> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.alternativepayments.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.alternativepayments.io/payments-and-invoicing/payments-methods/our-flexible-payment-options.md). # Our Flexible Payment Options **Alternative Payments supports multiple payment methods so your customers can pay the way that works best for them.** *** ## Payment Methods Overview | Payment Method | Type | Availability | Typical Fee Structure | | ----------------------------------- | ------------- | ------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **ACH** | Bank transfer | United States | Low flat fee or percentage; typically the lowest-cost option | | **PAD** (Pre-Authorized Debit) | Bank transfer | Canada | Low flat fee or percentage; Canadian equivalent of ACH | | **EFT** (Electronic Funds Transfer) | Bank transfer | Canada | Low flat fee or percentage; used interchangeably with PAD | | **Credit Card** | Card payment | US and Canada | Percentage-based fee (typically 2.9%+); varies by card network | | **Debit Card** | Card payment | US and Canada | Same rate as the card's network (fees are set by network, not by debit vs credit); always absorbed by the partner; Interac Debit supported in Canada | | **Pay in Installments** | Financing | United States only | Customers split payments over time; partner receives full payment upfront | | **POS (in-person)** | Card present | Rolling out | **3% flat** across every card brand; no $0.30 fee. Pass to the customer or cover it yourself. See [POS](/payments-and-invoicing/pos.md) | ## Credit Card Fee Handling Credit card transactions incur processing fees. Alternative Payments gives you control over how these fees are handled: * **Pass fees to the customer (surcharge)** -- The processing fee is added to the invoice total. The customer sees the surcharge as a separate line item. This is the most common configuration. * **Absorb fees** -- You pay the processing fee. The customer pays only the invoice amount. * **Exceptions** -- You can configure fee rules at the account level or per-customer to handle specific scenarios (e.g., absorb fees for certain customers while passing them to others). {% hint style="info" %} **Debit cards are always absorbed by you.** Card processing fees are set by card network, not by whether the card is debit or credit. A debit Visa or Mastercard is charged the same 2.9% + $0.30 as its credit equivalent, and American Express is 3.5% + $0.30. Debit card fees are never passed through to the end customer, regardless of your fee pass-through setting. {% endhint %} ```

Note: Credit card surcharging regulations vary by state and province. Some US states restrict or prohibit surcharges. Alternative Payments handles compliance automatically based on the customer's billing address.

``` ## Point of sale (in-person) POS is a separate product from online invoice payments. In-person card payments on a terminal are priced at **3% flat** for every brand (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and others). There is no $0.30 per-transaction fee. You choose whether that 3% is passed to the customer or covered by you on **Team Preferences** > **Preferences** > **Point of sale**. The 2.9% + $0.30 / 3.5% + $0.30 rates above apply to **online and invoice** card payments only. See [POS](/payments-and-invoicing/pos.md) and [Managing POS in Your Dashboard](/payments-and-invoicing/pos/managing-pos-in-the-portal.md). ## Pay in Installments Alternative Payments offers a proprietary [Pay in Installments](/payments-and-invoicing/bnpl-pay-in-installments/pay-in-installments-benefits.md) financing solution for US customers. Key details: * Customers can split invoice payments into multiple installments over time. * Partners receive the full invoice amount upfront -- there is no payment delay. * Installment plans and terms are configured at the account level. * Available for US customers only. Not available in Canada. ## Canada-Specific Notes Canadian partners and customers should be aware of the following: * **Credit card surcharge cap** -- Canadian regulations cap credit card surcharges at 2.4% of the transaction amount. * **No Pay in Installments** -- The Pay in Installments financing option is not available for Canadian customers. * **Quebec is not supported** -- Alternative Payments is not currently available in the province of Quebec, due to additional provincial consumer protection and language requirements. Partners with customers in Quebec should contact their account executive for guidance. See [Using Alternative Payments in Canada](https://help.alternativepayments.io/getting-started/using-alternative-payments-in-canada). * **PAD/EFT processing** -- Canadian bank transfers use Pre-Authorized Debit (PAD) or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) rather than ACH. * **Interac Debit** -- Interac Debit is supported as a payment method for Canadian customers. {% hint style="info" %} **Canadian partners:** For full detail on CAD invoicing, PAD mandates, Business Number requirements, and regional availability, see [Using Alternative Payments in Canada](/getting-started/using-alternative-payments-in-canada.md). {% endhint %} ## Configuring Available Payment Methods You can control which payment methods are available to your customers from your partner dashboard settings. This allows you to: * Enable or disable specific payment types (e.g., accept only ACH and credit card) * Set default payment method preferences * Configure fee rules for each payment type Contact your Alternative Payments account manager or visit your dashboard settings to configure payment method availability. ## Related Articles * [How to make invoice payments](/end-customer-faqs/end-customer-faqs/making-invoice-payments.md) * [Pay in Installments benefits](/payments-and-invoicing/bnpl-pay-in-installments/pay-in-installments-benefits.md) * [POS](/payments-and-invoicing/pos.md) * [Customer payment methods](/payments-and-invoicing/payments-methods/customer-payment-methods.md) * [Automatic email notifications](/automations/email-notifications-and-reminders/automatic-email-notifications.md) **Love our platform?** Rate us on [Channel Program](https://channelprogram.com/v/alternativepayments) and check out our [Referral Program page](https://www.alternativepayments.io/referral-partners/)! --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the following URL with the `ask` and `goal` query parameters: ``` GET https://help.alternativepayments.io/payments-and-invoicing/payments-methods/our-flexible-payment-options.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is what the user is ultimately trying to achieve, the reason they need the answer. Sharing it helps GitBook give you a better, more relevant answer. A goal is most helpful when it describes the outcome the user wants rather than restating the question. For example, with `ask=how do I create an API token`, a goal like `automate deployments from our CI pipeline` lets GitBook tailor the answer to that use case. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.