Below are the top digital payment platforms small businesses in the U.S. use, with quick pros/cons, typical pricing patterns, and what each is best for (information current as of Sept 5, 2025).

Top picks

1. Stripe — Best for online businesses, subscriptions, developers, and global sellers.

• Why: Extremely flexible APIs, great for custom checkout flows, subscriptions, marketplaces and international payments.
• Typical pricing: Pay‑as‑you‑go (e.g., ~2.9% + $0.30 for online card charges; different rates for in‑person and international cards).
• Pros: Powerful developer tools, broad payment method support, great for scale. Cons: Requires developer work to customize; fee add‑ons for international/currency conversion. (nerdwallet.com, forbes.com)

2. Square (Block) — Best for in‑person retail, quick setup, and small bricks‑and‑mortar shops.

• Why: Simple POS, free entry‑level software, plug‑and‑play hardware, and integrated e‑commerce options.
• Typical pricing: Commonly ~2.6% + $0.10–$0.15 in‑person and ~2.9% + $0.30 online (plans/hardware affect rates).
• Pros: Extremely easy to start, built‑in POS features, competitive hardware; Cons: Less flexible than Stripe for custom online flows. (forbes.com, nerdwallet.com)

3. PayPal (incl. PayPal Zettle / Venmo options) — Best for fast setup, consumer familiarity, marketplaces, and low technical overhead.

• Why: Very widely used by buyers; supports online checkout, invoicing and tap‑to‑pay hardware.
• Typical pricing: PayPal in‑person often ~2.29% + $0.09; online card/invoice fees around ~2.9% + $0.30–$0.49 (varies by product).
• Pros: Easy onboarding, buyer trust and multiple payment options (PayPal, Venmo), simple invoicing. Cons: Fees/chargeback handling and payout holds can be less predictable for some merchants. (forbes.com, nerdwallet.com)

4. Shopify Payments — Best when your store runs on Shopify.

• Why: Native payment processor for Shopify stores; removes third‑party transaction fees and integrates tightly with checkout, shipping and POS.
• Typical pricing: Included with Shopify plans; online rates commonly in the 2.4–2.9% + $0.30 range (plan dependent).
• Pros: Seamless setup for Shopify merchants, multi‑channel selling. Cons: Only available to Shopify stores (and third‑party fees apply if you disable it). (shopify.com, techradar.com)

5. QuickBooks Payments — Best for businesses that want tight accounting/invoicing integration.

• Why: Direct integration into QuickBooks accounting/invoicing and payroll workflows.
• Typical pricing: Invoiced/online cards ~2.99% (varies by method); in‑person around ~2.5%.
• Pros: Saves bookkeeping time, one ecosystem for books + payments. Cons: Not the cheapest per‑transaction option for high volume. (quickbooks.intuit.com)

Other solid options (depending on niche)

• Helcim — Good for merchants who want transparent interchange‑plus pricing and no long contracts; often lower effective rates for higher volumes. (helcim.com)
• Clover — Flexible POS/hardware ecosystem sold via resellers; good for multi‑terminal retail/restaurant setups. (tech.co)
• Toast — Restaurant‑focused POS + payments with restaurant workflows (kitchen displays, delivery integrations); often requires contracts. (nerdwallet.com, forbes.com)
• Authorize.Net / Braintree / Adyen — Gateways or global processors used by businesses that need a merchant account, advanced fraud tools, or wide international coverage. (techradar.com, forbes.com)

How to pick the right platform (quick checklist)

• Sales channels: Mostly in‑person → Square/Toast/Clover. Mostly online/subscriptions → Stripe/Shopify Payments/Braintree. Invoicing/accounting first → QuickBooks Payments.
• Volume & average ticket: Low volume/high ticket favors interchange‑plus or negotiated rates (Helcim, merchant accounts). Very high volume should seek custom pricing. (helcim.com, nerdwallet.com)
• Technical resources: If you can code, Stripe unlocks custom flows. If not, Square/PayPal/Shopify are easiest. (nerdwallet.com, forbes.com)
• Hardware & industry features: Restaurants benefit from Toast; retailers may prefer Square or Clover for integrated hardware. (nerdwallet.com, tech.co)
• Cash flow needs: Check payout timing, same‑day/next‑day options and instant deposit fees. (plutospay.com, quickbooks.intuit.com)

Practical next steps

1. Map your needs (channels, avg ticket, volume, integrations).
2. Try the free/pay‑as‑you‑go options first (many platforms have no monthly minimums).
3. Ask sales for a full fee breakdown (interchange vs markup, monthly fees, chargeback costs, hardware leases, contract length).
4. Read recent merchant reviews for support/hold behavior (rates and policies change). (pcmag.com, techradar.com)

If you tell me which industry you’re in (retail, restaurant, services, ecommerce), your monthly volume and whether you need hardware or invoicing, I can shortlist the 2–3 best fits and estimate expected monthly costs. Otherwise, these options are a solid starting point for U.S. small businesses as of Sept 5, 2025.