PaySec vs Helcim: A Detailed Comparison
Helcim is great for getting started. PaySec is built for businesses ready to stop overpaying. See how the two compare on pricing, features, and support.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | PaySec | Helcim |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Network Offset (interchange + markup) | Flat rate (Interchange + 0.40% + 8¢) |
| Typical Savings | 30-60% lower | |
| Merchant Account | Dedicated (you own it) | Aggregator (shared) |
| Fund Holds / Freezes | No arbitrary holds | Common for flagged accounts |
| High-Risk Industries | 50+ verticals supported | Restricted / prohibited |
| Chargeback Alerts | Ethoca + Verifi included | Not included |
| Support | Named account manager | Email / ticket queue |
| Next-Day Funding | Included (no fee) | $0 (2-day standard) |
| PCI Compliance | P2PE + hosted checkout | Hosted checkout |
| Contract Length | Month-to-month available | No contract |
Why Businesses Switch From Helcim to PaySec
Save 30-60% on Processing
Helcim charges Interchange + 0.40% + 8¢ regardless of card type. PaySec passes through actual interchange rates with a small markup — so debit cards, rewards cards, and commercial cards are all priced at their true cost.
Your Own Merchant Account
With Helcim, your transactions flow through their aggregated merchant account. PaySec gives you a dedicated MID — your funds, your account, no pooling risk.
Dedicated Support
Helcim support is a ticket queue. PaySec assigns a named account manager who knows your business, picks up the phone, and proactively monitors your account health.
High-Risk Friendly
Helcim restricts dozens of industries. PaySec underwrites to the merchant, not the MCC code — supporting 50+ verticals that Helcim won't touch.
Pricing at Scale: Helcim vs PaySec
Helcim's flat-rate pricing is simple — but simplicity has a price. Here's what processing actually costs at three common monthly volumes, assuming a $50 average transaction.
$25K / month
~500 transactions
$50K / month
~1,000 transactions
$100K / month
~2,000 transactions
Estimates based on a blended interchange rate of 1.8% + $0.10 per transaction. Actual savings vary by card mix, industry, and average ticket size. Request a free statement analysis for your exact numbers.
Understanding the Pricing Difference
Helcim uses flat-rate pricing: every transaction costs Interchange + 0.40% + 8¢ regardless of card type. This means a debit card with an interchange cost of 0.05% + 21¢ is priced the same as a premium rewards card at 2.4% + 10¢. The flat rate is simple, but it subsidizes expensive cards by overcharging on cheap ones. PaySec uses interchange passthrough (also called interchange-plus or cost-plus) pricing. You pay the actual interchange rate set by Visa and Mastercard, plus a small transparent markup. This means debit cards cost what debit cards actually cost, and you only pay premium rates on premium cards. For businesses with a healthy debit mix or high transaction volume, the difference is dramatic.
When Helcim Makes Sense
Helcim is a solid choice for early-stage startups processing under $25K/month who value fast setup and don't mind flat-rate pricing. If you're pre-revenue and need to accept payments today, Helcim's no-application onboarding is hard to beat.
When PaySec Makes Sense
Once you're processing $25K+/month, flat-rate pricing starts costing you real money. PaySec's Network Offset Pricing typically saves 30-60% — and you get a dedicated merchant account, named support, and access to high-risk verticals that Helcim restricts.
Real-World Scenarios
Different businesses experience the Helcim-to-PaySec switch differently. Here are three common scenarios we see.
SaaS Company — $75K/month in Recurring Subscriptions
A B2B SaaS platform processing 1,500 subscription charges per month was paying Helcim $2,625/month in processing fees. After switching to PaySec, their blended effective rate dropped from 3.5% to 1.95%, saving $900/month — or $10,800 per year. The subscription token migration preserved all active billing profiles, so no customers needed to re-enter card details. Their engineering team completed the API integration in under two weeks using PaySec's Helcim-compatible migration SDK.
E-Commerce Store — $40K/month With Mixed Card Types
An online retailer selling consumer electronics had a card mix of 40% debit, 35% standard credit, and 25% rewards and corporate cards. On Helcim's flat rate, every transaction cost Interchange + 0.40% + 8¢ regardless of card type. With PaySec's interchange passthrough, their debit transactions dropped to under 1%, and even rewards cards came in below Helcim's flat rate. Net result: $520/month in savings and detailed interchange reporting that helped them incentivize debit payments at checkout.
High-Risk Business — CBD Retailer Turned Away by Helcim
A licensed CBD retailer applied to Helcim and was rejected due to industry restrictions. After months searching for a reliable processor, they onboarded with PaySec in under a week. PaySec underwrites to the merchant, not the MCC code, and supports 50+ high-risk verticals. The merchant now processes $30K/month with interchange-plus pricing, chargeback alert coverage via Ethoca and Verifi, and a dedicated account manager who understands the compliance requirements of the CBD space.
Ready to See Your Savings?
Get a free cost analysis comparing your current Helcim fees to PaySec's Network Offset Pricing. Most businesses see savings within the first statement cycle.
How to Migrate From Helcim to PaySec
Switching processors sounds daunting, but most Helcim-to-PaySec migrations complete in 2–4 weeks with zero customer disruption.
Free Statement Analysis
Send us your last 3 Helcim processing statements. We’ll break down your effective rate by card type and show you exactly what you’d save on interchange-plus pricing. No obligation, no pressure.
Underwriting & Account Setup
Once approved, your dedicated merchant account is live in 1–2 business days. Unlike Helcim’s aggregated model, you own your MID — your funds are never pooled with other merchants.
Token Migration & API Integration
Our migration toolkit imports your Helcim customer tokens and subscription data directly. Your customers never re-enter card details. Our API mirrors Helcim’s patterns, so most engineering teams complete the integration in 1–2 weeks.
Testing & Go-Live
Validate transactions in our sandbox, verify webhook handling, and confirm settlement. Many merchants run Helcim and PaySec in parallel during the transition to ensure zero downtime before cutting over.
PaySec vs Helcim FAQ
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