At a glance, side by side
Every row comes from each provider’s own published pages, checked on the date shown in the sources. Where a provider does not publish something, the table says so.
| Stripe (Canada) | Helcim (Canada) | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Flat rate on standard pricing; custom pricing (including IC+) for large volume | Interchange plus for all merchants |
| Card, in person | 2.7% + CA$0.05 (“most cards”) | Interchange + 0.40% + 8¢ (Tier 1). Visa consumer card combined: 1.75% + 8¢ |
| Card, online | 2.9% + CA$0.30 (domestic cards) | Interchange + 0.50% + 25¢ (Tier 1). Visa consumer card combined: 2.00% + 25¢ |
| Keyed in | +0.5% for manually entered cards | Same as online (card-not-present) |
| Interac debit, in person | CA$0.15 per transaction | 9.0¢ chip and PIN; 12.5¢ tap (Tier 1) |
| Cards from other countries | +0.8% online; 3.5% + CA$0.05 in person | +0.68% in CAD; +1.13% online in USD (Visa and Mastercard) |
| Volume discounts | Custom pricing, rates not published | Five published tiers, down to 0.15% + 6¢ in person over $1 million a month |
| Monthly fees | “No setup fees, monthly fees, or hidden fees” | “No account monthly fees”; no minimums, software or statement fees |
| PCI fee | Not listed on the pages we read | $0 |
| Payouts | Stripe’s two pages word it differently. Payouts docs: first payout 7 calendar days, then 3 business days. Support article: 7 business days on the first payout, then “generally 3 business days”. The 3-business-day speed is for eligible accounts, per Stripe. Instant Payouts 1% (minimum CA$0.60) | “Next-business-morning deposits” on credit and debit |
| Dispute fee | CA$15 received; CA$15 countered (returned if won) | $15, or $0 if resolved in the merchant’s favour |
| Refunds | Processing fees from the original sale “aren’t returned” | No added refund fee; the original processing fees still apply |
| Card readers | BBPOS WisePad 3 CA$79; Stripe Reader S700 or S710 CA$419 | Card Reader $239; Smart Terminal $429 or 12 × $39 |
| Contract | May terminate “at any time by closing its Stripe Account” | “There are no penalties for termination or cancellation fees” |
| Funds after leaving | Not listed on the pages we read | Reserve may be required “for a minimum of six (6) months” |
| Fee-change notice | “at least 30 days’ notice” of fee increases or new fees | At least 30 days for its own (non-pass-through) fees |
| Who holds the agreement | Stripe Payments Canada, Ltd., a payment facilitator of Peoples Trust Company and PNC Bank Canada | Helcim, “a Payment Facilitator sponsored by Elavon Canada Company” |
How each one prices
Stripe’s standard pricing is flat rate: one published rate per type of sale, with interchange inside it. Stripe also lists custom pricing, including “IC+ pricing”, for “businesses with large payments volume or unique business models”.
Helcim says it “provides all merchants with a billing method known as Interchange Plus pricing.” Interchange is the fee the processor pays the customer’s bank; it differs by card. Helcim adds a published margin that falls across five volume tiers, set by “a 3-month rolling processing average.”
More: Flat Rate vs Interchange Plus vs Tiered and What Is Interchange Plus Pricing?
What the statements look like
On Stripe’s flat rate, each sale shows one fee. On Helcim’s interchange plus, interchange and the margin are separate, and each card type is listed. See How to Read Your Merchant Statement.
Contracts and cancellation
- Stripe: “User may terminate this Agreement at any time by closing its Stripe Account via the Stripe Dashboard.”
- Helcim: the account can be closed “at any time” and “There are no penalties for termination or cancellation fees.” Helcim may require a reserve for at least six months after termination.
More: Early Termination Fees.
Hardware and software costs
| Stripe (Canada) | Price | Helcim | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBPOS WisePad 3 | CA$79 | Card Reader | $239 |
| Stripe Reader S700 | CA$419 | Smart Terminal | $429, or 12 × $39 |
| Stripe Reader S710 | CA$419 |
Stripe also offers Tap to Pay on a compatible phone at +CA$0.15 per authorisation. Helcim lists its prices “plus applicable taxes.”
What each one charges extra for or leaves out
- Stripe: +0.5% for manually entered cards, +0.8% for international cards online, +2% for currency conversion, 1% for Instant Payouts, CA$15 dispute fees.
- Helcim: +0.4% per transaction for recurring billing; extra international amounts by network; no signup, PCI or statement fees.
Sources, and when we checked them
Every source is listed below the article with the date it was checked. Provider pages: Stripe and Helcim.
Where to go from here
The card fee calculator works out each provider’s rates against a given level of monthly sales. Other side-by-sides: Square vs Stripe and Helcim vs Square.
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