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Join For FreeBest ACH Payment Processors For Small Businesses In 2024
These competitively priced ACH payment services providers are suitable for all types of small businesses in the US (and there's even a global option in Stripe).
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WRITTEN & RESEARCHED BY
Lead Staff Writer
Last updated onUpdated
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REVIEWED BY
Lead Staff Writer
Our content reflects the editorial opinions of our experts. While our site makes money through referral partnerships, we only partner with companies that meet our standards for quality, as outlined in our independent rating and scoring system.
ACH payment processing has enjoyed an unexpected resurgence in recent years for eCommerce transactions as merchants look for alternative ways to accept payments without paying the expensive processing fees that come with credit and debit card payments. ACH payments are processed over the Automated Clearing House (ACH) Network, allowing your customers to pay you by transferring funds from their bank account directly into your merchant account.
Below, we’ll lay out the best ACH payment processors for small businesses, and what you need to know about ACH transactions.
Learn More About Our Top Picks
| Company | Best For | Next StepsBest For |
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Stax
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PaymentCloud
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Helcim
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National Processing
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Stripe Payments
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Square
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Host Merchant Services
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Durango Merchant Services
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Dharma Merchant Services
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Read more below to learn why we chose these options.
Table of Contents [hide][show]
- The 9 Best ACH Companies
- Stax: Best For High-Volume Businesses
- PaymentCloud: Best High-Risk ACH Processor
- Helcim: Best Free Merchant Account With ACH
- National Processing: Best Merchant Account/ACH Combo
- Stripe Payments: Best For eCommerce Businesses
- Square: Best For Independent Contractors
- Host Merchant Services: Best for Mid-Sized Businesses
- Durango Merchant Services: Best For eCheck Processing
- Dharma Merchant Services: Best For Breadth Of ACH Options
- What Is An ACH Processor?
- How Do ACH Payments Work?
- How To Choose An ACH Provider
- Pros & Cons Of Using ACH For Your Business
- Types Of ACH Payment Processors
- How To Set Up ACH Payments
- ACH Processing Fees
- ACH VS Wire Transfers
- ACH VS Real Time Payments
- How Do I Find The Best ACH Payment Processing For My Small Business?
- FAQs: Best ACH Payment Processors For Small Businesses In 2024
Table of Contents
- The 9 Best ACH Companies
- How The Best ACH Providers Compare
- Stax: Best For High-Volume Businesses
- Stax
- Stax Features
- Stax Pricing
- PaymentCloud: Best High-Risk ACH Processor
- PaymentCloud
- PaymentCloud Features
- PaymentCloud Pricing
- Helcim: Best Free Merchant Account With ACH
- Helcim
- Helcim Features
- Helcim Pricing
- National Processing: Best Merchant Account/ACH Combo
- National Processing
- National Processing Features
- National Processing Pricing
- Stripe Payments: Best For eCommerce Businesses
- Stripe Payments
- Stripe Features
- Stripe Pricing
- Square: Best For Independent Contractors
- Square
- Square Features
- Square Pricing
- Host Merchant Services: Best for Mid-Sized Businesses
- Host Merchant Services
- Host Merchant Services Features
- Host Merchant Services Pricing
- Durango Merchant Services: Best For eCheck Processing
- Durango Merchant Services
- Durango Merchant Services Features
- Durango Merchant Services Pricing
- Dharma Merchant Services: Best For Breadth Of ACH Options
- Dharma Merchant Services
- Dharma Merchant Services Features
- Dharma Merchant Services Pricing
- Payment Processing Rating Methodology
- What Is An ACH Processor?
- How Do ACH Payments Work?
- How To Choose An ACH Provider
- Pros & Cons Of Using ACH For Your Business
- Types Of ACH Payment Processors
- How To Set Up ACH Payments
- ACH Processing Fees
- ACH VS Wire Transfers
- ACH VS Real Time Payments
- How Do I Find The Best ACH Payment Processing For My Small Business?
- FAQs: Best ACH Payment Processors For Small Businesses In 2024
The 9 Best ACH Companies
Finding the best ACH payment processing companies for your small business often comes down to selecting a reputable merchant services provider that can offer both ACH and credit/debit card processing in a single package. Here our picks for best ACH processors.
- Stax: Best For High-Volume Businesses
- PaymentCloud: Best High-Risk ACH Processor
- Helcim: Best Free Merchant Account With ACH
- National Processing: Best Merchant Account/ACH Combo
- Stripe Payments: Best For eCommerce Businesses
- Square: Best For Independent Contractors
- Host Merchant Services: Best for Mid-Sized Businesses
- Durango Merchant Services: Best For eCheck Processing
- Dharma Merchant Services: Best For Breadth Of ACH Options
How The Best ACH Providers Compare
| Account Type | Monthly Fee | |
|---|---|---|
| Stax | Merchant account w/ ACH add-on | $99-$199 + undisclosed ACH fee |
| PaymentCloud | High-risk merchant account w/ ACH add-on | Varies |
| Helcim | Merchant account w/ ACH included | $0 |
| National Processing | Merchant account w/ ACH add-on | $9.95-$19 + $15 for ACH |
| Stripe Payments | Aggregated account w/ ACH included | $0 |
| Square | Aggregated account w/ ACH included | $0 |
| Host Merchant Services | Merchant account w/ ACH add-on | $14.99 + $5 for ACH |
| Durango Merchant Services | High-risk merchant account w/ eCheck add-on | Varies |
| Dharma Merchant Services | Merchant account w/ ACH or eCheck add-on | $20 + $25 for ACH |
Stax: Best For High-Volume Businesses
Exclusive Promo: Get your first month free with Stax. Learn More
Pros
- Competitive processing rates for high-volume credit card sales
- Comprehensive feature set, including ACH payment processing
- Excellent eCommerce features
Cons
- Not suitable for very low-volume or high-risk merchants
- Not the cheapest ACH processing option
Why We Chose Stax For High-Volume Businesses
Due to its membership pricing structure, midsize and higher-volume businesses processing at least $10K/month will save money with Stax. Besides offering price savings for high-volume businesses, Stax offers a comprehensive suite of services for both in-person and eCommerce businesses. Stax also offers ACH processing as a monthly add-on.
Stax Is Best For:
- Low-risk, high-volume eCommerce or Saas businesses, or retail stores
- Businesses that process at least $8K/month in credit card sales, and also require ACH services
- Businesses that prefer to pay a flat monthly fee rather than many miscellaneous fees
PaymentCloud: Best High-Risk ACH Processor
Exclusive Promo: PaymentCloud will give you $200 if they can't beat your current rate. Get Your Quote
Pros
- High-risk specialization
- No account setup fee
- Generally reasonable rates and fees
Cons
- No publicly disclosed pricing
Why We Chose PaymentCloud For High-Risk Businesses
PaymentCloud is at the top of the list of Merchant Maverick's best all-around high-risk payment processors for its fair treatment of hard-to-place businesses. High-risk businesses can greatly benefit from alternative payment methods and bank-to-bank transfers in particular.
PaymentCloud Is Best For:
- Businesses in high-risk industries
- Businesses that can’t get approved for a regular merchant account
- Businesses that need a virtual terminal and/or credit card terminal in addition to ACH processing
Helcim: Best Free Merchant Account With ACH
Pros
- No monthly fee
- No long-term contracts
- ACH processing included with free account
Cons
- Not suitable for high-risk industries
- ACH transfers capped at $25,000
Why We Chose Helcim For Best Free Merchant Account With ACH
Helcim offers a fully underwritten merchant account with no long-term commitment and no early termination penalties. It's one of the very few providers in the industry to provide a stable, full-service merchant account with no monthly account fees. In fact, Helcim provides an excellent value for both low- and high-volume businesses.
Helcim Is Best For:
- Low-risk businesses
- Businesses that want a free merchant account with ACH processing
- Businesses that want transparent interchange-plus pricing
National Processing: Best Merchant Account/ACH Combo
Get a free Clover Go card reader from National Processing when you sign up. Claim your card reader.
Pros
- Low-cost ACH processing
- Month-to-month billing (in most cases)
- Accepts some high-risk businesses
Cons
- Long-term contracts required to get free terminal
- ACH pricing no longer listed on website
Why We Chose National Processing For Merchant Account & ACH Combo
While ACH processing is often included in third-party payment platforms, it can be a bit of a pain to add on through a full merchant account provider. National Processing offers one of the cheaper ACH/eCheck solutions for businesses that want their own merchant account and POS, as well as the option to do bank-to-bank payments.
National Processing Is Best For:
- Businesses that want a full merchant account with ACH
- Businesses that want to use Clover POS for card-present payments
- High-risk businesses that want to accept ACH
Get Started With National Processing
Stripe Payments: Best For eCommerce Businesses
Pros
- No monthly fee
- Excellent international support
- ACH included in free account
Cons
- Account stability issues
- Not available to high-risk businesses
Why We Chose Stripe For eCommerce Businesses
eCommerce darling Stripe has an exhaustive list of features that can potentially meet the needs of just about any eCommerce business. ACH processing is included with every account at no extra cost, and processing charges are very competitive with what other payment providers can offer you. Add in the fact that Stripe has extensive billing and invoicing features and excellent support for recurring payments, and you have a great all-around platform for bank-to-bank transfers.
Stripe Is Best For:
- Low-risk eCommerce businesses
- Businesses looking for a low-cost way to accept ACH payments
- Businesses that need invoicing and/or recurring billing features
Get Started With Stripe Payments
Square: Best For Independent Contractors
Get a free card swiper from Square at no cost when you create a free account. Claim your card reader.
Pros
- No monthly fee for basic account
- Predictable flat-rate pricing
- ACH included in free account
Cons
- ACH payments only available through Square Invoices
- Not available to most high-risk industries
Why We Chose Square For Independent Contractors
Square is one of the most accessible ways for new businesses to accept credit cards and, as it turns out, ACH payments as well. Square's feature list is massive, and most of these features, including ACH, are available without a monthly fee. For Square Invoices users (such as freelancers, independent contractors, or professional services), ACH processing will be a welcome feature that gives your customers an additional way to pay you.
Square Is Best For:
- Independent contractors or new startups
- Businesses that need invoicing services to bill clients
- Freelancers who only accept occasional ACH payments
Host Merchant Services: Best for Mid-Sized Businesses
Pros
- No setup fees
- No long-term contracts or early termination fees
- Interchange-plus pricing for credit card transactions
Cons
- No disclosed pricing for ACH
- Not suitable for low-volume merchants
Why We Chose Host Merchant Services For Mid-Sized Businesses
With its roots in the web-hosting industry, Host Merchant Services is a technology-first provider that's especially well-suited to online businesses and midsized businesses. In addition to competitive interchange-plus rates for credit and debit card processing, the company offers ACH processing through either its proprietary Transaction Express gateway or third-party services such as the NMI gateway or Authorize.Net.
Host Is Best For:
- Mid- or high-volume businesses that need a full-service merchant account
- Low- or high-risk businesses
- Businesses that want a merchant account without a long-term contract
Get Started With Host Merchant Services
Durango Merchant Services: Best For eCheck Processing
Pros
- High-risk specialists
- Fair pricing
- No early termination fees for most
Cons
- No pricing disclosures on website
Why We Chose Durango Merchant Services For eCheck Processing
While the term "high-risk" is usually associated with credit card processing, high-risk businesses can also run into challenges getting approved for an ACH merchant account under NACHA guidelines. One way around this is through eChecks, which are offered by Durango Merchant Services as part of their high-risk merchant services. eCheck accounts can be up and running within 24 hours and function similarly to taking a customer's check to the bank but through an electronic checking system.
Durango Is Best For:
- Businesses that need a high-risk merchant account
- Businesses wanting to accept eChecks as an alternative to ACH
- International merchants
Get Started With Durango Merchant Services
Dharma Merchant Services: Best For Breadth Of ACH Options
Pros
- Transparent pricing
- Discounts for qualified nonprofits
- No long-term contracts
Cons
- Not recommended for low-volume businesses
- Significant monthly fee
Why We Chose Dharma Merchant Services For Its ACH Options
Dharma Merchant Services ranks among our favorite credit card processors with its transparent pricing, full feature set, and nonprofit discounts. It turns out, it's also a very versatile service when it comes to ACH processing. Dharma's MX Merchant platform integrates with ACH.com, which can be used to process single or recurring ACH transactions. Dharma also offers eCheck support through the NMI Gateway for an additional monthly fee.
Dharma Is Best For:
- Low-risk, high-volume merchants
- Nonprofit organizations
- Businesses needing a full range of ACH options
Get Started With Dharma Merchant Services
Payment Processing Rating Methodology
Merchant Maverick has been researching the payment processing industry since 2009. Our writers have reviewed hundreds of credit card processors, merchant account services, and mobile payment apps, evaluating each provider carefully on several different metrics.
When comparing different payment processing companies and applications to one another, we consider numerous data points. Our experts start by comparing credit card processing rates, the presence of additional fees, contract length, sales practices, and the presence or absence of additional features and services, like point of sale software. Each provider is judged on its own merits and how well it stacks up to industry standards; then it is weighed against the other providers on the list.
We spend an average of 10-15 hours researching and updating each one of our lists, making sure every company or application included meets our internal standards for quality and reputation. Any list of recommended payment processors on our site might contain a mix of standard merchant accounts, third-party payment processors, mobile payment devices, and high-risk payment processors, depending on what our expert feels is the best fit for certain scenarios or business types.
For additional details about Merchant Maverick’s review and rating processes, please refer to any or all of the following methodology pages:
- Credit card processor rating criteria
- High-risk merchant account rating criteria
- Credit card reader & mobile payment device rating criteria
15
Years reviewing payment processors
100+
Providers evaluated
25
Attributes and features assessed per vendor
40+
Years combined experience
What Is An ACH Processor?
An ACH processor provides infrastructure to businesses that want to conduct consumer or B2B payments through the Automated Clearing House.
For businesses that accept payments online — through electronic invoices, a virtual terminal for keying-in payments, a website or web form, or any other methods — there are a few common pathways to setting up and accepting ACH payments. Approval for adding ACH processing to your account requires a separate (and more intensive) underwriting process since ACH payments allow you to transfer funds directly out of your customers’ bank accounts.
You’ll need two primary components to accept ACH payments, which may or may not be provided by the same entity:
- A payment gateway (the software that transmits payment data)
- An ACH processing account that’s connected to your gateway
How Do ACH Payments Work?
ACH payments allow an originator to either credit or debit, with permission, the bank account of a recipient through their respective financial institutions. These transactions are routed through an ACH operator, which sorts them and sends them to the recipient’s bank or credit union.
There are two main categories of ACH transactions: credit and debit. Credit transactions apply funds to a recipient account at a scheduled time. Debit transactions deduct funds from a recipient account under agreed-upon circumstances.
How To Choose An ACH Provider
When looking for an ACH provider, you’ll generally want to select a service that combines reasonable rates, convenient features, and user-friendliness. Our guide on how to select an ACH provider can walk you through the nuts and bolts of finding a processor that meets your specific needs.
Pros & Cons Of Using ACH For Your Business
ACH can be a great low-cost alternative to credit cards, but it’s not always an ideal solution. For example, ACH is well-suited for billing subscriptions and B2B transactions but can be cumbersome to use at point-of-sale.
Weigh out the pros and cons of ACH before you invest in a service you may not utilize.
Types Of ACH Payment Processors
The types of ACH payment processors generally fall under the following categories.
How To Set Up ACH Payments
There are a number of ways to accept ACH payments. Many banks offer a bill pay feature at no extra charge that allows customers to make ACH credit transactions directly from their accounts.
Businesses that want more robust features, including the ability to debit customer accounts for recurring payments, may need to look into supplemental payment processing services. Our list above is a great place to start.
ACH Processing Fees
An ACH is almost always cheaper than a comparable credit card transaction and often cheaper than a comparable debit card transaction. ACH transactions may even be free in some cases (typically ACH credit transactions are initiated through a bank or credit union).
ACH transaction fees generally range between 0.5% and 1.5%.
ACH VS Wire Transfers
While both ACH and wire transfers enable money transfers directly between bank accounts, they are different payment methods. Though generally more expensive and less versatile, wire transfers can be used to send money across borders and send money at any time of day.
ACH VS Real Time Payments
ACH transactions take anywhere from several hours to several business days to clear. If that sounds like too long, some banks and payment services offer Real-Time Payments (RTPs). As the name implies, RTPs settle almost immediately, making them convenient for situations in which you need to pay someone quickly. Transaction fees are similar to those of ACH.
So why wouldn’t you use RTPs all the time? For starters, they’re not as widely available as ACH transactions. The bigger limitation, however, is that RTPs can only be used to credit accounts; debit transactions are not possible. They’re also generally not reversible.
How Do I Find The Best ACH Payment Processing For My Small Business?
Credit and debit card processing is expensive and getting more so all the time. Although based on an older (and slower) payments network, ACH payment processing offers a convenient and more affordable way for your customers to pay you.
When looking for an ACH payment provider, we’d suggest starting with your current merchant account or payment gateway provider.
If you’re just getting started with an online business, we encourage you to be open to accepting as many payment methods as you can. The more options you provide, the better you’ll reach customers. In this case, you’ll want to pick a provider with a good track record of serving businesses like yours, with competitive rates and, ideally, no long-term contract.
In addition to the ACH providers described above, our list of the best small business credit card processors can help you find a fair, reputable, and affordable company for processing ACH payments and other payment forms.
FAQs: Best ACH Payment Processors For Small Businesses In 2024
Shannon Vissers
Lead Staff Writer at Merchant Maverick
Shannon has been writing for Merchant Maverick about small business software and financing since 2015. She started writing professionally about business topics in 2005. Shannon has been featured in the Washington Post, Reader's Digest, US News, MSN, Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, and other publications. She has a bachelor's degree in English from San Diego State University and currently resides in San Diego, California.
View Shannon Vissers's professional experience on LinkedIn.
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