Why we built PaymentGateway.ca

The short version: we got frustrated with opaque payment fees and built the resource we wished existed.

The problem

We were running a small ecommerce business in Canada, processing about $20,000 a month through Stripe. The fees were 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. That's $580/month in fees.

One day, we stumbled across a comment on r/entrepreneur mentioning "interchange-plus pricing" and how Visa's actual interchange rate in Canada was around 1.5%. We did the math: if interchange is 1.5%, why are we paying 2.9%?

So we started researching. We spent two weeks comparing Canadian payment processors, reading fine print, calling sales reps, and trying to understand what we were actually paying for. It was exhausting.

We found Helcim (interchange + 0.15%), switched over, and immediately saved $220/month. That's $2,640 a year. For doing research.

What this site is

PaymentGateway.ca is an independent comparison resource focused on Canadian payment processors. We compare pricing models, explain how fees work, and highlight alternative payment rails like Interac Direct and stablecoins.

We're not a payment processor. We don't handle transactions or store payment data. We're just Canadians who got tired of overpaying for payment processing and wanted to help other business owners avoid the same mistake.

The site focuses specifically on Canada because the processor landscape here is different from the US. Square, Stripe, and PayPal all have Canadian arms, but they operate differently. Moneris is owned by RBC and BMO. Helcim is based in Calgary. Interac Direct (KONEK) is Canadian infrastructure. These details matter.

Honest affiliate disclosure

If you click a link and sign up for a processor, we earn a referral fee. That's how this stays free and how we keep the lights on.

Here's what that means in practice:

We don't rank processors based on who pays us the most. We rank based on who's actually good for Canadian businesses.
We call out what sucks about each processor, even if they're an affiliate partner.
We include processors we don't have affiliate relationships with (like Moneris) if they're worth considering.
We update pricing data quarterly and mark when it was last verified.

If you think we're getting something wrong, or if we're recommending a processor that doesn't deserve it, please call us out. We'd rather be right than make a commission.

How we maintain this

We update pricing data quarterly. Every comparison table shows a "last verified" date. If you spot outdated info, let us know.

We monitor Canadian fintech news, processor updates, and Reddit threads. When Staples Canada launched Interac Direct (KONEK) in 2024, we wrote about it. When Stripe launched Bridge for stablecoin settlement, we covered it.

We don't publish every processor in Canada. just the ones we think are worth considering for most businesses. If you're processing $1M+/month, you probably have a relationship manager negotiating custom rates. This site is for everyone else.

Questions? Corrections? Feedback?

We're real people. If something's wrong, or if you think we're missing a processor that deserves coverage, get in touch.

Last updated: February 2026