Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

PayPal VS Authorize.net

Compare PayPal VS Authorize.net and see what are their differences

PayPal logo PayPal

PayPal is the faster, safer way to pay online without sharing financial details, send and receive money or accept credit and debit cards as a seller

Authorize.net logo Authorize.net

Payment gateway enables internet merchants to accept online payments via credit card and e-check.
  • PayPal Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-20
  • Authorize.net Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-26

PayPal features and specs

  • Widely Accepted
    PayPal is accepted by millions of merchants around the globe, making it easy to make transactions almost anywhere.
  • User-Friendly
    The platform has an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, simplifying the process of sending and receiving money.
  • Security Features
    PayPal offers robust security features such as encryption, fraud prevention, and two-factor authentication to protect users' financial information.
  • Buyer Protection
    PayPal offers buyer protection for eligible purchases, providing a safety net in case items are not as described or not received.
  • Global Transactions
    PayPal supports multiple currencies and allows for international transactions, which is beneficial for global business.
  • Integration with eBay
    PayPal integrates seamlessly with eBay, making it convenient for users who frequently buy and sell on the platform.

Possible disadvantages of PayPal

  • Fees
    PayPal charges fees for certain transactions, including receiving payments for goods and services, which can add up for frequent users.
  • Account Freezing
    PayPal has been known to freeze accounts if there is suspicious activity, which can be inconvenient and problematic for users.
  • Customer Service
    Some users report issues with PayPal's customer service, citing long response times and difficulty resolving disputes.
  • Exchange Rates
    PayPal's currency conversion rates are often less favorable compared to what you might get at a bank or through a dedicated currency exchange service.
  • Transaction Limits
    PayPal imposes limits on transaction amounts for unverified accounts, which can restrict the ability to send or receive large sums of money.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Some users have raised concerns about PayPal's data privacy practices and how their information is shared with third parties.

Authorize.net features and specs

  • Wide Acceptance and Trust
    Authorize.net is one of the most established payment gateways on the market, leading to high trust and wide acceptance among merchants and customers alike.
  • Comprehensive Support
    They offer 24/7 customer support through phone, chat, and email, ensuring that your business can receive assistance at any time.
  • Versatility
    The platform supports a wide range of payment methods, including credit cards, eChecks, and digital payments like Apple Pay and PayPal.
  • Security
    Authorize.net provides advanced fraud detection and security features, such as AVS (Address Verification Service), CVV2, and IP filtering.
  • Developer Tools
    They offer robust APIs and an extensive range of developer tools to facilitate custom integrations and application development.
  • Recurring Billing
    Authorize.net supports recurring billing, making it easier for businesses offering subscription services to manage payments.

Possible disadvantages of Authorize.net

  • Cost
    Authorize.net charges a monthly gateway fee, per-transaction fee, and a daily batch fee, which can add up, especially for smaller businesses.
  • Complex Setup
    Setting up Authorize.net can be complicated for non-technical users, requiring some level of technical expertise to configure properly.
  • Limited International Support
    Authorize.net's international support is limited, making it less ideal for businesses looking to operate in multiple countries.
  • Account Approval Process
    The approval process for setting up an Authorize.net account can be lengthy and requires thorough documentation, which could be a drawback for businesses needing a quick setup.
  • Interface Usability
    Some users find the user interface to be outdated and less intuitive compared to newer payment gateways.

Analysis of PayPal

Overall verdict

  • PayPal is generally considered a good option for online transactions due to its established reputation, security features, and ease of use. However, some users may experience issues related to customer service, account freezes, or fees, which can impact their experience.

Why this product is good

  • PayPal is a widely recognized and used online payment platform, offering a secure and convenient way to send and receive money. It provides numerous features such as buyer protection, fraud detection, and ease of integration for businesses. Its wide acceptance by online merchants and compatibility with numerous currencies enhance its appeal.

Recommended for

  • Individuals looking for a secure way to make online purchases.
  • Freelancers or small businesses needing a simple payment solution.
  • Online merchants who wish to offer their customers a popular and trusted payment method.
  • International users who need to transact in multiple currencies.

Analysis of Authorize.net

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Authorize.net is generally regarded as a good option for businesses looking for a secure and reliable payment gateway. It has a long-standing history in the industry and offers comprehensive features that cater to online and in-person payment processing needs.

Why this product is good

  • Authorize.net is considered a reputable payment gateway service due to its reliability, security features, and extensive support options. It offers robust fraud detection, a wide range of payment method support, and an easy-to-use interface, making it a popular choice for businesses of different sizes.

Recommended for

  • Small to medium-sized businesses seeking a reliable payment gateway.
  • E-commerce platforms that require robust fraud detection and security features.
  • Merchants who need to process a variety of payment types, including credit cards and digital payments.
  • Businesses looking for customizable payment solutions with strong customer support.

PayPal videos

STOP Using PayPal - 5 Reasons You Should Stop Using PayPal in Your Business or On Your Website!

More videos:

  • Review - Why I No Longer Use PayPal · Selling AND Buying
  • Review - is PayPal Credit a Scam | 6 Month Interest Free

Authorize.net videos

PayPal VS Stripe VS Authorize.net?

More videos:

  • Review - Authorize.Net: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
  • Review - Authorize.net Review Video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to PayPal and Authorize.net)
Online Payments
87 87%
13% 13
Payment Platform
87 87%
13% 13
Recurring Billing
81 81%
19% 19
eCommerce Tools
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare PayPal and Authorize.net

PayPal Reviews

  1. PayPal is cool

    I like PayPal, it has a high security standard. Except when I am the one suffering a chargeback for some flimsy reasons.


Top 5 Payoneer Alternatives [2024]
The best payment method for freelancers varies based on individual needs. Wise and Revolut are excellent for their multi-currency account features and using the mid-market exchange rate, while PayPal is globally accepted and offers instant transfers to other PayPal accounts. Freelancers should consider factors such as transfer speed, fees and currency support when choosing a...
Source: www.exiap.com
Top 5 Payoneer Alternatives for Seamless Online Transactions
PayPal excels in user familiarity and widespread acceptance, making it convenient for both businesses and customers. It offers buyer and seller protection, but comes with potentially higher fees and account limitations compared to Payoneer. Choose PayPal for convenience and buyer trust, Payoneer for potentially lower fees and specialized features.
Source: www.doola.com
What to Use Instead of PayPal? 10 Best PayPal Alternatives
Braintree is a PayPal service, but it is still one of the PayPal alternative payment methods worth considering. There is no monthly fee for using this payment service. Accepting payments from credit or debit cards or digital wallets costs 2.59% + $0.49 per transaction. You can also use Braintree to accept Venmo payments in the United States, but this costs 3.49% + $0.49....
9 Best Cryptocurrency Payment Gateways Reviewed [January 2023]
PayPal provides 24/7 secure transactions of both fiat and cryptocurrencies to its users. Even though it was initially an online payment platform, PayPal added a crypto payment feature in 2020. Its crypto wallet also allows users to directly buy and store cryptocurrencies. PayPal doesn’t charge extra fees for making crypto payments.
Source: coingape.com
The 6 best online payment processing services in 2024
What happens on the customer side? When they visit your website, they'll see the button you've configured. They can then choose to pay with their PayPal balance or any saved payment method on their PayPal account. If they don't have PayPal, they can check out by entering their credit card details (all data is handled securely by PayPal in both cases). Added security measures...
Source: zapier.com

Authorize.net Reviews

We have no reviews of Authorize.net yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Authorize.net seems to be a lot more popular than PayPal. While we know about 100 links to Authorize.net, we've tracked only 1 mention of PayPal. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

PayPal mentions (1)

  • Trying to activate PayPal just brings me to PayPal's website.
    (I live in USA) When I go to payments under my shopify account to add paypal as a payment method I am having trouble doing so. I first click activate paypal > activate paypal express checkout which directs me to a "security challenge" (confirm I am not a robot). Then it just brings me to paypals website (paypal.com/us/home). When I sign in nothing happens, I am just on my paypal homescreen. Source: over 2 years ago

Authorize.net mentions (100)

  • Authorize.net Plugin Magento2
    I think magento use to come standard with a plugin for authorize.net, but either way I need the official plugin (if one is still maintained) to connect magento2 to authorize.net for payments. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Html, JSON, and Filemaker
    I have a form which can accept payments. The form is hosted by jotform which puts the payment information (collected by an authorize.net widget) into JSON and sends it into my database. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Tired of Stripe and willing to do ACH
    Your local bank likely offers them and they can eb tied to authorize.net, or NMI perhaps. They should be able to help you through that entire process depending on how the accounts get onboarded. Askl your local coffee shop and etc where they get the credit card processing from. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • What are the recommended online payment gateway integrations?
    Authorize.net as a gateway for example charges about $15/month by it self before any merchant account is linked. Paytrace is a little cheaper and does not have some extra fees authorize.net has. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • authorize.net API response code brainstorm
    Does anyone have any experience with authorize.net API return codes? Source: almost 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing PayPal and Authorize.net, you can also consider the following products

Stripe - Online payment processing for internet businesses. Stripe is a suite of payment APIs that powers commerce for online businesses of all sizes. Use Stripe’s payment platform to accept and process payments online for easy-to-use commerce solutions.

Payoneer - Whether making international payments, receiving funds, managing your digital business, or accessing capital, Payoneer opens your business up to the world.

PayPal Braintree - An all-in-one solution to accept, process, and split payments in your mobile app or online - from small business to large enterprise.

Amazon Pay - Amazon Pay is an online payment service that makes checkout on your site fast and secure for hundreds of millions of Amazon customers around the world.

Wise - Currency exchange Banks and other providers could charge you up to 5% in hidden costs when sending ...

Skrill - Skrill (formerly known as Moneybookers) is the cheaper way to send and receive money worldwide.