Authorize.net vs Stripe: Which Is the Better Payment Service Provider?
By Paul Martinez
/ September 27, 2022 March 16, 2023
Table of Contents
A secure and reliable payment gateway is crucial for running any business online. These payment gateways are a bridge between payment processors and e-commerce businesses. These payment service providers accept payments online but are optional for in-person payments.
Stripe and Authorize.net are two of the most popular, reliable, and extensively used payment gateways. Both Stripe and Authorize.net offer exceptional platforms for online transactions to businesses worldwide.
Here we have compared the highlighting features of Authorize.net vs. Stripe along with their similarities and differences.
Our Pick: Stripe
We recommend Stripe as it has some advantages over Authorize.net. Stripe offers a global payment system, which is much needed to cater to an international customer base. Moreover, Stripe payments support transactions in multiple currencies. Another lucrative feature of Stripe is that you don’t need a merchant account to use it.
About Stripe
Stripe is a fully customizable payment gateway or merchant account with no hidden fees. Stripe supports numerous payment options and allows easy currency conversion. Furthermore, it ensures safe and secure online payment services. Also, Stripe offers developer resources that help in customizing the payment gateway.
The company started as a payment processing service provider in 2009 in San Francisco, CA, and now has nine global offices. Over three million online clients and businesses from twenty countries are using this digital payment processor to accept online payments.
Stripe is one of the best developer-friendly online payment gateways that allows complete customization payment solutions. However, hiring a skilled and professional developer for your business is preferable to benefit from Stripe’s customizable features.
Features
No Merchant Bank Account Required
Stripe functions as a merchant account and payment gateway at the same time. Hence, you can use Stripe to accept payments and deposit these funds in your business’s bank account.
No Hidden Charges
Stripe pricing model is built for businesses of all sizes. This payment gateway offers transparent payment gateway solutions. There is no set-up, refund, validation, charge book, or failed transaction of monthly fees.
Plus, you can cancel your subscription anytime without worrying about additional charges. Moreover, the complete payment structure for different plans is available on the official website.
Stripe Connect
Stripe is the best online payment processor to handle transactions worldwide. The Stripe Connect service can process transactions in over 30 countries and 135 currencies. Interestingly, considering the usage of Stripe worldwide, Stripe allows you to choose among more than 30 languages.
Supported Payment Methods
Stripe supports numerous international payment solutions, including Microsoft Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay, WeChat Pay, Alipay, Klarna, giro pay, iDEAL, Click to Pay, Multibanco, Sofort, ACH payments, and several others.
Stripe Checkout Page
Furthermore, Stripe offers complete safety and security. It creates a self-hosted page for mobile payment, Apple Pay, and Google Pay payment options. Also, this payment page functions on mobile and desktop.
Fully Customizable Payment Solution
Stripe allows you to customize your stripe merchant account, including setting up payout timings, onboarding, and Shopify Balance. This payment processor service also offers built-in user-interface features, but you can alter these settings per your feasibility using Stripe API (Application Programming Interface). You can also sign-up for financial reporting.
Pros
No monthly fee or set and cancellation charges
It supports more than 100 international currencies and numerous payment methods
No merchant account required
Excellent customer support via email, phone, and live chat
Ease of customizing the checkout flow
Allows omnichannel payments
Cons
Stripe’s integrated pricing and several customization features may seem complicated in the beginning
An online business owner with little to no tech knowledge may not prefer Stripe payments
About Authorize.net
Authorize.net features an automated recurring billing. The customer information manager creates profiles or repeating customers, and the Advanced Fraud Detection Suite (AFDS) identifies fraudulent transactions. Moreover, it supports numerous online payment options, offers digital invoices and allows mobile payments.
Authorize.netstarted its payment processing services in 1996, making it one of the most experienced payment gateways in the market. Later in 2010, Authorize.net was acquired by Visa.
This absorption by Visa paved the way for the card network in the payment gateway industry. Authorize.net has over 400,000 merchant accounts with more than $88 billion in annual transaction volume.
Working with Authorize.net gives you the freedom of choice to avail yourself of all-in-one payment processing plans or connect personal merchant accounts. Moreover, this flexibility in choosing payment solutions makes Authorize.net a lucrative payment gateway for people who already have an existing merchant account.
Furthermore, this company offers payment processor options for point of sale, e-commerce, mobile payments, and over-the-phone payments.
Features
Automated Recurring Billing (ARB)
Authorize.net features ARB to help you automatically set up recurring payments for subscribers or repeat customers. Moreover, this feature offers customers an easy payment method from a bank account or credit card. This feature enhances subscription-based and repeating customers’ billing efficiency and data security.
Customer Information Manager (CIM)
CIM creates and manages customers’ profiles. This feature saves returning customers from the hassle of entering their information. CIM functions by keeping the customer’s billing, payment, and shipping information within secure servers.
Supportd All Payment Types
Authorize.net makes it easy for customers to choose their preferred payment method, including signature debit cards, credit cards, eChecks, and other online payments. Customers can pay via Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, JCB, PayPal, and Apple Pay.
Notably, all businesses rooted in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, or Europe can receive international payments via this payment service from their customers anywhere in the world.
Advanced Fraud Detection Suite (AFDS)
Any business conducting online payment transactions fears the strength of cybersecurity. In light of this concern, Authorize.net has developed a hi-tech security feature called Advanced Fraud Detection Suite. This feature detects, manages, and prevents suspicious or potentially fraudulent transactions with your account.
Pros
Fixable payment gateway
Flat-rate pricing
Exceptional security features via AFDS
Ability to reach international markets
Availability of ACH (Automated Clearing House) tools
24/7 customer support
Ease of setting up recurring payments
Cons
Limited support for international currencies
Charge monthly fees
Similarities Between Stripe vs Authorize.net
Both Stripe and Authorize.net payment processing gateways have a couple of similarities. First, both payment solutions have built-in and customizable checkout pages.
Secondly, Stripe and Authorize.net support multiple currencies. This feature helps online businesses to receive payments from their international clients via an authorized and safe payment gateway.
Thirdly, Stripe and Authorize.net use advanced security services to identify, manage, and prevent fraud during online transactions. Another critical feature both payment processing gateways provide is a recurring billing option. This feature automatically streamlines the upcoming payments for the repeating customers and subscribers.
Moreover, both payment gateways accept payments via numerous payment methods. For instance, both services support mobile credit card readers, debit cards, Apple Pay, and Click to Pay.
Plus, both services offer ACH payment support. ACH is beneficial for all types of payment transactions, including monthly debits for regular payments and direct deposit of checks in bank accounts.
Differences Between Stripe vs Authorize.net
Stripe vs. Authorize.net have many differences. Firstly, Stripe supports more than 135 international currencies, whereas Authorize.net supports only 11. Hence online businesses having customers worldwide prefer Stripe over Authorize.net.
Secondly, Stripe is an all-in-one payment gateway that is enough for all your online payment processing requirements. Stripe does not support merchant bank accounts as it functions as one. Authorize.net is an excellent payment solution for small businesses that already own merchant accounts.
On the other hand, you must already have a merchant bank account to use Authorize.net’s services. Moreover, only Stripe provides credit card processing. Plus, Stripe supports local payment methods worldwide.
Another stark difference between Stripe and Authorize.net is that Authorize.net offers excellent cybersecurity via the Advanced Fraud Detection Suite, whereas Stripe payment gateway uses Radar to prevent online fraud.
Moreover, Authorize.net allows the reception of international transactions only for businesses based in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Europe. Thus, if you are running your business, let’s say, in the Asian market, then Authorize.net is of no use to you.
Finally, though both Stripe and Authorize.net support numerous international payment methods, Stripe does not support PayPal.
Conclusion
Stripe and Authorize.net are two of the widely popular payment gateways used by thousands of online businesses worldwide. Both services offer remarkable online payment services.
Therefore, you can choose any of these services based on your business’s requirements. Choose Stripe payments if you require payment services along with a payment gateway.
Moreover, Stripe has the edge over Authorize.net with the provision of payment processing in numerous currencies worldwide. On the other hand, if you have a merchant account and only require payment gateway services, then Authorize.net is the best option.
We hope that you have found this Stripe vs.Authorize.net comparison informative and helpful.
Paul Martinez is the founder of EcomSidekick.com. He is an expert in the areas of finance, real estate, eCommerce, traffic and conversion.
Join him on EcomSidekick.com to learn how to improve your financial life and excel in these areas. Before starting this media site, Paul built from scratch and managed two multi-million dollar companies. One in the real estate sector and one in the eCommerce sector.
