About Processor Report
Independent Payment Processing Intelligence
What is our editorial mission?
We help merchants understand card acceptance without sales pressure. Every guide and review is edited for accuracy, neutrality, and plain language. When we cite numbers — interchange averages, assessment fees, or dispute thresholds — we tie them to primary sources (Federal Reserve, Visa/Mastercard rules, PCI SSC, FTC) or to the provider's own published pricing pages.
Start with our interchange primer if you are new to statement anatomy.
How do we score processors?
Rankings on /best-merchant-services use the same weighted framework as our long-form reviews. Weights sum to 100%.
Pricing Transparency
30%Rate structure disclosed clearly; no buried fees in the agreement.
Onboarding Experience
20%Days to first transaction; quality of documentation and setup flow.
Feature Breadth
20%POS, virtual terminal, invoicing, recurring billing, and reporting.
Support Quality
15%Phone, chat, and account management responsiveness and quality.
Contract Fairness
15%Term length, early-termination exposure, and reserve policy.
- Pricing claims are checked against provider-published rate pages or sample statements when available.
- Affiliate commissions do not change numeric scores; partner links are labeled sponsored where required.
- Limitations and negatives are included — we do not soften drawbacks to protect revenue.
See a live disclosure + CTA pattern on any review page.
Primary sources we return to
These are typical references for interchange economics, network rules, and compliance scope — not endorsements of any single processor.
For PCI scope and SAQ selection, we point readers to the PCI Security Standards Council. For advertising and unfair-practice context, see the FTC's business guidance.
Who writes Processor Report?
Our bench blends former operators, payments analysts, and technical editors. We do not let commercial relationships pick headlines or numeric scores.
Contact the desk via your program manager or site operator — public reader support is listed inside llms.txt.
Ready to find your processor match?
Answer five questions and we'll match you to a processor from our independently scored shortlist.