Payment Gateway

Accept Payments with Authorize.net

Authorize.net is one of the most trusted payment gateways for online, in-person, and phone payments. Get started directly or compare merchant service rates from competing providers.

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What Is an Authorize.net Gateway?

Authorize.net is one of the most widely used payment gateways in the world, providing businesses with a secure way to accept credit card payments online, in-person, and over the phone. The AuthNet gateway acts as the bridge between your website or point of sale system and the payment processor, securely transmitting transaction data between customers, merchants, and financial institutions.

Whether you run an e-commerce store, a service business, or a brick-and-mortar shop, an Authorize.net merchant account gives you the flexibility to accept payments through multiple channels — all from a single platform. Learn more about virtual merchant services and how to find the right credit card processor for your business.

How You Can Accept Payments with AuthNet

Online Payments

Accept credit cards on your website or e-commerce store through a secure payment gateway integration.

Virtual Terminal

Key in credit card payments from any computer for phone orders, mail orders, and recurring billing.

Mobile Payments

Process payments on the go with a smartphone or tablet using a mobile app and card reader.

Credit Card Terminal

Use a traditional countertop terminal or POS system connected to the AuthNet gateway for in-person payments.

Authorize.net Pricing

Authorize.net offers two plans depending on whether you already have a merchant account:

All-in-One Plan

2.9% + 30¢

per transaction

Includes gateway + merchant account. No monthly fee. Best for businesses that don’t have an existing processor.

Gateway Only Plan

$25/month

+ 10¢ per transaction + daily batch fee

Use with your existing merchant account and processor. Best for businesses that already have a processing relationship.

Both plans include: Virtual terminal, fraud detection (AFDS), recurring billing, invoicing, customer profiles, and 24/7 support.

Compare Other Providers

Want to Compare Authorize.net to Other Processors?

Authorize.net is a great choice, but it’s not the only option. If you’d like to compare rates from competing payment processors before deciding, fill out our quick form and providers will compete for your business.

Authorize.netCompare Quotes
Setup timeDays/weeksQuotes in 24-48 hours
Pricing modelFixed plansMultiple options
Cost to compare—Free
ObligationAccount signupNo obligation

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When Authorize.net is the right choice:

  • You need advanced fraud detection (AFDS)
  • You need recurring billing or subscriptions
  • You need to integrate with specific e-commerce platforms
  • You process high volumes and want interchange-plus pricing
  • You need Level 2/3 processing for B2B transactions
  • You want a well-established, widely-supported gateway

If any of these apply to your business, Authorize.net is likely a strong fit. Otherwise, comparing rates from multiple providers may save you money.

Virtual Terminal Alternative

Just Need a Virtual Terminal?

If you primarily need a virtual terminal for phone orders, mail orders, or recurring invoicing — and don’t need Authorize.net’s full feature set — Square Virtual Terminal is a popular alternative worth considering. It’s simpler to set up, has no monthly fees, and works directly from your web browser.

We’ve put together a side-by-side comparison covering pricing, features, setup time, and which option fits which type of business.

FAQ

Authorize.net FAQ

Authorize.net offers two plans: an all-in-one plan at 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction with no monthly fee, or a gateway-only plan at $25/month plus 10¢ per transaction for businesses that already have a payment processor.

Yes. Authorize.net is a universal gateway, meaning it works with most payment processors. You can pair it with the merchant account provider of your choice, which gives you the flexibility to shop for the best processing rates independently of the gateway.

A payment gateway (like Authorize.net) is the technology that securely transmits transaction data. A merchant account is the bank account that holds your funds before they’re deposited to your business bank account. You typically need both to accept credit card payments, though some providers bundle them together.

Yes, Authorize.net includes a built-in virtual terminal that lets you manually key in credit card payments from any web browser. This is useful for phone orders, mail orders, and recurring billing. It’s included with both the All-in-One plan and the Gateway Only plan.

Authorize.net and Square serve different audiences. Authorize.net is a payment gateway that requires (or includes) a separate merchant account, with strong fraud detection, recurring billing, and platform integrations. Square is an all-in-one solution with no monthly gateway fee, simpler setup, but flat-rate pricing that costs more at higher volumes. See our full Authorize.net vs Square Virtual Terminal comparison →

Authorize.net is PCI DSS compliant and uses 128-bit SSL encryption to protect transaction data. It also includes an Advanced Fraud Detection Suite (AFDS) with customizable filters to help prevent fraudulent transactions and chargebacks.

Setup typically takes a few business days for account approval and integration. The exact timeline depends on your business type, processor relationship, and how quickly you complete the application.

Authorize.net is a strong fit for businesses that need a well-established gateway with advanced features like fraud detection, recurring billing, and platform integrations. If you process simple phone orders or mail orders without needing those advanced features, a simpler alternative may be a better fit.

Ready to Accept Payments?

Get started with Authorize.net or compare quotes from competing payment processors.