Wingman Weekly: Interchange Plus vs. Flat Rate Pricing

Interchange Plus vs. Flat Pricing is one of the most important merchant pricing comparisons business owners should understand. When merchants review an Interchange Plus statement, they often think two things: “I don’t know what I’m looking at,” and “Why am I being charged so many fees?” Merchant statements can feel difficult to navigate without the right guidance. However, they show the exact details of what you pay for every card transaction. The difference comes down to how the provider presents those fees—and how that presentation can affect your rate.

Every card transaction works a little differently. Was the card credit or debit? Was it Visa, American Express, Mastercard, or another card brand? Did the customer swipe, dip, tap, or manually enter the card? Many other factors can also affect the final processing cost.

Flat Merchant Pricing

Flat Merchant Pricing charges the same processing rate for every type of card transaction. This approach keeps your merchant statement shorter and easier to read. However, that simplicity can come at the cost of potential savings because you may pay the same rate even when certain cards cost less to process.

Interchange Plus Pricing

Interchange Plus Pricing applies a specific processing rate to each type of card transaction. The main benefit is that merchants can pay a lower processing rate on certain cards, which can create savings compared to flat pricing. The main drawback is presentation. Because the statement lists each card type and rate separately, it can stretch across several pages and make it look like you are paying dozens of extra fees—even when you are not. Neither Interchange Plus nor Flat Pricing is a bad merchant pricing option. Both can work well when your merchant service provider sets a fair rate. However, if you want to cut costs and understand the more detailed fee structure, switching from Flat Pricing to Interchange Plus Pricing may help you save money.

If you’d like to learn more about Merchant Pricing, read our in-depth 2026 Merchant Pricing Guide

If you’d like to discuss how Wingman Payments can help your merchant pricing, Contact us at 470-822-8683.