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Should You Choose Authorize.Net for Your Online Payments?

Name: Authorize.net
Item: Authorize.net
Rating: 3
Author: Phillip Parker

Author: Phillip Parker

Updated: September 29, 2025

Maintained Since: April 8, 2011

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We take our role in providing guidance and education regarding the card payment industry very seriously. At our own expense, we have vigorously defended our right to continue expose unethical and predatory practices in the industry, successfully defeating every attempt to silence us. However, fending off frivolous lawsuits is costly. To sustain these efforts, one of the ways we generate revenue is through affiliate partnerships with ethical providers. This means that some of our outgoing links connect business owners to trustworthy, low-cost payment processors, which is what most of our readers seek. We see this revenue channel as a win-win-win for everyone involved. Business owners find good processors, processors get good clients, and we are able to continue to provide a valuable service to the small business community. We also recommend and link to many services that do not compensate us. Our priority is to guide you to the best solutions for your needs, regardless of potential revenue. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us.

All mentions of rate and fee costs are estimations based on publicly available information and client feedback. Actual costs may vary based on a variety of factors unique to your business.

Authorize.net

Rating

3/5

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Pros

Robust fraud prevention

Recurring billing support

Extensive integration options

Cons

Monthly gateway fee

Chargeback fees apply

Complex setup process.

Higher overall costs

Limited international reach

Overview

In this article on Authorize.Net, we explain its role as a leading payment gateway provider, distinct from merchant account providers and credit card processors. We review how the platform works, including support for multiple payment methods such as e-checks and phone transactions, and note its partnerships with resellers that offer merchant accounts. Key topics include Authorize.Net’s rates, fees, and contract terms, as well as customer reviews that provide insight into user experiences. We also cover its e-commerce integrations, virtual terminal, Advanced Fraud Detection Suite, mobile payment options, and recurring billing tools, along with subscription management features and developer APIs. Finally, we assess its customer support, history, and leadership while weighing the pros and cons to give businesses a clear and balanced understanding of what Authorize.Net offers.

About Authorize.net

Contrary to popular belief, Authorize.net is not primarily a merchant account provider or a credit card processor. Instead, Authorize.net is what is known in the merchant services industry as a “payment gateway.” This means that the company provides software and applications that route credit card payments from the point of sale to the actual credit card processor. Payment gateway providers like Authorize.net are an additional but necessary service if a merchant wishes to use a virtual terminal, website shopping cart, or some mobile processing applications. Authorize.net also powers e-check payments, phone payments, and monthly billing.

Though the company specializes in gateway services, it partners with resellers to provide merchant service accounts to businesses. Working with resellers makes rates, fees, and other facets of a contract negotiable, which is an important consideration for any merchant considering Authorize.net to set up those services.

Products & Merchant Services

E-Commerce Integration

(link unavailable)’s payment gateway integrates with various e-commerce platforms and shopping carts, ensuring businesses can provide customers with a smooth and secure online shopping experience. It supports both one-time and recurring payments.

Virtual Terminal

For merchants who don’t need a physical card terminal or who accept payments over the phone or via mail order, (link unavailable) offers a virtual terminal. This web-based application allows secure transaction processing from any internet-connected device.

Advanced Fraud Detection Suite

To protect against fraudulent transactions, (link unavailable) provides the Advanced Fraud Detection Suite (AFDS). This suite includes customizable filters and tools that help merchants identify and block suspicious transactions.

Mobile Payment Solutions

(link unavailable)’s mobile payment solutions enable businesses to accept payments using mobile devices. The platform includes a mobile app and card reader compatible with smartphones and tablets, facilitating secure and efficient transactions at events, pop-up shops, or in-person consultations.

Recurring Billing and Subscription Management

For businesses that rely on regular billing or offer subscription-based services, (link unavailable) offers a recurring billing and subscription management feature. This allows merchants to set up and manage automatic billing schedules.

Developer Tools and API

(link unavailable) provides developer tools and a comprehensive API, enabling businesses to create custom payment solutions. The API allows for integration with websites, mobile apps, or custom software.

Customer Support

(link unavailable) offers customer support via phone, email, and live chat, ensuring merchants can get assistance when needed. The platform’s knowledge base also includes resources and guides for troubleshooting and optimizing the use of the payment gateway.

Customer Reviews & Sentiment

Understanding Authorize.net Reviews

Our analysis has identified several negative Authorize.net reviews on platforms such as Ripoff Report, predominantly centered around customer service issues, functionality problems, fund holds, billing disputes, and unexpected fees. Although some reviews label Authorize.net as a fraudulent operation, the confusion often stems from the misunderstanding of Authorize.net’s role as a payment gateway rather than the merchant’s credit card processor. This misperception is frequently attributed to resellers failing to clearly define the relationship between Authorize.net and the credit card processing services. We encourage you to share your experiences with Authorize.net in the comments below to help clarify its services.

Customer Support Offered by Authorize.net

Authorize.net provides a comprehensive FAQ and troubleshooting page, an email contact, and a 24/7 toll-free customer service number. The platform also offers live chat support, although it requires user login for access.

Industry Scores & User Ratings

Online Ratings Summary
PaymentPop	1
BBB Rating	1.57
Trustpilot	1.4
Average Rating	1.48

PaymentPop Rating for Authorize.net

Negative Feedback

I’m deeply disappointed and alarmed by my experience with Authorize. Their actions closely resemble those of a deceitful company. Without any legitimate reason, they withdrew nearly $8,000 from our checking account. Additionally, they’ve unjustly held over $50,000 of our funds. To add to the frustration, they continuously request documents from us, seemingly without end. It’s essential for businesses and individuals to be aware of such practices and exercise caution when dealing with this company.

Positive Feedback

There are no positive reviews published about Authorize.net on the PaymentPop website.

Authorize.net BBB Rating

Authorize.net has been accredited with the Better Business Bureau since 2009 and currently has an “A+” despite 73 complaints filed against the company within the last 36 months. Authorize.net has a 1.57 out of 5 star rating based on 14 user reviews on the Better Business Bureau website.

What Merchants Say

In addition to the 73 complaints filed with the BBB against the company, Authorize.net has received 19 informal reviews on its profile. All but 2 of those 19 reviews were negative. The most recent negative review describes a client having difficulty processing payments:

My company had an extremely negative experience with Authorize.net. We reported 4 fraudulent e-check transactions to the company. Since it was too late to void the e-checks, Authorize.net advised us to issue refunds before the money cleared. 3 of the e-checks were charged-back due to insufficient funds. One e-check was both charged-back and refunded, resulting in a deficit in our available funds. Authorize.net had never received the funds from the bank, but mistakenly transferred the refunded amount from our existing pool of funds to the originating bank. Rather than return the funds to our account, Authorize.net advised our company to try to charge the same bank account again. The transaction cleared Authorize.net and the funds were transferred to our bank account. Later, Authorize.net reported that this transaction was charged-back due to insufficient funds. They are now attempting to retrieve this money back from us.Our transaction records prove Authorize.net was at fault. Authorize.net has refused to take responsibility for their mistake and refused to retrieve the money from the originating bank account. Overall, this negative experience shows a lack of accountability and responsibility on behalf of Authorize.net due to the mishandling of fraudulent transactions and subsequent errors in their refund and charge-back processes. Therefore, potential users of Authorize.net may want to consider this experience when deciding whether to use the company’s services.

Clients who find themselves in this situation may find our guide on How to Report Bad Credit Card Processors useful if they have exhausted all other options.

A “B” Performance Overall

The moderate complaint rate is mitigated somewhat by the company’s large size, but due to increasing proportion of negative reviews, we have adjusted its rating to a “B.”

Trustpilot Rating for Authorize.net

Authorize.net has a 1.4 out of 5 star rating based on 54 user reviews on Trustpilot.

Positive Feedback

Using authorize.net now for 2 years no big issue and the customer support is always friendly and resolves issues very fast.

Negative Feedback

Awful business practice. Started easily with them and then for two months they have been withholding our funds from customers. Now we can’t ship our product and are trying to get authorize.net to at least refund the money, but they have not yet. Customers are getting angry. Basically, they are stealing our money at this point. Have hired a lawyer now to file a suit. Stay away. Why can’t they get their act together? We are about to pull our parent company multi billion dollar account from them.

Processing Rates & Fees

Negotiable Pricing

Authorize.net provides various pricing options tailored to clients’ needs, including an all-in-one option, payment gateway, or enterprise solutions. Businesses with existing merchant accounts might find the gateway-only plan suitable but are advised to compare pricing with their current service provider. For those requiring only Authorize.Net’s payment gateway, a per-transaction fee of $0.10 and a daily batch fee of $0.10 are applicable, alongside the $25 monthly gateway fee.

However, pricing may vary for clients opting for the all-in-one option. Typically, there’s a $25 monthly gateway fee and a per-transaction fee of 2.9% plus $0.30. Since Authorize.net operates through resellers with flexible pricing, negotiations can significantly reduce or eliminate many fees. Moreover, the company offers interchange-plus pricing as part of its enterprise solutions. While Authorize.net’s rates are transparent, they may not compete with those of the cheapest merchant accounts.

Be Mindful of Varying Contract Terms

Publicly filed complaints against the company often cite confusion regarding third-party resellers offering Authorize.net services. Some clients believed the reseller provided a proprietary payment gateway. Though these issues don’t directly relate to Authorize.net’s contract terms, it’s essential to note that terms can vary, and resellers may not disclose alterations from the original suggested retail price. Refer to the Authorize.net Service Agreement. Lease terms for POS terminals may vary depending on the third party offering the merchant contract.

Authorize.Net virtual terminal — Virtual terminal access is among the products offered by Authorize.Net

Lawsuits & Legal History

There are no recorded class-action lawsuits or Federal Trade Commission (FTC) complaints against Authorize.net. Those looking to resolve issues without litigation are advised to report their concerns to the appropriate supervisory bodies.

Employee Reviews & Sales Practices

Clear Pricing Breakdown

Authorize.net’s website provides the suggested retail price of its services, and it clearly states that resellers may alter the costs as they see fit. The company’s pricing breakdown is complete with explanations of each term and is easy to access from the main page. As explained on their website, the Authorize.net payment gateway does not have a contract itself or early termination fees.

Transparency Wins

Because Authorize.net’s services are resold by a huge number of other businesses, the figures provided on its actual site are subject to change, but the company is being helpful by offering a suggested cost for clients to use in potential negotiations and is therefore awarded an “A.” However, if you suspect that Authorize.net is charging you undisclosed fees, we recommend seeking a third-party statement audit to eliminate hidden costs.

Authorize.net Competitors

Compare Authorize.net to competitors that earned top marks.

Pricing

Bottom Line

Authorize.net maintains a solid reputation as a credit card processing gateway, benefiting from its substantial market share and longstanding presence in the industry. As one of the most prevalent payment gateways, it offers businesses a straightforward solution to accept credit card payments both via computers and through websites. Its prominence and widespread acceptance within the merchant services sector underscore its position as a top choice for gateway services.

However, despite the overall positive feedback, Authorize.net has encountered a low-to-moderate volume of complaints, which primarily highlight areas needing improvement such as customer support and reseller training. These complaints suggest that while Authorize.net performs well in many areas, there is room for enhancement in its customer engagement and education for resellers to ensure better service delivery. Business owners considering Authorize.net are recommended to carefully review their service agreement and also explore other top merchant account providers that integrate with Authorize.Net to ensure they are selecting the best fit for their specific needs.

Read Actual User Reviews

See User Reviews Write a Review

All user reviews have been moved to our partner, PaymentPop.com

Contact Authorize.net

Contact & Customer Support
CEO	Bob Donahue
Vice President	Alex Burgin
Toll-Free General Customer Service	(877) 447-3938
UK/Europe Customer Service	+44 (0) 203 564 4844
Australian Customer Service	+61 1800 019 932
Partner Support	(888) 437-0481
UK/Europe Partner Support	+44 (0) 203 564 5370
Affiliate Support	(866) 682-4131
UK/Europe Affiliate Support	+44 (0) 203 564 5370
Additional Customer Support Channels	Live chat support

About Us

CardPaymentOptions.com

Established 2009

My name is Phillip Parker, and I started this website back in 2009 as a simple blog to call out shady credit card processors that were taking advantage of small business owners. At the time, I had no idea this side project would grow into a leading voice pushing for transparency and integrity in the payment processing industry. I also didn't anticipate just how far some of these companies' owners would go to try to silence me.

I was recruited out of college for a sales role with a credit card processor. At the time, I didn't realize the “training” was really about tricking me... into selling business owners expensive processing with hidden fees and long-term service agreements. In my first few sales, I unknowingly cost friends and family thousands of dollars after they trusted me to switch their services. When it finally clicked that something was seriously wrong, I was furious. I quit immediately and made a promise to expose that company and any others operating the same way. That promise is what led to the creation of this website.

As I wrote about these processors, their tactics, and the people behind them, the articles started to spread among business owners. News organizations picked up the stories, readers shared them online, and traffic to the blog took off. Unsurprisingly, that also caught the attention of the companies and individuals I was exposing.

Over the last 17 years, I've received several anonymous death threats and defeated four lawsuits meant to intimidate me into taking my blog down. Their efforts to muzzle me only made my determination to expose them even stronger, leading me to work with state authorities to help shutdown some of the worst offenders.

I'm proud to say that of the millions of people who have read my work, thousands have taken the time to write and thank me for helping them narrowly avoid a very costly mistake. This blog has played a small role in pushing the industry toward more ethical practices - but there are still bad actors out there, which means the work isn't done.

If I can offer one piece of advice, it's this: get every promise in writing, and take the time to review contracts carefully. Tools like ChatGPT can help surface red flags and uncover expensive surprises buried in the fine print.

If you've made it this far, thank you for reading. I truly appreciate you being here, and I wish you every success with your business.

Our Research Methodology

Pricing & Fees

We analyze all costs including rate structures (interchange-plus, tiered, flat-rate, etc), monthly fees, equipment costs, early termination fees, and hidden charges. This data is gathered from service agreements, statements and client feedback.

Features & Technology

Evaluation of POS systems, e-commerce integrations, mobile capabilities, reporting tools, recurring billing..., and developer resources. When possible, we directly test services and hardware. Otherwise, we rely on client feedback and public information.

Customer Support

We evaluate availability across phone, email, chat, and social channels. Measuring hold times, night and weekend availability, and client feedback regarding effectiveness, professionalism, and resolution rates.

Contract Terms & Conditions

We review service agreements and equipment contracts for reasonability, transparency, and fairness. We focus on uncovering any predatory clauses, such as unjustified early termination fees, hidden costs, and unclear cancellation policies.

User Experience

We comb the internet and interview current and former clients to evaluate the overall user experience and identify any common pain points that may impact the user experience.

Sales & Marketing Practices

We evaluate sales tactics, marketing materials, and client feedback to determine the level of transparency and ethical nature of the provider's approach. Does the provider publicly disclose pricing? Do they use teaser rates? We score based on these and other factors.

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