Helcim Review for 2021: Features, Pricing, Alternatives

For those who’re in search of an all-inclusive service provider service supplier, contemplate Helcim. Its clear pricing, Helcim Commerce platform and extra capabilities make it a legitimate selection for a wide range of small-business homeowners. Here is what it’s good to know to resolve if Helcim could be a superb match for your corporation.
As a full-service service provider companies supplier, Helcim offers you entry to a variety of completely different capabilities — all of which allow you to course of buyer funds and handle your corporation.
Service provider account
To work with Helcim service provider companies, you first submit a service provider account software, and when you’re accepted, you obtain a service provider account for your corporation. This service provider account lets you settle for bank card funds (and debit too) — together with Visa, MasterCard, Uncover, American Specific, JCB and China UnionPay — from clients. Utilizing Helcim means you don’t must open a separate service provider account with a financial institution, however you do must apply for a service provider account and Helcim reserves the proper to reject your software. Helcim’s Acceptable Use Coverage particulars an inventory of prohibited companies that it will not present companies. This checklist contains “high-risk retailers,” like telemarketing firms, web playing suppliers, telemedicine companies and extra.
Credit score and debit terminals
For those who run a brick-and-mortar retailer and wish to simply accept bank card funds in individual, Helcim presents a wide range of completely different terminals so that you can select from. Helcim presents these bodily terminals at a one-time value and doesn’t lock you right into a long-term gear lease. Terminal choices from Helcim embrace:
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Helcim Cellular Card Reader: Appropriate with Apple and Android units, connects through audio jack.
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Wired Countertop, Ingenico DESK3500: Chip card reader (chip and PIN/EMV).
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Quick-Vary Wi-fi, Ingenico iWL220: Bluetooth terminal for pay-at-table functionality.
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Lengthy-Vary Wi-fi, Ingenico iWL250: Constructed-in SIM card, settle for funds from virtually wherever (requires extra knowledge plan).
With all of its {hardware} merchandise, Helcim features a one-year cost-free substitute. In case you have have already got a terminal, Helcim presents a terminal trade program. For $75 per trade, you may ship in your present {hardware} in trade for a refurbished terminal from Helcim — programmed and ready-to-go when it arrives. Solely sure terminals are eligible for this program, so that you’ll wish to work with Helcim immediately for those who’re seeking to make the most of its terminal trade.
Cellular app
As a part of the Helcim Commerce platform, you get entry to the Helcim cell app for iPhone, iPad or Android units. With this app, you need to use the cell card reader {hardware} to course of funds immediately in your cell gadget. Though you need to use the bodily cell card reader, you may as well manually enter buyer bank card info into your gadget. Helcim lets you obtain the app to a limiteless variety of units, and your knowledge will robotically sync throughout them.
Digital terminal
Along with the bodily terminal choices Helcim presents, its service provider companies additionally features a digital terminal so you may settle for funds in your pc. Utilizing its net interface, you may log in from any gadget that has web entry and authorize bank card transactions in actual time. With the digital terminal, you manually enter the client’s bank card info in addition to extra info (billing and transport addresses, invoicing, and many others.) for those who select to take action. You may ship buyer receipts through e mail or print them. The digital terminal additionally lets you carry out refunds and voids, arrange recurring funds, view transaction historical past and settle for other forms of fee (money, checks, financial institution deposits, ACH funds).
Level-of-sale (POS)
Level-of-sale performance is included as a part of the Helcim Commerce service provider platform. Utilizing the web-based model of Helcim Commerce or the cell app, you could have the flexibility to take a look at your clients and monitor stock, funds, gross sales tendencies and clients. You may obtain the cell app on as many units as you want, and your knowledge will robotically sync — plus, it is going to hook up with all the info saved within the Helcim Commerce platform. You may also create limitless consumer accounts for workers.
Helcim’s POS inclusion offers you the flexibility to customise your individual checkout, offering templates which you can alter and that can sync throughout all your units. Your Helcim point-of-sale can combine with all your completely different {hardware} choices: the cell card reader and different bodily terminals, in addition to suitable printers, money drawers and barcode readers.
Hosted fee pages
Settle for funds by yourself web site utilizing Helcim’s hosted fee pages. These pages mean you can settle for funds, register clients, save bank cards and subscribe customers to recurring fee plans. These fee pages are absolutely customizable: You may change the information fields in addition to the design. The hosted fee pages may even be used as a full buying cart system. You should utilize these pages so as to add “purchase buttons” to your web site with out having to allow the complete On-line Retailer. Prospects will be capable of add and take away objects from their cart, taxes and totals might be calculated and transport integration is supported.
Fee gateway API
If it’s good to add bank card processing to extra functions you are able to do so with Helcim’s fee gateway API. The fee gateway API lets you authorize funds, void transactions and handle your batches from the Helcim Commerce platform. You may combine this gateway with a buying cart, billing system or different suitable third-party software program.
Helcim Commerce
Helcim Commerce is the software program platform that connects all of those components of Helcim service provider companies. You may entry Helcim Commerce on the net or in your cell gadget utilizing the Helcim Commerce app. By way of this platform, you could have entry to your service provider account, all your fee processing capabilities and your point-of-sale system. Relying in your particular plan, Helcim Commerce additionally offers you entry to extra capabilities like on-line invoicing, a product catalog and stock administration system, a buyer administration system and credit-card vault, a subscription administration and recurring processing device, third-party integrations and a totally hosted on-line retailer.
Helcim Commerce permits for a limiteless variety of customers, and you may dictate consumer roles and supply enhanced consumer safety. You should utilize your Helcim Commerce account throughout a number of enterprise places, accessing all your info no matter the place you’re or what gadget you’re utilizing. You may absolutely customise your platform, from e mail templates to your CMS. Helcim Commerce additionally helps a number of service provider accounts on the platform.
Here is what’s included in every of the plan choices:
Helcim Retail Plan
This plan is for enterprise homeowners who function a brick-and-mortar retailer, like a retail store or restaurant. The Helcim Retail Plan contains the next:
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Limitless customers and entry controls.
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Superior reporting instruments.
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Visa, MasterCard and Amex service provider account.
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In-person bank card processing (EMV/Swipe).
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Cellular apps and point-of-sale.
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Product catalog and stock administration.
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Invoicing, PDF and customized emails.
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Buyer relationship supervisor.
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Card vault and tokenization.
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Safety and fraud prevention.
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PCI Degree-1 hosted surroundings.
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Information backups and redundancy.
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Helcim On-line Plan
This plan, then again, is for enterprise homeowners who function an e-commerce enterprise. The Helcim On-line Plan contains:
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Limitless customers and entry controls.
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Superior reporting instruments.
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Visa, MasterCard and Amex service provider account.
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On-line and e-commerce bank card processing.
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Helcim.js (developer device for including funds to your web site).
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Cellular apps and point-of-sale.
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Product catalog and stock administration.
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Invoicing, PDF and customized emails.
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On-line invoicing funds.
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Buyer relationship supervisor
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Card vault and tokenization
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Self-service buyer portal
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Area internet hosting and SSL certificates.
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Third-party transport companies integration.
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Recurring plans and subscriptions.
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Prorated and metered billing.
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Safety and fraud prevention.
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PCI Degree-1 hosted surroundings.
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Information backups and redundancy.
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For those who want each retail and on-line capabilities, you should purchase each plans collectively. Then you definitely’ll have entry to all the options that Helcim service provider companies has to supply. Moreover, with any Helcim account, Helcim supplies 24/7 customer support, in addition to entry to assist assets and tutorials.
There are a couple of particular person items so as to add up when trying on the complete value of Helcim service provider companies. The last word worth of Helcim for your corporation might be made up of the price of your plan, your fee processing prices, any {hardware} you require and any extra service provider companies you want. Helcim is thought for its clear pricing, and all of its pricing info may be discovered on its web site. It doesn’t cost hidden charges, in contrast to many service provider service suppliers.
Plan pricing
Helcim plans run on a month-to-month fee system, that means you pay a set payment each month and should not caught in an prolonged contract. You may cancel your Helcim account at any time with out incurring a cancellation payment.
The Retail Plan prices $15 per thirty days and the On-line Plan prices $35 per thirty days. For those who want retail and on-line capabilities, you will get each plans for $50 per thirty days. For every plan, this month-to-month payment covers all the pieces included within the lists above.
Fee processing charges
Along with the price of your Helcim plan, you’ll additionally must pay the precise bank card processing charges. Helcim operates on an interchange-plus pricing construction, which it calls Value+. The time period Interchange-plus means you pay a selected charge plus cents per transaction above interchange (0.25% plus eight cents per transaction, for instance). The interchange charge varies relying on the cardboard issuer and might change 12 months to 12 months. With the Value+ mannequin, Helcim has a charge assure, that means it ensures that its margin won’t enhance for the lifetime of your account with them.
The precise Value+ margin that you just’ll pay relies upon each on your corporation (retail vs. e-commerce) and your gross sales quantity. E-commerce companies will usually pay the next charge than retail retailers, as a result of riskier nature of accepting funds on-line. Moreover, as your gross sales quantity will increase, your Value+ margin decreases — that means that Helcim presents volume-based processing reductions. That being stated, for retail companies, the best Value+ margin you’ll pay is 0.25% plus eight cents per transaction. For on-line companies, the best you’ll pay is 0.45% plus 25 cents per transaction. These “highest charges” will apply to companies processing as much as $25,000 in bank card gross sales per thirty days. The chart beneath reveals how the Value+ margin decreases as gross sales quantity will increase for retail and on-line companies. As you’ll see on the backside of the chart, Helcim additionally presents a reduced Value+ charge for registered charities.

Supply: Helcim
{Hardware}
If your corporation requires {hardware} to course of funds in-store, you should purchase this gear immediately from Helcim. The worth will depend upon which terminal you select — however costs vary from $30 (cell card reader) to $549 (long-range wi-fi terminal). Bear in mind, you may take part in Helcim’s terminal substitute program, when you’ve got a terminal that qualifies. For those who want extra POS {hardware}, like a money drawer or barcode scanner, you should purchase these from third-party sellers. Helcim lists all suitable {hardware} on its web site. In case you have {hardware} and wish to see if it’s suitable with Helcim, you need to use its assist pages or attain out to its customer support staff.
Extra service provider companies
Helcim presents a couple of supplemental service provider companies, as nicely. You may add a service provider ID, multi-currency processing, stage 3 knowledge processing and ACH processing, for related prices.

Supply: Helcim
Charges
Though Helcim doesn’t cost lots of the typical charges related to service provider service suppliers, it’s clear in regards to the 4 situations through which you’ll incur a payment. Dial authorization will incur a two cents payment per prevalence. Anytime it’s good to change your corporation checking account or enterprise title, it is going to value $25. Moreover, when you’ve got a transaction with non-sufficient funds, the payment will even be $25. In case you are PCI-non compliant after the 90-day grace interval, you’ll face a $60 payment. Lastly, when you’ve got a chargeback, you’ll must pay a $15 payment every time.
Transparency
Transparency might be the most important stand-out component of Helcim, particularly in comparison with different service provider service suppliers. Helcim lists all its pricing info on its web site and breaks down particular person prices for bank card processing and its completely different plans, even providing assets on particular interchange charges. Though the interchange-plus charges will not be probably the most reasonably priced for all companies, this clear mannequin is without doubt one of the finest choices you’ll obtain from a service provider service supplier.
Helcim can also be clear about its charges. The truth is, it doesn’t cost charges the place many different companies do, like for month-to-month minimums, setup or account cancellation. Moreover, PCI compliance is included as a part of all Helcim plans, which is one other frequent month-to-month value required by different suppliers.
Helcim offers potential and present customers entry to all of its pricing, making a foundation of belief with clients. Most Helcim evaluations on the web discuss in regards to the firm’s honesty, clear pricing and genuinely useful customer support.
All-inclusive platform
It’s exhausting to say you’ll discover a service provider companies supplier that features as many capabilities as Helcim. Not like many different fee processing firms, Helcim supplies you with a service provider account, bank card processing, a point-of-sale system, hosted fee pages, invoicing and enterprise administration instruments (the specifics, in fact, relying in your plan). Helcim service provider companies really is all-inclusive, providing you with one-key entry to the assets it’s good to run your corporation.
Value
Pricing can also be a possible con. Finally, what makes a superb or dangerous worth for a service provider service supplier will depend on your particular enterprise. For those who course of the next quantity in month-to-month gross sales, the pricing may truly be a optimistic for you. Nonetheless, Helcim’s pricing might be not probably the most cost-effective for smaller companies that course of decrease volumes every month. There are undoubtedly decrease interchange-plus charges accessible from different suppliers. On the finish of the day, you’ll must weigh the price of the particular processing charges of a service provider service supplier with the options it presents. Once more, smaller companies may not want all the options Helcim presents and may benefit extra from working with a point-of-sale processor like Sq..
Cellular card reader
This will not be a problem for e-commerce companies, however for those who’re processing in-person funds and wish to use your cell gadget, the Helcim cell card reader might provide you with some pause. Simply as Helcim evaluations level out the unimaginable transparency of this supplier, you’ll see this level as a frequent unfavourable. Helcim’s cell card reader shouldn’t be EMV compliant, which suggests it solely has swipe studying capabilities and doesn’t accommodate EMV chips. With out this compliance, you’re open to a better fraud danger when accepting bank cards in individual.
Moreover, to make use of the cell card reader, it’s important to use the headphone jack — which is problematic when you’ve got a more moderen iPhone or iPad mannequin, which not have the normal headphone jack performance with out an adapter. Though Helcim presents different {hardware} terminals, its cell card reader choice may be problematic for those who’re particularly in search of cell gadget capabilities.
Earlier than making your closing resolution, it is clever to discover another choices. Along with all-inclusive service provider service suppliers, you can also take a look at point-of-sale processors, fee gateways and fee processing firms relying in your particular wants.
Sq.
Sq. is an enormous title on the subject of bank card processing and POS techniques for small companies. Sq. has a variety of completely different software program choices — Sq. Level-of-Sale, Sq. for Retail, Sq. for Eating places and common Sq. Funds — relying on your corporation’s particular wants. Probably the most primary model of the Sq. Funds software program, Sq. Level-of-Sale, is free and contains extra stock and worker administration capabilities. No matter which Sq. software program you employ, you obtain a free magstripe bank card reader to course of in-person funds. You even have the flexibility to buy different {hardware} choices immediately from Sq..
All of Sq.’s bank card processing charges are set, however what you’re truly charged will depend on your particular person software program, {hardware} and transaction quantity. Though Sq. charges may be difficult, you could have the helpful skill to plug and play with the completely different Sq. choices to discover a resolution and common value that matches your wants. The entire of Sq.’s software program and {hardware} choices are on par with Helcim, nevertheless, Sq. additionally has industry-specific choices, which may be notably useful for retail shops and eating places. Moreover, Sq. has extra reasonably priced choices. For those who’re in search of a widely known, user-friendly resolution for fee processing and wish to select the specifics of what you’re getting, Sq. is a good choice.
Fee Depot
For another that extra immediately parallels Helcim, you may wish to contemplate Fee Depot. Fee Depot is a service provider account supplier that gives a wide range of fee processing choices for your corporation, together with a service provider account, fee gateway, digital terminal, POS system and extra. Not like Helcim’s one-stop-shop platform, nevertheless, lots of Fee Depot’s companies are offered at the side of exterior firms. The largest distinction between Helcim and Fee Depot is Fee Depot’s distinctive pricing construction.
Fee Depot presents 4 completely different membership plans. With every of those plans you pay a month-to-month subscription payment, and Fee Depot presents a no-percentage markup mannequin. This implies you’ll pay, for instance, interchange plus 0% plus 15 cents per transaction — as a substitute of paying a share plus a cent payment for every transaction, you’re solely paying that cent payment. The precise charge you’ll pay will rely in your subscription (every of which has a most month-to-month processing quantity), but it surely ranges from 15 cents per transaction to 5 cents per transaction.
Fee Depot doesn’t cost for PCI compliance, early cancellation, setup and has no hidden charges. Fee Depot, although, is missing the enterprise operations and administration instruments which are a part of the Helcim Commerce platform. For those who really feel that Helcim’s charges are too steep and don’t want its extra enterprise instruments, then Fee Depot could be a extra reasonably priced choice.
A model of this text was first printed on Fundera, a subsidiary of BaghdadTime.