Inside this Article
What We Look For in the Best Event Payment Processing Companies1. Leaders Merchant Services: Ideal Event Payment Processor for Online and In-Person Sales2. Stax: Great Rates for High-Volume Event Payment Processing3. Chase Payment Solutions: Great Event Payment Processor for Chase Business Members4. PaymentCloud: High Approval Rates, Even for High-Risk Businesses5. PAYARC: Advanced Dashboard for Reporting and Tracking Ticket Sales6. ProMerchant: No Fixed Contracts – Only Flexible Payment Options for Your EventChoose the Payment Processor That’s Right for Your Next EventFAQ
Short on Time? These Are the Best Event Payment Processors in 2024
- Leaders Merchant Services – The best all-around processor for event payment processing with negotiable rates and free POS equipment.
- PAYARC – Advanced security and sales reporting features perfect for events selling tickets online.
- ProMerchant – A great option for high-risk businesses seeking flexible options for occasional events.
What We Look For in the Best Event Payment Processing Companies
As I researched event payment processing options, I considered features that would be of most use for event organizers, including:- Advanced security measures. I only considered payment processors that offer advanced security measures, including PCI compliance, tokenization, and robust fraud prevention tools.
- Payment gateways. I looked for payment processors that offer secure payment gateways or e-commerce integrations to make it easy to accept payments on your website.
- Mobile point-of-sale (mPOS) offerings. I looked for processors that also offer mobile POS systems or the ability to accept payments through a mobile app for door ticket sales, as well as food, drink, and merchandise sales during an event. Using your mobile or tablet to take payments can also cut down on equipment costs.
- Competitive pricing. I also evaluated the payment processors on their payment structures and included various competitive options for different event needs, including low transaction fees, software included in your monthly fees, and no-contract options.
- Dedicated customer support. All the processors on this list offer reliable customer support, with accessible channels to assist you with any payment-related inquiries or issues that may arise during your event planning and execution.
Free Card Reader
Our Score
Our Score
Best Credit Card Processor in 2024
Negotiable Low Credit Card Processing Rates
Monthly Fee:
$9
Transaction Fee:
From 0.15% + $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
- Free POS hardware. LMS is one of the few credit card processors that will offer you a free Clover or SwipeSimple terminal (POS or mPOS) or free mobile card reader for signing up. Not only are these top-of-the-line card processing solutions, but they also come equipped with advanced software for loyalty programs, inventory management, and sales analytics.
- “Meet or beat” guarantee. LMS offers a price match policy if you’re already working with another provider. If it can’t beat or at least meet your current fees, you’ll receive a $200 gift card.
- 24/7 technical support. With events at all hours of the day, having round-the-clock technical support is crucial to ensuring a smooth operation, should any issue arise.
- Dedicated chargeback department. Unfortunately, chargebacks are common with card-not-present transactions, so LMS offers a whole team to help you handle them when they happen.
Mobile POS options | SwipeSimple, Clover Flex |
Payment gateway | Authorize.net |
Support | 24/7 phone support |
Transaction fees on cheapest plan | ~0.15% + $0 |
Monthly fee on cheapest plan | $9.00 |
Our Score
Our Score
Save Up to 40% on Credit Card Processing Fees
Monthly Fee:
From $99
Transaction Fee:
From 8¢
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
- Accounting software integrations. Simple integrations for popular bookkeeping software like QuickBooks and Zoho Books free up your time from administrative work and ensure your records are up to date and accurate. Stax’s two-way sync with QuickBooks can update your both platforms in real time.
- Advanced security. In addition to being Level 1 PCI-compliant, Stax offers tokenization, end-to-end encryption, and multi-factor authentication. Its advanced fraud detection and prevention tools also offer instant payer verification.
- E-commerce integrations. If you have an existing events website from e-commerce platforms like WooCommerce or BigCommerce, you can easily integrate Stax to streamline your operations and securely accept payments online.
- Support for international cards. Stax supports a handful of international credit cards so you’ll be able to accept payments from all event attendees, no matter where they’re from.
Mobile POS options | Stax Pay app, SwipeSimple mobile reader, Dejavoo QD, Clover Flex, Clover Mini |
Payment gateway | Stax API, Authorize.net |
Support | Phone, live chat, email, and ticket support |
Transaction fees on cheapest plan | 8¢ + interchange (in-person) |
Monthly fee on cheapest plan | $99.00 |
Unsure which processor is best for your business?
Take this short quiz and get a tailor-made recommendation in seconds
3. Chase Payment Solutions: Great Event Payment Processor for Chase Business Members
Our Score
Our Score
Favorable Flat Rate Pricing & E-Commerce Features for SMEs
Monthly Fee:
$0
Transaction Fee:
From 2.6% + 10¢
Pricing Model:
Flat rate
Flat rate
Flat rate pricing simplifies your payment processing bill by charging the same percentage markup on every credit or debit card transaction you receive. The payment processor still pays the variable interchange fee set by the card network (e.g. Visa, Mastercard) on each transaction, but you always pay the same fixed rate regardless.
Features and Benefits
- Eventzilla integration. Manage your event registration, marketing, and payments all in one place with Eventzilla. Chase Payment’s integration with this leading event software allows you to build a custom website and even throw virtual events or livestream to your at-home audience.
- net payment gateway. Chase uses the Visa-backed Authorize.net payment gateway to accept online payments so you can be sure your attendees’ information is secure when they buy tickets online.
- BigCommerce partnership. Once you open a merchant account with Chase, you can sign up for a free 15-day trial with BigCommerce and start accepting payments immediately. If you bank with Chase, you’ll also be eligible for same-day e-commerce deposits and per-transaction fees of 2.9% + 25¢.
- Tap to Pay on iPhone. Chase can turn your iPhone into a contactless card reader through its phone app. Once activated, you can accept card payments as well as digital wallets.
Mobile POS options | Chase QuickAccept, Tap to Pay (iPhone only) |
Payment gateway | Authorize.net |
Support | 24/7 phone support line |
Transaction fees on cheapest plan | 2.6% + 10¢ |
Monthly fee on cheapest plan | N/A |
4. PaymentCloud: High Approval Rates, Even for High-Risk Businesses
Our Score
Our Score
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
- Range of payment methods. PaymentCloud accepts a huge variety of payment methods including credit and debit cards, ACH/eChecks, digital wallets, and even cryptocurrencies.
- Advanced fraud detection. With robust fraud prevention measures in place, PaymentCloud helps protect your event from fraudulent transactions. It utilizes industry-leading security protocols and anti-fraud tools to mitigate risks effectively.
- Funding options. If you’re ever in need of a cash injection for operating costs, PaymentCloud offers several financing options tailored to support businesses such as microloans, lines of credit, and cash advances. These are perfect for getting your events up and running when you’re low on cash.
- Dedicated account manager. Once you start the application process, PaymentCloud will assign you a personal customer service representative that will remain with you throughout the whole process and provide support for onboarding, terminal and shopping cart set up, and anything else you might need assistance with.
Mobile POS options | Paysley mobile app, mobile card reader |
Payment gateway | Authorize.net, Braintree, Payeezy |
Support | Phone support available Monday to Sunday during business hours |
Transaction fees on cheapest plan | Around 2.1% + 15¢ |
Monthly fee on cheapest plan | $14.00 |
5. PAYARC: Advanced Dashboard for Reporting and Tracking Ticket Sales
Our Score
Our Score
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
- Advanced security and fraud prevention. Events that focus on online ticket sales can benefit from PAYARC’s standard encryption and tokenization features, as well as the ability to limit the number of attempted transactions made from a single customer or from certain IP addresses.
- Same-day payouts. While PAYARC’s 24-48 hours payouts as standard is one of the fastest in the industry, if you need instant access to your cash you can pay an additional $20 fee to receive your funds by the end of the business day.
- Easy invoicing. If you own the event center or an event company, PAYARC makes it easy to create custom invoices to accept payments from event organizers and vendors.
- Variety of POS options. PAYARC offers a range of PAX and Dejavoo POS systems and mobile card readers to fit the needs of your event. You might even be eligible for a free PAX A920 portable terminal when you sign up.
Mobile POS options | Pax A920, Dejavoo Z1 |
Payment gateway | PAYARC API, Authorize.net, NMI, USAePay, and Planet Payment |
Support | 24/7 phone support, email, online knowledge base |
Transaction fees on cheapest plan | 2.49% + 30¢ (in-person) |
Monthly fee on cheapest plan | N/A |
6. ProMerchant: No Fixed Contracts – Only Flexible Payment Options for Your Event
Our Score
Our Score
Interchange-Plus & Zero Cost Processing Plans Ideal for Restaurants and Retail
Monthly Fee:
$7.95
Transaction Fee:
From 3% + 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
- High-risk merchant accounts. ProMerchant partners with a dozen high-risk processors to provide merchant accounts to businesses deemed high risk. If you have little or no credit history or fall under a high risk label for selling event tickets, ProMerchant will offer you fair and transparent pricing.
- 24/7 customer support. ProMerchant provides 24/7 phone and email support, which is ideal for events that run outside of standard business hours.
- Quick and easy setup. ProMerchant simplifies the setup process and approves accounts within 2–24 hours, ensuring event planners can start accepting payments swiftly without significant delays.
- Mail Order/Telephone Order solutions. If you offer ticket purchasing over the phone, ProMerchant offers two secure virtual terminals through its partnership with Payments Hub and Authorize.net. While you’ll have to pay a software fee to use Authorize.net, ProMerchant offers Payments Hub for free.
Mobile POS options | Payanywhere App and Bluetooth credit card reader, PAX A920, Clover Mini, Clover Flex |
Payment gateway | Authorize.net, Payments Hub |
Support | 24/7 phone and email support |
Transaction fees on cheapest plan | Custom |
Monthly fee on cheapest plan | $7.95 |
Choose the Payment Processor That’s Right for Your Next Event
Every event is different and has unique payment needs. Ensuring your event payment processing is smooth for you and your attendees can help you pull off a successful occasion time and time again. If you’re looking for a more tailored approach or are on a tighter budget, Leaders Merchant Services is my top recommendation. It gives you the ability to negotiate your rates and choose only the features you actually need. Plus, with the online and in-person payment options, you’ll have the flexibility you’ll need for any event. If online security is your main priority, consider PAYARC instead. PAYARC offers industry-leading security measures to keep your attendees’ information safe and to mitigate the risk of fraudulent activity when selling tickets through the web. Or, if you’re a higher-risk business organizing occasional or seasonal events, go with ProMerchant. With its month-to-month contracts and fast setup and funding, you’ll be able to run events without a hitch.To see how these companies stack up, check out the table below.
Best Feature | Best For | Monthly fee on cheapest plan | Transaction fees on cheapest plan | ||
Leaders Merchant Services | Negotiable plans and affordable interchange-plus pricing | Event business on a tight budget | $9.00 | ~0.15% + $0 | |
PAYARC | Advanced e-commerce security features | Events that mainly sell online tickets | N/A | 2.49% + 30¢ (in-person) | |
ProMerchant | Flexible pricing and no long-term contracts | Businesses that want flexibility for casual or occasional events | $7.95 | Custom | |
Stax | Mobile app for contactless payments and reporting | High-volume event businesses that host a lot of monthly events | $99.00 | 8¢ + interchange (in-person) | |
Chase Payment Solutions | Integration with BigCommerce and Eventzilla | Small- to medium-sized event companies that bank with Chase | N/A | 2.6% + 10¢ | |
PaymentCloud | Specialized high-risk merchant accounts | High-risk event businesses that offer seminars and coaching | $14.00 | Around 2.1% + 15¢ |