Stripe

Authorize.net

Stripe vs Authorize.net: Which Is Better? (2026)

Stripe vs Authorize.net — The Verdict

Stripe is the modern, developer-first platform with superior APIs, broader features, and transparent pricing. Authorize.net is a legacy gateway that remains reliable and trusted, with phone support and strong compatibility with traditional merchant accounts. For new businesses and custom integrations, Stripe is the clear winner. Authorize.net is still a solid choice for established businesses with existing merchant accounts or those who need dedicated phone support.

Rating Comparison

Stripe

4.6

Overall

Authorize.net

3.7

4.2

Pricing

3.3

4.9

Features

3.8

4.5

Ease of Use

3.5

4.0

Support

4.0

4.8

Global Coverage

2.8

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	Stripe	Authorize.net
Transaction Fee	2.9% + $0.30	2.9% + $0.30
Monthly Fee	$0	$25
Setup Fee	$0	$0
Payout Schedule	T+2 business days (standard)	T+2 business days
Pricing Model	Flat Rate	Flat Rate
Founded	2010	1996
Headquarters	San Francisco, California, USA	Provo, Utah, USA
Countries	51 countries	4 countries
Currencies	137 currencies	5 currencies
Payment Methods	15 methods	6 methods
Features	20 features	16 features

Category Breakdown

Pricing

Stripe

Stripe charges 2.9% + $0.30 with no monthly fee. Authorize.net charges 2.9% + $0.30 plus a $25/month gateway fee. For businesses processing under ~$10,000/month, Stripe is meaningfully cheaper due to the absence of a monthly fee.

Developer Experience

Stripe

Stripe's RESTful APIs, extensive documentation, SDKs in every major language, and CLI tools are industry-leading. Authorize.net's API is functional but dated, with XML-based interfaces and less modern developer tooling.

Support

Authorize.net

Authorize.net offers 24/7 phone support on all plans — a significant advantage for businesses that need immediate human assistance. Stripe only offers email and chat support on standard plans, with phone support reserved for enterprise customers.

Feature Breadth

Stripe

Stripe provides a comprehensive financial infrastructure including Connect, Billing, Radar, Tax, Terminal, Identity, and more. Authorize.net focuses on core payment gateway functionality with fewer ancillary products.

Merchant Account Flexibility

Authorize.net

Authorize.net works as a standalone gateway with any compatible merchant account, giving businesses the freedom to negotiate interchange-plus rates with their bank. Stripe bundles the gateway and merchant account together with fixed pricing.

Ease of Integration

Stripe

Stripe's modern APIs, pre-built UI components (Elements, Checkout), and extensive third-party integrations make it far easier to get started. Authorize.net integration requires more manual work and its plugin ecosystem is smaller.

Track Record & Stability

Authorize.net

Authorize.net has been processing payments since 1996 and is now owned by Visa. Its long track record and institutional backing provide confidence for risk-averse businesses. Stripe, while well-established, is younger and privately held.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Stripe if...

Modern SaaS and tech companies — Stripe's developer-first approach, comprehensive APIs, and built-in subscription billing make it the natural choice for software companies building custom payment experiences.
Startups and new online businesses — Stripe's zero monthly fees, instant account setup, and modern tooling make it far more accessible for new businesses. There's no upfront cost to start processing payments.

Choose Authorize.net if...

Traditional retail and legacy systems — Authorize.net integrates with thousands of traditional POS systems and shopping carts. Businesses with existing merchant accounts can keep their negotiated rates while using Authorize.net as the gateway.
Businesses requiring phone support — Authorize.net's 24/7 phone support is available on all plans, making it the better option for businesses that need immediate human assistance for payment issues.
High-volume businesses wanting interchange-plus pricing — By pairing Authorize.net with a separate merchant account, high-volume businesses can negotiate interchange-plus rates that may be significantly cheaper than Stripe's flat-rate pricing.

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Related Resources

Stripe

Authorize.net

Visa / Mastercard

American Express

Apple Pay

Google Pay

ACH

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Stripe or Authorize.net cheaper?

For most small to mid-sized businesses, Stripe is cheaper because it has no monthly fee. Both charge 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, but Authorize.net adds a $25/month gateway fee. However, if you pair Authorize.net with a merchant account offering interchange-plus pricing, the per-transaction cost can be lower for high-volume businesses.

Can I switch from Authorize.net to Stripe?

Yes. Stripe provides migration tools and documentation for moving from other payment gateways. You can migrate stored customer payment data (with PCI-compliant token migration) and update your integration to use Stripe's APIs. The main effort is in updating your codebase to use Stripe's SDK instead of Authorize.net's API.

Does Authorize.net offer an all-in-one solution like Stripe?

Authorize.net offers an all-in-one option that bundles a payment gateway with a merchant account at 2.9% + $0.30 plus $25/month. However, its feature set beyond core payment processing is limited compared to Stripe's full financial infrastructure suite.

Which is better for recurring billing?

Stripe Billing is significantly more capable for subscription management, offering usage-based billing, proration, dunning, customer portals, and revenue recognition. Authorize.net supports basic recurring billing through its Automated Recurring Billing (ARB) feature, but it lacks the advanced capabilities needed by SaaS businesses.

Is Authorize.net still relevant in 2026?

Yes. Authorize.net remains one of the most widely used payment gateways, especially among established businesses with existing merchant accounts. Its reliability, phone support, and compatibility with traditional systems keep it relevant. However, new businesses increasingly choose modern alternatives like Stripe.