There really isn’t any such thing as a free merchant account service. No one works for nothing so if you find one that says they are free, they may be a scam. Charge.com is a merchant account service that says they offer many free services but for a limited time only, while Merchant Warehouse does not list their fees at all. They say that every business is different so their fees will differ. Before signing a contract with a merchant account service be sure that they charge no hidden fees and that they don’t gradually increase over time

Charge.com’s Pricing Model

Charge.com offers free set up fees, free application fees and free online check software. Their SSL Certificate for online security is also free and their engine submission is free. All of this is free for a limited time only. Their transaction fees are $.15 and they offer discounts of 1% for face-to-face transactions and 1.79% discounts on mail, phone and internet orders. They offer instant approvals and accept all major credit cards including American Express. AOL and Apple have both given Charge.com high ratings.

Merchant Warehouse’s Pricing Model

Rated A+ by the BBB, Merchant Warehouse was the first credit card processing and equipment sales company online. They sell credit card processing terminals, pin pads, printers, mobile apps, and credit card processing software. Merchant Warehouse offers guaranteed low prices on their equipment and services. They have 24/7 customer support and technicians who will help with password problems, they will set up your business to accept credit card transactions and answer any questions you have. They offer no information on their monthly fees because they say that each business is different therefore each is charged according to their needs. Their staff will tell you what options they offer when you call them.

What should you look for when signing up for merchant account services? While there are no free credit card processing services, many do offer discounts. Be sure to ask about them! The company should charge less than $1.00 for transaction fees, their monthly maintenance fee should be less than $100.00 and the fees should not gradually increase over time. The contract should include details about all costs so be sure to read the fine print. Be sure that credit card payments be deposited in your account within 3 to 5 days and ask how long it takes to receive checks and wire transfers. It shouldn’t take any longer than 2 to 3 weeks. Last of all; be sure that the company provides you with a monthly account statement so that you can see each month’s activity.

Best Merchant Account Credit Card Services in 2025