Authorize.net
The legacy gateway titan with massive installed base, but dated technology for modern ISV payment integration.
Overview
Authorize.net is one of the most widely-used payment gateways in the US, now owned by Visa. It supports 100+ processors and is deeply embedded in the payment ecosystem. However, its API design and ISV capabilities lag modern alternatives like Stripe and Adyen.
For the latest on Authorize.net's ISV capabilities, documentation, and partner programs, visit authorize.net.
Pricing
Flat-rate plus gateway fee
Gateway-only: 10c/transaction + 10c daily batch + $25/month. Full processing: 2.9% + 30c. Volume discounts available.
Full pricing breakdown →Pros
- ✓ Massive installed base — one of the most widely-used gateways
- ✓ Visa-owned with long-term stability
- ✓ Supports 100+ processors for multi-processor routing
- ✓ Advanced Recurring Billing (ARB) for subscription payments
Cons
- ✗ Legacy technology — API design is dated
- ✗ Not purpose-built for ISV embedded payments
- ✗ Limited marketplace/platform payment capabilities
- ✗ Documentation and developer experience lag modern alternatives
ISV Fit
Best for ISVs integrating with merchants who already use Authorize.net, or ISVs wanting multi-processor flexibility through a widely-supported gateway. Not ideal for ISVs building modern embedded payment experiences.
Authorize.net Review: An ISV’s Perspective
This review evaluates Authorize.net specifically from the ISV and SaaS platform perspective. While many reviews focus on small business or e-commerce use cases, ISVs have fundamentally different requirements: embedded payment facilitation, sub-merchant onboarding, revenue sharing, and white-label capabilities.
What ISVs Should Know About Authorize.net
Authorize.net scores 3.2/5 in our ISV-focused evaluation. The rating reflects the platform’s capabilities for embedded payments, not general payment processing. A provider can be excellent for direct merchants but mediocre for ISV integration — and vice versa.
For ISVs, the key evaluation criteria are:
- Merchant onboarding speed: How quickly can your software’s users start accepting payments? Minutes vs. days matters for activation rates.
- Revenue sharing model: What percentage of each transaction does your ISV earn? This directly impacts your payment revenue line.
- White-label capabilities: Does the payment experience carry your brand or the processor’s? This affects merchant perception and switching costs.
- API quality and documentation: ISV developers need clean APIs, comprehensive docs, and responsive sandbox environments.
- Compliance burden: How much of the PCI, KYC/KYB, and regulatory compliance does the platform handle vs. leaving to the ISV?
Who Should Consider Authorize.net
Authorize.net fits certain ISV profiles better than others. The platform’s strengths align with specific vertical markets, transaction volumes, and integration depth requirements. ISVs should evaluate Authorize.net alongside 2-3 alternatives using a structured scorecard that weights ISV-specific capabilities higher than general payment features.
The Bottom Line
No payment platform is perfect for every ISV. Authorize.net has clear strengths and weaknesses that make it ideal for some integration patterns and less suitable for others. The right choice depends on your specific vertical, merchant profile, transaction volumes, and how much control you want over the payment experience.