Helcim

Helcim is payment-processing software for small businesses that take payments in person, online, by invoice, or through a virtual terminal. It suits merchants who want several payment workflows under one account, including recurring billing and eligible ACH payments. Its strongest case is breadth without a monthly account fee; transaction charges still apply and recurring payments cost extra.

Overview

Helcim brings point of sale, online checkout, payment links, invoicing, and a virtual terminal into one payment toolkit. It also supports an inventory catalog and a customer vault, making it a fit for businesses that need more than a checkout page. In-person acceptance includes major payment types such as Apple Pay and Google Pay; multi-currency support and daily payouts add useful flexibility.

ACH is available to eligible merchants through invoicing, recurring payments, payment requests, and the Virtual Terminal. That eligibility condition matters: businesses should not assume every account can use ACH. Helcim is based in Calgary, Alberta, and was founded in 2006.

Key features

• Multiple ways to collect: Point of sale, online checkout, payment links, invoices, and a virtual terminal cover both face-to-face and remote sales. This range can reduce the need to assemble separate tools for common payment scenarios.
• Recurring billing and stored payment details: The Card Vault tokenizes payment details so merchants can accept future or recurring payments without keeping card numbers on their own systems. Recurring transactions carry an additional charge, so this convenience has a direct cost.
• Accounting and commerce connections: Integrations include QuickBooks Online, Xero, and WooCommerce. The Helcim API and HelcimPay.js offer routes for custom integrations and website payments.
• Security: Helcim identifies itself as a PCI Level 1 Service Provider and says it uses AES-256 encryption for cardholder data and TLS 1.2 or higher for data in transit.
• Support: Phone support runs Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.–5 p.m. MT, and Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. MT. Helcim says it replies to contact-form questions within one business day; businesses needing phone help outside those hours should account for the schedule.

Pricing

Helcim payment processing — free. The account has no monthly fee, while 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.

This structure suits businesses that prefer to avoid a recurring account charge and whose processing costs can vary with their sales mix. It is not a zero-cost payment service: transaction fees remain, and recurring billing adds a surcharge. Businesses that rely heavily on recurring charges should include that extra 0.4% in their cost calculation.

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. Helcim Payments is incompatible with Chromebooks and LG L322DL devices, so merchants using either should choose another device.

Who it's for

Helcim is best suited to small businesses that need a mix of in-person and online acceptance, invoicing, or recurring payments and want accounting or commerce integrations. Its no-monthly-account-fee structure may appeal to businesses with variable activity. It is a weaker fit for merchants who need predictable all-in processing costs or who depend on ACH without first confirming eligibility.

Pros and cons

• Pro: A broad set of payment tools spans point of sale, checkout, invoices, links, and virtual terminal use, which can support varied sales channels in one toolkit.
• Pro: There is no monthly account fee, and ACH/EFT-PAD charges are capped at $6 per transaction.
• Pro: QuickBooks Online, Xero, and WooCommerce integrations cover common accounting and online-store connections, while API options allow custom work.
• Con: Card processing rates vary by volume and payment method, making total costs less predictable than a single flat rate.
• Con: Recurring payments carry an additional 0.4% per transaction, which can add up for subscription-heavy businesses.
• Con: ACH access is limited to eligible merchants, and the POS app excludes Chromebooks and LG L322DL devices.

Alternatives

PayPal Invoicing is a more focused choice for businesses that mainly need to create and send invoices without setup or subscription fees; transaction fees apply when customers pay. Airwallex Payments is an alternative for businesses seeking online card and local payment acceptance on a free Explore plan, with processing fees that include domestic cards at 2.8% + $0.30.

Kill Bill is worth considering for teams that want a self-hosted, open-source core and control of their infrastructure and data. Mollie offers pay-as-you-go processing with no contract or commitment, with listed domestic consumer debit and credit card pricing of 1.20% and other consumer cards at 1.80%.

Checkout.com offers free payment processing for registered charities in countries where it operates, while its tailored pricing is based on business profile. Pin Payments is an alternative with no lock-in contracts and all features included, with domestic-card transactions priced at A$1.63 per transaction.

MobilePay may suit businesses that want a mobile-focused way to accept MobilePay, Visa, and Mastercard, with a 0.99% transaction charge and no monthly subscription price. SumUp Invoices is an alternative to consider for invoicing workflows.

For broader comparisons, see Payment Processing Software, Virtual Terminal Software, Mobile Payment Processing Software, and Point-of-Sale Software.

Verdict

Choose Helcim if your small business needs a versatile mix of in-person and online payments, invoicing, and recurring billing without a monthly account fee. Its range of collection methods and integrations is the main reason to pick it. Look elsewhere if variable transaction pricing, the recurring-payment surcharge, device incompatibility, or ACH eligibility restrictions conflict with how your business operates.