Adyen vs. Helcim: A Comprehensive Comparison
Choosing the Right Payment Strategy for Your Business
When selecting a payment processing solution, the choice between Adyen and Helcim represents two distinct philosophies about serving businesses at different scales. Adyen offers a unified commerce platform built for enterprise and large mid-market businesses with global operations, while Helcim provides transparent interchange-plus pricing specifically designed for traditional SMBs and mid-market merchants in North America. Adyen processed €1.29 trillion in payment volume during 2024 with 33% year-over-year growth, serving major global brands, citeturn0news61 while Helcim has reported strong multi-year growth and has raised institutional funding to accelerate product development. citeturn0search3turn0search14
Key Takeaways
- Target Market: Adyen focuses on enterprise and large mid-market businesses with global needs, while Helcim specifically serves traditional SMBs and mid-market merchants in North America
- Pricing Model: Both use interchange-plus pricing, but Adyen commonly uses Interchange++ structures (example pricing varies by region and contract), citeturn0search7 while Helcim publishes interchange + markup pricing (for example, Interchange + 0.40% + 8¢ in-person and Interchange + 0.50% + 25¢ keyed/online, with automatic volume discounts) citeturn2view4turn1search6
- Monthly Fees: Adyen has minimum invoice requirements and enterprise pricing, while Helcim charges no monthly fees, setup fees, or cancellation fees citeturn2view0turn0search7
- Geographic Focus: Adyen provides global acquiring and supports payments in 187 transaction currencies and 250+ payment methods, citeturn1search5turn1search8 while Helcim operates primarily in Canada and the U.S.
- Platform Philosophy: Adyen builds unified commerce for omnichannel enterprises, while Helcim creates accessible tools for main street business owners
Payment Solution Type Overview
Modern payment processors can be categorized into two distinct approaches based on their target markets and platform architectures.
Enterprise Unified Commerce Platforms build comprehensive payment infrastructure for large-scale operations, owning every component from gateway to acquiring to settlement. These platforms prioritize global reach, omnichannel experiences, and sophisticated optimization for high-volume merchants.
SMB-Focused Transparent Processors prioritize accessibility, transparent pricing, and ease of use for small and medium businesses. These platforms emphasize low barriers to entry, clear fee structures, and comprehensive business tools without enterprise complexity.
Adyen Overview
Adyen is a global financial technology platform founded in 2006 in Amsterdam, providing end-to-end payment capabilities for leading businesses worldwide. In 2024, Adyen reported €2.0 billion in net revenue (up 23% year-over-year) and an EBITDA margin of 50%. citeturn0news61
What Is Adyen?
Adyen revolutionized enterprise payments by building a single platform that handles every aspect of payment processing—from the moment a customer initiates a transaction to final settlement. Unlike traditional payment stacks that combine multiple vendors, Adyen owns its entire technology infrastructure, enabling seamless data flow and optimization across all payment channels. The platform serves major global brands including Uber, Spotify, Microsoft, eBay, and H&M.
How Does Adyen Work?
Adyen operates through a unified platform architecture that processes online, in-app, and in-person payments on the same technology stack. When transactions occur, Adyen’s system handles authentication, authorization, fraud screening, and settlement through its proprietary infrastructure with direct connections to card networks and local payment methods worldwide.
The platform’s single-stack approach means every transaction generates consistent data regardless of channel, enabling sophisticated features like network tokenization, intelligent retry logic, and cross-channel customer recognition.
Adyen Features and Pricing
Adyen’s Features
- Single platform for online, mobile, and in-person payments with proprietary POS terminals
- 250+ payment methods across 187 transaction currencies citeturn1search5turn1search8
- RevenueProtect fraud prevention with machine learning
- RevenueAccelerate for authorization optimization
- Unified Customer Area dashboard for cross-channel analytics
- Embedded financial products including issuing and capital
Adyen’s Pricing
- No monthly fees, setup fees, or integration fees citeturn0search7
- Minimum monthly invoice requirements based on industry
- Volume-based custom pricing available for enterprise merchants
Adyen’s Transaction Fees
- Visa/Mastercard: Interchange + scheme fees + Adyen markup (Adyen publishes an example Interchange++ structure; exact pricing varies by region and contract) citeturn0search7
- Chargeback fees vary by contract and region (ask sales / review contract for specifics)
- Custom negotiated pricing for high-volume merchants
Adyen’s Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths of Adyen
- Single Platform Architecture: End-to-end ownership enables superior optimization and data insights
- Unified Commerce Leader: Seamless integration of online and in-person payments
- Enterprise Scale: Processes over €1 trillion annually with proven reliability citeturn0search0turn0news61
- Global Direct Acquiring: Own licenses reduce third-party dependency
- Continuous Innovation: Regular platform updates and new product launches
- 250+ Payment Methods: Comprehensive global payment method coverage citeturn1search5turn1search8
Weaknesses of Adyen
- Enterprise Focus: Minimum volume requirements exclude smaller businesses
- Complex Reporting: Interchange++ statements require more interpretation
- Implementation Complexity: Requires significant technical resources
- Geographic Overkill: Global capabilities unnecessary for North America-only businesses
Who Benefits the Most From Adyen?
Adyen Is Best For
- Enterprise Retailers: Large businesses requiring unified commerce across channels
- Global E-commerce: Companies needing local acquiring and currency support worldwide
- Platform Businesses: Marketplaces requiring split payments and embedded finance
- High-Volume Merchants: Organizations processing millions monthly across multiple markets
- Omnichannel Operators: Businesses prioritizing cross-channel customer recognition
Ideal Use Cases For Adyen
- Global retailers with e-commerce and physical store presence across multiple countries
- Subscription businesses with sophisticated recurring billing needs
- Marketplaces onboarding and paying out to global sellers
- Hospitality and travel companies with complex authorization flows
- Enterprise brands requiring custom payment experiences
Helcim Overview
Helcim is a Calgary-based payment processor founded in 2006, providing transparent interchange-plus pricing and comprehensive business tools for SMBs and mid-market merchants in Canada and the U.S. citeturn0search9turn0search8 The company announced a CA$27 million Series B financing round in February 2024 and later announced a strategic agreement with Verizon Business (October 2025). citeturn0search3turn0search10turn0search15
What Is Helcim?
Helcim is an omnichannel payment processing platform designed specifically for traditional SMBs and mid-market merchants that larger players have historically underserved. Unlike flat-rate processors like Square that target micro-merchants, Helcim focuses on businesses with higher average order values and tighter working capital needs. The platform provides merchant accounts, credit card processing, POS systems, invoicing, and business management tools—all with no monthly fees. citeturn2view0
How Does Helcim Work?
Helcim operates on an interchange-plus pricing model that passes the true wholesale cost of each transaction to merchants with a transparent, fixed margin on top. When customers use cards with lower interchange rates, merchants automatically save money rather than paying inflated flat rates. The platform provides automatic volume-based discounts that reduce margins as businesses grow, based on a three-month rolling processing average. citeturn2view4turn2view0
The company provides each business with its own dedicated merchant account rather than operating as a payment aggregator, offering greater stability and reducing the risk of sudden account freezes.
Helcim Features and Pricing
Helcim’s Features
- Interchange-plus pricing with automatic volume discounts citeturn2view4turn2view0
- Free POS software and business management tools citeturn2view0
- Smart Terminal and portable card readers for in-person payments citeturn2view0
- Virtual terminal, invoicing, and recurring billing citeturn2view0
- Online checkout, hosted payment pages, and shopping cart integrations citeturn2view0
Helcim’s Pricing
- No monthly fees, setup fees, or cancellation fees citeturn2view0
- No long-term contracts or PCI compliance fees citeturn2view0
- Chargeback disputes: $15 per occurrence, or free when won citeturn2view2
- All business tools included free with account citeturn2view0
Helcim’s Transaction Fees
- In-person credit cards: Interchange + markup (example markup includes 0.40% + 8¢ in Helcim’s interchange-plus examples; actual total cost varies by card) citeturn0search5turn1search6turn2view4
- Keyed/Online credit cards: Interchange + markup (example markup includes 0.50% + 25¢; tiered discounts apply) citeturn1search6turn2view4
- ACH/EFT: 0.5% + 25¢ capped at $6 for transactions below $25,000, plus +0.05% for transactions above $25,000 citeturn2view4
- Automatic volume discounts across multiple tiers citeturn2view4
Helcim’s Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths of Helcim
- Transparent Pricing
- No Monthly Fees: All tools included free, pay only for transactions citeturn2view0
- Automatic Volume Discounts: Rates decrease automatically as processing grows citeturn2view4
- Dedicated Merchant Accounts: Greater stability than payment aggregators
- Comprehensive Free Tools: POS, invoicing, recurring billing, online checkout all included citeturn2view0
- Low Chargeback Fees: $15 per dispute, waived if won citeturn2view2
Weaknesses of Helcim
- Limited Geographic Reach: Only serves Canada and U.S. merchants citeturn0search9
- Deposit Timing: Helcim states deposits are typically within 2 business days citeturn2view0
- Unpredictable Costs: Interchange-plus pricing fluctuates with card types
- Own Hardware Focus: Less flexible with existing terminal equipment
- Limited High-Risk Support: Does not work with high-risk industries
- Smaller Scale: Less established than enterprise-focused competitors
Who Benefits the Most From Helcim?
Helcim Is Best For
- Traditional SMBs: Small and medium businesses in low-risk industries
- In-Person Retailers: Brick-and-mortar stores with higher average order values
- B2B Companies: Businesses processing larger transaction amounts
- Service Providers: Dentists, veterinarians, and professional services
- Cost-Conscious Merchants: Businesses seeking transparent, lower processing fees
Ideal Use Cases For Helcim
- Medical practices (dental, veterinary, optometry) accepting card payments
- B2B wholesale and distribution companies with large invoices
- Automotive service providers processing higher-ticket transactions
- Retail stores seeking to reduce processing costs from flat-rate providers
- Professional services firms needing invoicing and recurring billing
Financial & Market Insights
Market Position: Adyen processed €1.29 trillion in payment volume during 2024, with net revenue of €2.0 billion and an EBITDA margin of 50%. citeturn0news61
Helcim has raised institutional funding (including a CA$27 million Series B announced in February 2024) and has positioned itself as an interchange-plus alternative for SMBs and mid-market merchants. citeturn0search3turn0search14
Growth Trajectories: Adyen continues expanding its unified commerce offering and acquiring footprint. citeturn0search0turn0search7
Helcim announced a strategic partnership with Verizon Business on October 7, 2025, becoming the first payments provider in Verizon’s Business Marketplace. citeturn0search10turn0search15
Investment and Innovation: Adyen reaffirmed guidance that includes net revenue growth in the low-to-high 20% range through 2026 and has targeted EBITDA margin improvement above 50%. citeturn0news61
Helcim’s February 2024 Series B announcement described using the funding to continue investing in product development and growth. citeturn0search3
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Adyen | Helcim |
|---|---|---|
| Billing & Invoicing | ✅ | ✅ |
| Currency Support | ✅ (187 currencies) citeturn1search5turn1search8 | ⚠️ (USD/CAD only) |
| Customizable Branding/White Label | ✅ | ⚠️ (Limited) |
| Deployment Options | ✅ | ✅ |
| Fraud Prevention Tools | ✅ | ✅ |
| Integration Capabilities | ✅ | ✅ |
| Management Tools | ✅ | ✅ |
| Payment Types Support | ✅ (250+) citeturn1search5turn1search8 | ✅ |
| Reconciliation Tools | ✅ | ✅ |
| Reporting & Data Analysis | ✅ | ✅ |
| Security/Compliance | ✅ | ✅ |
| Smart Routing | ✅ | ❌ |
| Split Payments | ✅ | ⚠️ (Basic) |
| Supported Payment Methods | ✅ | ✅ |
| Tokenization | ✅ | ✅ |
| Vaulting | ✅ | ✅ |
| In-Person Payments/POS | ✅ | ✅ |
| No Monthly Fees | ❌ | ✅ citeturn2view0 |
| Volume Discounts | ✅ (Negotiable) | ✅ (Automatic) citeturn2view4 |
Final Summary & Recommendation
Key Reasons to Choose Adyen
- Your business requires unified commerce with seamless global online and in-person experiences
- You process sufficient volume to benefit from enterprise-level pricing negotiations
- You need global acquiring with local payment methods across multiple international markets
- You want a single-platform approach with end-to-end ownership of the payment stack
- You’re an enterprise brand requiring sophisticated features like embedded issuing
- You need broad payment method and currency support citeturn1search5turn1search8
Key Reasons to Choose Helcim
- Your business operates primarily in Canada or the United States citeturn0search9
- You want transparent interchange-plus pricing with no monthly fees citeturn2view0turn2view4
- You prefer automatic volume discounts without negotiation requirements citeturn2view4
- You’re an SMB seeking lower processing costs compared to flat-rate alternatives
- You need comprehensive free tools including POS, invoicing, and recurring billing citeturn2view0
- You value dedicated merchant accounts over payment aggregator models
The Bottom Line: Adyen and Helcim serve fundamentally different market segments with different pricing philosophies. Adyen is designed for enterprise and large mid-market businesses seeking unified commerce capabilities, global reach, and sophisticated optimization—but comes with minimum volume requirements and more complex implementation. Helcim targets traditional SMBs and mid-market merchants in North America seeking transparent pricing, comprehensive free tools, and automatic savings as they grow.
The choice is largely determined by your business scale and geographic needs. Growing enterprises with global operations should evaluate Adyen, while North American SMBs seeking to reduce costs from flat-rate processors like Square or Stripe will find Helcim’s transparent interchange-plus model a strong value proposition. Helcim’s automatic discount tiers and lack of monthly fees can be particularly attractive for businesses that want pricing transparency without enterprise minimums. citeturn2view0turn2view4
This comparison is based on publicly available information as of February 2026. Pricing and features may vary based on specific business requirements and negotiations with each provider.
