Understanding Interchange++ fees: The costs behind card payments
But do you really know what you’re being charged every time someone pays with a card?
At MultiSafepay, we’ve helped thousands of businesses across Europe understand what’s really behind their payment fees — so they can see the full picture when it comes to transaction costs.
In this guide, we break down Interchange++: what it is, how it works, and how it can help you gain clarity and reduce hidden costs.
Let’s get started!
What Interchange ++ fee is in your card payments
Interchange++ (IC++) is a transparent pricing model used specifically for card payments like Visa or Mastercard, for example. Instead of showing you just one total fee, Interchange++ breaks it down into three distinct parts, so you know exactly what you’re paying for and who’s charging what.
Here’s how it works:
What’s in the fee | Where it goes | What it’s for |
Interchange fee | The customer’s bank. | Paid to the issuing bank to cover the cost of the transaction. |
Scheme fee | Card networks such as Visa, Mastercard or others. | Goes to Visa or Mastercard for managing the card network. |
Markup fee (++) | Your payment partner, like us. | The part your payment provider earns. |
That’s why it’s called Interchange++ because you pay the interchange fee + scheme fee + markup fee.
Think of it like receiving a detailed restaurant bill instead of a fixed-price menu. You’re not just told the total - you see the drinks, the food, the service charge, giving you a clear overview of what you're paying.
Interchange++ fees function the same way for your business. The breakdown gives you clarity, control, and the ability to improve based on your sales, and the types of payments you accept.
How Interchange++ fees work as pricing model
While Interchange++, fees aren’t fixed - they vary depending on the details of each transaction. That’s exactly what makes this model transparent and flexible.
Here are the key factors that affect the final fees:
Card type: debit, credit, corporate, or consumer.
Card funding: whether the card is prepaid, debit or credit.
Customer country: domestic vs. international cards, depending on the risk.
Card network: Visa, Mastercard, and other cards.
Merchant profile: your industry or business segment can affect fee structures.
Monthly transaction volume: higher volumes may unlock better pricing tiers.
Every time a customer pays by card, these variables determine the specific interchange and scheme fees involved. Then, your payment provider simply adds the markup fee that you’ve agreed to in advance.
So instead of paying the same rate for every card, you pay the actual cost of each transaction, plus a clear, predictable service fee. This setup gives you more visibility and better knowledge of your costs per transaction.
And this is where a payment partner expert support really matters. At MultiSafepay, we don’t just show you the numbers - we help you interpret them. Enabling you to see how different cards, markets, and channels affect what you pay for.
And the best part? You can finally see where your money is going and start making decisions based on real data, not assumptions.
Interchange++ vs Blended fees: What’s the difference?
If you're unsure whether Interchange++ or blended pricing is the better fit for your business, here’s what you need to know: both models are valid. The key is choosing the one that aligns best with your needs.
While Interchange++ breaks down the cost of each transaction into separate fees, giving you full visibility and control - blended pricing works differently.
In the blended model, all those fees are bundled into a single, fixed rate, with no breakdowns, which can be especially useful for businesses with predictable or lower volumes, or with simpler pricing strategies.
Interchange++, on the other hand, is ideal when you want flexibility and the ability to refine costs as your business grows.
At MultiSafepay, we offer both. And more importantly, we help you understand the difference, and what will help you achieve the best results.
Talk to MultiSafepay about your payment fees
Understanding your payment fees shouldn’t feel like guesswork, and with Interchange++, it doesn’t have to.
Whether you're scaling your business, expanding into new markets, or simply wanting to check if you're overpaying, our team at MultiSafepay is here to guide you through it.
Let’s look at your payment structure and see if your fees are the right fit for you - no pressure, just clarity.
