Interchange++ vs blended pricing: which card fee model costs less?
By SendPay Business · · 2 min read
Every card payment carries a few costs: the interchange fee paid to the card issuer, scheme fees paid to networks like Visa and Mastercard, and the provider's own margin. Pricing models differ in whether you see these separately or as one number.
Interchange++
- Interchange: set by the card scheme and paid to the customer's bank.
- Scheme fee: paid to the card network.
- Markup: the provider's own charge, the only part you can negotiate.
Blended or flat rate
One percentage (sometimes plus a fixed fee) covers everything, whatever card the customer uses. It's easy to understand and budget for, but on cheap cards, like UK consumer debit cards, you may pay more than the true cost.
Which is cheaper?
Small businesses often prefer blended rates for simplicity. Businesses with larger volumes, or many debit card payments, often save with interchange++ because they only pay the provider's markup on top of the real costs. In the UK and EU, interchange on consumer cards is capped at 0.2% for debit and 0.3% for credit.
Where SendPay fits
SendPay isn't an acquirer. SendPay platforms let your customers take payments by payment link, invoice and online store under your own brand, powered by licensed partners.
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Which pricing would cost my business less?
Enter your monthly card takings and the rates from both quotes, and the free calculator shows the cost of each and which is cheaper.
Interchange++ vs blended calculator →Read next
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. SendPay Business is a technology company, not a bank, and does not take deposits; regulated services on the platforms are provided by licensed partners. PayPal, Patreon and Substack are named as reference points only and are not affiliated with SendPay Business.