A longstanding gateway option for merchants that want broad ecommerce integrations and card acceptance.
Authorize.net (Payment processing, founded 1996 in US) is built for small businesses and ecommerce merchants. This page covers the fee structure, country availability, and how it compares to the alternatives UK/CA/AU freelancers already use.
Quick Verdict
Best for: small businesses and ecommerce merchants
Tagline: Payment gateway and merchant services for online businesses
Visit Authorize.net →Key Facts
| Category | Payment processing |
| FX fee | N/A |
| Free account | No (paid tiers only) |
| HQ | US |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Website | authorize.net |
Who Authorize.net Is For
A longstanding gateway option for merchants that want broad ecommerce integrations and card acceptance. It's most relevant for small businesses and ecommerce merchants — and the FX/feature mix tends to suit users who already lean toward payment workflows rather than generic personal banking.
Fees & Pricing
Authorize.net publishes its current pricing on authorize.net. The published FX figure is N/A above the mid-market rate. Two caveats:
- Card spend vs receive vs send — most platforms publish a "headline" FX that only applies to one flow. Always cross-check the actual rate against a Wise/Revolut quote on the day you transact.
- Plan tier matters — free tiers usually carry the highest spread; paid plans often reduce it materially. The "is it cheaper than Wise?" answer almost always depends on which tier you're on.
Cross-check before you commit: Run a single test transaction in the corridor you actually use and compare the all-in landed amount against the same trade on Wise. Published rate cards rarely capture the full cost.
Country Availability
Authorize.net is headquartered in US. Availability for UK, Canada and Australia freelancers depends on which entity serves your country — confirm directly on authorize.net before signing up, since regulated payment platforms frequently change supported regions.
How Authorize.net Compares
For UK / Canada / Australia freelancers, the practical comparison set is usually:
- Wise — still the FX-cost benchmark at 0.41%. Hard to beat for receive-and-convert.
- Payoneer — the default for Upwork and Fiverr withdrawals.
- Revolut Business — strong if you also want invoicing and team cards.
- Authorize.net — see above.
If your work depends on Upwork/Fiverr withdrawal speed, Payoneer is likely still the simpler choice. If you bill clients directly and care about FX cost above all else, Wise usually wins. Authorize.net fits when its specific payment feature set is the deciding factor — not when generic multi-currency is the only need.
How to Get Started
- Visit authorize.net and create an account.
- Complete identity verification (KYC) — typical for any regulated payment platform.
- Add funding source or connect to the platform you'll receive payments from.
- Run a small test transaction first to verify the all-in cost matches the published rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Authorize.net? Authorize.net is a Payment processing platform. A longstanding gateway option for merchants that want broad ecommerce integrations and card acceptance.
How much does Authorize.net charge in FX fees? Authorize.net charges N/A on currency conversion based on its published pricing. Always cross-check the current rate card on authorize.net before relying on this — fintech pricing changes frequently.
Is Authorize.net free to use? No — the standard plan has a monthly fee. Check the current pricing page for tiers.
Who is Authorize.net best for? small businesses and ecommerce merchants
Is Authorize.net a Wise alternative? Authorize.net overlaps with parts of Wise's feature set, but freelancers in the UK, Canada and Australia should compare both side-by-side — Wise still leads on FX cost in most corridors (0.41%). The right pick depends on your client geography and whether you need a business account or a personal multi-currency wallet.
This review was last updated 2026-05-17. Fees and availability may change — always check Authorize.net's website for the latest information.
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