PayPal vs Authorize.Net
Authorize.Net comes out ahead of PayPal on 5 of the 6 things that decide this, going by what each company publishes and what independent review sites report. The one that matters for you may be one the leader loses.
The verdict
Authorize.Net takes it, 5–1 on rounds.
On the published figures and the independent review sites, Authorize.Net takes 5 of 6 rounds. Treat that as a starting point and check the current figures on both pages, because prices and plans move.
Choose PayPal if…
- • You want PayPal's edge on what it costs just to have an account
Choose Authorize.Net if…
- • You want Authorize.Net's edge on what an online card sale costs and the fixed fee on every sale
Round by round
- Round 1What an online card sale costsAuthorize.Net wins
Authorize.Net wins this round on what the company itself publishes.
- Round 2The fixed fee on every saleAuthorize.Net wins
Authorize.Net wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 3What it costs just to have an accountPayPal winsPayPal8/10
No monthly fee
PayPal Checkout has no monthly fee; Payments Pro is 30 dollars a month
Source: paypal.com ↗
PayPal wins this round on what the company itself publishes.
- Round 4What a lost chargeback costsAuthorize.Net winsAuthorize.Net8/10
Not stated
Verified 2026-10-13 on official site.
- no chargeback fee on credit cards
Source: authorize.net ↗
Authorize.Net wins this round on what the company itself publishes.
- Round 5What customers say on TrustpilotAuthorize.Net winsPayPal5/10
1.4 out of 5
TrustScore from 41,713 reviews on Trustpilot
- 1.4 out of 5, against 1.6 out of 5
Source: trustpilot.com ↗
Authorize.Net wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 6Taking bank (ACH) paymentsAuthorize.Net winsPayPal5/10
1% capped at $10 (invoices)
PayPal business account, standard credit and debit card payments (US)
- 1% capped at $10 (invoices), against 0.75% (eCheck add-on)
Source: paypal.com ↗
Authorize.Net8/100.75% (eCheck add-on)
All-in-one (merchant account + gateway), billed monthly (eCheck rate is in the FAQ What forms of payment does Authorize accept?)
Source: authorize.net ↗
Authorize.Net wins this round on what the published sources say.
Side by side
- all-in-one rate
- no chargeback fee on credit cards
- 3.49%, against 2.9%
- 49 cents, against 30 cents
- 1.4 out of 5, against 1.6 out of 5
- $20 chargeback fee, against $15 per dispute (+$15 if contested)
- $25, against No monthly fee
- 4.3 out of 5, against 4.5 out of 5
- 2-3 business days, against 2 business days
- 1.6 out of 5, against 3.7 out of 5