments.
10. Payzone
Some of the features and benefits of Payzone’s merchant account and payment processing.
- Integrates with over 50 carts
- Point of sale card terminals
- Portable and mobile card terminals
- Secure online payments
- Virtual payments over the phone
- Invoicing
- Offer merchant accounts
- UK based support 7 days a week
- No setup fees for card and online payments
- Highly rated on Trustpilot
Payzone has been supporting businesses in the UK for 25 years to accept and receive digital payments. Payzone’s services and products allow businesses to take card payments in-store using their card terminals, take payments on the go with portable and mobile card terminals, use their payment gateway to take payments online, or through the virtual terminal for phone payments.
Payzone offers full merchant services to support businesses in their payment processing by providing a merchant account that can help your business prevent fraud and make your card payment processing safe and secure. The account holds the payments whilst the customer’s card details are checked for available funds.
11. Adyen
Some of the features and benefits of Adyen’s merchant account and payment processing.
- Unified customer experience as all payments are made through one provider
- In-store card terminals
- Terminals connected by LAN, Wifi with 4G back up as well as offline processing
- Accept all payment methods
- Integrated web-based system
- Online payments
- Manage your eBay Marketplace
- Real-time data and reporting
- Work with many large global businesses
- Global business that processed €108 billion of transactions in 2017
Adyen is a large global payment processing provider that delivers its services for many large global brands including eBay, Microsoft, Uber and Booking.com. They were established in 2006 to recreate the digital payment process and create an infrastructure fit for the future.
Adyen offers a full range of payment processing services that allow businesses to unify their payment processing to help them manage their business more effectively. They provide an integrated web-based system that enables businesses to track and report on their in-store, online and eBay Marketplace transactions. Their card terminals run on the latest technology and have back up in place through 4G and offline processing.
12. First Data
Some of the features and benefits of First Data’s merchant account and payment processing.
- One system to manage all your business
- Accept card payments in-store
- Card reader combined with a tablet/mobile
- Offers an online payment gateway for online payments
- Take payments on the go through mobile payments
- Track your payments
- Manage employees through the same system
- Track your inventory
- Secure and safe service
- Provides solutions for a wide range of businesses
First Data offers card processing and payment solutions that are suitable for small businesses, multinationals and financial institutions. They offer services from basic card terminals through to wider business management support.
First Data offers a product called Clover which they promote as the next generation of electronic point of sale systems. It allows you to manage your payments both in-store and online, track payments and inventory, employee management, and access your data from anywhere through their cloud-based software. It can also assist you in setting up loyalty or reward programmes that can combine in-store and online purchases. You can also analyse your data to gain insights into your business and your customers.
13. Paymentsense
Some of the features and benefits of Paymentsense’s merchant account and payment processing.
- Low-cost merchant and card payment processor
- Plug and play technology card readers
- Set up in as little as 3 days
- Countertop, portable and mobile card machines
- Online payment gateway
- Virtual terminal to take payments over the phone
- Online dashboard to view track and manage your transactions
- Regular performance reports
- 24/7 support based in the UK
- Trusted by over 60,000 small businesses in the UK
Paymentsense is one of Europe’s largest merchant service provider and they deliver their services to over 60,000 small businesses from their offices in London, Hull and Belfast. Established in 2010, their mission is to support small businesses by assisting them to meet the need of accepting card payments. They utilise the combined buying power of all their customers to negotiate better rates for everyone.
Paymentsense offer solutions that allow businesses to accept card payments in-store, on the go with portable and mobile card readers, online and over the phone through virtual terminals. They have made their services accessible through their online dashboard which allows businesses to track and manage their transactions.
14. Elavon
Some of the features and benefits of Evalon’s merchant account and payment processing.
- Simple and reliable service
- Accept payments including contactless, Apple Pay, credit and debit cards
- Large card terminal range
- Portable, mobile solutions
- Online payments that integrate with offline payments
- Convert your tablet into a cash register
- Fast payments with same day settlement
- Secure payment solutions
- 24/7 support service
- Powerful business management tool with an online reporting system
Evalon is an Irish based business that offers payment services to businesses in the UK and they specialise in supporting small businesses. They offer a flexible service that allows businesses to grow with them and adapt their payment services when needed.
Evalon accepts most payment types and has created a flexible payment solution that allows payments in person in stores or out and about through their card terminals that can be portable and that combined with mobiles or tablets, online through their payment gateway software, and over the phone using their virtual payments system. They also offer reporting and management tools to increase the understanding of your business.
15. Global Payments
Some of the features and benefits of Global Payments’ merchant account and payment processing.
- Accept payments anywhere on any device
- Online payment solution
- Virtual terminal
- On mobile purchases
- In-app purchases
- Customisable to your brand
- 1-click payments
- Includes anti-fraud tools
- Reporting tool to give valuable insights
- A solution that adapts to 30 languages
Global Payments is a Dublin based software driven payment processing provider who offers their services to retail, insurance, gaming and education sectors. Global Payments offer the facility to accept a huge range of payment methods which can be taken online through their payment platform and through their virtual terminal for over the phone payments.
Global Payments focus their proposition on their global reach as they offer a solution which accepts 140+ global payments, adaptable in 30 languages and accepts 143 currencies. They aim to assist businesses to grow their revenue by expanding their reach to other countries which are enabled through their global payment platform.
16. Ingenico
Some of the features and benefits of Ingenico’s merchant account and payment processing.
- End-to-end payment solution provider
- Centralised and integrated payment solution
- Multi-channel solution
- In-store payments through Axis
- Online payments
- Mobile payments
- Incorporates loyalty cards and programmes
- Allows prepaid and gift card management
- Reporting facilities
- Customer data analysis and marketing campaign management solutions
- Secure transactions and fraud protection tools
Ingenico is a global player and leader in seamless payments which offer end-to-end payment solutions to allow businesses to receive payments across multiple channels through one software solutions. They offer payment processing solutions through in-store systems, online software platform and mobile payments.
Ingenico has been trading for over 35 years and is the provider of services to all major acquiring banks and around 70% of the world’s leading retailers. Their systems incorporate a wide range of facilities and promotional options such as reporting, customer data and marketing campaign analysis, loyalty cards and programmes, prepaid and gift card management.
17. Trust Payments
Some of the features and benefits of Trust Payments’ merchant account and payment processing.
- Omnichannel payment solution provider
- Secure trading
- Easy integration
- Hosted payment processing
- Virtual terminal
- Point of sale systems
- Multilingual
- Multi-currency with dynamic currency conversion
- Reporting portal
- Dedicated account management
Trust Payments, formally Secure Trading, has been operating for over 20 years and operates around the global. They offer a payment processing service through their gateway solution that allows businesses to trade outside their own country in multiple currencies. They have designed their products and services to help businesses excel online.
Trust Payments offers a wide range of payment processing support and tools that include online purchases that are conducted through their payment gateway, over the phone payment through their virtual terminal, and in-store using their point of sale. They offer UK-based account management and support and have teams of experts to help businesses to maximise their reach.
18. Verifone
Some of the features and benefits of Verifone’s merchant account and payment processing.
- Seamless and integrated payment solution
- Online payments
- In-store payment solutions
- In-app payments
- Business and customer-facing apps
- End-to-end device management
- Power to deploy, configure and manage your devices
- Secure and safe service
- Reporting and analysis facility
- A provider that offers a greater breadth of offering that allows you to manage more devices
Verifone is a well-established global business who provide payment processing in over 150 countries and process over 7.6 billion transactions each year which account for 50% of the world’s non-cash transactions. They are one of the largest point of sale card terminal businesses and were one of the first in the market.
Verifone offers a wide range of payment processing services which allow you to have a seamless payment solution from one provider who supports online payments, point of sale card terminals and support, as well as in-app purchases. Verifone prides itself on its security and customer friendliness with the incorporation of customer-facing apps.
19. Digital River
Some of the features and benefits of Digital River’s merchant account and payment processing.
- Tailored payment solutions
- Seamless payment solution
- An integrated solution allowing you to manage all customer interfaces and orders
- Personalisation tools to help create better customer experiences
- Online payments
- In-app payments
- Cloud-based solution with self-service controls
- Works with its customers to help them expand into new locations and innovative ways of selling their products and services
- International selling support and experience
- Secure service with fraud protection safeguards
Digital River has almost 25 years’ experience in the industry and operates across four continents. They operate through an advanced commerce cloud and they offer flexible integrations, tailored solutions that enable businesses to manage their payment solution seamlessly.
Digital River offers a global service that helps businesses to expand into new geographical locations and they provide support for innovation that can assist you in reaching your customers through new channels or methods. Digital River only provides e-commerce solutions that support online and in-app payments. They protect their service by reducing risk and implementing anti-fraud safeguards.
20. Retail Merchant Services
Some of the features and benefits of Retail Merchant Services’ merchant account and payment processing.
- Low-cost payment solution
- Same day settlement
- Accept a range of cards, contactless and mobile payments
- Offer a wide range of card machines
- Online payments through their payment gateway
- Virtual terminals to accept over the phone payments
- Countertop, portable and mobile card machines
- Hosted payment page or integrated API solution
- Rated excellent on Trustpilot
- Offers exclusive membership benefits
Retail Merchant Services was established in 2007 to create an affordable card payment processing service for small businesses in the UK and Ireland. They specialised in supporting smaller businesses as they wanted to create a fairer offer for small businesses and to give them the service they deserved.
Retail Merchant Services offers a complete payment solution that allows businesses to accept payments through in-store card terminals, online through their payment gateway and over the phone through their virtual terminal. Retail Merchant Services deliver a service that is award-winning, secure and has an excellent rating on Trustpilot.
Retail Merchant Services website
21. CCBill
Some of the features and benefits of CCBill’s merchant account and payment processing.
- Online payment services included their processing package
- Integrated service to reduce costs
- Offers subscription service support
- Accept a wide range of payment methods
- Admin portal giving businesses access to all their data
- Reporting facilities
- Flexible service that grows with your business
- Robust infrastructure and fraud protection
- Multilingual pages
- Supports 30,000 internet businesses
CCBill was founded in 1998 and is a global business with offices in Europe and the US. They have created a payment processing business that specialises in subscription service support and automated billing. Their online payment platform has been founded on a robust infrastructure which conducts secure localised payments.
CCBill offers a range of price plans to cater for different business types and business locations that have no setup fees or monthly fees. They provide international services that allow payment in a wide range of currencies, payment methods and they offer pages in a variety of languages.
22. Handepay
Some of the features and benefits of Handepay’s merchant account and payment processing.
- Handepay pledge to pay your switching fees
- Fast and secure transactions
- Low rates, simple pricing with no hidden fees
- No joining fees
- No minimum monthly service charge or authorisation fees
- Variety of card terminals – countertop, portable and mobile
- Online payments
- Over the phone or mail payments via their virtual terminal
- 24/7 service and support
- Highly rated on Trustpilot
Handepay is a Merseyside based payment processing provider who has set themselves up as a low-cost alternative that makes card payments simple with their no hidden fee structure. They claim that their customers can save 36% by switching to them and they offer to pay most switching fees through their Handepay pledge.
Handepay offers fast and secure transactions for payments that are conducted online through their payment gateway, virtually over the phone and in the mail, and also in-store using their card machines. They offer a range of card machines that take a variety of payment types and you can choose between countertop, portable and mobile systems.
23. Nochex
Some of the features and benefits of nochex’s merchant account and payment processing.
- Claim to be the UK’s no.1 alternative to PayPal
- Low charges
- Simple and safe way to receive online payment
- No need for a traditional merchant account
- Over the phone payments
- Email invoices
- Recurring payment processing
- UK based support
- Customisable solution
- Provides services to a wide variety of businesses
Nochex has set themselves up as an alternative to PayPal in the UK and believe that they are the number 1 alternative. They state that their service is different to most traditional payment service providers as they do not require you to have a traditional merchant account but offer customers their alternative account that is simple to set up and use.
Nochex is a UK based payment processing company that operates online using their payment gateway, telephone payments through their virtual terminal, recurring or subscription services, and invoicing services. They offer a customisable solution and cater for a wide variety of business across the UK.
24. CyberSource
Some of the features and benefits of CyberSource’s merchant account and payment processing.
- Payment solution that caters for all business sizes
- In-store systems
- Over the phone payments
- Online payments
- Mobile payments
- Payment gateway connects to over 100 acquirers and processers
- Operate in 190 countries
- Handle multiple currencies
- Back-end integration
- Reconciliation reports
CyberSource is a payment gateway provider and a payment management company who were established in 1994 and they cater for businesses of all sizes. They provide two software solutions to their customer which are called CyberSource and Authorize.Net which provides a wide range of services that includes processing online payments, fraud management and payment solution.
CyberSource is a global business that utilises over 100 acquirers and processors which allows them to handle payments in 190 countries in many different currencies. They offer payment processing across all channels including in-store card machine, over the phone payments using virtual terminals, online and mobile payments.
25. Paysafe
Some of the features and benefits of Paysafe’s merchant account and payment processing.
- All in one solution
- In-store payment systems
- Accept all major cards
- Deploy new point of sale technologies
- Online payments
- End to end solution for the iGaming sector
- Payment solution for the travel sector
- Solutions that can grow with your business
- Support with compliance
- Accounting reporting
Paysafe is a payment processing business that provides both software and marketplace platforms that offer an integrated service which gives customers a smoother payment solution rather than piecing together a complete solution.
Paysafe offers both online and offline solutions for payment processing which enables businesses to integrate their payment solution across the channels. Their in-store card payment solutions enable customers to accept all major cards through their new technologies deployed in their point of sale systems. Their online solutions cater for all businesses but they have specialist solutions for the iGaming and travel sectors to assist them in developing and growing their business.
26. Worldline
Some of the features and benefits of Worldline’s merchant account and payment processing.
- Complete payment processing solution
- Merchant services
- Great customer experience
- In-store payment systems
- Online payment processing
- Provider of wider financial transactions such as ATM machines, e-wallets, mobile and digital banking services
- Global provider
- Secure and quick processes
- Fraud risk management
- Handle billions of transactions per year
Worldline is not just a payment processing provider but a much broader financial services business that offer services which include ATM machines, e-wallets, mobile and digital banking, digital ticketing, as well as connectivity products that allow you to control environments remotely.
Worldline’s payment processing services allow businesses to manage their transactions with one provider who offers a secure and fast payment solution in-store using their card terminals or online. They offer personalised customer experiences in-store to help businesses differentiate themselves and accept a wide range of payments including mobile payments. They offer online solutions which allow businesses to tailor their solution, maximise their digital potential and gain insight from their transactions.
27. WePay
Some of the features and benefits of WePay’s merchant account and payment processing.
- Integrated payment design
- Seamless processing
- Instant onboarding to start accepting payments within minutes
- Customisable solution
- Control as much of the solution as you want
- In-store systems
- Online payment processing
- Trusted brand
- Offers insights and analysis
- Assistance in risk management and compliance
WePay is an integrated payment solution provider that offers seamless processing to create a fast and secure method of receiving digital payments from customers. WePay offers a customisable solution that allows businesses to decide how much control and personalisation they want in their payment exchanges. They also offer a fast set up service to get businesses mobilised quickly.
WePay offers both online and offline payment solutions through an integrated platform which allows businesses to gain insight into their transactions and customers. They offer a wide range of in-store card payment solutions which include smartphone and tablet solutions. They also offer online solutions which allow multiple payment methods.
28. NMI
Some of the features and benefits of NMI’s merchant account and payment processing.
- Integrated payment solution
- Unified look and feel at every customer interface
- In-store payment systems
- Mobile payments
- Online payments
- Self-service payments
- Centralised reporting
- Support all development platforms and apps
- Provide services to over 110,000 merchants
- Delivered over 600 million transactions
NMI has been a player in the payment processing market since 2003 where they originally supported the payments made through chip and pin technology but have subsequently grown to support a wider set of payments.
NMI offers businesses an integrated payment solution that enables businesses to create a single identity across all of their payment methods that presents a unified experience for the customer whether they pay online, in-store, by mobile or through self-service points. They have developed software that can be integrated into any platform and a reporting functionality that allows businesses to analyse their customer data.
29. ecoPayz
Some of the features and benefits of ecoPayz’s merchant account and payment processing.
- Safe and secure payment service
- Simple integration
- Merchant accounts
- Online payments
- Mobile payments
- Free registration
- Global business
- Accepts over 45 currencies
- Anti-fraud security checks
- Also can be used to pay staff and suppliers
ecoPayz is a global payment solution provider founded in 2000 that offers services to both individuals and businesses as a means to make payments across the globe. They offer end to end solutions for businesses which include merchant accounts and card-based payment solutions. ecoPayz is owned by PSI-Pay Ltd.
ecoPayz offers businesses the ability to take their business global through providing services that enable them to accept payments in over 45 currencies from anywhere in the world with the peace of mind that the transactions are safe and secure. Their solution is online or mobile based only as they do not offer in-store systems or virtual terminals.
30. Checkout.com
Some of the features and benefits of Checkout.com’s merchant account and payment processing.
- An integrated solution that works with all major shopping carts
- Competitive prices
- Transparent pricing
- No setup fees
- No account maintenance fees
- Accept payments from major credit and debit cards, and digital wallets
- Online payments
- Fast and secure transactions
- Dedicated account management
- Risk and fraud management tools included
Checkout.com offers an integrated payment solution that gives businesses the opportunity to combine their payment gateway, international acquiring and payment processing in one solution.
They operate across most of the global. They offer a broad range of payment methods that include traditional credit and debit cards, digital wallets which include pass-through and stored-value wallets, as well as some alternative payment methods.
Checkout.com offers online payment processing but they do not offer in-store payment solutions or virtual terminals. Their solution integrates with all major shopping carts. Checkout.com claim that their service is highly competitive and that they pass through the card rates to their customers, they also charge no setup or maintenance fees.
31. 2Checkout
Some of the features and benefits of 2Checkout’s merchant account and payment processing.
- Offer seamless, reliable and safe payment processing
- Online payments
- Mobile payments
- Global payment solution in over 180 countries and accepting 87 currencies
- Available in 15 languages
- Customisable checkout
- Integrates with over 100 online carts
- Advanced security protection
- Incorporates tax management and compliance
- Experienced provider
2Checkout is a global e-commerce and payment processing provider that has a pre-integrated payments gateway and merchant account that offers fraud prevention and PCI compliance. 2Checkout has been operating since 2000 in over 180 countries and 15 languages accepting 87 currencies.
2Checkout is a payment processing provider who offers both online and mobile payments through their advanced security protection. They offer a customisable checkout to maximise the customer experience and to retain your marketing identity.
Their solution integrates with over 100 online carts to help increase your business reach. To assist businesses in complying with regulations they have incorporated compliance mechanisms and tax management facilities.
32. i-Payments
Some of the features and benefits of i-Payments’ merchant account and payment processing.
- Global payment solutions provider
- Competitive rates
- Online payments
- Integrated payment platform
- Supports card payments from Union Pay, American Express, Visa and Mastercard
- Offers multi-currency
- Has a network of acquirers worldwide
- Accepts alternative payment methods
- Dedicated support team
- Real-time fraud screening
i-Payments are a London based payment processing provider that is part of Liri Holdings Group who are a Hong Kong financial services and technology provider. They offer a global payments service for online businesses and they provide multilingual support.
i-Payments payment solutions offer online payment solutions that accept payments from Union Pay, American Express, Visa and Mastercard in multiple currencies. They specialise in supporting e-commerce, travel, gaming, e-wallet and financial services, FOREX and Binary Option industries. They offer a dedicated support service and real-time fraud screening to support their customers.
33. EVO Payments
Some of the features and benefits of EVO Payment’s merchant account and payment processing.
- Integrated payment solution
- Competitive pricing
- In-store systems
- Online and mobile payments
- Supports a wide range of industries
- Dedicated customer support
- 150 currencies
- 50 global markets
- Provides services to over 550,000 businesses and over $100 billion per year
EVO Payments is a well-established payment processing provider who was founded in 1989 and has created partnerships with many key players in the financial market including banks. They are a global payment processing business that provides services in 50 global markets and in 150 currencies.
EVO Payments services include in-store payment systems, online payments through their payment gateway, and mobile payments. They support a wide range of industries across the globe and offer dedicated customer support. They claim that their services are competitively priced and that they are amongst the largest integrated merchant acquirers and payment processors.
34. Braintree
Some of the features and benefits of Braintree’s merchant account and payment processing.
- Global payment processor
- Seamless integration with the most popular payment methods
- No minimum amounts, monthly fees or hidden fees
- Online and mobile payments
- Modernised and optimised payment experience
- Manage internal costs and automate back-end processes
- Dedicated customer support
- Accepts over 130 currencies
- Risk mitigation and fraud prevention
- Backed by a large fintech brand
Braintree is an established global payment platform which has over 20 years’ experience and is part of PayPal service and backed by one of the largest and trusted fintech brands. They offer payment technology that is a scalable solution that is delivered with dedicated customer support. They are a global player with merchants in over 40 countries and accept over 130 currencies.
Braintree helps businesses to connect with more customers through offering the broadest range of payment methods which include credit and debit cards, PayPal, Venmo (in the US), and e-wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.
35. Card Cutters
Some of the features and benefits of Card Cutters’ merchant account and payment processing.
- Integrated payment processing
- In-store card machines
- Online payments
- Over the phone payments
- Customisable payment page
- Work with Global Payments to offer payment processing
- Real-time transaction monitoring and reporting
- Stock management and booking systems
- 24/7 customer support
- Multi-lingual
Card Cutters is a UK based business with offices in England and Ireland that was founded in 2009. They currently work with over 7,000 merchants providing them with a range of services and products. Their solutions cater for small independent businesses through to larger multiple outlet businesses.
Card Cutters offers a wide range of card machines and countertop systems to rent that enable their businesses to accept card payments. They have partnered with Global Payments to deliver payment processing online and to accept over the phone payments through virtual terminals. These systems offer the advantage of helping businesses to track and monitor their business and their customers.
36. BlueSnap
Some of the features and benefits of BlueSnap’s merchant account and payment processing.
- All-in-one payment platform
- Offers both a payment gateway and merchant account
- Online and mobile payments
- Virtual terminal to process over the phone and mail payments
- Subscription management
- Online marketplaces
- Collect invoice payments
- Connects to 30 global banks
- Dashboard and reporting facilities
- Fraud prevention and risk management
BlueSnap is a global payment processing business that offers customers an integrated solution which combines both the payment gateway and merchant account. They provide a platform that can handle 100 shopper currencies and pays out in 13 currencies. They accept over 100 global payment types and they connect to up to 30 global banks.
BlueSnap offers online payments, mobile payments, virtual terminals for mail and phone payments, subscription management, online marketplaces, accepts eWallet payments, and collecting invoice payments. Their platform offers intelligent payment routing to get the best conversions, reporting facilities, management dashboard, chargeback management, as well as fraud prevention and risk management solutions.
37. Cardstream
Some of the features and benefits of Cardstream’s merchant account and payment processing.
- White label payment gateway provider
- Service for resellers only
- Single integration point
- Cloud-based platform
- Online payments
- Mobile payments
- Over the phone payments
- Management systems
- Global network and scalable solution
- The platform behind many well-known payment processing providers
Cardstream is white label payment gateway provider who offers their services as the background service behind many other providers who brand the service as their own. They offer a single integration point that enables providers to connect to a wide range of acquirers, payment methods including alternative types, and e-commerce connectors.
Cardstream’s solution is not a mainstream solution for retailers but for resellers such as banks, PSPs, ISOs and software companies. Their services include a management system, payment forms, modules and billing which can be rebranded. Their cloud-based payment platform enables customers to pay online, through mobiles and over the phone through virtual terminals.
38. Takepayments
Some of the features and benefits of Takepayments’ merchant account and payment processing.
- Accept payment over the phone and online
- No setup fees
- 12-month contract
- Safe and secure
- Payment gateway
- Pay by link
- Virtual terminal
- Link to over 50 shopping baskets
- Customisable online checkout
- Simple set up
Takepayments is a payment services provider that offers a variety of solutions including card terminals, online payments, order and pay at table and EPOS system. Their online payments include a payment app, pay by link, phone payments and payment gateway. Their payment solutions are safe and secure.
Takepayments offers a 12-month contract that has no setup fees. Their payment gateway allows you to accept payments from all major credit and debit cards, and can link to over 50 shopping baskets. The online checkout is customisable and can be branded to your business and is simple to set up.
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FAQ
What exactly is a merchant account?
A merchant account is a business bank account that charges a minimal fee for electronically processing credit and debit card payments.
Once a consumer enters their PIN or taps their card, the value of the sale is sent from their account to your merchant account, while the acquiring bank verifies the customer’s account for sufficient funds and possible card fraud.
How does a merchant account work? Within one to three business days after approval, the funds, less the charge, will be deposited in your account.
There are three primary kinds of merchant accounts are as follows:
Aggregated: Aggregated merchant accounts combine several payments into a single transaction, allowing expenses to be divided and shared among many businesses. Due to their cheaper rates, they are the optimal choice for small businesses.
Dedicated: A dedicated account is created just for your company, enabling you to negotiate tailored rates based on your specific needs. Larger firms with continuous, high-volume transactions will benefit the most.
High-risk: These are designed for businesses operating in high-risk sectors such as tourism, gaming, and some subscription-based services. Because of the greater risk, the fees are higher.
Merchant account costs may include a one-time fee, monthly minimum fee, transaction fees, and discount fees, depending on the terms of your contract.
How do I get a merchant account?
As you can see above there are many UK merchant account providers.
To determine if they can supply you with an account and the conditions under which this account will be handled, the merchant account provider will need various details.
Dedicated merchant account providers, whether a financial institution or independent sales organisation, evaluate you for their merchant service based on three primary criteria:
The age of your company: The longer you’ve been in business, the more familiar you are with the hazards associated with credit card transactions.
Your financial history: Your credit report details how you have previously repaid debts and if you have defaulted.
Accounts with prior merchants: Positive previous experience with an account makes you more trustworthy.
As part of the registration process, you’ll be required to supply information about your business, including an estimate of your anticipated revenue. You must have a business banking account in your name to be approved by the payment provider.
How do I accept credit card payments without a merchant account?
It’s incredibly easy to set up your company so that you may accept card payments without a dedicated merchant account. Generally, it entails selecting a payment provider, installing the provider’s app on a mobile phone or tablet, and completing its short sign-up procedure.
Most payment providers enable you to integrate payment processing technology into your website, allowing the customers to make purchases via your online shop.
As part of the registration process, you’ll be required to supply information about your business, including an estimate of your anticipated revenue.
You must have a business account in your name to be approved by the payment provider.
How much does it cost to have a merchant account?
Fees for accepting card payments without a merchant account vary per supplier. SumUp costs 1.69% for face-to-face transactions, whereas Square charges 1.75%.
Fees for online payments vary again. For instance, Square has increased its charge to 2.5% on all online payments processed via its system.
However, if you use a payment processor that specialises in online payments – such as Stripe – you should expect to pay a little lesser charge.
Fees with a business merchant account vary as well, depending on the merchant provider you are using.
Most merchant banks and service providers require a monthly fee and a setup fee merely to maintain an account. Many providers will set up your account for free, while others may charge you.
It’s advisable to get estimates from many merchant service providers to make an informed decision about which one best meets your business’s requirements.
How do I withdraw money from my merchant account?
Unlike a commercial or personal account, a merchant account does not allow for deposit or withdrawal of funds directly. To access money from your merchant account, you must first transfer them to your business account.
Is a merchant account a bank account?
A merchant account is a specific type of dedicated bank account for your company that enables it to accept debit cards, credit cards, and online payments.
It serves as a holding account for funds before being transferred to your business’s primary bank account.
Is PayPal a merchant account?
PayPal functions similarly to a merchant account but with far greater capabilities. PayPal charges a higher fee for credit card transactions than the majority of other processors.
Instead of your primary email address, PayPal allows you to show your merchant ID. This prevents spammers from seeing your email address.
Is Shopify a merchant account?
The platform has its own payment tool, Shopify Payments, which enables you to register for a merchant account directly via the site, albeit with some restrictions.