TAP TAP GO
Build a basket of realistic transactions
Use three amounts representing a small, typical and occasional large payment. Apply each provider's disclosed pricing exactly as written, keeping fixed and percentage components separate. Include minimum charges only when the terms specify them. Do not project one provider's formula onto another. A business that makes many small purchases needs a different comparison from one that pays a few large invoices, even when total monthly spending is similar.
Make the assumptions visible
Record how many payments you expect at each size and calculate the total cost for that mix. Then change the mix to see whether your preference still holds. This is a planning exercise, not a prediction of future fees. Ask the provider to confirm ambiguous terms before using the model for budgeting. Clear assumptions make it possible to update the comparison later without rebuilding the entire worksheet or relying on remembered sales conversations.
Hypothetical example
A hypothetical service has a disclosed fee of one dollar plus one percent. A twenty-dollar payment would cost one dollar twenty under that illustrative formula, while a two-hundred-dollar payment would cost three dollars. The example shows why transaction size belongs beside the quoted percentage.
Make it practical.
Use this checklist as you read. Checks are not stored.References & further reading
Background reading — CFPB: prepaid card comparison resources (US context) ↗Published by Tap Tap Go. Product availability and eligibility vary by programme and market. About our stories.
