Paydude charges 2.6% + 25¢ per successful card transaction under $100k of monthly volume, improving with volume and moving to interchange-plus above $5M — with no monthly platform fee. Seven situational fees exist and each applies only in a specific circumstance. All of it is published.
Card rates
| Tier | Monthly volume | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | Under $100k | 2.6% + 25¢ |
| Growing | $100k – $1M | 2.55% + 20¢ |
| Scale | $1M – $5M | 2.5% + 15¢ |
| Interchange plus | $5M+ | Interchange plus 0.2% + 25¢ |
The top tier changes pricing model rather than just lowering the number. Instead of a blended rate, you pay the actual interchange with a disclosed 0.2% + 25¢ markup — which at that scale is usually cheaper, and always more transparent. See what is interchange-plus pricing.
Situational fees
| Situation | Cost | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Subscriptions and invoices | +0% | Never — recurring billing carries no extra percentage |
| ACH transactions | $0.75 | Per ACH transaction, instead of the card rate |
| Premium rewards, corporate, business and all Amex cards | +0.3% | When the customer pays with an eligible card of that type |
| Retrieval fee | $12 | A bank requests documentation before opening a dispute |
| Chargeback fee | $12 | A cardholder's bank reverses a payment |
| Chargeback reversal fee | $12 | A disputed payment is reversed back in your favour |
| Monthly difference / onboarding | $5 | Only if the account generates under $5 of monthly processing revenue |
Worked examples
All three assume a $50 average transaction and domestic consumer cards, with no premium-card surcharge applied.
| Monthly volume | Transactions | Tier | Fees | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | 500 | Starter | $775 | 3.10% |
| $250,000 | 5,000 | Growing | $7,375 | 2.95% |
| $2,000,000 | 40,000 | Scale | $56,000 | 2.80% |
Note that the effective rate is always higher than the headline percentage, because of the fixed per-transaction fee. That is true of every processor — see what is an effective rate.
How tiers actually behave
- Process your first month
Everyone starts on the Starter tier at 2.6% + 25¢.
- Cross a volume threshold
Exceed $100k in a calendar month and the Growing tier applies from the following month.
- The tier locks for six months
Even if volume dips below the threshold, the better rate holds for six months.
- It renews automatically
Reach that tier again at any point during those six months and the lock extends for another six.
There is no application and no renegotiation. The rate follows the volume.
GOOD QUESTIONS
Frequently asked
Does Paydude have a monthly fee?+
No monthly platform fee on any published tier. There is a $5 monthly difference charge that applies only if your account generates under $5 of monthly processing revenue, and it begins after your first transaction — so it functions as a floor on very low volume rather than a subscription.
How do the volume tiers work?+
The tier is set by last month's card volume and applies automatically. Cross a threshold once and the better rate locks for six months; reach that tier again during those six months and it renews for another six. You never have to ask for it.
What costs extra?+
Premium rewards, corporate, business and all American Express cards add 0.3%. ACH is $0.75 per transaction. Retrieval, chargeback and chargeback-reversal fees are $12 each. Subscriptions and invoicing add nothing.
Are subscriptions charged extra?+
No. Subscriptions and invoices carry no additional Paydude percentage, which is a real difference from providers that price recurring billing as a separate product on top of processing.
What is the interchange-plus tier?+
Above $5M of monthly volume, pricing moves to interchange plus 0.2% + 25¢ — you pay the actual interchange set by the card networks with a disclosed markup on top, rather than a blended flat rate. At that scale interchange-plus is usually cheaper, particularly on debit-heavy card mixes.