The Complete Guide To Top-rated Virtual Terminals For Phone Order Processing In 2025

We know that the era has shifted to digital, and companies require secure, reliable, and trusted payment processing, especially over the internet or by phone. This is where virtual terminals come into play—enabling a revolution in how businesses accept credit card payments online or by phone. With so many options available, though, which virtual terminal is the best? Let's explore top-performing virtual terminals for credit card payment processing in 2025 and examine their main features, benefits, and comparisons to help you make the best choice.

What Is A Virtual Terminal And How Does It Work?

Essentially, what is a virtual terminal? A virtual credit card terminal—a safe virtual environment where merchants can accept credit card payments without a physical card reader. It's an essential virtual payment processing solution for companies handling phone orders, remote sales, or e-commerce.

How does a virtual terminal function? Easy: after you've logged into your virtual terminal on the Internet, you enter the customer's credit card information—number, expiration date, CVV—and take the payment through a virtual payment gateway. This virtual terminal payment gateway encrypts the data for security and sends the payment to the acquiring bank for settlement.

Well-known virtual credit card processing companies such as Stripe, Square, and Heartland provide virtual terminals that are compatible with different virtual POS terminal setups. Therefore, virtual terminal payments are convenient across several platforms.

Top Features To Consider In A Highly-rated Virtual Terminal

When selecting the ideal virtual terminal for your business, some features are a must:

• Ease of use: A virtual terminal must be accessible and easy to use, even for non-technical personnel.

• Security: Search for security features like PCI compliance, tokenization, and fraud detection to protect sensitive data.

• Compatibility: It should be compatible with your current virtual payment processing software, such as virtual terminal payment gateways.

• Flexibility: Virtual terminal online and virtual terminal POS support enable various sales channels.

• Cost-effectiveness: Affordable pricing plans with transparent fees help keep thrifty payments in check.

• Customer support: Adequate support allows for instant repair of any problem that might occur.

What Are The Top Benefits Of Using A Virtual Terminal?

The utilization of virtual terminals in credit card processing has several benefits:

• Convenience: Accept virtual terminal card payments anywhere—office, home, or on the move.

• Time-saving: No physical card readers are required; payment processing via the virtual terminal is fast and convenient.

• Improved security: Virtual credit card processing and virtual credit card terminals eliminate fraud threats.

• Cost savings: Avoids the need for costly hardware such as credit card terminals.

• Better cash flow management: Real-time virtual terminal payments allow for faster settlement of funds.

• Scalability: Accommodates expansion with options for small businesses and large enterprises.

How Do I Select the Top-Rated Virtual Terminal? What to Look For?

Choosing the most suitable virtual terminal credit card processing option requires considering:

• Prices and charges: Is the virtual terminal cheap? Seek virtual terminal payment gateway solutions with transparent pricing from Stripe virtual terminal or Authorize.net virtual terminal.

• Security: Does it accommodate virtual credit card processing security requirements? Are virtual credit card processing terminals PCI compliant?

• Compatibility and integrations: Is it compatible with your current virtual merchant services, accounting system, and CRM?

• Features: Does it include virtual terminal online, virtual terminal POS, and virtual card terminal features?

• User reviews: What are other merchants' opinions of virtual terminal providers like Cenpos, Cyber source, or Square?

• Customer support: Is there 24/7 support? How quickly are virtual terminal providers?

What Are The Best Rated Virtual Terminals Of 2025? An Overview And Review

Looking forward to 2025, the highly rated virtual terminals are those that are reliable, secure, and affordable. Here's the snapshot:

1. Stripe Virtual Terminal

Appropriate for: Small and medium enterprises.

Features: Simple installation, high-quality virtual terminal capabilities, virtual credit card processing, and integration-friendly developer integrations.

Pros: Transparent Stripe in-person payments pricing, seamless virtual terminal credit card processing.

Cons: Some features require technical know-how.

2. Square Virtual Terminal

• Ideal for: Retailers and service providers.

• Features: Virtual terminal with a user-friendly virtual terminal application, accompanied by integrated credit card terminals, and virtual POS terminal solutions.

• Benefits: No monthly charges, the virtual terminal is complimentary with hardware packages.

• Disadvantages: Charges on transactions may be cumulative for volume traders.

3. Heartland Virtual Terminal

• Best for: Large businesses that require sophisticated security.

• Features: Virtual terminal payment gateway, virtual terminal credit card processing, PCI compliance, and customized solutions.

• Pros: Outstanding security features, solid virtual merchant services.

• Cons: More expensive than some rivals.

4. Thrifty Payments Virtual Terminal

• Ideal for: Multichannel companies.

• Features: Virtual terminal payments are enabled, multiple payment types, and complete integrations.

• Pros: Flexible, scalable, and user-friendly.

• Cons: Slight learning curve.

5. Cybersource Virtual Terminal

• Ideal for: Wholesale traders.

• Features: Supports multiple currencies, virtual credit card acceptance, and advanced fraud prevention.

• Pros: Robust security, abundant features.

• Cons: Complicated installation process.

6. Sage Virtual Terminal

Best for: Small to medium-sized businesses.

Features: Integrated invoicing in virtual terminal, virtual payment processing, and reporting.

Advantages: Simple to use, dependable virtual terminal systems.

What Are The Best Virtual Terminals' Plans And Cost-effectiveness?

Most virtual terminals offer transparent pricing models. For instance:

• Stripe Virtual Terminal: No monthlies or setup fees; per-transaction transaction fees (e.g., 2.9% + 30¢).

• Square Virtual Terminal: No monthly fee; 2.6% + 10¢ transaction fees.

• Heartland: Monthly subscription + fee per transaction, best for high-volume merchants.

• Thrifty Payments: Custom pricing based on volume and features.

Frugal payment is possible with low-fee virtual terminals that do not have hidden charges. Virtual terminal payment models must be compared to minimize virtual payment processing expenses.

What Security Features Should A Virtual Terminal Have?

Security comes first. Search for:

• PCI DSS compliance: Guarantees your virtual terminal complies with industry standards.

• Tokenization: Safeguards card information in electronic terminal transactions.

• Fraud detection: Real-time Monitoring and alert.

• Encryption: Encryption of data during virtual terminal credit card input.

• Secure login: Virtual term Final multi-factor authentication.

Virtual credit card processing must always be secure to avoid fraud and breaches.

How To Install And Integrate The Virtual Terminals Smoothly?

Getting started with virtual terminal solutions involves:

• Select a provider: Based on your requirements, budget, and security needs.

• Account establishment: Sign up with virtual terminal companies such as Cybersource, Cenpos, or Sage.

• Integration with other systems: Integrate with your website or CRM via plugins or APIs.

• Staff training: Learn how to log into the virtual terminal and accept virtual terminal payments.

• Testing: Execute test transactions for smooth operation.

Most providers provide step-by-step instructions, and thus, virtual terminal online setup is easy.

What Do Users Say About Top Virtual Terminals?

Customer feedback highlights the security of virtual terminals, ease of use, and reliability. For instance:

• Small business owners commend the Square virtual terminal for its ease of use.

• High-volume traders appreciate Heartland's virtual terminal's security.

• E-commerce companies value Cenpos's integration strength.

• Positive feedback will likely follow responsive virtual terminal providers and open pricing plans.

Common Issues with Virtual Terminals and How to Fix Them

Some issues include:

• Learning curve: Select virtual terminal products with a minimal learning curve.

• Integration issues: Choose virtual terminal providers with known smooth integrations.

• Security issues: Always ask about virtual credit card processing security features.

• Cost control: Review periodically price plans to avoid surprise bills.

Most problems can be overcome by proactive assistance from virtual terminal vendors.

Future Trends In Virtual Payment Terminals

In the future, virtual terminals will evolve with:

• AI-powered fraud detection

• Additional mobile support

• Adherence to emerging payment systems such as cryptocurrencies

Voice payment processing

Remaining current with state-of-the-art virtual terminal technology places your business in the vanguard.

• Expert Guidance for Optimizing Virtual Terminal Performance

• Update virtual terminal software periodically.

• Apply virtual credit card capability to minimize fraud.

• Train personnel on the correct usage of the credit card terminal.

• Utilize virtual merchant services for end-to-end solutions.

• Optimize virtual terminal transactions to facilitate quicker terminal payments.

FAQs For Virtual Terminals

What is a virtual terminal?

A virtual terminal is an encrypted web page where merchants can remotely accept credit card payments by entering card information.

Which is a type of virtual terminal?

One such typical example includes Stripe virtual terminal, which has an easy-to-use virtual terminal payment interface.

What is an ACH virtual terminal?

An ACH virtual terminal electronically settles bank-to-bank transactions, offering a substitute for credit card payment.

How do I use a virtual terminal?

Log in to your electronic virtual terminal, enter customer card information, choose the amount, and pay safely.

How much does PayPal charge for a virtual terminal?

PayPal imposes a payment processing fee usually between 2.9% + $0.30 per payment made virtually, although costs are tiered by volume.

What is a network virtual terminal?

A virtual terminal network is interfaced to payment networks to facilitate virtual terminal card payments, usually in combination with POS systems.

How to open a virtual environment terminal?

Established by your virtual terminal provider, verify your account, and begin accepting virtual terminal payments.

How does the PayPal virtual terminal operate?

It enables customers to make virtual terminal payments by entering their card information manually in PayPal's safe area.

Steps to open a virtual box terminal: In Linux, a virtual box terminal means accessing command-line interfaces in virtual machines—nothing to do with payment processing.

What is a virtual terminal line?

It's a network term, but in the payment processing context, it's a term for the virtual terminal interface used to process manual transactions.

What is the distinction between a terminal and a virtual terminal?

A physical credit card terminal is hardware, but a virtual terminal is an internet-based software platform.

What is an example of a virtual port?

In networking, a virtual port enables several applications to exchange data over a single physical interface, such as virtual terminal channels.

What is the distinction between a virtual terminal and a physical terminal?

Physical terminals are physical hardware, such as card readers; virtual terminals are web pages for manual input of card information.

Final Verdict:

What Virtual Terminal Is Best for Your Company?

Selecting the best virtual terminal is based on your requirements: For small businesses that want simplicity and affordability, Square Virtual Terminal is the best choice. For scalability and high-security operations, Heartland Virtual Terminal or Cybersource are good options. If you require a developer-friendly implementation, Stripe Virtual Terminal is highly flexible. In short, virtual terminal solutions such as virtual terminal credit card processing and virtual terminal payment gateways are revolutionizing remote payments. They are providing the best advantages, such as security.