Blackbaud Merchant Services Virtual Terminal vs SwipeSimple

Blackbaud Merchant Services Virtual Terminal is a web portal for processing one-time card payments outside other Blackbaud solutions. It supports both card-present and card-not-present transactions. To enter a payment, a user selects a category and account configuration, enters the amount and payer details, and supplies payment information. Email acknowledgements are available when acknowledgement settings are configured. Transactions entered in the Virtual Terminal do not appear in other Blackbaud solutions or apps, and users who cannot see the terminal in the portal need to contact their system administrator for access. Merchant Services is available to customers using products including Raiser’s Edge NXT, Raiser’s Edge, Blackbaud NetCommunity, Blackbaud CRM, Blackbaud eTapestry, and Blackbaud Online Express. Blackbaud describes the service as designed exclusively for the social good community. It states that it encrypts and tokenizes card information and adheres to PCI DSS and PA DSS requirements. Pricing is based on transaction percentages and fees, is provided upon request, and is included in the contract.

SwipeSimple provides payment acceptance tools for small businesses across Android, iOS, and web, with mobile, terminal, and computer-based processing. Its mobile app supports swiped, dipped, tapped, and keyed card payments, with an optional reader for physical cards; it can also accept payments offline when cell reception is poor. Businesses can manage customers, review purchase histories and sales trends, and export transaction reports compatible with tools such as QuickBooks and Excel. Invoices can be emailed or texted, shared as links, saved as drafts, and configured with automatic payment reminders. The App Marketplace lists QuickBooks Online Sync, Appointments, and Text Loyalty & Reviews, while SwipeSimple says it has no public API or third-party integrations. Connect Zero is $0.00 per free for eligible businesses, with card-paying customers covering a 3.5% card fee. Card-present processing is $2.61; card-not-present processing is $3.51. SwipeSimple is commonly sold with a merchant account and processing agreement through a provider, which handles account support and billing questions.