Blended Pricing vs Interchange++: How to Compare
Compare an inclusive card-processing rate with separately itemised interchange, scheme and provider charges using the same trading figures.
The short answer
Blended pricing combines specified processing components into a quoted rate. Interchange++ separates interchange, scheme charges and the provider’s margin, with other fees potentially alongside them. Neither label proves an offer is cheaper. Compare the complete cost for your card mix, payment counts and required services.
In this guide
What do blended and interchange++ mean?
| Model | How to read it |
|---|---|
| Blended | A quoted rate combines specified payment-cost components. Check card categories, channels and exclusions. |
| Interchange++ | Underlying interchange and scheme charges are itemised alongside the acquiring provider’s margin. Other request or service charges may be separate. |
Interchange is associated with the card-issuing bank; scheme fees relate to the card network; the acquiring margin pays the provider for its part of the service. Adyen’s explanation sets out these components. A quote showing only a 0.2% markup is not a complete 0.2% processing price.
A blended offer can still have different rates by card type or channel. Ask which costs are bundled and which remain additional.
Worked example: compare complete processing costs
Fictional month: £100,000 sales and 5,000 payments. Assume a blended rate of 1.1%, with no separate transaction fee in that offer.
| IC++ component | Illustrative monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Interchange | £450 |
| Scheme charges | £100 |
| Provider margin: 0.2% | £200 |
| Processing: 5,000 × 2p | £100 |
| Total IC++ processing | £850 |
The blended processing total is £1,100. On these assumptions, IC++ is £250 lower. If interchange instead totals £750 with the other components unchanged, IC++ becomes £1,150, £50 higher than the blended offer. This sensitivity example does not predict an actual interchange change.
What to request from each supplier
- A repricing of the same transaction sample, with the card mix and channel assumptions disclosed.
- The provider margin and any fixed request or payment fees.
- An explanation of scheme costs, additional event charges and how adjustments are billed.
- The complete list of fixed services, minimums and equipment charges.
- Which components are fixed, which can vary and how changes are communicated.
Ask for a sample statement that makes the calculation understandable. If the supplier cannot reconcile the quoted total to its components, the comparison remains incomplete. A long fee schedule is useful only if you can identify the items that apply to your activity.
Choose on the cost and the ability to check it
A straightforward blended tariff can make routine forecasting easier when its coverage is clear. Itemised pricing can make individual cost components easier to inspect, but it requires good transaction data and attention to variable charges. Those are practical differences, not guarantees about the final bill.
Use the same treatment of hardware, required software and support in both options. Compare the first year after setup costs, and consider whether your team can reconcile the expected statement. Avoid accepting a lower margin as proof of a lower total.
How to model these offers in the calculator
For a blended tariff, enter the confirmed rates for each applicable channel and card group. For IC++, obtain a complete estimated rate for each group that includes the assumed underlying percentage charges as well as the margin, then add applicable fixed-event charges separately.
Do not enter the margin alone. Keep the underlying supplier calculation and variable assumptions with your report. The calculator is a comparison model, not a transaction-by-transaction scheme-fee engine, so a projection should later be checked against actual statements.
Common questions
Does IC++ always cost less than blended pricing?
No. The total depends on underlying charges, provider margin, transaction fees, card mix and other costs. Compare complete estimates using the same activity.
Can a blended rate still have additional fees?
Yes. Blended describes the components included in that rate, not necessarily every service in the payment setup. Check the written scope and exclusions.
Put your own figures to work.
Use the free calculator to organise your costs and keep a report. If something is unclear, you can ask for a free initial review.
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Sources and how to use this guide
Primary references checked on 15 October 2026:
- Adyen: the components of interchange++ pricing
- Adyen: processing invoice and chargeable payment events
Worked examples are original fictional scenarios, not customer results, market averages or provider quotations. Unless stated otherwise, they use a consistent VAT basis and include only the costs listed. Provider prices, eligibility and terms can change. Check your written agreement before deciding.
Our guides explain costs and comparison methods. They do not rank the whole market or claim hands-on product testing. Source links are references, not a claim of partnership. Read the calculation method and limitations, or about the service.