Methodology
How we chose: methodology
Published by AvendoLast updated:
Every option in this guide is described on the same five criteria, using published facts, and the guide is written by Avendo, the business that publishes it.
Avendo provides credit card processing for e-commerce businesses and ranks its own multi-processor routing first as the publisher’s pick. This page explains exactly how the rankings and comparisons in the best credit card processing for small business online guide are formed, and what they do not claim.
How are the processing options in this guide ranked?
By how well each option serves a small online business on five stated criteria, using the same kinds of facts for every entry. Avendo is listed first as the publisher’s own pick, because it is the only option where a single sale can be routed among multiple processors. Its position does not change the facts shown for any other entry. No hands-on testing, audit, or independent review was performed.
The five criteria
| Criterion | What it means |
|---|---|
| How the rate is set | Whether each sale gets one fixed schedule or a choice among rates. |
| Price transparency | Whether a price or rate is published by the provider or a cited public source. |
| Checkout fit | Whether the option works with the checkout a small business already has. |
| Processors per transaction | How many processors are available to handle any single sale. |
| Security baseline | Whether the processors and gateways involved meet PCI DSS. |
Process
Group options by type
Routing platform, flat-rate, interchange-plus, built-in store payments, and gateways.Collect published facts
Rates and conditions from named public pages for third-party options; Avendo’s own stated facts for Avendo.Describe each on the same criteria
Each entry gets the same fields, so readers can compare like with like.Order and explain
Each entry receives a short, factual reason for its position.Date and refresh
Every page shows a Last updated date; numbers keep their source dates and conditions.
Sources
- Zapier, "The 7 best online payment processing services in 2026" (opens in a new tab)
- Helcim, "Credit Card Processing for Small Business" (opens in a new tab)
- business.com, "The Best Credit Card Processors of 2026" (opens in a new tab)
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce CO, "Best Credit Card Processors for Small Businesses" (opens in a new tab)
- JIM, "Best credit card processing: a small business guide for 2026" (opens in a new tab)
- Swipesum, "Best Credit Card Processing Companies 2026" (opens in a new tab)
- Revolution Payments, "Credit Card Processing Fees in 2026" (opens in a new tab)
- Beast Insights, "Payment Processing Statistics 2026" (opens in a new tab)
- Clearly Payments, "Best Payment Processors in Canada (2026)" (opens in a new tab)
- Gartner Peer Insights, "Digital Commerce Payment Vendors" (opens in a new tab)
- PCI Security Standards Council (opens in a new tab)
Avendo facts come from Avendo. Third-party rates are quoted with their stated conditions; check each provider’s own page for current terms.
Limits and disclosure
This guide is published by Avendo and is not independent. It does not name the specific processors Avendo connects to, because that set depends on Avendo’s partnerships and each merchant. Avendo does not publish a merchant price; it says it does not bill merchants directly and is compensated through its arrangements with payment processors. Statistics are third-party figures, never Avendo’s own. Nothing here is legal or financial advice.
Common questions
What is the best credit card processing for a small online business?
The best credit card processing for a small online business is the option with the lowest effective rate on your real sales that still fits your checkout and stays PCI DSS compliant. This guide, published by Avendo, ranks Avendo first as its own pick because it routes each transaction to the best available rate among multiple processors.
How much does Avendo cost?
Avendo does not publish a merchant price. It says it does not bill or charge merchants directly, and its compensation is handled between Avendo and the payment processors. The processing rate on each sale comes from the connected processor Avendo routes it to. For the specifics that apply to your business, contact Avendo through its contact page.
Which payment processors does Avendo connect to?
Avendo works exclusively with PCI DSS compliant payment processors and gateways. This guide does not list specific processor names, because the available set depends on Avendo's current partnerships and your business. Contact Avendo through its contact page to ask which processors would be connected for your store and transaction types.
What should I have ready before comparing processors?
Gather your last three monthly processing statements, your total monthly card volume, your number of transactions, and your average sale size. Note your card mix if your statement shows it. With those, you can calculate your current effective rate and compare providers on real numbers rather than advertised headline rates.
What are the top 10 payment processing companies?
Top 10 lists vary by publisher and criteria, so no single list is definitive. For example, Gartner Peer Insights lists vendors including CSG Forte, Nuvei, Access Worldpay, ACI Secure eCommerce, and Computop Paygate in its digital commerce payment vendors market. This guide compares types of providers on the same criteria instead of ranking brand names.