Recommended Merchant Services Reviews

Square is a giant in the merchant services provider industry. Founded in California in 2009, Square disrupted traditional credit card processing by removing the complexities and obstacles which many businesses face. Merchants need only get online and register and will quickly be able to accept credit cards for a transparent and flat fee. There are no contracts, monthly fees, software fees, chargeback fees and many of the pitfalls which are standard with many credit card processing providers. The model seems to be a success as the company has expanded its operations to several countries overseas and reportedly has over two million clients.

GlobalPayments UK gives you a straightforward way to take card payments in-store, mobile, or on the go. You can choose between simple PDQ machines and advanced smart terminals that let you manage stock, track sales, and run parts of your business without a separate till. The company has decades of experience in payment processing and works with thousands of UK small businesses. Its reputation centres around fast payouts, strong security standards, and reliable hardware that keeps your payments flowing. If you want a payment partner that supports both everyday merchants and growing UK brands, GlobalPayments UK gives you a robust set of tools without overwhelming you with overly technical systems.

Capital on Tap makes running a small business easier, giving you a business credit card and supporting tools designed to simplify day-to-day operations. More than 200,000 small businesses across the UK and the US use Capital on Tap to manage spending, earn rewards, and stay organised. With credit limits of up to £250,000, no hidden fees, and 1% cashback on every transaction, the card helps you unlock financial flexibility without friction. You can sync your account with Sage, Xero, and QuickBooks to streamline bookkeeping. Physical and virtual cards are available, and the mobile app gives you real-time visibility and easy spending management. Capital on Tap’s mission is simple: to make the lives of small business owners easier.

Clover entered the POS market in 2012 and has grown into one of the most widely adopted cloud-based POS and payment solutions worldwide. In Canada, Clover is especially popular among retail stores, service providers, and hospitality businesses thanks to its flexible hardware options, integrated payment processing, and strong app ecosystem. The platform is designed to fit a wide range of business types—from cafés and coffee shops to bars, quick-service restaurants, and full-service dining. Clover’s combination of user-friendly software, industry-specific features, and scalable hardware makes it a reliable choice for Canadian businesses looking for a modern, all-in-one POS and payments system.

Epos Now is a leading AI-driven point-of-sale and embedded payments platform operating in 10 countries and supporting over 80,000 small- and medium-sized business locations. Founded in Norwich in 2011, Epos Now empowers underserved merchants in retail and hospitality globally, driving their success and enabling them to compete with industry giants.

Airwallex is a global payments and financial platform that helps small and medium-sized businesses, as well as ecommerce companies, collect, process, and manage payments across different countries. Founded in 2015 in Melbourne, Australia, the company is now headquartered in Singapore. It operates in 27 locations and supports more than 150,000 businesses worldwide. So far, Airwallex has processed over $200 billion in global payments for its clients. The company was established to address the high costs and complexity associated with cross-border payments for small and midsize companies. To that end, Airwallex offers a comprehensive suite of financial products that make global payments faster and cheaper. These include Global Accounts, which let businesses open multi-currency accounts with local bank details in different countries. This allows them to receive payments and keep funds in multiple currencies. The platform also features Corporate Cards (both physical and virtual) for employee and company spending with zero international transaction fees, which are integrated with Expense Management and Bill Pay (Spend) tools. Additionally, Airwallex provides services for accepting Online Payments from customers globally through various methods. It also offers Platform APIs for businesses and marketplaces to embed their own financial solutions.

Tide is an all-in-one financial platform for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK. It was founded to help businesses manage their finances more efficiently with a wide range of products. With over 1.5 million customers, Tide caters to more than 10% of SMEs nationwide. It’s regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for its credit services, and its banking services (in partnership) with ClearBank are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). Tide offers a comprehensive suite of products designed to streamline business operations beyond standard banking services. These include various business accounts, credit solutions like loans and business credit cards, and specialized business tools, including merchant services. For payments, the brand offers various options, like POS card readers for in-person transactions, payment links, QR payment codes, and instant checkout for ecommerce transactions. Together with Tide’s accounting, business accounts, and credit solutions, businesses have all things finance in one place.

Airwallex is a global payments and financial platform that helps small and medium-sized businesses, as well as ecommerce companies, collect, process, and manage payments across different countries. Founded in 2015 in Melbourne, Australia, the company is now headquartered in Singapore. It operates in 27 locations and supports more than 150,000 businesses worldwide. So far, Airwallex has processed over $200 billion in global payments for its clients. The company was established to address the high costs and complexity associated with cross-border payments for small and midsize companies. To that end, Airwallex offers a comprehensive suite of financial products that make global payments faster and cheaper. These include Global Accounts, which let businesses open multi-currency accounts with local bank details in different countries. This allows them to receive payments and keep funds in multiple currencies. The platform also features Corporate Cards (both physical and virtual) for employee and company spending with zero international transaction fees, which are integrated with Expense Management and Bill Pay (Spend) tools. Additionally, Airwallex provides services for accepting Online Payments from customers globally through various methods. It also offers Platform APIs for businesses and marketplaces to embed their own financial solutions.

Heartland is a payment processing technology provider for small to mid-sized businesses. It was founded in 1997 in Princeton, New Jersey. In 2016, it was acquired by Global Payments Inc. and now operates as a subsidiary of that company. Today, Heartland serves over 750,000 customers across the US and is one of the top payment solution providers in the country. Its goal is to make payment processing easier for businesses through easy-to-use technology. Heartland has a comprehensive suite of products and services designed to help businesses manage payments, payroll, and business operations efficiently. Its main services include credit, debit, and prepaid card processing, point-of-sale (POS) systems, payroll and HR support, and gift card and loyalty programs. All payment tools come with strong security features like end-to-end encryption and tokenization to keep customer data safe. The company offers flexible pricing models, 24/7 customer support, PCI compliance assistance, and advanced reporting tools. Heartland serves many different industries, but its POS products are mainly built for retailers and restaurants. It offers customized tools and features that match the specific needs of these businesses.