Pricing
Free for merchants. You pay for processing, and nothing else from us.
The SwitchKeep extension and the merchant portal cost nothing, and you never get a bill from us. What you pay is the cost of each card or bank payment, itemized on your processing statement. We're paid through a share of that processing.
What SwitchKeep costs
To start
No setup charge for the extension, the portal or connecting your software.
A month
No subscription and no per-seat charge from SwitchKeep, however many people take payments.
To leave
Uninstall whenever you like. Your software is exactly as you left it.
What you actually pay
The cost of processing, passed through, plus one clear margin.
Every card payment has a wholesale cost: interchange, paid to the bank that issued your customer's card, and a small network fee. Neither is set by your processor or by us. On your own merchant account, that cost is passed straight through to you at what it actually is, and a margin is added on top. That's called interchange-plus.
The margin is how your processor, and SwitchKeep, get paid. It's set with your account: by SwitchKeep Direct when you apply with us, or by the advisor or processor who introduced you. There's nothing for you to choose or manage. Your statement shows each part, so you can always check it.
Built-in payments work differently. They charge one flat percentage that bundles the wholesale cost and their margin together, so you can't see how much of it is margin.
On your statement
Every fee you might see, in plain words.
Not every account has every line. Your statement review lists the ones that apply to you, with amounts.
- Interchange
- The biggest part of every card payment. It depends on the card (debit, rewards, business) and how it was taken (in person, online or keyed in).
- To the card's bank
- Network fees
- Also called assessments. A small percentage, and sometimes a few cents, charged by the card brand on each payment.
- To the card network
- Processor margin
- The markup over interchange and network fees, as a percentage and sometimes a few cents per payment. Set with your account.
- To your processor and SwitchKeep
- Bank payment (ACH) fee
- Usually a flat amount per bank payment, not a percentage, so a large invoice costs the same to collect as a small one.
- To your processor
- ACH return fee
- Charged when a bank payment bounces, for example for insufficient funds or a closed account.
- To your processor
- Chargeback fee
- A flat fee when a customer disputes a card payment with their bank, whatever the outcome.
- To your processor
- Account fees
- Some merchant accounts carry statement, compliance or account fees. If yours does, they're part of the number we give you from your statement.
- To your processor
Interchange-plus, worked through
One $1,000 invoice, paid online by card.
Illustrative figures. Interchange varies by card, and your margin is set with your account. The margin here is the typical e-commerce markup of about 0.35% (CardFellow).
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Interchange and network fees, say 1.90% + 10¢ | $19.10 |
| Processor margin, about 0.35% | $3.50 |
| Your own merchant account: 2.26% effective | $22.60 |
| Built-in payments at 2.9% + 30¢ | $29.30 |
2.26% sits inside the 2.10–2.40% a small business typically pays all in on its own merchant account (Merchant Cost Consulting). 2.9% + 30¢ is a common published built-in rate for invoice card payments (sources).
How built-in payments compare
The same payments, priced two ways.
Divide last month's processing fees by last month's card sales. That's your effective rate, and it's the number to compare.
Built-in payments, per card. Plus 1% per bank payment: $50 to collect a $5,000 job.
Your own merchant account, typical all-in. Usually a few dollars per bank payment.
What SwitchKeep costs you. We're paid through a share of processing instead.
Published built-in rates and typical merchant-account costs, read on October 20, 2026: see every source. It isn't always cheaper: below about $43,000 a year in cards, account fees can eat the difference, and a mix heavy in Amex or business cards costs more anywhere. Estimate yours
FAQ
Pricing questions.
Is SwitchKeep really free?
Yes, for merchants. The extension and the merchant portal are free, and you never get a bill from us. We're paid through a share of the processing on your account, which is part of the margin on your statement.
Who sets my rate?
It's set with your merchant account: by SwitchKeep Direct when you apply with us, or by the advisor or processor who introduced you. There are no plans to choose between. Send a statement and we'll show you the number before you apply.
Why don't you publish one rate for everyone?
Because the biggest part of the cost, interchange, depends on your cards and how you take them. A flat published rate has to cover the expensive cards for everyone. Interchange-plus passes through what each payment actually costs.
What does a bank payment cost?
On your own merchant account, bank payments (ACH) are usually a flat few dollars each. Built-in payments typically charge 1%, which is $50 on a $5,000 job.
Are there fees outside processing?
Not from SwitchKeep. Your merchant account may have account, chargeback or return fees, and the statement review lists each one that applies, with amounts.
Get your exact number.
Send a recent processing statement. We'll price the same month on your own merchant account, line by line.