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What We Look For in the Best Credit Card Processing Companies for Churches1. Leaders Merchant Services: A Bargain for Churches With Simple Needs2. PAYARC: Best for Churches That Want to Accept Donations From All Over the World3. Flagship Merchant Services: Best for Churches That Want to Start Processing Donations ASAP4. Stax: Best Credit Card Processing for Big Churches With High-Volume Transactions5. POS Pros: Best for Churches That Collect Donations From Memberships and Events6. PaymentCloud: Specific Accounts for Non-Profit MerchantsIncrease Your Donations by Selecting the Best Credit Card Processor for Your ChurchFAQ
Short on Time? These Are the Best Credit Card Processors for Churches in 2023
- Leaders Merchant Services – Everything you need at inexpensive rates for small, established low-risk churches.
- PAYARC – Discounted rates for churches that meet 501(c)(3) requirements and support for international donations.
- Flagship Merchant Services – High approval rates and quick onboarding for churches with no credit or low credit history.
What We Look For in the Best Credit Card Processing Companies for Churches
After months of research, I came confidently say these are the key features you must consider when selecting a credit card processor for your church:- Reasonable fees. I looked for credit card processing companies with payment models favoring organizations that process multiple small transactions monthly. All providers on my list have either affordable fees or discounted rates for churches.
- Donation tracking and reporting. Most of my recommended credit card processors provide software that allows you to keep track of your donations, and in most cases, you don’t have to pay extra for it.
- A range of payment methods. This is essential because you’ll want to accommodate diverse donor preferences.
- Surcharging. Having the option to pass the credit card processing fees to your donors will result in more money for your mission.
- Free POS equipment. Most of my options provide the equipment for processing in-person donations for free. Some also offer apps that can turn your mobile and tablet into terminals, enabling you to accept donations during events outside your church.
Free Card Reader

Best Credit Card Processor in 2023
Best Credit Card Processor in 2023
Negotiable Low Credit Card Processing Rates
Monthly Fee:
$9
Transaction Fee:
From 2% + 0¢
Pricing Model:
Multiple options
Multiple options
This payment processor allows you to choose from two or more different pricing models for paying credit card processing fees. Each model will come with its own advantages and disadvantages, so make sure to consider your options carefully before deciding which is right for your business.
Features and Benefits
- Customized accounts. Talk to your sales representative about your industry, size, and challenges to receive a more personalized credit card processing solution.
- Subscription and loyalty programs. These services cost extra but are essential for securing ongoing donations.
- Free POS equipment. You can get one high-quality Clover device for free without a contract.
- Flexible funding options. In times of fundraising drought or when you need a cash injection, you can get merchant cash advance from LMS. This type of funding doesn’t require you to put in collateral – LMS will take a percentage of each future donation, plus a small fee until you pay back the amount you owe.
Supported Payment Methods | Credit and debit cards, digital wallets, ACH, bank transfers, check |
POS Equipment |
|
PCI Compliance Fee | $129/year |
Transaction fees on cheapest plan | ~2% + 0¢ |
Monthly fee on cheapest plan | $9.00 |




Custom Payment Processing Plans With No Hidden Costs
Monthly Fee:
From $69
Transaction Fee:
From 0% + 15¢
Pricing Model:
Multiple options
Multiple options
This payment processor allows you to choose from two or more different pricing models for paying credit card processing fees. Each model will come with its own advantages and disadvantages, so make sure to consider your options carefully before deciding which is right for your business.
Features and Benefits
- Comprehensive dashboard for donation management. From the dashboard, you can easily create and customize invoices for supporters to complete donations in seconds. It also boasts in-depth reporting, allowing you to analyze performance and maximize donations.
- Recurring billing. PAYARC provides you with the tools to schedule donations and send reminders to your donors to complete their contributions at no additional cost. It’s an excellent way to ensure you’re getting ongoing support and cut marketing costs for campaigns that result in one-time donations.
- Free equipment with some plans. Some PAYARC plans include a free PAX A920 terminal. This particular model is portable and has a long-lasting battery, making it ideal to pass along to congregants during service. You can also use it to process payments at remote events.
- No PCI compliance fee. PAYARC covers all PCI compliance fees for you, something that will cost you at least $100+ at other processors.
Supported Payment Methods | Credit and debit cards, ACH, digital wallets, bank transfers |
POS Equipment |
|
PCI Compliance Fee | ✘ |
Transaction fees on cheapest plan | 2.49% + 30¢ (in-person) |
Monthly fee on cheapest plan | N/A |
3. Flagship Merchant Services: Best for Churches That Want to Start Processing Donations ASAP




Fast Onboarding & Quick Payouts With Same-Day Funding
Monthly Fee:
From $15
Transaction Fee:
From 1.58% + 19¢
Pricing Model:
Multiple options
Multiple options
This payment processor allows you to choose from two or more different pricing models for paying credit card processing fees. Each model will come with its own advantages and disadvantages, so make sure to consider your options carefully before deciding which is right for your business.
Features and Benefits
- Same-day funding. If you ever need funds urgently, Flagship gives you the option to access them the same day for an extra charge.
- Personal account manager. The company will assign you a dedicated account manager to guide and assist you through the entire process. Digging through customer reviews, I found that agents aren’t the most transparent, so double-check before accepting anything.
- iAccess Business Management Portal. As a Flagship customer, you get access to a powerful donation management and reporting tool.
- Free high-quality equipment. I rarely see credit card processing companies offering expensive brands like Clover for free. With Flagship, you get a free Clover Mini or Verifone terminal as a welcome gift.
Supported Payment Methods | Credit and debit cards, ACH, bank transfers, digital wallets |
POS Equipment |
|
PCI Compliance Fee | $99/year for PCI and other compliance checks |
Transaction fees on cheapest plan | 1.58% + 19¢ (in person) |
Monthly fee on cheapest plan | $7.95 |




Save Up to 40% on Credit Card Processing Fees
Monthly Fee:
From $99
Transaction Fee:
From 0% + 10¢
Pricing Model:
Subscription
Subscription
With subscription-style pricing, you’ll pay a fixed monthly fee instead of a percentage-based markup on each credit and debit card transaction. While this will considerably reduce your per-transaction fees, you’ll typically still pay a small flat fee on each transaction. This amount is unaffected by the variable interchange fees charged by the different card networks (e.g. Visa, Mastercard), helping to keep your payment processing fees more predictable.
Features and Benefits
- Easy-to-use dashboard and robust analytics. Stax’s free all-in-one software allows you to oversee all your donations, securely store donors’ data, set up recurring payments, and access reports.
- Free recurring payments. This feature, included in your monthly rate, is a breeze to implement with Stax and can save you up to 40 accounting hours a month. You can set up recurring billing for both credit and debit cards. It’s also a great way to get support from those who may not be able to visit your church.
- Unlimited Text2Pay mobile payments. With this feature, you can collect donations by sending your donors text reminders, and they can authorize the payment by simply replying to your text. It’s an easy and frictionless donation method you can rarely find elsewhere.
- Monthly contracts with no cancellation fees. Unlike competitors that will lock you into multi-year contracts, Stax offers flexible monthly agreements and allows you to cancel for free at any time.
Supported Payment Methods | Credit and debit cards, ACH payments, digital wallets, Text2Pay, bank transfers |
POS Equipment |
|
PCI Compliance Fee | PCI compliance fee not included |
Transaction fees on the cheapest plan | 0% + 10¢ (in-person) |
Monthly fee on cheapest plan | $99.00 |
5. POS Pros: Best for Churches That Collect Donations From Memberships and Events




Specialized Point-of-Sale Solutions for In-Person and Online Sales
Monthly Fee:
From $5
Transaction Fee:
From 0.30% + 10¢
Pricing Model:
Multiple options
Multiple options
This payment processor allows you to choose from two or more different pricing models for paying credit card processing fees. Each model will come with its own advantages and disadvantages, so make sure to consider your options carefully before deciding which is right for your business.
Features and Benefits
- Free POS device and consultation. POS Pros has an impressive range of hardware from 25+ brands. You’ll receive a free consultation with a POS specialist to help you select the best equipment for your needs. You can also qualify for a free terminal.
- Payment gateway at a discounted rate. If you use MembersLeap through POS Pros, you’ll get access to Authorize.net for less than what you’d pay directly to Authorize.net. Through this advanced payment gateway, you’ll get additional invoicing, subscription, and security tools.
- Next-day payouts. POS Pros releases your funds to your bank account within 24 hours as standard.
- Generous price-match policy. If you’re processing credit card donations elsewhere, POS Pros promises to either save you money on your current rates or give you $500 if it fails to offer a better deal. POS Pros will even pay any early termination fees you might encounter at your current processor just to win you as a customer.
Supported Payment Methods | Credit and debit cards, ACH, bank transfers, digital wallets, QR codes ( depending on the POS brand used) |
POS Equipment |
|
PCI Compliance Fee | PCI non-compliance fee applies if PCI self-assessment questionnaire is not submitted within three months |
Transaction fees on the cheapest plan | 0.30% + 10¢ (in-person) |
Monthly fee on cheapest plan | $5.00 |
6. PaymentCloud: Specific Accounts for Non-Profit Merchants




Affordable Rates & Advanced Security Features for High-Risk Businesses
Monthly Fee:
$14
Transaction Fee:
From 2.1% + 15¢
Pricing Model:
Interchange plus
Interchange plus
Interchange-plus pricing involves two fees for each credit or debit card transaction. The first is the interchange fee, a variable amount set by the card network (e.g. Visa, Mastercard). The second is a markup fee charged by the payment processor, typically a percentage of the transaction amount plus a small flat transaction fee. This allows you to see exactly how much of what you pay goes to the card networks and how much to the payment processor.
Features and Benefits
- Dedicated account manager. In your first interaction with customer support, you’ll get a personal agent to support you throughout the entire setup and onboarding process.
- Zero-cost credit card processing. If your state allows it, you can automatically add a surcharge to your donors’ credit card transactions. PaymentCloud also provides you with a surcharge-compliant card terminal.
- PCI compliance fee included in the monthly rate. This is an extra I rarely see included in the subscription price. PaymentCloud can potentially save you an average $70 – $120 annually, an amount you’d have to pay for PCI compliance elsewhere.
- Advanced security and fraud protection. PaymentCloud provides an additional layer of security, thanks to its payment gateway and encrypted software specifically designed for high-risk industries like the non-profit sector.
Supported Payment Methods | Credit and debit cards, digital wallets, ACH/eChecks, MOTO, bank transfers, cryptocurrency |
POS Equipment |
|
PCI compliance fee | PCI compliance fee included in the monthly rate |
Transaction fees on cheapest plan | Around 2.1% + 15¢ |
Monthly fee on cheapest plan | $14.00 |
Increase Your Donations by Selecting the Best Credit Card Processor for Your Church
I’ve researched dozens of services that claim to be the best credit card processors for churches, but I gave my amen only to six. Of those, my top recommendations offer affordable rates, personalized accounts, and reliable donation management software. If you’re a smaller church that only needs essential features, LMS is my top recommendation. LMS offers one of the lowest rates in the industry, and you can really score a bargain with its meet-or-beat guarantee if you already process elsewhere. If you need international processing support, go with PAYARC. You can also use its proprietary payment gateway, which is one of the most affordable gateways in the industry, to process domestic donations. If you’re a registered 501(c) organization, PAYARC will offer you discounted rates. If you’re eager to start collecting donations as soon as possible, consider Flagship Merchant Services. With one of the highest approval rates in the industry, Flagship offers a fast onboarding process and flexible monthly contracts, plus custom pricing to suit your church’s needs.The table below will help you identify the best payment system for your church at a glance.
Best Feature | Best For | Monthly fee on cheapest plan | Transaction fees on cheapest plan | ||
Leaders Merchant Services | Personalized payment solutions and support at industry’s lowest rates | Small or new churches that are looking for essential features | $9.00 | ~2% + 0¢ | |
PAYARC | Support for international donation processing and discounted rates for registered 501(c) organizations | Churches that accept (or want to start accepting) donations from all over the world | N/A | 2.49% + 30¢ (in-person) | |
Flagship Merchant Services | Fast onboarding with a dedicated account manager | Churches that want to start taking credit card donations ASAP | $7.95 | 1.58% + 19¢ (in person) | |
Stax | Subscription pricing model with lowest per-transaction fees that provide up to 40% savings | Big churches with high-volume transactions, processing $8,000+/month | $99.00 | 0% + 10¢ (in-person) | |
POS Pros | Comprehensive association management software and an impressive range of hardware | Churches that want to organize fundraising events to secure ongoing support | $5.00 | 0.30% + 10¢ (in-person) | |
PaymentCloud | Merchant accounts specifically designed for non-profits | High-risk merchants that want access to advanced charity and security features | $14.00 | Around 2.1% + 15¢ |