Overview

Helcim combines point of sale, online checkout, payment links, invoicing, and a virtual terminal with an inventory catalog and customer vault. That range is useful for businesses collecting payments through several channels, though it does not make processing free. In-person acceptance includes major payment types such as Apple Pay and Google Pay; multi-currency support and daily payouts add flexibility.

Eligible merchants can accept ACH through invoicing, recurring payments, payment requests, and the Virtual Terminal. Eligibility is an important qualification for businesses that expect to rely on bank payments. Helcim was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Key features

In-person and remote payments: Point of sale, checkout, payment links, invoices, and a virtual terminal cover common ways to collect. Merchants can consolidate these workflows, while those needing only one narrow payment channel may not need the full spread.
Recurring payments and Card Vault: Recurring billing supports repeat charges. Card Vault tokenizes stored payment details so merchants can take future or recurring payments without storing card numbers on their own systems. The recurring-payment fee is an additional 0.4% per transaction.
ACH and integrations: ACH/EFT-PAD is available to eligible merchants, while QuickBooks Online, Xero, and WooCommerce integrations connect payments with accounting or commerce workflows. The Helcim API and HelcimPay.js provide options for custom integrations and website payments.
Security: Helcim identifies as a PCI Level 1 Service Provider and says it uses AES-256 encryption and TLS 1.2 or higher in transit to protect cardholder data.
Support: Phone support runs Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.–5 p.m. MT, and Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. MT. Contact-form questions receive a reply within one business day, a useful service window for merchants who need assistance outside those hours.

Pricing

Helcim payment processing: 0.00 USD per free. There are no monthly account fees, but interchange-plus transaction rates vary by volume and payment method. Recurring payments add 0.4% per transaction. ACH/EFT-PAD costs 0.5% + 25¢ per transaction, capped at $6.

The no-monthly-fee structure suits businesses that want to avoid a recurring account charge, but it is not a flat-rate promise: costs depend on transaction mix and volume. Merchants planning frequent recurring charges should account for the extra percentage, and ACH users should factor in its per-transaction fee and cap.

Platforms

Helcim lists Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, web, and API support. The POS app supports Windows 10/11, macOS 10.13 or higher, iPadOS 16 or higher, and iOS 16 or Android 10 or higher. It is incompatible with Chromebooks and LG L322DL devices, so businesses should check their hardware before choosing it.

Who it's for

Helcim is a strong fit for small businesses that need a mix of in-person and online acceptance, invoicing, or recurring charges and want integrations with common accounting or commerce tools. Its no-monthly-account-fee plan may appeal to merchants wary of fixed charges. It is less suitable for a business that requires Chromebook POS support or assumes ACH will be available without eligibility.

Pros and cons

Pro: Several payment channels, an inventory catalog, and a customer vault sit within one toolkit, which can suit merchants handling varied sales workflows.
Pro: No monthly account fee keeps the base account cost at 0.00 USD per free.
Pro: Daily payouts, multi-currency support, and integrations with QuickBooks Online, Xero, and WooCommerce cover useful operational needs.
Con: Transaction rates vary by volume and payment method, making costs less predictable than a single fixed account price.
Con: Recurring payments carry an additional 0.4% per transaction, and ACH access is limited to eligible merchants.
Con: Chromebook and LG L322DL devices cannot run the POS app.

Alternatives

Consider Payment Processing Software or Mobile Payment Processing Software to compare services in those categories. For keyed payment workflows, Virtual Terminal Software is a relevant comparison.

NMI is a paid option with Android, iOS, Linux, web, Windows, and API platforms.
SwipeSimple has a free Connect Zero plan for eligible businesses, with card-paying customers covering a 3.5% card fee; consider it if that arrangement fits your checkout model.
myPOS Virtual Terminal MO/TO offers a free plan with no monthly fee and per-transaction fees, subject to service approval.
Payline Virtual Terminal is a paid option with Android, API, iOS, and web support.
Redde Virtual Terminal offers keyed payments with no contracts, reporting tools, and acceptance of cards and digital wallets.
Dojo has a free Essential plan at 0.00 GBP per month per location, with core tools, major card types, real-time transactions, and PCI-compliance support.
Global Payments is a paid option for web, iOS, and Android.
EBizCharge Virtual Terminal offers a customized-fee merchant account, with fees dependent on card types charged.

Verdict

Helcim is a compelling choice for small businesses that want varied payment channels, recurring billing, and useful integrations without a monthly account fee. Its principal trade-offs are variable transaction rates, the extra recurring-payment charge, and eligibility limits on ACH. Merchants whose costs depend heavily on repeat charges or who need Chromebook POS support should compare alternatives before committing.

	Authorize.net	Helcim
Free plan	No	Yes
Free trial	No	No
Paid from	$25/mo	Free
Open source	No	No
Platforms	Web	Android, api, iOS, macOS, Web, Windows
Free plan	No	No
Paid from	25 /mo	—
Recurring payments	Yes	—

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