AppNinjas Reviews & Complaints
Company Overview
AppNinjas is the creator of a credit card processing app called “Swipe,” (formerly “iSwipe”) which provides merchants a virtual terminal similar to mobile phone payment processing apps like Square and Pay Anywhere. In fact, the company has actually been around longer than those 2 competitors.
AppNinjas Payment Processing
AppNinjas processing works through its app Swipe. It does not do direct processing itself. Swipe primarily processes mobile and wireless payments, though they do also offer a free card swiper.
Location & Ownership
Founded in 2009 by Bryan Kennedy and Zander Ford, AppNinjas was acquired by Inner Fence (one of its competitors) and Merchant Focus in 2010 as part of an apparent joint venture. The company is based in Dublin, Ohio, and is sponsored by HSBC Bank of Buffalo, New York, as its acquiring bank. John Waldron is the CEO of AppNinjas which is headquartered at 5555 Wall Street Dublin, OH.
AppNinjas (Swipe) Customer Reviews
Here's What Their Clients Say
Total Online Complaints | <10 |
---|---|
Live Customer Support | Yes |
Most Common Complaint | N/A |
Recent Lawsuits | No |
Low Complaint Total
As of our latest update, there are no AppNinjas reviews filed online in other consumer forums, and only two are posted below this review. One complainant did not specify the issue, while the other client reported a negative sales experience over the phone with AppNinjas. These incidents seem isolated and do not suggest a trend of poor support. If you have your own AppNinjas review to share, please feel free to do so in the comments below.
AppNinjas Lawsuits and Fines
We have not uncovered any outstanding class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints filed against AppNinjas. Dissatisfied clients seeking non-litigious action against the company should consider reporting it to the relevant supervisory organizations.
AppNinjas Customer Support Options
The company provides a dedicated customer service phone number and appears to address complaints promptly. This level of support aligns with our expectations of top-rated merchant accounts known for excellent customer service. Therefore, we have assigned it an “A” rating in this category.
AppNinjas Customer Service Number
- (888) 364-6527 – Toll-Free Support
Other Support Options
- Customer support form
- Customer service via email at [email protected]
AppNinjas (Swipe) Online Ratings
Here's How They Rate Online
No Dedicated Profile
The Better Business Bureau does not have a profile for AppNinjas and it is unclear whether the company shares its profile with Merchant Focus. We therefore will not factor a BBB rating into this review.
AppNinjas (Swipe) Fees, Rates & Costs
A Closer Look at The Contract
Cancellation Penalties | No |
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Monthly & Annual Fees | Yes |
Processing Rates | Variable |
Equipment Leasing | No |
Using a Third-Party Processor
AppNinjas offers businesses the flexibility to use their app, Swipe, at a monthly cost of $25 for the first terminal and $9 for each additional terminal. This service is available with existing merchant service providers, though the full compatibility of the app upon activation remains uncertain. Businesses might benefit from evaluating the compatibility with their current mobile payment solutions.
MerchantFocus Pricing
Businesses choosing to use AppNinjas’ associated MerchantFocus account find that AppNinjas’ pricing structure is more aligned with traditional merchant accounts than with competitor models like GoPayment and Square. The company imposes a monthly service fee of $25.00, which includes both AppNinjas’ service fee and a third-party payment gateway fee through Authorize.net. Additionally, AppNinjas employs a three-tiered rate model, which is common in traditional credit card processing setups.
Rate Pricing
For swiped debit card transactions (excluding AMEX), rates vary from 1.59% to 2.89%, with an additional $0.29 per transaction. Unlike many processors, AppNinjas does not include VISA’s “Dues & Assessment Fee” of 0.11% (and similar fees for Discover and MasterCard) in these rates. As a result, the actual cost for these transactions is effectively higher.
Other AppNinjas Fees
AppNinjas stands out by not charging setup fees, monthly minimums, annual/PCI compliance fees, or cancellation fees. They also offer a complimentary card reader. While the overall cost of Swipe is lower than the average merchant account, it is marginally higher compared to the least expensive payment processing options available.
We encourage readers to explore our curated list of the finest merchant services providers.
AppNinjas (Swipe) Employee Reviews & Sales Tacitcs
Should You Work For Them?
Uses Independent Resellers | No |
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Telemarketing | No |
MIsleading Marketing | Yes |
Discloses All Important Terms | No |
Incomplete Rate Disclosure
The only strike against AppNinjas’ marketing and sales tactics is that the company does not disclose all of the processing rates on its website. In fact, we had to call the company to get a better understanding of the rates because they are quoted rather vaguely online (pricing is covered below). It was also difficult to find out which devices AppNinjas supports. In general, this does not compare favorably to our list of best credit card processors.
Few Sales Complaints
Aside from these issues, no deceptive advertising or marketing appears to be in use by the company, and there is only one AppNinjas review that accuses the AppNinjas sales team of unprofessional conduct (found in the comment section below this review). If you suspect that you have been deceived by an AppNinjas representative, we recommend seeking an independent statement audit to find and eliminate hidden fees.
Our AppNinjas (Swipe) Review Summary
Our Final Thoughts
AppNinjas’ “Swipe” credit card processing app appears to be a good option for most mobile businesses, but the company does have some fierce direct competition that offers no monthly fees, less expensive transaction fees, and flat-rate pricing. AppNinjas can improve its rating in this review by offering more transparency of its pricing and supported devices on its website, as well as by expanding compatibility across more devices. Readers should compare the company’s pricing, features, and support to those offered by top-rated merchant account providers.
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Dustin Douglas
Swipe Canada not for the small business, and after dealing with them I wouldn’t recommend to big either.
I recently was contacted by one of their sales people who upon answering the call said first of he wasn’t trying to sell me anything and was just trying to save my business money. As a guarantee if he couldn’t save me money he would send a $100 cheque for my time. So I spent 20 minutes on the phone with him and we went over my small business’s credit card information including my small projected credit card sales. I was told that my 2.75% rate was unbelievably high and he could get me 2% or lower. As per his request I emailed what documentation I had supporting my current rates. I later received a phone call back from them to figure out what fit me best. They tried pushing a machine at first and I explained I only want the phone swiper like I’m currently using (was free, no extra hidden fees, and 2.75% on swiped cards). The sales guy told me it was $150 for the phone swiper and I said no way, it was free from the company I am dealing with, and he came back oh sorry never mind. Then he says he can do 2.25% which is higher then the 2% or lower I was promised, but I’m okay with that providing I’m saving money, then he proceeds to tell me it’s $99 to get the $2.25%, I don’t know if that was one time, or year (I think year), or what but I replied I’m not paying $99. I explained I would be losing money if I paid 2.25% and $99 instead of staying with the other company at 2.75% flat no extra fees(20 more minutes to find this out). He said that is your choice and abruptly hung up on me which I felt was extremely unprofessional and rude. I phoned back and asked to speak to a manager and asked to file a complaint over the unprofessional behavior. The manager said he would look into it and asked if there was anything else, which I replied yes, I was told if you couldn’t save me money I would receive $100 cheque, I sent in what was asked of me and spent over 40 minutes on the phone and you can’t beat what I have so I believe I am entitled to the $100 cheque. After some discussion the supervisor said he would phone me back later that day or the next to discuss a better rate or some sort of payment. He never called back, big surprise
Brigette Leach
I was generally satisfied with Swipe and AppNinjas until I tried to close the account. The problem wasn’t so much with AppNinja as it was with Merchant Focus, the company that processes for them. Would I do business with either of them again? No.
Phillip CPO
Hi Brigette,
What happened with Merchant Focus?