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Set your volume and average ticket to see the yearly difference between Helcim and Paydude.
Both sliders matter. Volume decides which Paydude tier applies; ticket size decides how much the fixed per-transaction fee costs you, which is where Helcim and Paydude differ most.
Ticket size matters as much as volume: the fixed per-transaction fee is what makes small payments expensive. Helcim prices on interchange-plus, so the rate used here is a typical all-in figure rather than a list price.
| Paydude | Helcim | |
|---|---|---|
| Card rate | 2.6% (falling to 2.5%) | interchange + 0.4% |
| Fixed fee | 25¢ (falling to 15¢) | 8¢ |
| Monthly fee | $0 | $0 |
| Subscriptions | No extra percentage | Included |
| International cards | No surcharge | Surcharged |
| Amex and premium cards | +0.3% | Passed through |
| Chargeback fee | $12 | $15–$25 typical |
Helcim often costs less on debit-heavy volume at scale, because regulated debit interchange is far below any blended flat rate. If most of your volume is debit, price it properly.
Flat, predictable pricing with no card-mix variance to reconcile, and no international surcharge.
Card mix changes this comparison more than the headline rate does. The overpayment calculator models Amex, premium and international share, and reports the point at which Paydude stops being cheaper.
GOOD QUESTIONS
On published base rates for domestic cards, Paydude starts at 2.6% + 25¢ against Helcim's interchange + 0.4% + 8¢. Whether that is cheaper for you depends on card mix: Paydude surcharges Amex and premium cards at +0.3% but does not surcharge international cards, where most providers add 1–1.5%.
Helcim often costs less on debit-heavy volume at scale, because regulated debit interchange is far below any blended flat rate. If most of your volume is debit, price it properly.
Switching means migrating stored payment tokens, which are specific to the provider that issued them. Most major providers will run a PCI-compliant migration of the underlying card data. Confirm that path exists before committing — it is the main technical obstacle to any processor change.
Both figures are publicly published standard rates for domestic card payments as of September 2026. Neither is a negotiated or promotional rate, and Helcim may quote you something different from its list price.