Overview

Helcim is a payment processor from a Calgary-based company founded in 2006. Merchants can take payments in person, online, by invoice, or through a virtual terminal, with tools for point of sale, payment links, recurring billing, customer records, and inventory. That range suits a business consolidating common payment tasks, though it does not make processing free.

In-person payments include Apple Pay and Google Pay, and Helcim supports multiple currencies with daily payouts. Eligible merchants can also accept ACH through invoicing, recurring payments, payment requests, and the Virtual Terminal. Because eligibility applies, ACH should not be treated as a guaranteed option for every merchant.

Key features

In-person and remote acceptance: POS, online checkout, invoices, payment links, and a virtual terminal cover different sales settings within one service. This breadth is useful for businesses that sell both face-to-face and remotely.
Recurring payments and card storage: Helcim supports recurring billing, while its Card Vault tokenizes stored payment details so merchants can take future payments without keeping card numbers on their own systems. Recurring transactions carry an additional charge, so frequent billing has a direct cost.
Integrations and customization: QuickBooks Online, Xero, and WooCommerce integrations address common accounting and commerce needs. The Helcim API and HelcimPay.js give teams a route to custom integrations and website payments.
Security: Helcim identifies itself as a PCI Level 1 Service Provider and says it uses AES-256 encryption and TLS 1.2 or higher in transit. Tokenization also keeps stored card numbers off the merchant's own systems.
Support: Phone support runs Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.–5 p.m. MT, and Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. MT. Contact-form questions receive a reply within one business day; teams needing phone help outside those hours should account for the schedule.

Pricing

Helcim payment processing costs 0.00 USD per free and has no account monthly fees. That removes a recurring software charge, but interchange-plus transaction rates vary by volume and payment method, so total processing costs depend on how a business takes payments.

Recurring payments add 0.4% per transaction. ACH/EFT-PAD costs 0.5% + 25¢ per transaction, capped at $6. The cap limits the fee on larger ACH/EFT-PAD transactions, while the recurring-payment surcharge makes the free plan less attractive for businesses billing customers often. There is no free trial; the free plan itself is the entry point.

Platforms

Helcim lists Android, iOS, macOS, web, Windows, and API support. The POS app supports Windows 10/11, macOS 10.13 or higher, iPadOS 16 or higher, and iOS 16 or Android 10 or higher on supported devices. It is incompatible with Chromebooks and LG L322DL devices, which rules out those setups for POS use.

Who it's for

Helcim is a strong fit for small businesses that need a mix of in-person and online payment acceptance, invoicing, or recurring billing and want accounting, commerce, or custom integration options. Businesses should compare their expected transaction mix and volume against the variable rates. It is a weaker fit for merchants who require Chromebook POS compatibility or depend on phone support outside Helcim's published hours.

Pros and cons

Pros

No account monthly fee, with a broad set of payment tools under one service.
QuickBooks Online, Xero, and WooCommerce integrations, plus an API and HelcimPay.js for custom work.
Daily payouts and support for multiple currencies.
Card Vault tokenization avoids keeping stored card numbers on merchant systems.

Cons

Interchange-plus rates vary by volume and payment method, making costs dependent on the merchant's transaction mix.
Recurring payments add 0.4% per transaction.
ACH/EFT-PAD is limited to eligible merchants.
The POS app does not support Chromebooks or LG L322DL devices.

Alternatives

Consider Clover Go if its Starter or Essentials plans, with sales reporting and employee-profile tools, better match your POS requirements; both use custom pricing.

Stripe Terminal is an alternative when its stated standard card-processing rates fit your transaction economics: 2.7% + 5¢ per successful card transaction, with additional charges for international cards and Tap to Pay authorizations.

PayAnywhere offers a free plan and stated rates of 2.69% for swipe, dip, or tap transactions and 3.49% + $0.19 for keyed transactions; consider it if those rate categories suit your payment mix.

For invoice-focused workflows, PayPal Invoicing offers a free plan for creating and sending invoices, with transaction fees when customers pay.

Zeller is another free-to-download POS option with no monthly subscription or software licence fee, though it requires a Zeller Terminal and transaction fees apply.

QuickBooks GoPayment may suit businesses seeking a free app, provided they qualify for and obtain an approved QuickBooks Payments account.

SwipeSimple has an eligible-business option where card-paying customers cover a 3.5% card fee; consider it if that arrangement fits your checkout model.

SumUp Invoices is an alternative to compare for invoicing workflows.

Compare Helcim across Mobile Payment Processing Software, Virtual Terminal Software, Payment Processing Software, and Point-of-Sale Software.

Verdict

Choose Helcim if your business needs multiple payment channels, recurring billing, and integration flexibility without an account monthly fee. Look elsewhere if you need Chromebook POS support or if the recurring-payment surcharge and variable transaction rates do not fit your costs.

	Helcim	Squirrel Systems
Free plan	Yes	No
Free trial	No	No
Paid from	Free	$90/mo
Open source	No	No
Platforms	Android, api, iOS, macOS, Web, Windows	Android, api, iOS, self-hosted, Web, Windows
Free plan	No	No
Paid from	—	$90/mo

Helcim vs Squirrel Systems

Helcim

Squirrel Systems