American Express fees
Card · Global
Accepting American Express typically costs merchants Usually same flat rate on Stripe/Square; higher interchange on IC+. American Express historically cost merchants more than Visa/Mastercard because of higher interchange. On flat-rate processors (Stripe, Square) Amex is charged at the SAME blended rate as other cards, so you do not see the difference. On interchange-plus pricing, Amex transactions cost noticeably more. Amex OptBlue has narrowed the gap for small merchants.
Source: Processor pricing pages. Data as of June 2026.
Note: These are general estimates, not a quote or offer. Your real rate depends on your card mix, volume, region, risk profile and the contract you sign.
American Express at a glance
| Type | Card |
|---|---|
| Typical merchant fee | Usually same flat rate on Stripe/Square; higher interchange on IC+ |
| Region | Global |
| Settlement | 1-2 business days |
| Chargebacks / disputes | Yes — Amex dispute process |
| Cheapest for | Cost-neutral on flat-rate; pricier on interchange-plus. |
Snapshot June 2026 — processors change pricing; verify on the provider's pricing page before relying on a figure.
What drives the cost
- Higher interchange than Visa/Mastercard on IC+
- Hidden under flat-rate pricing
- OptBlue program for small merchants
Processors that support Amex
Flat rate · 2.90% + $0.30
SquareFlat rate · 2.90% + $0.30
AdyenInterchange-plus · Interchange-plus
HelcimInterchange-plus · 2.30% + $0.08
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost merchants to accept american express?
Usually same flat rate on Stripe/Square; higher interchange on IC+. American Express historically cost merchants more than Visa/Mastercard because of higher interchange. On flat-rate processors (Stripe, Square) Amex is charged at the SAME blended rate as other cards, so you do not see the difference. On interchange-plus pricing, Amex transactions cost noticeably more. Amex OptBlue has narrowed the gap for small merchants. Snapshot June 2026 — processors change pricing; verify on the provider's pricing page before relying on a figure.
What drives the cost of Amex for a merchant?
Key cost drivers: Higher interchange than Visa/Mastercard on IC+; Hidden under flat-rate pricing; OptBlue program for small merchants. These are general estimates, not a quote or offer. Your real rate depends on your card mix, volume, region, risk profile and the contract you sign.
Does Amex have chargebacks?
Yes — Amex dispute process
Which processors support Amex?
Among the processors we track, Stripe, Square, Adyen, Helcim support Amex. Compare their full fee schedules on each processor page.
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Last updated: 2026-06-29