Authorize.net

Authorize.net helps businesses accept electronic and credit card payments online, in person, and by phone. It supports major cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and eChecks. Payment channels include websites, mobile payments, card readers, Virtual Terminal phone orders, and digital invoices. Automated Recurring Billing supports subscriptions, retainers, and payment plans. Customer Information Manager stores payment details for returning customers, while the Advanced Fraud Detection Suite provides customizable rules for flagging suspicious activity. The service offers web, iOS, Android, and API platforms, including XML and JSON API variants, as well as a certified network of technology and solution partners. Merchant support is available 24x7 except major holidays by phone, online chat, or support case. The pricing page describes its processing as designed for small businesses. There is no free plan; each listed plan costs $25 a month. All-in-one adds 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction. Gateway only adds 10¢ per transaction and a 10¢ daily batch fee, and requires an existing merchant account. Gateway + eCheck lists 0.75% for eCheck and card transaction and daily batch fees of 10¢ each; eCheck is available only to U.S.-based businesses.

Authorize.net offers several payment channels, recurring billing, and tools for storing returning customers’ payment details. Consider the monthly charge, transaction fees, and merchant-account requirements when choosing among plans.

Authorize.net suits small businesses that need to accept payments across online, mobile, in-person, or phone channels. Its recurring billing and API options may suit businesses with subscription payments or integration needs.

Authorize.net is a payment gateway and processing service for small businesses taking card and electronic payments online, in stores, by phone, or through invoices. It suits merchants that need recurring charges and configurable fraud screening across several sales channels. Its main trade-off is choosing among plans with the same monthly price but different account requirements and per-transaction costs.

Overview

Authorize.net has served merchants since 1996 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Visa. It accepts major cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and eChecks. Businesses can collect payments on a website, in a mobile experience, through an in-person card reader, by phone with Virtual Terminal, or via digital invoices. That breadth is useful for a business whose customers do not all buy the same way; a single-channel online seller may not need every option.

Automated Recurring Billing supports subscriptions, retainers, and payment plans. Customer Information Manager securely keeps payment details for returning customers, reducing the need to collect them again. The Advanced Fraud Detection Suite provides customizable rules for flagging suspicious activity, giving merchants control over screening rather than a fixed, one-size-fits-all filter.

Key features

• Broad payment acceptance: Cards, wallet payments, PayPal, and eChecks cover common consumer preferences. eCheck availability and pricing depend on the plan, so businesses should not assume every package includes it.
• Multiple sales channels: Website checkout, mobile payments, card-reader transactions, Virtual Terminal phone orders, and invoicing make the service practical for mixed retail, service, and remote-order operations.
• Recurring billing: Automated Recurring Billing handles subscriptions, retainers, and installment-style payment plans, making it a better fit for ongoing revenue than a gateway intended only for one-time charges. Recurring ACH payments are supported.
• Fraud and customer records: Custom rules in the Advanced Fraud Detection Suite can flag suspicious activity, while Customer Information Manager stores payment details for repeat customers. These are useful controls, but merchants still need to set rules appropriate to their risk.
• Developer and partner options: The API supports XML and JSON, with a certified network of technology and solution partners. Legacy AIM, SIM, DPM, Relay Response, and Silent Post methods are obsolete and being phased out, so new integrations should use current approaches.
• Merchant assistance: Support is available 24x7 except major holidays by phone, online chat, or support case. The gateway is described as secure and includes customizable fraud tools.

Pricing

All three listed plans cost $25.00 per month, with no setup fee or early termination fee for the payment gateway. The differences are in account structure and transaction charges.

All-in-one

At $25 per month, All-in-one charges 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction and combines a merchant account with the payment gateway.

Gateway only

Gateway only costs $25 per month plus 10¢ per transaction and a 10¢ daily batch fee. It requires an existing merchant account. That structure can suit a merchant that already has acquiring arrangements, but it is not a complete starting point for a business without one and the daily fee matters for ongoing processing.

Gateway + eCheck

This $25-per-month plan charges 0.75% for eCheck and 10¢ per credit-card transaction plus a 10¢ daily batch fee. eCheck is available only to U.S.-based businesses. It is the clearest fit for merchants expecting bank-account payments, while card-heavy businesses should compare its separate card charges with All-in-one's percentage-plus-fixed rate.

Platforms

Authorize.net supports Android, iOS, web, and API use. Its API and SDK/plugin coverage gives developers routes for custom integrations, while partner certifications can help businesses working through supported technology providers.

Who it's for

Small businesses selling through more than one channel, charging customers repeatedly, or needing phone and invoice payments are the strongest match. It also fits U.S. businesses that specifically want recurring ACH or eCheck processing. A merchant with an established merchant account may prefer Gateway only; a new or card-focused merchant may favor All-in-one. Businesses outside the U.S. cannot use the Gateway + eCheck plan's eCheck option.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Website, mobile, in-person, phone, and invoice channels support varied selling patterns.
• Pro: Recurring billing and stored customer payment details support subscriptions and repeat purchases.
• Pro: Custom fraud rules and 24x7 support (excluding major holidays) provide operational controls and assistance.
• Con: Every listed plan starts at $25 per month, even when a merchant needs only a limited subset of channels.
• Con: Gateway only requires an existing merchant account, adding a prerequisite for businesses starting from scratch.
• Con: Gateway-only and Gateway + eCheck add a 10¢ daily batch fee, and eCheck on the latter is restricted to U.S.-based businesses.
• Con: Older API methods are being phased out, so legacy integrations need migration planning.

Alternatives

Choose OpenACH when open-source software and a free GPL v3.0 option matter more than Authorize.net's paid gateway plans. Choose Paymentus when you need an enterprise billing and payment platform with sales-led pricing. PayJunction ACH Payment Processing is worth considering for ACH-focused processing with published month-to-month plans and rates as low as 0.75% for ACH. Plaid suits teams seeking bank-data connectivity with an eligible free trial and production-item limits. Nickel is an option for organizations wanting a freemium payment setup with a free tier. ACH Processing Company provides a paid API and web option. ACHPAY.AI fits businesses looking for paid ACH processing with a free trial. GoCardless Bank Account Data is another paid API and web alternative.

For broader comparisons, see ACH Payment Processing Software, Hosted Checkout Software, Virtual Terminal Software, and Payment Gateways.

Verdict

Authorize.net is a strong choice for small businesses that need one service for online, in-person, phone, and invoiced payments, especially when recurring billing and configurable fraud rules are important. Choose it for that channel coverage and established integration model; look elsewhere if a free or freemium plan, no monthly gateway charge, or a simpler ACH-only setup is your priority.