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Honest, side-by-side
Including where the other guys are a fine choice. Every competitor number below comes from a public pricing page, with the date; we publish no rate of our own until you send a statement, and then we show the math. You get your real numbers next to ours within one business day.
Public pricing, citedNo fake numbersComparison in one business day
| Line item | Flat-rate provider | Merch FinTech |
|---|---|---|
| Card fees | One blended rate on every card | Interchange plus one disclosed margin, or a compliant dual-pricing program |
| Software | Monthly plan, add-ons extra | Basic $99/mo, credited back while you process with us |
| Merchant account | Often a sub-merchant under the provider | Your own, in your name |
| Other fees | PCI, statement, annual, by provider | No PCI program fee, statement fee or annual fee |
Send a statement and we fill in your numbers. Dual-pricing programs are subject to card-brand rules and state law.
Pick your matchup
Compare Merch FinTech to your current provider
Each page covers where that provider is a fine choice, where we win, a head-to-head table with public pricing, and what switching involves.
vs SquareFlat-rate convenience and generic tools vs software built for your industry, a merchant account you own, and processing that can cost you nothing.Salons, shops, servicesRead the comparison →vs StripeDeveloper rails where you earn only what you add yourself vs a platform that pays a published share of the margin to the software company bringing the volume.Online, SaaS, platformsRead the comparison →vs CloverHardware, a monthly plan and an app store bill vs software included with your processing and hardware you choose.Retail, quick serviceRead the comparison →vs ToastA strong restaurant-only system vs 150 ready-made editions, commission-free online ordering and zero-cost processing.Restaurants, caterersRead the comparison →vs MindbodySoftware tiers plus a processing markup vs booking, memberships and marketing with Basic credited back while you process.Studios, spas, salonsRead the comparison →Ready to switch?Free migration of contacts, items and schedules, a parallel run so nothing drops, and honest math on any remaining contract term.Any providerHow switching works →
The full table
Six providers, eleven rows
Published entry-plan pricing for US merchants. Where a provider does not publish a rate, we say so rather than guess; our own rate is on your quote, not on this page.
| Row | Merch FinTech | Square | Stripe | Clover | Toast | Mindbody |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software included | Yes — Basic $99/mo, credited back with processing | Free POS plan; paid tiers | — payments only | Monthly POS plan | POS from $0/mo | Subscription required |
| Who it's for | Any business, 150 ready-made editions; institutions; payment and software companies | New and very small businesses | Developers, online businesses | Retail and quick service via banks and resellers | Restaurants only | Fitness, wellness, beauty |
| In-person rate (public) | Interchange-plus or zero-cost | 2.6% + 15¢ | 2.7% + 5¢ | See provider pricing page | See provider pricing page | Not published; $0.10–$0.30 fixed fee |
| Online rate (public) | Interchange-plus or zero-cost | 3.3% + 30¢ (Free); 2.9% + 30¢ (paid tiers) | 2.9% + 30¢ | See provider pricing page | See provider pricing page | Not published; $0.10–$0.30 fixed fee |
| Monthly software fee | $99, credited back with processing; Pro $299 | $0 / $49 / $149 per location | $0 | See provider pricing page | From $0/mo | Starter under $80/mo per location; higher tiers quoted by sales |
| Zero-cost program | Yes — compliant dual pricing, within card-brand and state caps | Not published | Not published | Varies by reseller | Not published | Not published |
| Own merchant account, in your name | Yes | No — sub-merchant | Stripe account (Standard) or sub-merchant (Express/Custom) | Usually, via the reseller | No — Toast processes | Optional — third-party processor allowed |
| AI automation | Receptionist, workflow builder, office assistant (2027) | Some POS features | — | App-market apps | Restaurant tools | Add-on |
| CRM & marketing | CRM and texting in Basic; marketing in Pro | Paid add-ons | — | Paid apps | Add-on | Higher tiers, add-ons |
| White-label for partners | Yes — referral and white-label | Square brand only | Stripe brand only | Clover brand only | — | — |
| Revenue share for software companies | Published share of the processing margin; schedule in the term sheet | No published margin share | Application fee you add yourself; partner share negotiated above a volume bar | No published margin share | — | — |
Competitor pricing from public pricing pages as of October 2026; verify current terms. Rates are the standard published US rates on each provider's entry plan; custom and negotiated pricing differ. "Not published" means we found no standard public offer, not that it is impossible to arrange. Square, Stripe, Clover, Toast and Mindbody are trademarks of their owners; no affiliation or endorsement is implied.
Fair is fair
Where the other guys are a fine choice
We would rather tell you now than after you switch.
Square, when you are tiny or brand newA free reader, no application and a working till in an afternoon. Under a few thousand dollars a month, flat rate costs little and the ecosystem is pleasant.
Stripe, when you are building the checkout yourselfThe documentation, the APIs and the global reach are the best in the business. If your engineers want to own every pixel of checkout, Stripe is the tool.
Toast, when you run a large, complex kitchenMany stations, kitchen display, handhelds on the floor and a national support bench. For a high-volume full-service restaurant group, Toast's depth is real.
Mindbody, when the marketplace feeds youIf new clients find you through the Mindbody app and you are happy paying for that, the marketplace has value a private booking page can't copy.
How a comparison works
Your statement, line by line
1
Send one or two statementsEmail them to hello@merchfintech.com or use the form on the contact page. Any processor, any software.2
We read every lineInterchange, markup, monthly fees, PCI, statement and "regulatory" fees, software and add-ons. You get your true effective rate.3
You get the same month on our pricingInterchange-plus and the zero-cost program side by side, with the software you would stop paying for and the Basic credit shown. Within one business day, no obligation.FAQ
Questions about comparing
How are these comparisons put together?
From each provider's public pricing page as of October 2026, plus what businesses show us on their statements when they switch. Where a provider does not publish a number, we say so instead of guessing. Providers change terms, so verify current details before you decide.
What if my provider isn't listed?
Send a statement anyway. The method is the same for any processor or software: we read every line, work out your true effective rate, and show the same month on our pricing. You get the side-by-side within one business day.
Do I have to switch everything at once?
No. Many businesses start with processing and the zero-cost program, then move software modules at their own pace. We run the old and new systems in parallel so nothing breaks.
Is the Merch FinTech software really included?
Basic is $99 a month. While you process with Merch FinTech we credit it back on your monthly processing statement, so the software is on us. It includes CRM, online booking, invoicing, two-way texting, forms, a website and a client portal for two users. Pro is $299 a month and is credited back at higher processing volumes; talk to us.
See your numbers side by side
Send a recent statement and we'll show you a line-by-line comparison within one business day. Free, no obligation.
305-954-7362 · hello@merchfintech.com