Best Ecommerce Merchant Account 2025

Best Ecommerce Merchant Accounts

Acquiring a dependable high-risk payment processor is a significant challenge for ecommerce businesses that have particular needs, from advanced security features to processing solutions for high-risk operations. 

This review spotlights providers that excel in customization, customer support, competitive pricing, and security measures. This ensures your ecommerce venture can conduct credit card transactions with efficiency and security.

Top Ecommerce Merchant Account Providers:

1. Moonlight Payments
2. Square 
3. eMerchant
4. Unicorn Payment
5. Clover

Moonlight Payments sets itself apart with a profound understanding of the ecommerce sphere, delivering services that ensure seamless transactions and robust protection of customer data.

1. Moonlight Payments

Overview

Moonlight Payments is a noteworthy ecommerce merchant account provider offering versatile and secure payment solutions for online businesses. It demonstrates a solid grasp of the ecommerce landscape, presenting a suite of services that caters to online merchants with various needs.

Notable Features

• Ecommerce-Focused Solutions: Moonlight Payments provides merchant accounts optimized for the online shopping experience, enhancing customer satisfaction and conversion rates.
• Robust Security Measures: Understanding the prevalence of online threats, Moonlight Payments incorporates advanced security protocols to protect sensitive payment information.
• Integrated Shopping Cart Options: It offers seamless integration with popular ecommerce shopping carts, ensuring a smooth checkout process for customers.
• Competitive Processing Rates: Moonlight Payments is recognized for its competitive rates, which can be especially beneficial for small to mid-sized online retailers looking to minimize costs.

Pricing

Moonlight Payments requires ecommerce businesses to call for rates. This is a common practice for high risk merchant account providers.

Pros

• Ecommerce Specialization: The focus on ecommerce merchant needs means businesses in the digital marketplace receive services crafted for their specific requirements.
• Advanced Security: With robust security as a priority, online merchants can assure their customers have a safe and secure shopping experience.

Cons

• Less Focus on Physical Retail: While specializing in ecommerce, its solutions might not fully cater to the needs of brick-and-mortar stores requiring physical payment terminals.
• Potentially Limited High-Risk Options: Ecommerce businesses that fall into high-risk categories may find Moonlight Payments’ offerings less comprehensive compared to providers specializing in high-risk accounts.

Summary

Moonlight Payments stands out as a strong partner for ecommerce businesses, with its merchant account services designed to meet the demands of online retailers. 

The company’s emphasis on security and integrated ecommerce tools make it an attractive choice for merchants seeking a streamlined and secure online payment solution.

2. Square

Overview

Square ecommerce solutions offers a user-friendly platform that supports various business models, from startups to established enterprises. 

Its services are structured to assist with launching new websites, handling online orders for restaurants, enabling sales on social media, and integrating online payments into existing sites. This demonstrates its versatility and user-centric approach.

Notable Features

• Free Online Store Setup: Square Online facilitates the easy creation of your own store without incurring initial costs, which is great for emerging businesses.
• Online Checkout Links: With Square Online Checkout, merchants can generate payment links, allowing for sales without a traditional website — ideal for quick setups or social media sales.
• Website Payment Integration: Square’s services include secure payment integrations for existing websites, expanding the payment options for customers.
• Developer-Friendly API: It provides a comprehensive library of developer resources, making it possible to create custom ecommerce solutions or integrate with business systems.
• Agency Partner Network: For businesses seeking professional setup assistance, Square connects clients with experienced agencies from its trusted network.

Pricing

Starting at no cost, Square offers a “free” option, emphasizing its commitment to accessibility for businesses at every level. 

Square’s transparent approach to sales communication allows for direct contact with its team to discuss tailored solutions and pricing for specific business needs.

Pros

• Ease of Use: Square’s ecommerce tools are designed for simplicity, allowing businesses to set up and manage their online presence with ease.
• Versatility for Various Business Types: Whether it’s a restaurant going digital or a new website launch, Square’s tools adapt to different business models.
• Developer and Agency Support: Access to developer resources and agency partnerships ensures that businesses can customize their ecommerce experience as needed.

Cons

• Basic Free Features: The free version offers limited features, prompting businesses to spend more on advanced tools.
• Transaction Fees: While starting is free, transaction fees apply, and businesses need to consider these costs as they scale up.

Summary

Square’s ecommerce merchant account services offer a flexible and accessible entry point for businesses of all sizes to establish and grow their online presence. 

With a variety of tools that cater to multiple sales platforms, coupled with strong security and developer support, Square positions itself as a solid choice for businesses seeking a comprehensive and scalable ecommerce solution.

3. eMerchant

Overview

eMerchant has established itself as a leading ecommerce merchant account provider, priding itself on delivering full-service ecommerce solutions that cater to the intricacies of online payment processing for businesses across various industries.

Notable Features

• Wide Range of Gateways: eMerchant supports a variety of payment gateways, including eMerchantGateway, Authorize.Net, USAEPay, Cybersource, NMI, and PayPal’s Payflow Pro, offering versatility in card-not-present transactions.
• Ecommerce Platform Integration: It boasts effortless connectivity with leading ecommerce platforms like Shopify, Big Commerce, Magento, Miva, CommerceV3, and others, promoting a smooth and secure customer checkout experience.
• Transparent Pricing: With the Interchange-Plus pricing model, eMerchant ensures complete transparency, allowing clients to view the actual processing rates and margins for each transaction.
• Dedicated Account Management: Each client is assigned a dedicated Account Manager for personalized advice and support, including assistance with payment card industry (PCI) compliance and fraud prevention.
• Scalable Solutions: eMerchant’s solutions are designed to scale with your business growth, supporting integrations with various third-party tools, order management system (OMS) solutions, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, point-of-sale (POS) systems, and more.

Pricing

eMerchant promotes transparency with an Interchange-Plus pricing model, enabling merchants to see the exact costs associated with each transaction. 

It invites potential clients to reach out for rate reviews, which are offered for free, to help businesses save money on processing fees.

Pros

• Comprehensive Payment Support: Acceptance of a wide range of credit and debit cards, as well as electronic checks, ensures that no customer is turned away.
• Customizable Gateways and Integrations: The ability to connect with numerous ecommerce platforms and payment gateways allows for a highly customizable payment processing setup.
• Transparent and Competitive Pricing: Its clear pricing model can lead to cost savings for merchants concerned about high processing fees.

Cons

• Complex Setup for Newcomers: With so many options and integrations, new merchants might find the initial setup process overwhelming.
• Potential for Additional Costs: While its pricing is transparent, the range of services offered might lead to additional costs for features beyond the basic package.

Summary

eMerchant distinguishes itself with its transparent pricing, dedicated customer support, and a broad spectrum of integration capabilities. This makes it a competitive option for merchants seeking an effective ecommerce merchant account. 

Its commitment to providing scalable and comprehensive payment processing solutions is reflected in its client-focused approach, aiming to support and grow alongside your ecommerce business.

4. Unicorn Payment

Overview

With an extensive array of services tailored to the virtual storefront, Unicorn Payment enables online sellers to transact confidently and efficiently. 

Its deep understanding of the digital market’s needs makes it a vital partner for ecommerce operations of all sizes.

Notable Features

• Ecommerce-Centric Merchant Services: Unicorn Payment delivers a merchant account ecosystem designed to integrate with online businesses, ensuring a fluid experience from cart to confirmation.
• International Payment Acceptance: Capable of handling payments from 196 countries, it empowers businesses to operate on a global scale.
• Unified Service Package: Its offerings combine payment gateways, virtual terminals, and merchant accounts for a cohesive service experience.
• Security Commitment: Upholding strict PCI compliance and using SHA-256 SSL encryption, it protects merchant and customer data with top-tier security measures.

Pricing

Adopting a transparent pricing strategy, Unicorn Payment avoids hidden costs and presents clear subscription and transaction fees. 

It caters to ecommerce businesses of varying scales, ensuring that pricing is both fair and understandable.

Pros

• Complete Ecommerce Solution: It offers an end-to-end array of services crucial for online business success, from processing to fraud prevention.
• Global Payment Processing: The ability to process a wide range of currencies and payment methods makes it an asset for businesses targeting international markets.
• Exceptional Customer Support: Recognized for superior customer service, it ensures that businesses have access to prompt and effective assistance.

Cons

• Setup Complexity: The setup process may be daunting for ecommerce newcomers, necessitating a detailed walkthrough.
• Ecommerce Specialization: While it excels in the digital realm, businesses with substantial physical storefronts may require additional solutions.

Summary

Unicorn Payment’s dedicated approach to ecommerce makes it a standout choice for merchant account services. 

Its expertise in international payments, coupled with a secure and comprehensive service suite, positions it as a premier partner for ecommerce businesses looking to grow and manage their online transactions effectively.

5. Clover

Overview

Clover provides a comprehensive ecommerce merchant account service, focusing on enabling businesses to offer secure, flexible, and convenient online payment options. 

With the rise of digital shopping, Clover understands the necessity for retailers to  integrate robust payment processing solutions to keep up with consumer preferences and expand their sales revenue.

Notable Features

• Integrated Shopping Cart: Clover offers seamless shopping cart functionality, making it easier for customers to purchase and for businesses to manage sales.
• PCI-Compliant Processing: It ensures that payment processing is fully compliant with PCI standards, safeguarding against data breaches and fraud.
• Fraud Protection: Advanced monitoring tools are available with customizable settings to help businesses stay ahead of potential fraudulent activities.
• Seamless Integrations: Clover’s services are compatible with various shopping carts, accounting, customer relationship management (CRM), and business management software, reducing the need for manual data entry and minimizing errors.
• Customizable Online Payment Gateway: Its payment gateway not only accepts all major cards but also provides encryption and tokenization for added security.

Pricing

Clover offers competitive pricing structures for its ecommerce merchant account services, with specific rates and fees available upon consultation. 

It focuses on providing value through comprehensive security and integration features while keeping costs transparent.

Pros

• Enhanced Security Features: Clover’s adherence to PCI compliance and advanced fraud monitoring tools offer businesses peace of mind.
• Comprehensive Integration Capabilities: The ability to work with numerous platforms and software reduces operational friction.
• Custom Branding Options: Clover allows customization of the payment form to match the branding of the ecommerce store, offering a consistent user experience.

Cons

• Complex Setup: Some users may find the setup process for various integrations and security measures complex without guidance.
• Potential for Additional Costs: While offering a range of features, some may come at extra costs not initially apparent.

Summary

Clover stands out as an ecommerce merchant account provider that combines security, convenience, and integration. 

Its solutions, built around a PCI DSS-certified gateway and offering extensive fraud protection, make Clover a solid choice for businesses aiming to enhance their online payment systems and secure consumer trust.