Blog
A practical guide to the lowest-cost ways to take online payments — choosing the right pricing model, using bank debit for recurring billing, cutting international fees, and matching the processor to your average ticket.
2026-06-29 Merchant of Record vs payment gateway: is Paddle's 5% worth it?What a Merchant of Record (Paddle, Lemon Squeezy, 2Checkout) does that a plain gateway (Stripe) doesn't, why MoR rates are ~5% + $0.50, and the volume at which DIY tax tooling becomes cheaper.
2026-06-28 Chargeback fees explained: what each processor charges and how to avoid themWhat a chargeback (dispute) fee is, what Stripe, PayPal, Square, Helcim and others charge in 2026, whether it's refunded if you win, and the practical steps that cut your dispute rate.
2026-06-27 Interchange-plus vs flat-rate pricing: when to switch and saveHow interchange-plus pricing works, why it is cheaper than flat-rate at scale, and the monthly-volume crossover (roughly $10k-$25k) where switching from Stripe/Square to Helcim, Stax or Adyen pays off.
2026-06-26 Stripe vs PayPal fees in 2026: which is cheaper for your business?A side-by-side of Stripe (2.9% + $0.30) and PayPal (3.49% + $0.49 wallet, 2.59%-2.99% + $0.49 cards) fees in June 2026 — including international, chargeback and effective rates.
2026-06-25 Effective rate explained: the only payment-fee number that mattersWhat an effective payment-processing rate is, how to calculate it from a headline rate like 2.9% + $0.30, and why your average ticket size changes which processor is cheapest.
2026-06-24