In a Nutshell

Kurv is a US merchant services platform offering card processing, POS solutions, mobile payments, virtual terminals, invoicing, recurring billing, QR payments, and fraud tools. It may suit businesses that want fast onboarding, 24/7/365 support, month-to-month software access, and a payment dashboard that can scale from a free plan to more advanced operational features.

Intro

Kurv is the trading name used by Electronic Merchant Systems LLC for its modern merchant services and payment processing platform. The company describes its product as a payment ecosystem for businesses of different sizes, with solutions for in-person payments, online payments, mobile acceptance, self-service payments, integrations, and embedded payments. Kurv’s own site says businesses can apply and begin accepting payments within 24 hours, with a secure application process and free terminal options for new customers.

The strongest case for Kurv is its combination of payment acceptance and operational tools. The Kurv Merchant Portal includes a dashboard, virtual terminal, mobile app, Apple Pay and Google Pay acceptance, POS Link, reporting, and dual pricing on its Start plan, while higher software tiers add customer management, invoicing, recurring billing, analytics, QR code payments, employee management, inventory tools, ACH, accounting integrations, multi-location management, and Level 3 processing. This makes Kurv a practical choice for merchants that want to manage transactions, staff permissions, customer records, invoices, inventory, and reporting from a single login rather than relying on disconnected tools.

Kurv’s positives are strongest for businesses that want a flexible platform rather than a basic card terminal. Its Start plan is listed at $0 per month, and the Merchant Portal can scale through Build, Scale, and Perform tiers or through à la carte add-ons from $5 to $25 per month. The platform also supports payment methods and workflows that matter to modern merchants, including contactless wallets, QR payments, Tap to Pay, invoicing, recurring billing, virtual terminals, mobile POS, and dashboard-based reporting.

Kurv in Brief

Monthly fee: Kurv’s Merchant Portal software tiers are listed as Start at $0/month, Build at $9.95/month, Scale at $29.95/month, and Perform at $59.95/month.

Per swipe fee: Kurv’s Start plan page lists $0.00 transaction fees for the software tier, Build lists $0.10 transaction fees, Scale lists $0.05 transaction fees, and Perform lists $0.05 transaction fees; card processing rates can vary by merchant type and underwriting. Merchant Maverick reports sample card-present pricing of 2.5% + $0.10, eCommerce/keyed-in pricing of 2.9% + $0.25, and processing models including flat-rate, interchange-plus, and zero-fee options.

Setup fee: Kurv’s public Merchant Portal pricing does not list a setup fee on the cited plan page; the official site emphasizes quick application and onboarding.

Cancellation fee: Kurv’s Merchant Portal FAQ states that merchants can cancel their portal and mobile app subscription at any time, while also clarifying that cancelling the software subscription does not close the underlying merchant account. Merchant Maverick reports no early termination fee, but also reports a 2-year contract length, so the merchant account agreement should be checked before relying on software cancellation terms alone.

PCI compliance fee: Merchant Maverick reports a $79 PCI non-compliance fee that is waived if the PCI Compliance Checklist is completed. The PCI Security Standards Council explains that small merchant validation requirements are determined by payment brands and that merchants should contact their acquirer or payment brand for validation and reporting requirements.

Suitable for: Kurv may suit retail stores, restaurants and bars, eCommerce businesses, B2B merchants, healthcare and wellness businesses, hospitality businesses, automotive businesses, skilled service providers, field services, gas stations, and businesses that want an omnichannel payment setup. Kurv lists these industries on its site and describes its platform as supporting in-person, online, mobile, self-service, integration, and embedded payment acceptance.

Terminals: Kurv lists handheld smart terminals, all-in-one terminals, all point-of-sale terminals, mobile Tap to Pay, QR payments, virtual terminals, payment gateway tools, invoicing, contactless payments, and a merchant app.

POS Solutions

Kurv’s POS offering is designed around flexibility. Its site describes handheld smart terminals as portable and flexible, all-in-one terminals as broader POS tools for business operations, and its Merchant App as a way to turn an iOS or Android device into a mobile POS. For merchants that sell at counters, events, tables, pop-ups, job sites, or multiple locations, this gives several ways to accept payments without choosing only one hardware setup.

Kurv’s POS value also extends beyond payment acceptance. The Merchant Portal describes tools for staff permissions, inventory, fraud protection, multi-location performance, analytics, customer management, and reporting. Those features matter because many merchants need more than a terminal; they need a system that can show sales activity, help reconcile transactions, control employee access, and keep records organized.

Merchant services

Kurv’s merchant services include in-person payments, online payments, mobile payments, self-service acceptance, integrations, embedded payments, virtual terminals, payment gateways, contactless payments, invoicing, recurring payments, QR codes, and merchant dashboard tools. The official site also says Kurv protects businesses from fraud and chargebacks with tools that flag suspicious activity.

For online sellers, Kurv states that it offers secure online payment tools, easy setup, integrations, chargeback and fraud tools, clear pricing, and fast approvals. For service businesses, the Build tier adds customer management, invoicing, recurring billing, analytics, and terminal features, which can help reduce manual billing follow-up and centralize customer payment records. For multi-location and B2B merchants, the Perform tier adds ACH payments, Quick Shop, bulk payments, fundraising campaigns, QuickBooks/Xero connection, multi-location management, and Level 3 processing.

Pricing

Kurv’s published Merchant Portal pricing is unusually clear for the software side of the offer. The Start tier is listed at $0.00/month plus $0.00 transaction fees and includes the merchant dashboard, virtual terminal, mobile app, Apple Pay/Google Pay, POS Link, reporting, and dual pricing. The Build tier is listed at $9.95/month plus $0.10 transaction fees and adds customer management, invoicing, recurring billing, analytics, and terminal features. The Scale tier is listed at $29.95/month plus $0.05 transaction fees and adds QR code payments, surcharging, employee management, SMS payments, and inventory management. The Perform tier is listed at $59.95/month plus $0.05 transaction fees and adds ACH payments, Quick Shop, bulk payments, fundraising campaigns, QuickBooks/Xero connection, multi-location management, and Level 3 processing.

Kurv also offers à la carte modules from $5 to $25 per month, including Build add-ons at $5/month each, Scale add-ons at $10/month each, and Perform add-ons at $25/month each. This structure can be useful for merchants that only need one or two advanced features and do not want to move into a full higher plan.

Processing costs should be reviewed separately from software costs. Merchant Maverick reports flat-rate, interchange-plus, and zero-fee processing models, sample card-present rates of 2.5% + $0.10, eCommerce/keyed-in rates of 2.9% + $0.25, and equipment costs starting at $199. It also reports potential extra costs such as up to $395 for failure to return rental equipment, $79 for PCI non-compliance if the checklist is not completed, and $25 fees for disputes and dispute representment.

Applying and Contracts

Kurv says its application process is secure, simple, and quick, and the official site says businesses can apply and accept payments within 24 hours. Its contact FAQ states that application details include a government-issued ID, a voided check or bank letter, and 3 months of bank and processing statements. The same FAQ says onboarding is instant and that applicants do not need to speak with someone to get started.

About Kurv

Kurv is a merchant services and payment processing platform operated by Electronic Merchant Systems LLC d/b/a Kurv. Its official site describes the company as a payment platform for businesses of all sizes and says it combines technology with 24/7/365 support. The company’s locations page says Kurv is headquartered in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, with regional offices across the United States, and that it serves tens of thousands of retail, internet, and start-up businesses.

Kurv’s site also displays recognition markers including Inc. 5000 and a Google 4.8 rating with 1,000+ reviews. Trustpilot lists Kurv at 3.5 out of 5 from 172 reviews and shows a mixed distribution, with 49% 5-star reviews and 45% 1-star reviews at the time accessed. This mixed review profile should not overshadow the platform’s published functionality, but it is a useful signal for merchants to review recent complaints, support themes, and contract terms before applying.

Customer Support

Kurv’s official contact page lists separate contact options for sales, support, and partnerships. The page says support and self-service tools are available 24/7/365 and that typical response time is within a day, though response times may vary due to weekends or holidays.

FAQs

Is Kurv’s Start plan really free?

Kurv states that its Start plan is $0/month and that businesses can open a free Kurv merchant account to begin accepting payments the same day. Processing rates, underwriting terms, hardware costs, and merchant-account obligations may still apply, so the full agreement should be reviewed.

Can Kurv be used without extra hardware?

Kurv says the Merchant App can turn an iOS or Android device into a mobile POS, and its Tap to Pay feature lets customers tap a phone or card directly on the merchant’s phone without a dongle or extra hardware.

Does Kurv support online and in-person payments?

Kurv lists in-person payments, online payments, mobile payments, self-service acceptance, integrations, and embedded payments as part of its business payment solutions.

Does Kurv offer 24/7 support?

Kurv’s contact page states that its customer service team and self-service tools are available 24/7/365. Its Cleveland headquarters listing also shows Monday–Sunday 24-hour EST availability.

What should merchants check before signing with Kurv?

Merchants should confirm processing rates, pricing model, monthly minimums, PCI fees, chargeback fees, hardware return rules, surcharging compliance, reserve terms, contract length, renewal terms, and cancellation requirements. Merchant Maverick reports that advertised pricing applies to low-risk businesses and that some pricing requires custom quoting.

In Conclusion

Kurv is a strong option for US merchants that want payment processing tools with room to grow. The platform starts with a $0/month software tier and can expand into invoicing, recurring billing, analytics, QR payments, employee management, inventory, ACH, accounting connections, bulk payments, and multi-location management. It also supports mobile Tap to Pay, virtual terminals, contactless wallets, payment links, QR codes, online payments, and POS hardware, which gives merchants several ways to accept payments across physical and digital sales channels.

Kurv is most compelling for merchants that want modern payment flexibility, visible software pricing, and round-the-clock support. The areas that need the closest review are the merchant account agreement, processing rates, hardware terms, PCI obligations, and reported contract length. A business that reads the agreement carefully and confirms its exact pricing can find Kurv useful as a scalable payment partner, especially where mobile selling, invoicing, recurring billing, or multi-location tools are important.