Top 10 Best Adult Merchant Accounts & Payment Processors in the UK

Top 10 Best Adult Merchant Accounts & Payment Processors in the UK

Every business, whether big or small, is dealing with payments will need a merchant account. Knowing which provider to depend on is very crucial for the success of the business. We have researched the UK’s market leaders in payment processing and are giving our input in this blog.

In general, start-ups have deemed WorldPay as the best merchant service provider for small businesses and they have rated it very high (4.7 out of 5). However, amid the rising business expenditures, small business owners in adult entertainment have to choose a provider that offers them the best value. Albeit, the fees that one gets charged can vary significantly depending on the scale of the business.

Here is a brief review of different merchant account providers along with their ratings and the reasons for it:

WorldPay: Best known for its competency and scalability.

Rating: 4.7 out of 5

WorldPay is the UK’s most popular payment processing company among the rest. It is known for some of the most flexible plans for small businesses and nearly half of the UK depends on it. It allows adult entertainment workers to accept payments.

Payment features

WorldPay offers an option called pay-as-you-go and a few contracted payment solutions. It is an ideal gateway for small businesses that have high transaction volumes and even low-density payments. It is an all-in-one provider and typically businesses can use it for card readers, as a payment gateway, and also as virtual terminals. It offers complete security and PCI compliance using safer payment systems.

Pricing

  • Card terminal fees: 0.95 – 2.75% per transaction 
  • Payment gateway fees: Â£19 per month 
  • Virtual terminal fees: Â£9.95 per month

Benefits

  • The pricing is flexible and a long-term contract is not required.
  • End to End merchant service provider and all payments can be done through a single system.
  • They have 24/7 customer support services.
  • Processing time is fast and is completed within 3 business days.

Shortfalls

  • A monthly fee of £15 is charged apart from the pay-as-you-go charges.
  • A minimum 3-year contract is required and this is a long-term commitment.

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Square: The best merchant service provider for mobile payments

Rating: 4.3 out of 5

Square is pretty recent compared to other service providers and started in 2009. It provides smart payment systems, and POS systems and also enables businesses with end-to-end payment processing.

Payment Features

Square services are available in the form of an APP and they use several 3rd party applications and POS equipment. However, Square does not offer payment gateway services and business users have to limit themselves to Square’s online platforms like Shopify or Squarespace, for example.

Pricing

  • Card terminal fees: 1.75% per transaction
  • Payment gateway fees: 1.9 – 2.9% 
  • Virtual terminal fees: 2.5%

Benefits

  • They offer world-class customer support for even small businesses and it is a great feature for start-ups.
  • Additional support for services like invoices and QR code payments is helpful because customers can pay using different methods.
  • Unlimited access to Square online store and an integrated default system.

Shortfalls

  • The choice is limited when it comes to hardware and software and they support limited devices.

Stripe: Best tool for Online Payments

Rating: 4.2 out of 5

Stripe initially started as a payment gateway provider and then gradually moved on to a complete payment system. They also support Physical card payments along with online payments and offer services like two card readers. They are BBPOS (Business to Business Point of Sale), for businesses that require lightweight payments solution and the other is Verifone which is ideal for countertop businesses.

Stripe offers the most reporting tools from any mobile provider which is a great feature, and is joint top with Worldpay when it comes to customer support with a score of 4.5 out of 5.

Pricing

  • Card terminal fees: 1.4% – 2.9% + 20p
  • Payment gateway fees: 1.4% – 2.9% + 10p
  • Virtual terminal fees: 1.4% – 2.9% + 10p

Benefits

  • It supports online and physical payments to both you and your customers.
  • Fees are transparent, there are no hidden costs.
  • You can create your payment package and you have the flexibility to include and exclude the features you want.
  • Sine EU cards have a low processing fee; you can make sales internationally and enjoy more profits.

Shortfalls

  • Processing time is 7 days and is long
  • Premium supports are expensive, more than £1,000 per month.

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SumUp: Excellent provider for next-day deposits

Rating: 4.1 out of 5

Setting up SumUp is extremely easy and one has to just download the app on a mobile device. They send a mobile device reader after signing up.

Features

Now small or large businesses can input the inventory into the SumUp app and use it as a point of sale. They can even use it as a card reader and an integrated receipt printer. This system also provides virtual terminals and payment gateway services. However, it can be used only on mobile devices and there is no live chat available. 

Pricing

  • Card terminal fees: 1.69% per transaction
  • Payment gateway fees: 2.5%
  • Virtual terminal fees: 2.5%

Benefits

  • Easy setup and smooth functioning for businesses.
  • One can set up an online store with a click of a button.
  • Customer service is good. Processing time is 1 to 3 business days.

Shortfalls

  • For high transaction volumes, the fees are not cost-effective.
  • They only offer payment gateways if you are using their services.

Barclays: Top brand for merchant service providers and brand value

Rating: 3.2 out of 5

Barclays is a well-known brand and has been around for several years. They are known for reliability and customer service and support functions. It is a product that is designed purely for businesses and trade.

Pricing

  • Card terminal fees: 0.6% – 2.05% per transaction
  • Payment gateway fees: Â£20 – £75 per month
  • Virtual terminal fees: Â£15 – £75 per month

Benefits

  • For quick starts and increased flexibility pay-as-you-go is available.
  • A wide range of card readers are available and you can get tailor-made products.
  • They give scalable solutions to empower businesses.

Shortfalls

  • Monthly contracts are expensive even if it is low volume or transaction.
  • The ’Anywhere’ payment app is not reliable.

PaymentCloud: Best high-risk merchant account service provider

Rating: 4.6 out of 5

PaymentCloud is one of the best high-risk merchant service providers and also offers excellent customer service. You can accept all types of payment modes like credit cards, ACH, eCheck, and cryptocurrency through a POS, mobile, or online checkout. They also provide your business with hardware to swipe cards.

Pricing:

Virtual terminal rate2.90%

Swiped rate: 3.00% to 6.50%

Keyed-in rate: 3.00% to 6.50%

Benefits

  • They are rated very highly for their customer support services.
  • They use many popular software-integrated tools.
  • They offer a cost credit card processing feature.

Shortfalls

  • The fees are not shared online.
  • They charge a monthly payment gateway fee.

Host merchant services: Best for large and high-risk businesses

Rating: 4.2 out of 5

Host Merchant Services or HMS provides services for high-risk merchants and they partner with Electronic Merchant Services for this. Using their service you can accept payments through all modes including credit cards.

Pricing:

  • Retail storefronts: 0.25% per transaction
  • Restaurant: 0.20% per transaction
  • E-commerce: 0.35% per transaction

Benefits

  • They work with a wide range of industries and businesses.
  • Customer service is commendable.
  • No monthly fee to maintain an account
  • No-cost credit card processing

Shortfalls

  • High rates even for small businesses.

Durango Merchant services: Durango supports multiple currencies and does not levy currency conversion charges

Rating: 4.1 out of 5

Durango caters to all types of merchants and businesses, including high-risk ones. If a business has limited options and has been rejected previously then it should choose this service.

Pricing

For pricing, one has to contact the company as there are no clear guidelines.

Benefits

  • Even high-risk businesses are supported and catered to.
  • Fraud protection services are available.
  • They process cryptocurrency as well.

Shortfalls

  • Fees are not mentioned online so you need to contact the company.

SMB Global: They provide two different gateway solutions like Network Merchants and Authorize.net

Rating: 3.8 out of 5

If your business is static and a mobile storefront or you need to accept payments in person then SMB Global makes it easier for you. They provide a free EMV terminal to run your business smoothly. Remember EMV can cost a lot on its own. It is good for high-risk businesses with an international customer base.

Benefits

  • They accept international payments at a fair exchange rate.
  • They work with businesses that have poor credit.
  • They use the latest software integration programs.

Shortfalls

  • The business has to qualify for a free terminal and the prerequisites are not mentioned anywhere on the website.
  • Must contact the company for pricing.

Soar Payments: Soar Payments deal with dozens of industries and supports diverse businesses

Rating: 3.7 out of 5

They support all types of businesses including adult services. However, they do charge extra for currency conversion and it may pinch your pocket eventually. However, their customer support services are very good and reliable

Benefits 

  • Instant price quotes are available and everything can be done with an online application.
  • Strong customer service system.
  • Standard industry pricing.

Shortfalls

  • Does not work with high-risk businesses.

In conclusion

All these merchant service providers have been evaluated on price, payment methodology, features, customer support, and rating. As a customer, you have the right to know the good and bad sides of the businesses that you depend on.

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