Free Authorize.net alternatives: 2 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 8, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

2 of the 6 Authorize.net alternatives we track can be used for free (free, open source, or with a free plan). PayPal and Square POS rank highest, with facts last verified Nov 8, 2026.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Verified price	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	PayPal	Free plan + paid	—	No	Web, iOS, Android	8 of 8	54.4
2	Square POS	Free plan + paid	$49/month per location (Square Plus)	No	iOS, Android, Web	7 of 7	52.6

1. PayPalTop pick
Best for: People who pay online often or send money to friends across iPhone and Android
Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android
54.4
score / 100
Why switch from Authorize.net
Adds the PayPal button customers already trust, plus card processing, without a monthly gateway fee.
Pros
Accepted at a very large number of online stores
Works on any phone and in the browser
Purchase Protection on eligible purchases
Cons
Fees on some transfers, currency conversion and receiving payments
Not a full tap-to-pay phone wallet in most countries
Features like Pay Later and crypto vary by country
Visit PayPal Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.352
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is PayPal a good Authorize.net alternative?
Verified facts
8 of 8 verified
Account cost
Free to open
Checked Nov 8, 2026paypal.com(opens source in a new tab)
Platforms
iOS, Android
Checked Nov 8, 2026paypal.com(opens source in a new tab)
Buy now, pay later
Pay in 4, Pay Monthly (US)
Checked Nov 8, 2026paypal.com(opens source in a new tab)
Buyer protection
Purchase Protection
Checked Nov 8, 2026paypal.com(opens source in a new tab)
PayPal Checkout fee
3.49% + fixed fee (US)
Checked Nov 8, 2026paypal.com(opens source in a new tab)
Card payments fee
2.99% + fixed fee (US)
Checked Nov 8, 2026paypal.com(opens source in a new tab)
Fixed fee
$0.49 per US dollar transaction
Checked Nov 8, 2026paypal.com(opens source in a new tab)
International fee
Extra 1.50% on international commercial payments
Checked Nov 8, 2026paypal.com(opens source in a new tab)
2. Square POS
Best for: Small cafes, food trucks and shops that want a POS with no monthly fee to start
Free plan + paidiOS, Android, Web
52.6
score / 100
Why switch from Authorize.net
One account for in-store card readers and online or invoice payments, a fit for small US merchants.
Pros
Free plan with no monthly fee, only processing charges
Pricing and hardware are listed openly and sold online
Takes offline card payments for up to 24 hours
Connects to Square's payroll, banking and online store
Cons
Payments must run through Square's own processing
Kitchen display and kiosk software cost extra per device
Offline payments that fail later are the seller's loss
Visit Square POS Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.346
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Square POS a good Authorize.net alternative?
Verified facts
7 of 7 verified
Free plan
Yes, Square Free at $0/month
Checked Nov 8, 2026squareup.com(opens source in a new tab)
Plus plan
$49/month per location
Checked Nov 8, 2026squareup.com(opens source in a new tab)
In-person card fee
2.6% + 15¢ (Free plan)
Checked Nov 8, 2026squareup.com(opens source in a new tab)
Offline mode
Offline payments for up to 24 hours
Checked Nov 8, 2026squareup.com(opens source in a new tab)
Hardware
Sold separately
Checked Nov 8, 2026squareup.com(opens source in a new tab)
Starting price
$49/month per location (Square Plus)
Checked Nov 8, 2026squareup.com(opens source in a new tab)
Premium plan
$149/month per location
Checked Nov 8, 2026squareup.com(opens source in a new tab)

Quick comparison

1. PayPalTop pick

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

2. Square POS

Pros

Cons

Verified facts