North America: Canada, US & Mexico (2026)
North America is the most competitive payments market on earth, and the differences between countries matter more than most guides admit: Canada quietly beats the US on international-card surcharges, Mexico adds VAT on top of every fee, and the US just got a price hike on Square's free plan.
Published card gateway rates compared: Canada, US & Mexico
Canadian processing is marginally cheaper than the US on international-card surcharges: Stripe and Moneris charge only +0.8% for foreign cards in Canada versus +1.5% in the US. In Mexico, all domestic processor fees carry +16% IVA on top of the commission.
| Market | Provider | Online Card Rate | In-Person / POS | Intl. Card Surcharge | Pricing Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada (CAD) | Moneris (RBC/BMO) | 2.85% + C$0.30 | 2.65% + C$0.10 | +0.8% | Interchange-plus available at volume |
| Canada (CAD) | Stripe / Square / Braintree | 2.9% + C$0.30 | 2.6% + C$0.10 (Square) | +0.8% (Stripe) | Flat-rate starter plans; no monthly fee |
| Canada (CAD) | Helcim | Interchange + 0.5% + C$0.25 (~2.3% avg) | Interchange + 0.4% + C$0.08 | Scheme pass-through | Automatic volume discounts; $0 monthly |
| United States (USD) | Stripe / Braintree | 2.9% + $0.30 | 2.7% + $0.05 (Stripe Terminal) | +1.5% (+1% FX) | Standard flat rate |
| United States (USD) | Square | 2.9% + $0.30 (paid plans) / 3.3% + $0.30 (free) | 2.6% + $0.15 | Included / card-present | Free-plan online rate rose to 3.3% + $0.30 in Jan 2026 |
| United States (USD) | Helcim | Interchange + 0.5% + $0.25 (~2.4% avg) | Interchange + 0.4% + $0.08 | Scheme pass-through | Transparent interchange-plus; $0 monthly |
| Mexico (MXN) | Conekta | 3.4% + MX$3.00 (+16% IVA) | — | +1.0% | Also supports SPEI & OXXO Pay |
| Mexico (MXN) | Mercado Pago | 3.49% + MX$4.00 (+16% IVA) | 3.5% + IVA (Point) | Included | Immediate-payout online checkout rate |
| Mexico (MXN) | PayU / Getnet (Santander) | 3.5% + MX$4.00 (+16% IVA) | Custom (Getnet POS) | Custom | Direct bank acquiring via Getnet Santander |
| Mexico (MXN) | Stripe Mexico / Clip | 3.6% + MX$3.00 (Stripe) / 3.6% flat (Clip) | 3.6% + IVA (Clip POS) | +1.5% (Stripe) | All Mexican rates exclude 16% IVA on the fee |
Gateway landscape by currency
Below is the North American landscape separated into card gateways & bank acquirers versus digital wallets, bank debit & local instant rails (including USD territories such as Puerto Rico).
1. Card gateways & bank acquirers by currency
| Currency | Markets | Card Gateways (Published Rates) | Bank Acquirers & Enterprise Gateways |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAD | Canada | Moneris (2.85% + C$0.30), Stripe (2.9% + C$0.30), Square (2.9% + C$0.30), Braintree (2.9% + C$0.30) | Helcim (interchange + 0.5% + C$0.25), Nuvei (Montreal HQ), Airwallex, Adyen, Checkout.com |
| USD | United States & USD Territories (PR, EC, SV, PA, VG, TC, BQ, TL) | Stripe (2.9% + $0.30), Square (2.9% + $0.30), Braintree (2.9% + $0.30), DimePay (3.5% + $0.10), Tilopay (3.95% + $0.35), PagueloFacil (3.95% + $0.35), WiPay (5.0% + $0.30) | Helcim (interchange + 0.5% + $0.25), Adyen, Checkout.com, Nuvei, Airwallex, Placetopay (Evertec PR), BAC Credomatic |
| MXN | Mexico | Conekta (3.4% + MX$3), Mercado Pago (3.49% + MX$4), PayU (3.5% + MX$4), Getnet Santander (3.5% + MX$4), Stripe (3.6% + MX$3), Clip (3.6%) | dLocal (3.9% + MX$5), EBANX (3.99% + MX$5), Kushki, Nuvei, Adyen |
2. Wallets, bank debit & alternative rails by currency
| Currency | Markets | Wallets, Bank Debit & Instant Rails | Published Merchant Rate & Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAD | Canada | Rotessa (PAD bank debit), GoCardless (PAD), PayPal | Rotessa: C$0.50 flat/txn (+ C$25/mo, ~0.2% on C$300) · GoCardless: 1% + C$0.40 (capped C$5) · PayPal: 2.9% + C$0.30 |
| USD | United States, Puerto Rico & Panama | GoCardless (ACH debit), Venmo Business, PayPal, ATH Móvil Business (PR), Yappy Comercial (PA) | GoCardless ACH: 1% + $0.25 (capped $4) · Venmo Business: 1.9% + $0.10 · PayPal: 3.49% + $0.49 · ATH Móvil (PR): 2.25% · Yappy (PA): 1.0% |
| MXN | Mexico | SPEI (via Conekta / Stripe), OXXO Pay (cash voucher), PayPal Mexico | SPEI bank transfer: MX$12.50 flat (+IVA) · OXXO Pay: 3.9% (+IVA) · PayPal MX: 3.95% + MX$4.00 (+IVA) |
Currencies in this region
What to watch
- Square's January 2026 free-plan increase suggests plan-based pricing divergence is the new normal: always check which plan a quoted rate belongs to.
- Interchange-plus processors (Helcim, Moneris at volume) look flat in summaries but win on large tickets and volume; custom-priced entries explain their formulas.
- In Mexico, compare all-in cost including IVA, not headline percentages.
Run your own numbers in the fee calculator (CAD is the default currency), or see the full tables: CAD · USD · MXN.
This guide is general information, not financial, tax, or legal advice. See our full disclaimer.