On this page14 sections
- Ratings and complaints
- Helcim vs. competitors
- Pricing
- Step by step
- Helcim legitimacy and licensing
- Helcim pricing and fees explained
- What you get with Helcim
- Helcim BestGuide Rating
- Helcim complaints and how to avoid problems
- Cancellation and contracts
- Who should look elsewhere
- What customers say
- Alternatives
- FAQ
Helcim suits small and growing businesses that want published interchange-plus pricing without monthly, setup, PCI or cancellation fees. It is a legitimate processor: it holds an A+ BBB rating, has been BBB accredited since 2014, and scores 4.0 out of 5 on Trustpilot from about 1,100 reviews. The tradeoff is that your rate changes by card type, so monthly costs are harder to predict than a flat rate. The main complaint theme is sudden account closures and held funds, so keep documents ready and avoid surprise spikes in volume.
- In-person rate
- Interchange + 0.40% + 8 cents on the first $50,000 a month, falling to interchange + 0.15% + 6 cents at $1M to $5M, as listed October 20261
- Keyed and online rate
- Interchange + 0.50% + 25 cents on the first $50,000 a month, falling to interchange + 0.15% + 15 cents at the top tier1
- Monthly and setup fees
- $0; no monthly account, setup, PCI compliance or cancellation fees1
- ACH payments
- 0.5% + 25 cents per transaction, capped at $6 (plus 0.05% on amounts over $25,000)1
- Hardware
- Card Reader $199; Smart Terminal $349 or $32 a month on a 1-year lease; Tap to Pay on iPhone adds 10 cents per transaction1
- Deposits
- Cards usually 1 to 2 business days; free next-business-day Faster Deposits for batches up to $25,000 closed by 7 p.m. Mountain time if your bank is on RTP or FedNow3
- Company
- Helcim Inc., Calgary, Alberta, with a US office in Seattle; founder and CEO Nicolas Beique6
- Other fees
- $15 per lost chargeback ($0 if won), $5 per ACH reject, +0.4% on recurring payments, optional $7 a month 4G data on the terminal1
Pros
- Published interchange-plus margins with automatic volume discounts
- No monthly, setup, PCI or cancellation fees, and no contract
- Free next-business-day deposits for eligible US banks
- ACH payments capped at $6 each
- A+ BBB rating and accredited since 2014
Cons
- Total rate varies by card type, so costs are harder to predict
- Card Reader ($199) and Smart Terminal ($349) cost more than basic readers elsewhere
- Recurring payments add 0.4% per transaction
- Reviews describe sudden account closures and fund holds
- Fewer restaurant features than Toast or SpotOn
Best for: Small and growing US or Canadian businesses with steady card volume that want transparent interchange-plus pricing without a contract.
Skip it if: You want a single fixed rate you can quote in advance, or a full restaurant POS with kitchen display and online ordering built in.
Helcim vs. competitors
| Company | Monthly fee | In-person card rate | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helcim | $0 | Interchange + 0.40% + 8 cents (up to $50,000 a month) | None |
| Square POS | $0 on Square Free | 2.6% + 15 cents (Free plan) | None |
| Stripe Terminal | $0 | 2.7% + 5 cents | None |
| Clover | $0 to $89.95 for the first device (Wells Fargo) | 2.40% to 2.60% + 15 cents (Wells Fargo) | Varies by seller |
Helcim pricing at a glance
Helcim card processing rates by monthly volume, as listed October 20261
| Monthly card volume | In-person | Keyed and online |
|---|---|---|
| $0 to $50K | Interchange + 0.40% + 8 cents | Interchange + 0.50% + 25 cents |
| $50K to $100K | Interchange + 0.35% + 7 cents | Interchange + 0.45% + 20 cents |
| $100K to $500K | Interchange + 0.25% + 7 cents | Interchange + 0.35% + 20 cents |
| $500K to $1M | Interchange + 0.20% + 6 cents | Interchange + 0.25% + 15 cents |
| $1M to $5M | Interchange + 0.15% + 6 cents | Interchange + 0.15% + 15 cents |
Volume tiers apply automatically based on your 3-month average. Interchange is the card network's wholesale cost and varies by card type, so your total rate changes from sale to sale. Recurring payments add 0.4% per transaction.
Helcim, step by step
Apply online
You submit business details, owner identification and a bank account. Some businesses are asked for extra documents before approval.
Pick how you take payments
Use the free POS app, virtual terminal, invoices or online checkout, and buy a $199 Card Reader or $349 Smart Terminal if you sell in person.
Close your batch
Card funds usually arrive in 1 to 2 business days; first batches take about 3 business days while Helcim reviews them.
Get volume discounts
As your 3-month average volume rises, Helcim moves you to a lower margin tier without a request.
Cancel any time
There is no contract or cancellation fee, and hardware you bought outright is yours to keep.
Helcim legitimacy and licensing
Yes. Helcim Inc. is a payment processor headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, with a US office in Seattle, led by founder and CEO Nicolas Beique. It has raised outside funding, including a $53 million Series C in 2026, according to the company.
The BBB rates Helcim A+, and it has been BBB accredited since November 2014, with 14 complaints in the last three years. On Trustpilot it scores 4.0 out of 5 from 1,097 reviews, with 77% five star and 17% one star, and the company replies to nearly all negative reviews.
Helcim pricing and fees explained
Helcim charges interchange plus a published margin. Interchange is what the card networks charge, and it differs by card type (a basic debit card costs less than a premium rewards card). On top of that, Helcim adds 0.40% + 8 cents for in-person sales and 0.50% + 25 cents for keyed and online sales on your first $50,000 a month. The margin drops in steps as your 3-month average volume grows, down to 0.15% + 6 cents in person at $1 million to $5 million a month.
There is no monthly account fee, setup fee, PCI fee or cancellation fee. Fees you can run into: $15 for each chargeback you lose, $5 per rejected ACH payment, an extra 0.4% on recurring payments and an extra 10 cents per Tap to Pay on iPhone sale. ACH payments cost 0.5% + 25 cents, capped at $6. Helcim says most merchants pay a total in-person rate near or below 2%, but your rate depends on your card mix.
What you get with Helcim
One account covers a free POS app, a virtual terminal for keyed payments, invoicing, recurring billing, online checkout and ACH bank payments. For in-person sales you can use Tap to Pay on iPhone, the $199 Card Reader or the $349 Smart Terminal, which can also be leased for $32 a month for a year.
Card deposits usually land in 1 to 2 business days after you close your batch. US merchants whose bank is on the RTP or FedNow networks get free next-business-day deposits for batches up to $25,000 closed by 7 p.m. Mountain time. Your first batches take longer, about 3 business days for cards and 7 for ACH, while Helcim reviews them.
Helcim BestGuide Rating
Based on BestGuide’s rigorous evaluation methodology, our expert panel awarded Helcim an Expert Score of 4.3/5.0. This score ranks Helcim in the top 15% of all payment processing services we have analyzed. Our scoring model evaluates five distinct service areas, weighting each based on transparency, merchant security, and general performance standards.
Helcim achieved its highest score of 95% in the Transparency category, reflecting its fully disclosed interchange-plus pricing structure and lack of hidden cancellation fees. In contrast, its lowest evaluation score was 80% in Scalability, representing its limited hardware range and 2-day deposit speed. The remaining categories scored 90% for Reputation, 80% for Services, and 85% for Customer Satisfaction. When compared to the general point of sale vertical average score of 3.8/5.0, Helcim represents an exceptionally strong choice for transparent cost management.
What customers say about Helcim
Recurring themes across the review sites and complaint records listed above, not individual quotes.
Common praise
- Patient, knowledgeable support staff who are real people
- Easy online sign-up and setup
- Clear interchange-plus pricing with no monthly fee
- Lower processing costs than flat-rate processors for many merchants
Common complaints
- Accounts closed with little explanation, sometimes soon after opening
- Deposits held or delayed beyond the stated timeline
- Requests for extra documents or reserves during reviews
- Long phone wait times when an account is restricted
Helcim complaints and how to avoid problems
Most negative reviews describe accounts that were closed or restricted, deposits held for review, and long waits for answers when that happens. Positive reviews mostly praise the support staff, easy setup and lower costs.
Holds and closures are common across all processors because the sponsoring banks require risk checks. To lower your risk: describe your business and expected volume accurately when you apply, tell Helcim before a large sale or a big jump in volume, keep invoices and proof of delivery for every sale, and respond quickly to document requests. If your account is closed, ask in writing when held funds will be released.
Cancellation and contracts
Helcim lists no contracts, leases or cancellation fees. You can stop processing whenever you want. Hardware you bought outright is yours. If you chose the $32 a month Smart Terminal lease, check your agreement for what you owe if you leave before the 1-year term ends, since Helcim’s pricing page does not spell that out.
Who should look elsewhere
If you want one fixed rate to quote and budget around, a flat-rate processor like Square is simpler. Full-service restaurants may want a POS built for them, such as Toast. Very low-volume sellers may save on hardware with a cheaper reader or by using Tap to Pay on a phone. High-risk businesses should read Helcim’s restricted list first, since a later closure is more disruptive than a declined application.
Alternatives to Helcim
- Square POS Better if you want one flat rate you can predict and a large hardware and app lineup. Read review
- Stripe Terminal Better if you have developers and want in-person payments tied into a custom app or website. Read review
- Clover Worth comparing if you want a full countertop POS sold through your bank, but read the contract terms. Read review
- Tap to Pay on your phone If you take only a few in-person payments, you can skip hardware and accept taps on an iPhone through Helcim or another processor.
Helcim reviews
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Frequently asked questions
Is Helcim a legitimate company?
Yes. Helcim is a Calgary-based payment processor with a US office in Seattle. It holds an A+ BBB rating, has been accredited since 2014, and scores 4.0 out of 5 on Trustpilot from about 1,100 reviews.
How much does Helcim charge per transaction?
In person, Helcim charges interchange plus 0.40% + 8 cents on your first $50,000 a month. Keyed and online payments cost interchange plus 0.50% + 25 cents. Both margins drop automatically as your volume grows.
Does Helcim have a monthly fee?
No. Helcim lists no monthly account fee, setup fee, PCI compliance fee or cancellation fee. Optional extras include 4G data for the Smart Terminal at $7 a month.
Does Helcim require a contract?
No. There is no contract and no early termination fee. The only term commitment is the optional 1-year Smart Terminal lease at $32 a month.
How long do Helcim deposits take?
Card deposits usually arrive in 1 to 2 business days after your batch closes. With free Faster Deposits, US merchants whose bank uses RTP or FedNow can get next-business-day funding on batches up to $25,000 closed by 7 p.m. Mountain time.
How much is the Helcim card reader?
The Helcim Card Reader is $199 and the Smart Terminal is $349, or $32 a month for a year. Tap to Pay on iPhone needs no hardware but adds 10 cents per transaction.
Why did Helcim close my account or hold my funds?
Helcim, like every processor, reviews accounts for risk and can hold funds or close accounts. Reviews describe this happening after unusual volume or missing documents. Ask Helcim in writing for the reason and the release date for held funds.
What does Helcim charge for chargebacks?
Helcim charges $15 for a chargeback you lose and nothing if you win the dispute.
Is Helcim cheaper than Square?
Often for steady volume, since Helcim adds a small margin to interchange while Square charges a flat 2.6% + 15 cents in person on its free plan. Small tickets or mostly premium rewards cards can narrow the gap, so compare using your own card mix.
Does Helcim work in the US and Canada?
Yes. Helcim serves merchants in both countries, and it also accepts Interac debit in Canada at 9 cents per transaction, or 12 cents for tap.
Sources (10)
Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards
- Helcim: Pricing (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Helcim: Faster Deposits (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Helcim Learn: Bank deposit timelines (accessed October 13, 2026)
- BBB: Helcim (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Trustpilot: Helcim reviews (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Helcim: About us (accessed October 13, 2026)
- CFPB: Consumer complaint database search for Helcim (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Square: Pricing (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Stripe: Terminal (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Clover: POS pricing (accessed October 12, 2026)
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