Authorize.net vs Stripe
Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial
Authorize.net
Long-running US payment gateway for accepting cards, eChecks and recurring payments online and by phone.
Stripe
Developer-focused online payments platform for accepting cards, wallets and local payment methods worldwide.
The short answer
Authorize.net suits established US merchants who already have a merchant account or rely on carts and billing systems that support it. Stripe suits SaaS companies, marketplaces and anyone selling internationally who wants well-documented APIs and many payment methods. The biggest practical difference is cost structure: Authorize.net charges a monthly fee on every plan, while Stripe's standard pricing is pay as you go with no setup or monthly fees.
Authorize.net or Stripe: our take
Authorize.net is a Visa-owned payment gateway that US small businesses have used for decades. It takes card payments on websites, over the phone through a virtual terminal and in person with a mobile POS or Tap to Pay. You can buy an all-in-one plan that bundles a merchant account with the gateway, or a gateway-only plan that keeps the merchant account you already have with a bank or processor. Stripe is a payments platform built around APIs and prebuilt pieces such as Checkout, payment links and embeddable UI elements, supporting cards, digital wallets, bank debits and 100+ payment methods across 135+ currencies.
On pricing, Authorize.net charges $25 per month plus per-transaction fees, with no setup fee; eCheck (ACH) payments cost 0.75% per transaction and are limited to US-based businesses. Stripe's standard pricing has no setup or monthly fees and charges per successful transaction, with rates that differ by country and payment method, and large businesses can negotiate custom pricing. Stripe's add-ons such as Billing and Tax carry their own fees, so the full cost depends on what you use.
The tooling around each is different. Authorize.net includes recurring billing, digital invoices, fraud filters and an account updater for stored cards, and it is often chosen because so many shopping carts already support it. Stripe adds subscription billing, tax calculation in 100+ countries, fraud screening, marketplace payouts through Connect, card issuing and terminals, and it is known for clear documentation and a full test mode. Its catch is availability: it is not open to businesses in every country.
Choose Authorize.net if you are a US merchant keeping an existing merchant account, or your cart or billing system expects it. Choose Stripe if you are building a SaaS product or marketplace, sell across borders, or want to integrate payments in code.
Which should you pick?
Choose Authorize.net if…
- US merchants who want a widely supported gateway or already have their own merchant account
- Gateway-only plan works with an existing merchant account
- No setup fee and no early termination fee for the gateway
Choose Stripe if…
- SaaS companies and marketplaces that sell internationally and want strong developer tooling
- You need iOS and Android, which Authorize.net doesn't list
- Well-documented APIs with a full test mode
- Large set of payment methods and currencies from one integration
About each app
What is Authorize.net?
Authorize.net is a payment gateway owned by Visa that US small businesses have used for decades to take card payments on their websites, over the phone through a virtual terminal, and in person with a mobile POS or Tap to Pay. It offers two main setups: an all-in-one plan that bundles a merchant account with the gateway, and a gateway-only plan for businesses that already have a merchant account with a bank or processor and want to keep it. Both carry a monthly fee plus per-transaction charges. Built-in tools cover recurring billing, digital invoices, fraud filters, an account updater for stored cards and eCheck (ACH) payments. Because so many shopping carts and billing systems already support it, it is often chosen for compatibility rather than for modern developer tooling. It suits established US merchants, especially those with an existing merchant account, while startups wanting a quick API-first setup often look at Stripe.
What is Stripe?
Stripe is a payments platform used by startups and large internet companies to accept money online and in person. Developers integrate its APIs or use prebuilt pieces such as Checkout, payment links and embeddable UI elements; non-developers can send invoices and payment links from the dashboard. It supports cards, digital wallets, bank debits and many local payment methods across a large number of currencies. Around the core gateway sit products for subscription billing, tax calculation, fraud screening, marketplace payouts (Connect), card issuing and in-person terminals. Standard pricing is pay-as-you-go per successful transaction with no setup or monthly fee; rates differ by country and payment method, and large businesses can get custom pricing. Stripe is known for clear documentation and test tooling, which is why it is a default choice for SaaS and marketplaces. Availability depends on the country where your business is registered, so check that your country is supported before building on it.
Side by side
| Attribute | Authorize.net | Stripe |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Paid |
| Open source | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| Platforms | Web | Web, iOS, Android |
| Best for | US merchants who want a widely supported gateway or already have their own merchant account | SaaS companies and marketplaces that sell internationally and want strong developer tooling |
| Status | Active | Active |
Authorize.net vs Stripe pricing
Authorize.net: paid
We couldn't verify Authorize.net's plan details on its own site yet, so we don't list them.
Authorize.net pricing pagePlatforms
| Platform | Authorize.net | Stripe |
|---|---|---|
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android |
Authorize.net facts
4 of 4 verified- Monthly fee
- $25 per month
- Checked Nov 8, 2026authorize.net(opens source in a new tab)
- “Authorize.net plans start at $25 per month.”
- All-in-one rate
- 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction
- Checked Nov 8, 2026authorize.net(opens source in a new tab)
- “$25 per month 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction 1 Questions?”
- Setup fee
- None
- Checked Nov 8, 2026authorize.net(opens source in a new tab)
- “Call 1-888-323-4289 Simple, transparent payment processing for small business No setup fees. No early termination.”
- eCheck rate
- 0.75% per transaction
- Checked Nov 8, 2026authorize.net(opens source in a new tab)
- “eCheck processing is available as an add-on at 0.75% per transaction”
Stripe facts
7 of 7 verified- Setup and monthly fees
- None on standard pricing
- Checked Nov 8, 2026stripe.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Stripe does not charge setup fees, monthly fees, or any other hidden fees like closure fees.”
- Payment methods
- 100+
- Checked Nov 8, 2026stripe.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “100+ payment methods From Alipay to iDEAL, seamlessly support popular payment methods.”
- Tax automation
- Calculations in 100+ countries
- Checked Nov 8, 2026stripe.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Scale with confidence by automating tax calculations and collections in 100+ countries.”
- Pricing
- Pay as you go, no setup or monthly fees
- Checked Nov 8, 2026stripe.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “pay-as-you-go pricing. No setup fees, monthly fees, or hidden fees.”
- Custom domain price
- $10 per month
- Checked Nov 8, 2026stripe.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Custom domain Use your own domain while hosting your payments page or customer portal on Stripe. US$10.00 per month”
- Card pricing
- 2.9% + a fixed fee per successful domestic card charge
- Checked Nov 8, 2026stripe.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “2.9% + CA$0.30 per successful transaction for domestic cards”
Pros and cons of Authorize.net
- Gateway-only plan works with an existing merchant account
- No setup fee and no early termination fee for the gateway
- Recurring billing, invoicing and fraud filters included
- Monthly fee on every plan, unlike pay-as-you-go processors
- eCheck is limited to US-based businesses
- Aimed at the US market rather than global selling
Pros and cons of Stripe
- Well-documented APIs with a full test mode
- Large set of payment methods and currencies from one integration
- Billing, tax, fraud and marketplace payouts available as add-ons
- Not available to businesses in every country
- Add-on products like Billing and Tax carry their own fees
- Rates vary by country and payment method, so costs need checking per market
Other apps to consider
AdyenInstead of Authorize.net
Enterprise-grade single platform for online, in-store and global payment methods, for larger merchants outgrowing a gateway.
Amazon PayInstead of Authorize.net
Lets shoppers check out with their stored Amazon details, a common add-on or replacement for card forms.
PayPalInstead of Authorize.net
Adds the PayPal button customers already trust, plus card processing, without a monthly gateway fee.
Cashfree PaymentsInstead of Stripe
Indian gateway with UPI, payouts and a lower standard domestic rate.
PaddleInstead of Stripe
Acts as merchant of record, so it handles global sales tax and VAT for software sellers.
Authorize.net vs Stripe: common questions
Is Authorize.net better than Stripe?
Authorize.net suits established US merchants who already have a merchant account or rely on carts and billing systems that support it. Stripe suits SaaS companies, marketplaces and anyone selling internationally who wants well-documented APIs and many payment methods. The biggest practical difference is cost structure: Authorize.net charges a monthly fee on every plan, while Stripe's standard pricing is pay as you go with no setup or monthly fees.
Is Authorize.net free?
No. Authorize.net is paid, though it may offer a trial.
Is Stripe free?
No. Stripe is paid, though it may offer a trial.
Is Authorize.net or Stripe open source?
Neither is open source.
Which platforms do Authorize.net and Stripe support?
Authorize.net: Web. Stripe: Web, iOS and Android.