Methodology · last reviewed 12 May 2026
How we rank providers.
We earn from every provider listed. Ranking by merchant fit is the most profitable strategy for us — and the only honest one. Here's exactly how it works.
Inputs
- · Venue type
- · Approximate monthly card volume
- · Current provider, if any
- · Hospitality features you need
Filters
- · Providers whose suitable venues don't include yours
- · Providers missing a feature you marked required
- · Quote-only providers shown separately
Sort order
The ranking is just these four things, in order.
01
Total monthly cost ascending
Processing fees at your volume + monthly service fee + terminal rental + amortised hardware (over 24 months).
02
Faster settlement wins
Instant beats next-day beats 2–3 day beats weekly. Cash flow matters.
03
Shorter contract wins
Month-to-month beats 18-month beats 36-month.
04
Seamless partner, only at genuine ties
If cost, settlement, and contract are all equal, our partner provider wins. Disclosed here because it's the only place a partnership affects the displayed rank.
What does NOT influence the ranking
- · The bounty or residual we earn from any provider.
- · Whether a provider is a Seamless partner — except as the final tiebreak above.
- · Which CTA we show you. CTAs vary by lead-routing rules; the ranking does not.
Source-controlled
The ranking algorithm lives in source control under src/lib/comparison/rank.ts, with full Vitest coverage of the boundaries and tiebreaks. Every released change is reviewable in the public git history.
Rate freshness
We re-verify each provider's pricing quarterly. Each provider's review page shows when its rates were last verified. If a provider's rates haven't been re-verified in over six months you'll see a warning.