Authorize.net is considered one of the oldest but most popular payment gateway providers for eCommerce merchants and they have fraud protection as well. To find out if Authorize.net could benefit you, continue reading the review below.
Authorize.net is best recommended for those with an existing merchant account, but the company can also set you up with one if needed.
They also use third-party providers for it merchant accounts.
| PROMOTIONAL LINK | LOAN DETAILS | REVIEW |
| Intuit Quickbooks Payments Best for QuickBooks users. | In-Person Payments: 2.40% & 25 cents per transaction Online Invoices: 2.90% + 25 cents per transaction | Review |
| Square Best low-fee mobile card processor. | In-Person Payments: 2.75% per transaction Online Invoices: 2.9% + 30 cents per transaction | Review |
Authorize.net Services
This payment gateway is available to merchants in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Europe and Australia.
As previously mentioned, it’s best to have a preexisting merchant account when using Authorize.net since they use third party providers.
Every account with a company gets access to Authorize.net payment gateway.
This VPOS is browser-based and acts like a virtual terminal. It uses the BBPOS Chipper card reader which is magstripe and EMV-enabled.
The software is free, but additional features like the card reader and USB cable will cost more.
The VPOS is only compatible with Windows however.
Authorize.net provides a mobile app that can accept mobile payments from any platforms such as a smartphone, tablet or plug-in card reader.
This software is available for both iOS and Android.
This is another optional feature to your existing merchant account, or you can also sign up for eCheck Only Pricing Plan.
It costs 0.75% per eCheck, which is considered a lower than average rate that you would normally pay for credit or debit card transactions.
Keep in mind there’s a $10 monthly minimum as well as a $25 chargeback and a $3 fee for returned items.
Authorize.net Features
Authorize.net has simplified payment solutions with premium features.
- Payment Types: Supported payments include: Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, JCB, PayPal, Visa Checkout. Apple Pay, Chase Pay and eCheck.
- Simple Checkout: Authorize.net is able to integrate with a bunch of third party shopping cart sites. You can also generate HTML codes for a “Buy Now” and “Donate” buttons to your website.
- Invoicing: You can send invoices to anyone with an email address. This feature is included with your Authorize.net account with no customization required.
- Advanced Fraud Detection Suite (AFDS): You can customize this feature to help flag and block fraudulent transactions. It is made up of thirteen filters to help prevent fraud and can reduce chargebacks as well.
- Automated Recurring Billing (ARB): You can customize the pricing of your subscription-based billing along with free trial periods and payments by installments.
- Customer information manager (CIM): With CIM, you can store customer’s billing and shipping information securely.
- QuickBooks Integration: You can sync your provider with QuickBooks if you have an account.
Pricing
Authorize.net has two pricing plans featured on their site. The rates and fees only apply if you sign up directly with them.
If you have a preexisting merchant account, then the Gateway Only plan would be your best bet.
| Pricing Plan | Gateway Only | Gateway + Merchant Account |
|---|---|---|
| Account Set Up Fee | None | None |
| Gateway Fee | $25/month | $25/month |
| Per Transaction Fee | $0.10 | 2.9% + $0.30 |
| Daily Batch Fee | $0.10 | – |
Other fees include:
| Fee Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Chargeback | $25/occurrence |
| International transactions | + 1.5% assessment |
Merchant account fees vary depending on the reseller. Every account includes the basic features of fraud detection, automated recurring billing, customer information manager and Quickbooks integration for free.
Customer Support & Satisfaction
Authorize.net is known to have great customer service and you can reach them 24/7 by phone.
Contract & Closing
Authorize.net doesn’t have long-term contracts or cancellation fees.
Bottom Line
If you are worried about the risk of having fraudulent transactions, Authorize.net can help you set up a feature to prevent them.
Though Authorize.net prefers you to have a merchant account already set up before using their services, they are also willing to help you make one.
If you tend to have larger transaction volumes, then consider Chase Merchant Services instead, a direct processor that provides more security and is known for its top notch services.
For someone who’s new to the business world and don’t have that high of a transaction volume, then processors like Square can assist you in the journey.
If you are interested in finding out more information about card processors, then check out our Best Credit Card Processing Services to learn about all kinds of different card processors!
