What Businesses Need to Know About Payment Approved Before Signing Up

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.

Payment Approved

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Overview

In this review of Payment Approved, we provide a detailed look at the company’s credit card processing services. We cover the range of solutions they offer, including point-of-sale (POS) systems, mobile payment options, and e-commerce capabilities, and identify the types of businesses that may benefit most. The review also examines client and customer feedback to highlight common themes and concerns, while addressing the company’s pricing structure, contract terms, and key features. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of whether Payment Approved is the right fit for your payment processing needs.

About Payment Approved

Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, Payment Approved is a privately held fintech company that offers an API-driven platform for real-time payment processing and digital money movement. The company provides services such as credit and debit card processing, ACH transfers, peer-to-peer payments, payroll disbursements, and cross-border transactions. Its platform supports features like tokenized wallets, digital ledgers, and compliance tools for anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) regulations. Payment Approved operates as a registered Independent Sales Organization (ISO) and partners with financial institutions to deliver integrated payment solutions. As of 2025, the company employs approximately 12 people and reports estimated annual revenues of $1.7 million.

Products & Merchant Services

Payment Processing

Payment Approved provides credit and debit card processing services, highlighting a quick setup and underwriting process. The company emphasizes advanced AML (Anti-Money Laundering) and KYC (Know Your Customer) compliance monitoring for each transaction. They offer a range of products and features aimed at simplifying AML compliance, reporting, API integration, white-label app solutions, and transaction management. These features include Compass, Agent Navigator, Giddy, Digital Ledger, CBIX, and Compass Intelligence.

Customer Reviews & Sentiment

Clean Complaint Record

Our research reveals a lack of negative Payment Approved reviews, which strongly suggests that the company maintains ethical business practices and is not involved in scamming or defrauding merchants. While Payment Approved does provide a general phone number on its website, it’s not explicitly stated if this line is dedicated to customer support. If you have experiences or insights regarding Payment Approved’s services, we encourage you to share them in the comments below.

Payment Approved Lawsuits

In 2020, Payment Approved became involved in a patent lawsuit, which is still an active legal matter. Merchants looking for non-litigious methods to address issues with Payment Approved are advised to report their experiences to appropriate supervisory bodies for resolution.

Payment Approved Customer Support Options

Payment Approved offers a customer support form on its website, in lieu of a direct phone number or email address. The company may rely on its backend credit card processor to provide after-hours support. Despite these limitations in direct communication channels, Payment Approved appears to effectively resolve merchant concerns before they escalate to public platforms. Although Payment Approved has achieved an “A” rating due to its clean complaint record, it is not yet ranked among the premier providers for customer service.

Industry Scores & User Ratings

Online Ratings Summary
PaymentPop5
BBB RatingN/A

PaymentPop Rating for Payment Approved

Negative Feedback

There are no negative reviews published about Payment Approved on the PaymentPop website.

Positive Feedback

Payment Approved helped us get set up with a system that didn’t require a lot of back-and-forth. They were upfront about the process, and everything was up and running quickly. So far, it’s been reliable with no hiccups in daily transactions.

No BBB Profile

The Better Business Bureau does not maintain a profile for Payment Approved at this time. Accordingly, we will not factor a BBB rating into this review.

Processing Rates & Fees

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Payment Approved Pricing

Payment Approved has recently updated its website, leading to the removal of detailed terms and conditions previously available. The original content on their site outlined a month-to-month agreement devoid of early termination fees, along with a monthly access fee of $149. It also specified transaction fees of 2.70% plus $0.25 for Visa, MasterCard, and Discover card transactions, and 3.65% plus $0.25 for American Express transactions. The lack of detailed pricing on the current website version suggests a possible revision of their pricing model, though specific details remain unconfirmed.

Fairly Average Terms

While the transaction fees presented by Payment Approved align with industry standards, the monthly access charge of $149 might only be deemed reasonable for merchants who benefit significantly from Payment Approved’s software solutions. Merchants looking for clearer pricing structures might find better options with low-cost merchant account providers offering interchange-plus pricing. Despite these considerations, the absence of merchant feedback regarding Payment Approved’s contract terms has led to an “A” rating for now, reflecting a cautious optimism pending further information.
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Employee Reviews & Sales Practices

Multifaceted Sales Approach

Payment Approved appears to primarily market its services via a combination of inside sales, traditional advertising, and strategic partnerships. There is no evidence at this time that the company employs a large team of independently contracted sales agents, and we have not found any Payment Approved reviews that accuse the company’s reps of nondisclosure or misrepresentation.

No Sales Complaints

Given the total absence of complaints related to the company’s sales practices, we have assigned Payment Approved an “A” in this category.  If you suspect that Payment Approved is charging you undisclosed fees, we recommend seeking a free third-party statement audit.

Payment Approved Competitors

Compare Payment Approved to competitors that earned top marks.

Bottom Line

Payment Approved stands out as a trustworthy merchant services provider based on our assessment criteria. The company has managed to avoid negative feedback across prominent consumer protection websites, a testament to its consistent service quality. Its contract terms appear to be in line with industry standards. This predictability provides merchants with clarity and a sense of stability when considering Payment Approved as their provider.

However, with a monthly cost of $149, merchants are advised to assess whether they genuinely require the full suite of services that Payment Approved offers. This evaluation will help ensure that the investment aligns with their specific business needs and that they are fully leveraging the provider’s capabilities. For those who don’t require these comprehensive features, it may be advantageous to explore other top-rated processors that offer competitive services at a lower price point. Doing so will ensure business owners secure the most cost-effective and suitable solution, maximizing value while meeting their payment processing needs.

Read Actual User Reviews

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

Contact Payment Approved

Contact & Customer Support
CEOJason Montoya
Headquarters600 Congress Ave, 14th Floor, Austin, TX
Customer ServiceOnline Contact Form
Websitepaymentapproved.com