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Monthly cost by payment method
| Scenario | Monthly cost | Effective rate | Yearly cost |
|---|
Check your current statement
Optional: enter the total fees on last month’s statement to see your effective rate.
Want exact numbers? Get a free statement review and a written quote.
Get a free review →Estimates only, for planning. Card interchange varies by card type and how the card is accepted, and actual pricing is set by underwriting. Calculations run in your browser; nothing you enter is stored or sent.
How to use the ACH vs credit card fee calculator
You need two numbers from your last statement or sales report: how much you collect each month and your average payment amount. Everything else has a sensible default you can change.
From your numbers to a savings estimate
The calculator works in your browser and updates instantly. Nothing you type is saved or sent.
- Enter your monthly volume — the total dollar amount you collect by card each month.
- Enter your average payment — total volume divided by the number of payments. ACH saves the most on larger payments.
- Choose how much could move to ACH — for example invoices, retainers, subscriptions or B2B orders your customers would happily pay by bank.
- Compare against your card pricing — switch between flat-rate and interchange-plus, and open “Edit fee assumptions” to enter the exact rates from your statement or quote.
- Check your effective rate — enter last month’s total fees to see what you really pay as a percentage of sales.
How the calculator works out your fees
Every result is shown so you can check it. The calculator estimates the number of payments as monthly volume divided by your average payment, then applies these formulas.
Interchange-plus defaults are example assumptions, not a Payment Circle quote. High-risk and supplement accounts are quoted after underwriting; see how our pricing works. The interchange estimate is an average: real interchange depends on card type and how each card is accepted. Learn more in our guide to interchange-plus pricing and how much credit card processing fees cost.
ACH vs credit card fees compared
Cards are priced mostly as a percentage of each sale. ACH is usually priced as a small fixed fee per payment, so the gap grows as payments get larger.
| Credit cards | ACH bank payments | |
|---|---|---|
| How fees are charged | Mostly a percentage of each sale plus a small fixed fee | Usually a fixed fee per payment, sometimes a small percentage with a cap |
| Cost on a $1,000 payment | Often $20 to $35 | Often a few dollars or less |
| Getting paid | Approved in seconds, usually funded in 1–2 business days | Usually settles in 1–3 business days; Same Day ACH is available for eligible payments |
| After the sale | Customers can dispute charges (chargebacks) | Payments can be returned, for example for insufficient funds or an unauthorized debit |
| Best for | Smaller, one-time online purchases and customers who want card rewards or protection | Invoices, recurring billing, retainers, rent, tuition and B2B orders |
Typical ranges are general market estimates, not quotes. ACH payments run under rules set by Nacha, which also sets return-rate thresholds merchants must stay under: 0.5% for unauthorized debit returns, 3% for administrative returns and 15% overall (Nacha risk and enforcement rules).
What the default example shows
A business collecting $50,000 a month with an average payment of $250 makes about 200 payments. On a flat rate of 2.9% + $0.30, each payment costs about $7.55 to accept by card, compared with $0.50 by ACH.
When ACH saves the most, and when cards make more sense
ACH usually wins when…
Most businesses keep cards and add ACH as a lower-cost option. See our ACH payment processing and eCheck processing services.
- Payments are large — invoices, wholesale orders and high-ticket services.
- Billing repeats — subscriptions, memberships, retainers and payment plans.
- Customers are businesses — many B2B buyers already pay vendors by bank transfer.
- Margins are tight — a few percent of every sale adds up quickly.
Cards are still the better fit when…
Accepting both gives customers a choice. Compare the methods in depth in ACH vs credit card processing.
- Purchases are small — a fixed ACH fee matters more on low-value orders.
- Speed matters — card approvals are instant at checkout.
- Buyers are new customers — many shoppers prefer cards online.
- You need card features — wallets, one-click checkout and card-on-file billing through a payment gateway.
ACH vs credit card fees: common questions
Is ACH cheaper than credit card processing?
For most payments, yes. Cards are priced as a percentage of each sale, while ACH is usually a small fixed fee, so ACH costs far less on larger payments. On very small payments the difference shrinks, and the calculator shows the payment size where ACH becomes cheaper.
How much does ACH processing cost?
Pricing varies by provider. Many charge a fixed fee per payment, some charge a small percentage with a per-payment cap, and some add a monthly fee and a fee for each returned payment. Enter your quote in the calculator to compare.
How do I find my effective rate?
Divide the total fees on your monthly statement by your total card sales for the month. Enter last month’s fees in the calculator to see it automatically.
Should I stop accepting credit cards?
Usually not. Most businesses save money by offering ACH alongside cards, especially for invoices and recurring billing, while keeping cards for customers who prefer them.
Can I pass card fees on to customers?
In many U.S. states you can add a credit card surcharge if you follow card network rules and state law, but debit cards can’t be surcharged. Read more in our credit card processing fees guide.
Is the information I enter stored?
No. All calculations happen in your browser. Nothing you type into the calculator is saved or sent to Payment Circle.
Sources and further reading
- Nacha: Same Day ACH
- Nacha: ACH network risk and enforcement topics
- Federal Reserve: Regulation II (debit card interchange fees)
Related guides
Ready to lower your processing costs? Add ACH, switch to interchange-plus, or both. Call (571) 274-7950 or apply online.
Apply for a merchant account →