Quick Answer

Choose Helcim for transparent self-serve interchange-plus pricing, ecommerce tools, and US and Canadian support. Choose National Processing if you are a US-based merchant focused on in-person or B2B volume and want negotiated interchange-plus rates through a merchant services sales team.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Helcim vs National Processing

Helcim
Interchange-Plus
Comprehensively Reviewed
vs
National Processing
Interchange-Plus
Comprehensively Reviewed

Helcim and National Processing are both interchange-plus processors that compete for pricing-conscious merchants who want transparency. Helcim brings stronger self-serve ecommerce tools, ACH bank payments, and Canadian market support alongside the US. National Processing is a US-focused merchant services provider known for competitive interchange-plus rates, particularly for B2B and card-present transactions at volume.

How ProcessorFit evaluates providers

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Last reviewed: July 2026

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Why merchants compare theseTransparent Pricing

Both offer interchange-plus pricing with transparent rates.

Online signup interchange-plus (Helcim) vs. agent-based interchange-plus (National Processing).

Best Fit Scenarios

Helcim may be a better fit when…

Choose Helcim if you want transparent interchange-plus pricing with a self-serve portal, strong ecommerce and ACH tools, and support for both US and Canadian merchants.

  • US and Canadian businesses wanting transparent interchange-plus with self-serve access
  • Ecommerce or omnichannel businesses needing hosted payments and APIs
  • Merchants who prefer no mandatory monthly fees and public rate transparency
View Helcim profile

National Processing may be a better fit when…

Choose National Processing if you are a US-based merchant focused on in-person or B2B transactions and want to negotiate competitive interchange-plus rates through a dedicated merchant services provider.

  • US merchants with moderate-to-high in-person transaction volume
  • B2B merchants who qualify for Level 3 interchange savings
  • Businesses who want dedicated account management and negotiated rates
View National Processing profile

Side-by-Side Comparison

Factor
Helcim
National Processing

Pricing model

Both use interchange-plus pricing with published or negotiated markup rates.

Tie
Tie

Self-serve signup

Helcim offers fully self-serve account opening; National Processing uses a sales team process.

Edge

Ecommerce tools

Helcim offers hosted payment pages, APIs, and integrations with no extra gateway fee.

Edge

ACH bank payments

Helcim supports ACH bank transfers for US merchants.

Edge

Canadian support

Helcim serves both Canada and the US; National Processing is US-focused.

Edge

B2B / Level 3 processing

National Processing has strong B2B and Level 3 interchange qualification capabilities.

Edge

Volume rate negotiation

National Processing offers negotiated rates through its sales team for volume merchants.

Edge

"Edge" indicates a relative advantage based on publicly available information. Verify all details directly with each provider before making a decision.

Provider Details

Detail
Helcim
National Processing
Pricing Model
Interchange-plus
Interchange-plus
Monthly Fee
No monthly fee on its standard model; interchange-plus margins are published on Helcim's site. Verify current rates directly.
Interchange-plus plans published on National Processing's site; varies by plan and industry. Verify current rates directly.
In-Person Rate
Interchange-plus in-person margins are published on Helcim's pricing page. Verify current rates directly.
Interchange-plus in-person pricing published on National Processing's site. Verify current rates directly.
Online Rate
Interchange-plus online margins are published on Helcim's pricing page. Verify current rates directly.
Interchange-plus online pricing published on National Processing's site. Verify current rates directly.
Contract
No long-term contracts or monthly fees on its standard model. Confirm current terms directly.
Advertises no long-term contracts on standard plans; confirm current terms directly.
In-Person Payments
Yes
Yes
Online Payments
Yes
Yes
Ecommerce
Yes
Yes
Subscription Billing
Yes
Yes
POS Hardware
Yes
Yes
Public Pricing
Yes
Yes

Data sourced from publicly available information. Fields marked "Research in Progress" are not publicly confirmed. How we verify data.

Important Trade-offs

  • Self-serve vs. sales-assisted: Helcim is fully self-serve; National Processing uses a sales team process.
  • Rate transparency: Helcim publishes all rates publicly; National Processing rates are negotiated.
  • Ecommerce depth: Helcim has significantly stronger self-serve online payment tools.
  • B2B specialization: National Processing's Level 3 capabilities are stronger for qualifying B2B transactions.

Trade-offs are based on publicly available information. Always verify details directly with each provider before making a decision.

Pricing Guidance

Both providers use interchange-plus pricing. Helcim's markup rates are publicly listed at helcim.com with no mandatory monthly fee. National Processing rates are negotiated through a sales process. Request a direct National Processing quote and compare against Helcim's published rates for your specific volume.

Recommended reading before making a pricing decision:

Advantages & Considerations

Helcim

  • Interchange-plus pricing publicly listed with no mandatory monthly fee
  • Fully self-serve account opening — no sales call required
  • Strong ecommerce tools: hosted payment pages, APIs, and invoicing
  • ACH bank transfer support and Canadian market coverage

Considerations

  • Less specialized for high-volume B2B and card-present merchant services
  • No dedicated sales team to negotiate rates for high-volume accounts

National Processing

  • Competitive negotiated interchange-plus rates for in-person and B2B merchants
  • Strong B2B and Level 3 processing capabilities for qualifying transactions
  • Dedicated account management through a merchant services sales team

Considerations

  • Sales-assisted application process rather than instant self-serve signup
  • US-focused — no Canadian market support
  • Ecommerce and online payment tools are less developed than Helcim's

Advantages and considerations are based on publicly available information. Verify all details directly with each provider.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Helcim or National Processing cheaper?

Both use interchange-plus pricing, so the effective rate difference depends on the published markup each applies and your card mix. Helcim's rates are publicly listed. National Processing rates are negotiated. Request a specific quote from National Processing to compare against Helcim's public rates for your volume.

Does National Processing have an online application?

National Processing uses a sales-assisted application process rather than full self-serve signup. Helcim's signup is fully self-serve. Verify the current onboarding process directly with National Processing.

Which is better for ecommerce — Helcim or National Processing?

Helcim has stronger self-serve ecommerce tools including a hosted payment page, APIs, and no added gateway fees. National Processing primarily serves in-person and B2B merchants. For ecommerce-first businesses, Helcim is generally the stronger choice.

Does Helcim charge a monthly fee?

Helcim's standard accounts have no mandatory monthly fee on a basic plan. Verify the current Helcim pricing at helcim.com, as plans and features can change.

Common Merchant Problems

Next Steps

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Editorially Independent — ProcessorFit does not accept payment for rankings or recommendations. Every provider profile is researched independently using publicly available information. Editorial Policy · Research Methodology