Cashfree Token Vault

Cashfree Token Vault replaces sensitive card information with generated tokens, so merchants can process saved-card payments without storing card numbers on their own platforms. Cashfree describes it as one integration for handling cards across multiple payment gateways or networks. It supports credit, debit, prepaid, and corporate cards, with Visa and Mastercard credit and debit tokenization specifically listed. Saved-card tokenization is enabled automatically for merchants using Standard Checkout; Seamless Pro merchants need to integrate the Token Vault API. Customers can choose a saved card and enter its CVV to pay. Token provisioning requires explicit customer consent and cannot continue if two-factor authentication fails. Merchants cannot retrieve the underlying card number from a token and may store only the last four digits, card scheme, and issuing bank name. A token reference created through Cashfree remains with Cashfree, although merchants can fetch the card network token for use with another payment aggregator. Pricing is available on request, and no free trial is listed.

Cashfree Token Vault is designed for merchants that need saved-card payments without storing card numbers on their platforms. Consider its checkout setup and token-reference limitation when planning a move between payment providers.

Token Vault is for merchants handling saved card payments who want to use tokens rather than retain card numbers on their platforms. Its setup details differ for Standard Checkout and Seamless Pro users.

Cashfree Token Vault is a cloud tokenization service for merchants that want to accept saved-card payments without keeping card numbers on their own platforms. It suits teams using Cashfree checkout or building around its API; the key trade-off is that a Cashfree token reference stays with Cashfree.

Overview

Token Vault replaces card details with cryptographically generated tokens that merchants can use for saved-card payments. Cashfree describes it as interoperable across payment gateways and card networks through one integration, which may help merchants avoid tying every saved-card payment to a single gateway. It is not a way to move the underlying Cashfree token reference freely between providers.

Customers can choose a saved card and enter its CVV to pay. Cashfree says its ecosystem includes 16mn+ saved cards, but that figure alone does not establish how many would be available to a particular merchant.

Key features

• Card coverage: Supports credit, debit, prepaid, and corporate cards, with Visa and Mastercard credit and debit tokenization specifically described. This is a broad mix for merchants serving different customer and business payment needs.
• Consent and authentication: A customer must explicitly consent before a token is provisioned, and provisioning stops if two-factor authentication fails. Those checks make saved-card setup dependent on a completed customer authorization rather than silent enrollment.
• Restricted card data: Merchants may retain only the last four digits, scheme, and issuing bank name. They cannot store the BIN, expiry, or CVV, and cannot retrieve a card number from a token; only the card scheme and issuing bank can retrieve it.
• Network tokens: The service supports network tokenization and vendor-hosted vaulting. It has no detokenization API, so merchants cannot use it to reveal the original card number themselves.
• Integrations and webhooks: Cashfree lists Shopify, Wix, WooCommerce, PayPal, WordPress, and Zoho integrations, and supports webhooks. Those options can suit merchants already working in these ecosystems, though the exact integration scope depends on their setup.

Pricing

Cashfree Token Vault is paid, with custom pricing. There is no stated free trial, so merchants should request a quote before budgeting or comparing total payment costs. No published seat, usage quota, or renewal terms give a basis for estimating spend.

Platforms

Cashfree lists Android, iOS, web, and API platforms. The service is cloud-deployed, making it relevant to mobile and web checkout teams as well as merchants integrating through an API.

Who it's for

It is best suited to merchants who need saved-card payments while minimizing the card data retained on their own systems, especially those already using Cashfree Standard Checkout. Standard Checkout enables saved cards automatically; Seamless Pro merchants need to integrate or update APIs, so the latter is a less turnkey route.

It is a weaker fit for a merchant planning to switch payment providers and carry its existing Cashfree token references along. Cashfree says those references remain with it. Merchants can fetch card network tokens and use them with another payment aggregator, but RBI rules do not allow bulk tokenization of cards already saved by PCI/DSS-compliant merchants; those cards must be deleted.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Limits exposure of card data: Merchants retain only a small set of card descriptors, not the number, expiry, or CVV.
• One integration across gateways or networks: Cashfree positions the vault as interoperable, potentially reducing the need for separate tokenization integrations.
• Automatic Standard Checkout setup: Merchants on that checkout can enable saved cards without a separate Token Vault API integration.

Cons

• Token references are tied to Cashfree: Provider migration may require reliance on card network tokens rather than moving the Cashfree reference itself.
• Existing saved cards cannot be bulk-tokenized: Merchants subject to the stated RBI rule must delete PCI/DSS-compliant saved cards rather than convert them in bulk.
• Seamless Pro requires API work: Merchants using that checkout must integrate or update APIs to support the vault.
• Custom pricing limits advance comparison: There is no stated trial or public price to test or estimate before contacting Cashfree.

Alternatives

Payment Tokenization Software is the broader category to compare if Cashfree's provider-specific token-reference constraint is central to your decision.

• American Express Token Service may suit teams seeking a free plan: its listed free price is free, with no deployment or use fees stated, though availability varies by market.
• Worldpay eProtect is another paid option for teams comparing tokenization services across Android, API, iOS, and web.
• Basis Theory is worth comparing when a published platform fee and token allowance matter: Standard platform is $995 a month, with 20,000 tokens included and $0.05 per additional token.
• Purse Vault is another paid option across Android, iOS, and web, with pricing by demo request.
• Razorpay TokenHQ may be relevant to merchants comparing a Razorpay checkout route; its article says standard and custom checkout have zero added cost, while mentioning an unstated S2S saved-card transaction fee.
• Very Good Security is an alternative with a free plan and a Starter Package at $1,000 a month; it may suit buyers who want a stated entry plan to compare.
• Paysafe offers another paid option, including a US/CAD Standard plan with zero setup and monthly fees for Shopify merchants, with transaction fees applying.
• DeloPay is a paid alternative with a free trial and a Power plan at $2.25 a month, billed at 2.25% per transaction for monthly volume of $100,000 to $500,000.

Verdict

Choose Cashfree Token Vault if your priority is saved-card payments with strict limits on merchant-held card data, particularly on Standard Checkout. Its gateway and network interoperability is useful, but the Cashfree-bound token reference, API work for Seamless Pro, and custom pricing make it less compelling for merchants prioritizing portability or a clearly budgeted evaluation.