Comparison

Flat Rate vs Interchange Plus: Which Pricing Model Saves You More?

By Robert Staschak · Owner, Custom Payments LLC · Merchant Services Specialist · Published 2026-07-24 · 12 minute read

When shopping for payment processing, you'll encounter two main pricing models: flat-rate and interchange-plus. Both claim to be the best option, but they work very differently.

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Decision support

Compare pricing structure against actual transaction mix, fixed charges, software, equipment, gateway needs, and full written account terms.