Transparent credit card processing pricing
Card pricing is complicated by nature. That's why we use interchange-plus pricing: your statement shows what each sale cost, split into interchange, network fees and our markup.
Short answer
Interchange-plus pricing passes the card networks' interchange and network fees through at cost and adds the processor's markup as a separate line, so your statement shows what each sale cost. Clearo prices every account this way, with no long-term contract and no cancellation fees; your markup is quoted for your volume and card mix.
What is interchange?
Interchange is the fee that the bank behind your customer's card receives on each card sale. The card networks set it: Mastercard says it establishes its interchange rates, which acquirers generally pay to card issuers, and that it typically updates them twice a year (Mastercard). Rates differ by card type, by how the card is taken and by merchant category, as Visa's published schedule shows (Visa).
You never pay interchange to Visa or Mastercard yourself. Visa says merchants pay a "merchant discount" to their own financial institution (Visa), and Mastercard calls interchange one component of the merchant discount rate that acquirers set. The question is whether your processor shows you that component or folds it into a flat rate. Learn more about interchange-plus vs. flat-rate pricing.
How does interchange-plus pricing work?
Your provider passes through what the card networks and issuing banks charge for each sale and adds its own markup on top. Washington State's Attorney General puts it the same way in a business tip titled "Cut credit card processing fees with 'interchange plus'": whatever the provider is charged, plus a flat-fee markup (Washington State Attorney General). Your statement then shows three layers for every sale: interchange, network fees and the markup.
Tiered pricing works the other way: the provider sorts each sale into a qualified, mid-qualified or non-qualified bucket, and the same tip says those labels on a statement mean you're on a tiered plan. On interchange-plus, the markup and any account fees are the only parts your provider sets, so they're the parts to compare and negotiate. Depending on your volume and card mix, that can cost less than a flat rate.
Holding a flat-rate quote? Put it next to interchange-plus with our flat rate vs interchange-plus calculator, which uses your own volume, transaction count and interchange costs to show the monthly and yearly difference.
What you can count on
No cancellation fee
There is no long-term contract to sign, and no fee to cancel if you leave.
A dedicated rep
Every client has one, so a question about your statement goes to a person who knows your account.
Rate changes you can see
A change in interchange shows up as interchange, not as a new markup. Ask your rep what changed after each network update.
A free statement review
Send a recent statement and we'll show what you pay now and what the same volume would cost with Clearo.
Watch out for these on your statement
Whether you decide to work with Clearo or not, here are the fees you should scrutinize on any processor's statement. If you can't get a straight explanation for any of these, that's a red flag.
Why your rate is custom
We don't list a one-size-fits-all rate on our website because your pricing depends on real variables: your industry, average transaction size, monthly volume, card mix (debit vs. credit vs. rewards), and whether you take payments in person or not. See how we compare to Square.
A restaurant doing 500 small-ticket card-present transactions a day has a completely different interchange profile than a professional services firm processing five large keyed-in invoices a month. Quoting both the same markup would mean one of them is overpaying.
We build pricing around your actual situation. Book a call or send us a recent statement for a free statement review, and we'll show you your current effective rate, the individual fee components, and what the same volume would cost with Clearo.
Pricing FAQ
Clearo uses interchange-plus pricing, also called cost-plus. Interchange and network fees pass through at cost, and our markup is a separate, agreed amount. Unlike a flat rate, your statement shows each part.
It depends on your business. Interchange varies by card type, by how the card is taken and by merchant category, and your markup is quoted for your volume and transaction mix. Send a recent statement for a free review, or request a custom quote.
Interchange, network fees and our markup, each on its own line, plus any other fee your agreement lists. Ask your rep for the full fee list in writing before you sign, and compare it with your current statement.
Clearo doesn't publish a minimum volume. At very low volume, a simple flat rate can be easier to live with; as volume grows, interchange-plus pricing can cost less, depending on your card mix. A free statement review compares the two on your own numbers.
Your effective rate is your total processing fees divided by your total volume, expressed as a percentage. For example, if you paid $500 in fees on $25,000 in volume, your effective rate is 2.0%. A free statement review works it out for you and shows each fee behind it.
Sources
The Mastercard, Visa and Washington State Attorney General pages behind the pricing facts on this page, checked in October 2026.
- Mastercard Interchange Fees and Rates Explained (mastercard.com)
- Visa USA Interchange Reimbursement Fees (rates effective April 18, 2026) (usa.visa.com)
- Credit Card Processing Fees & Interchange Rates (Visa) (usa.visa.com)
- Biz Tip: Cut credit card processing fees with 'interchange plus' (Washington State Attorney General) (atg.wa.gov)
See how we compare
Side-by-side comparisons that link each company's own pricing page.
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Clearo works with businesses across the US and Canada. Find your industry below.
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