Helcim Fee Calculator — See Your Exact Processing Cost
Enter the transaction amount to calculate Helcim's interchange-plus processing fees and your net payout. Compare to Stripe, Square, and other payment processors.
Transaction Details
You Receive
$48.60
Processing Fee
$1.40
Fee Rate
2.8%
Helcim Fees
| Online Transaction Fee | $0.25 |
| Online Transaction (Flat) | $0.25 |
| Interchange Fee (est.) | $0.90 |
| Total | $1.40 |
Interchange+ pricing with no monthly fees or contracts.Updated 2026-04-03
Helcim at a Glance
| Availability | US & Canada |
| Monthly Fee | $0 |
| Payout Speed | 2 business days |
| Chargeback Fee | $15 |
| Currencies | USD, CAD |
| Buyer Protection | Varies by card network |
| Contract | None |
Helcim Fee Structure
Helcim is a Canadian-founded payment processor known for its interchange-plus pricing with no monthly fees, no setup costs, and no contracts. What sets Helcim apart is its automatic volume discount program: as your monthly processing volume increases, your rates decrease automatically with no negotiation required. Helcim supports online payments, in-person card-present transactions via its smart terminal, invoicing, and recurring billing. It is especially popular with small-to-mid-sized businesses looking for transparent, cost-effective payment processing.
| Payment Type / Volume Tier | Fee (Interchange +) |
|---|---|
| Online (card-not-present) | IC + 0.50% + $0.25 |
| In-person (card-present) | IC + 0.40% + $0.08 |
| Volume discount: $25K+/mo | IC + 0.40% + $0.20 (online) |
| Volume discount: $50K+/mo | IC + 0.35% + $0.18 (online) |
| Volume discount: $100K+/mo | IC + 0.25% + $0.15 (online) |
| Monthly fees | None |
For a $100 online transaction with a typical interchange rate of 1.8%, Helcim charges approximately $2.55 total (interchange $1.80 + markup $0.50 + flat $0.25). This is significantly cheaper than Stripe's $3.20 for the same transaction. At the $100K+ monthly volume tier, the same transaction would cost just $2.20 — making Helcim one of the most affordable processors for growing businesses.
Helcim vs Stripe vs Square
Helcim's interchange-plus model is inherently more transparent and typically cheaper than the flat-rate pricing used by Stripe (2.9% + $0.30) and Square (2.9% + $0.30 online, 2.6% + $0.10 in-person). For a $100 online transaction, Helcim saves roughly $0.65 compared to Stripe. The gap widens further with Helcim's volume discounts. Square offers a free card reader and strong point-of-sale features, making it better for brick-and-mortar retail. Stripe's developer tools and extensive API are unmatched for custom integrations. Helcim sits in the sweet spot for businesses that want low costs, no contracts, and automatic rate reductions as they grow.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Helcim charge per transaction?
Helcim uses interchange-plus pricing. Online transactions cost interchange + 0.50% + $0.25, and in-person transactions cost interchange + 0.40% + $0.08. With a typical interchange rate of 1.8%, an online $100 transaction costs approximately $2.55 total. There are no monthly fees, setup fees, or cancellation fees.
Is Helcim cheaper than Stripe?
In most cases, yes. Helcim's interchange-plus pricing typically results in total costs of 2.3-2.6% for online transactions, compared to Stripe's flat 2.9% + $0.30. The savings increase with higher volumes thanks to Helcim's automatic volume discounts. At $100K+/month, Helcim's markup drops to just 0.25% + $0.15 above interchange.
Does Helcim have volume discounts?
Yes. Helcim automatically reduces your rates as your monthly processing volume increases. Discounts kick in at $25,000/month, with further reductions at $50,000 and $100,000+. Unlike most processors, these discounts are applied automatically — no negotiation or phone calls required.