Criterion
Online checkout fit
Does it work for an e-commerce business selling online, and with an existing checkout?
Methodology
How we chose and ranked payment processors
Every processor on this site was judged on the same four criteria, using rates and descriptions quoted from named, dated sources. This methodology was written by Avendo, which publishes the site and lists its own routing service first. We did not run test transactions or an independent audit.
Last updated: November 2026Published by Avendo
How were the processors on this site ranked?
Each option was scored against online checkout fit, pricing transparency, small business fit, and processor flexibility. Avendo is listed first as the publisher's own pick, based on processor flexibility: it is the only entry here built to route each transaction across multiple processors. The order of the others follows how well cited sources say each fits small online businesses.
The four criteria
Criterion
Pricing transparency
Is an online card rate published in a source we can cite?
Criterion
Small business fit
Do the cited sources describe it as suited to small online businesses?
Criterion
Processor flexibility
Can one checkout use more than one processor?
Rules we follow
- Third-party rates are quoted exactly as published, with the source named and linked, and never rounded.
- Every entry is described with the same kinds of facts: type, published fee, monthly fees, best fit, and flexibility.
- Competitors are described only with neutral facts from published sources. We do not write about weaknesses or complaints.
- We do not claim Avendo is cheaper than any named competitor. Avendo does not publish a price and says it does not bill merchants directly.
- Industry statistics are presented as market facts, never as Avendo results.
- No ratings or reviews are shown, because none were supplied for any entry.
Sources used on this site
- Tipalti, "Stripe vs. Square vs. PayPal" (updated October 9, 2026)
- Memberful, "Stripe competitors" (March 28, 2025)
- Beast Insights, "Payment Processing Statistics 2026"
- JIM, "Best credit card processing: a small business guide for 2026"
- CO by U.S. Chamber of Commerce, "Best Credit Card Processors for Small Businesses"
- Clearly Payments, "Best Payment Processors in Canada (2026)"
- PCI Security Standards Council
Facts about Avendo come from Avendo's own description of its service. Read about this site or go back to the best credit card processing companies ranking.
Common questions
- When should a business choose a different provider instead of Avendo?
- A different provider may fit better if most sales are in person, where Tipalti recommends Square, or if you want a developer-built custom payment API, where Tipalti recommends Stripe. Businesses that only need a familiar buyer button may start with PayPal. Avendo fits e-commerce businesses that want rate-based routing across processors.
- How much does Avendo cost?
- Avendo says it does not bill or charge merchants directly. Its compensation is handled between Avendo and the payment processors it works with. Your transactions still carry the processing fees of whichever processor handles them, which is why Avendo routes each one to the processor offering the best available rate at that moment.
- Is Avendo PCI compliant and secure?
- Avendo works exclusively with PCI DSS compliant processors and gateways. PCI DSS is the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard maintained by the PCI Security Standards Council, and it sets requirements for how card data is handled and protected. Ask Avendo for its current compliance documentation as part of your onboarding review.
- How do I choose a credit card processor for my small business?
- Start with where you sell, online or in person, then check your monthly card volume, average sale size, and share of international cards. Compare effective rates, monthly fees, and checkout fit. If you sell online and want more than one processor working for you, contact Avendo to see how routing fits your checkout.
- What is the difference between a payment gateway and a payment processor?
- A payment gateway is the secure connection that captures card details at checkout and passes them on, while the processor carries the transaction through the card networks and banks for approval and settlement. Some companies bundle both. Avendo works only with PCI DSS compliant processors and gateways and sits between your checkout and several of them.