The bottom line
Helcim’s markup sits on top of the card networks’ cost for each card (called interchange), so your total moves with your card mix. There is 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%. That’s their claim, not ours, so check it against your own card mix.
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Helcim fees at a glance
Visit Helcim- Pricing model
- interchange plus (rates below are the markup on top of interchange)
- Contract
- Month to month, 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 |
| Interac debit | Interchange + 9¢ | helcim.com |
Monthly fees and plans
- Account monthly fee: $0
- 4G wireless data (optional): $9
- Helcim POS / Virtual Terminal / invoicing (included): $0/month
Checked October 22, 2026 on helcim.com. Prices change, so confirm with Helcim before you sign.
The rates in the table above are Helcim’s markup only, so your total rate 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 lots of customers pay by debit. Interac is a flat 9¢ (12¢ for tap), whether the sale is $10 or $500.
- 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 their money fast. Helcim says deposits arrive the next business morning for credit and debit.
Who should skip it
- Owners who want the same bill every month. Interchange changes with the cards your customers use.
- Businesses that take a lot of American Express. Helcim’s pricing page doesn’t say how Amex is priced. Ask before you sign.
- Anyone who needs a free terminal. Hardware costs extra (see below).
- Businesses that need help evenings or Sundays. Helcim’s support hours are limited (see below).
The catch
The headline number isn’t your total. 0.40% + 8¢ is what Helcim keeps. Interchange is added on top, card by card.
You buy the hardware, and Helcim doesn’t rent it. Helcim’s product pages list the Card Reader at $239 CAD and the Smart Terminal at $429 CAD, or 12 monthly payments of $39 CAD. Helcim says it “does not lease our equipment,” so the monthly option buys the terminal, and adds up to $468, which is $39 more than paying up front. The main pricing page shows these prices with no currency label and adds shipping.
Some extras cost more. Recurring payments add 0.4% per payment. Bank payments (EFT and pre-authorized debit) 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 favour.
Support keeps business hours. Helcim’s contact page lists phone support Monday to Friday, 7 AM to 5 PM Mountain time, and Saturday 9 AM to 5 PM. It doesn’t claim 24/7 support. Closing your account is done by calling support during those hours, too.
The Card Reader can’t work offline. Helcim says “the Helcim Card Reader does not support offline payments.” Its pages don’t say whether the Smart Terminal can. If your signal is weak, ask before you buy.
Tap to Pay on iPhone isn’t available in Canada yet. Helcim says it is “currently available for US merchants.” In Canada, you need the reader or the terminal.
Helcim can hold payouts. Its terms say it may delay payouts or make you keep a reserve. Most big processors have a clause like this, so keep a cash cushion whoever you choose.
Is Helcim a POS system?
Yes, a simple one. Helcim includes a point of sale app, virtual terminal, invoicing, recurring billing and online checkout, with no monthly fee for any of them.
The catch is hardware. Helcim’s point of sale page says its app “is proprietary and will only work with an iPhone device, Card Reader and the Helcim Smart Terminal to accept card payments,” so you can’t bring a terminal you already own.
Helcim works best if you mainly need to take cards and send invoices. For a full-service restaurant or a store with a big inventory, compare dedicated systems on our POS systems page.
What it costs at your size
We can’t give a total without your statement, because interchange depends on your customers’ cards. Helcim’s share is published. For in-person credit card sales (our estimates):
| Monthly sales | Payments | Helcim’s markup | Your total |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3,000 | 120 | $12 + $9.60 = $21.60 | $21.60 plus interchange |
| $10,000 | 400 | $40 + $32 = $72 | $72 plus interchange |
| $40,000 | 800 | $160 + $64 = $224 | $224 plus interchange |
| $75,000 | 1,500 | $262.50 + $105 = $367.50 | $367.50 plus interchange |
The $75,000 row uses the lower 0.35% + 7¢ markup for $50,000 to $100,000 a month.
Debit lowers Helcim’s share. At $10,000 with half the sales on debit, the markup on $5,000 of credit is $20 plus 200 × 8¢ = $16, for $36. The 200 debit payments add $18 at 9¢ each, or $24 if they’re all taps. So Helcim’s share is $54 to $60, plus interchange on the credit half.
The markup drops as your monthly volume grows:
| Monthly volume | In person | Keyed and online |
|---|---|---|
| $0 to $50K | 0.40% + 8¢ | 0.50% + 25¢ |
| $50K to $100K | 0.35% + 7¢ | 0.45% + 20¢ |
| $100K to $500K | 0.25% + 7¢ | 0.35% + 20¢ |
| $500K to $1M | 0.20% + 6¢ | 0.25% + 15¢ |
| $1M to $5M | 0.15% + 6¢ | 0.15% + 15¢ |
Helcim says it bases your tier on the average of your last three months.
The best way to compare: work out your real rate from last month’s statement in the fee calculator, then ask Helcim for a quote on the same month.
Will Helcim cost less than a flat rate?
On a credit sale, Helcim costs less when interchange plus its markup comes in under the flat rate. Against Square’s flat 2.5% in person (our math):
- On a $25 sale, Helcim’s markup is 0.40% × $25 + 8¢ = 18¢, or 0.72% of the sale. Helcim costs less if interchange is under 1.78%.
- On a $100 sale, the markup is 48¢, or 0.48%. Helcim costs less if interchange is under 2.02%.
Bigger sales favour Helcim, because the 8¢ matters less. Small sales favour flat rates.
Debit is simpler, because both prices are published. Helcim’s 9¢ is less than Square’s 0.75% + 7¢ on any debit sale over about $2.67, and its 12¢ tap price on any sale over about $6.67.
Where do you find interchange? On interchange-plus, it’s on your statement. On a flat rate you won’t see it, so ask Helcim to quote last month’s sales. Our guide to interchange-plus vs flat rate explains the trade-off.
Is Helcim cheaper than Stripe?
In person, Stripe charges 2.7% + 5¢. On a $25 sale that’s 2.9%, so Helcim costs less if interchange is under 2.18%. On a $100 sale, Stripe is 2.75%, so the line is 2.27%.
Online, the gap is wider. Stripe’s 2.9% + 30¢ is $2.04 on a $60 sale, or 3.4%. Helcim’s online markup on that sale is 55¢, so Helcim costs less if interchange is under about 2.48%. Helcim says most of its merchants end up below 2.5% in total on keyed and online payments (their claim). Debit favours Helcim too: 9¢ against Stripe’s 15¢.
Two differences that aren’t about price:
- Point of sale. Helcim includes a POS app. Stripe doesn’t have its own POS for small merchants, so you’d need a separate system.
- Payout speed. Helcim deposits arrive the next business morning. Stripe’s default payout in Canada is 3 business days, and your first payout takes 7 days.
What to ask Helcim before you switch
- How is American Express priced?
- Can the Smart Terminal take payments offline?
- What would last month’s sales have cost, interchange included? Send your statement and ask for the total, not just the markup.
Compared with
- Square: a flat 2.5% in person with no monthly fee. Easier to predict, but debit is 0.75% + 7¢ and foreign cards add 1.5%.
- Clearly Payments: also interchange-plus, with published markups from 0.38% + 8¢ in person once you process $150,000 a year. Terminal rental is extra and not priced publicly.
Beyond the rate
What the rate table doesn't show, taken from Helcim's own terms and help pages: can they hold your money?, works offline?, hardware lock-in, leaving, support. Show ▾
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 there are no penalties or cancellation fees, and you close your account by calling its support team during business hours.
Source: legal.helcim.comSupport
Monday to Friday 7am to 5pm MT; Saturday 9am to 5pm MT. Channels: 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, which starts at 0.40% + 8¢ in person and 0.50% + 25¢ for online and keyed-in payments. The markup drops as your monthly volume grows. Interac debit is 9¢, or 12¢ for tap, in Canada.
Does Helcim have a monthly fee?
No. Helcim says there are no account monthly fees, minimums, software fees or statement fees, and its POS, virtual terminal and invoicing tools are included. You pay for hardware if you need it. Optional 4G wireless data is listed at $9 CAD a month on their site.
Is Helcim cheaper than Square?
It depends on your card mix and size. Square is a flat 2.5% in person. Helcim adds a 0.40% + 8¢ markup to interchange, and Helcim says most merchants end up with a total in-person rate near or below 2% (their claim). Debit is clearer: 9¢ at Helcim versus 0.75% + 7¢ at Square.
What is Helcim's chargeback fee?
Helcim lists $0 for disputes resolved in your favour and $15 if you lose. That is lower than some processors. Moneris, for example, lists $25 per chargeback. Stripe charges CA$15 when a dispute is opened and another CA$15 if you contest it.
How do Helcim's volume discounts work?
Helcim lowers its markup as your monthly card volume grows, from 0.40% + 8¢ in person under $50,000 a month down to 0.15% + 6¢ between $1 million and $5 million. Helcim says the discount applies automatically, based on the average of your last three months of processing.
Is Helcim a POS system?
Yes. Helcim includes a point of sale app, virtual terminal, invoicing, recurring billing and online checkout with no monthly fee. The POS app is Helcim's own, and Helcim says it only works with an iPhone, the Helcim Card Reader and the Helcim Smart Terminal. If you need table service or deep inventory tools, compare full POS systems first.