Authorize.net vs PayPal Business: which one fits your business?
Side-by-side comparison of Authorize.net and PayPal Business — fees, features, ease, support, and which one fits your business. Scored on the same rubric.
Short answer: PayPal Business wins on our scorecard (7.8/10 vs 7.5/10).
| Scored on | Authorize.net | PayPal Business |
|---|---|---|
| Right fit for small biz | 8 | 8 |
| Ease of use | 6 | 9 |
| Fees & pricing | 7 | 7 |
| Customer support | 7 | 5 |
| Features | 9 | 9 |
| Monthly Gateway Fee | $25.00 | — |
| Transaction Fee (All-in-One) | 2.9% + $0.30 | — |
| Batch Fee | $0.10 | — |
| Gateway Only Transaction Fee | $0.10 per transaction | — |
| Monthly fee | — | $0 |
| Online transaction fee | — | 2.99% + fixed fee |
| In-person (QR) fee | — | 2.29% + $0.09 |
| Instant transfer fee | — | 1.5% (capped) |
Authorize.net in one paragraph
A rock-solid, professional-grade gateway for businesses that have outgrown simple payment apps and need the stability of the Visa Inc. network.
Skip it if: You are a low-volume side-hustler who doesn't want to pay $25 every month regardless of whether you make a sale.
PayPal Business in one paragraph
PayPal Business is the ultimate 'day one' tool for solopreneurs to get paid, though its automated fraud filters can be a headache for rapidly scaling firms.
Skip it if: You should not pick this if you process over $50,000 monthly and need a dedicated account representative to handle disputes.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Authorize.net or PayPal Business?
On our five-axis scorecard, PayPal Business scores higher (7.8/10 vs 7.5/10). PayPal Business is the ultimate 'day one' tool for solopreneurs to get paid, though its automated fraud filters can be a headache for rapidly scaling firms.
Who should skip Authorize.net?
You are a low-volume side-hustler who doesn't want to pay $25 every month regardless of whether you make a sale.
Who should skip PayPal Business?
You should not pick this if you process over $50,000 monthly and need a dedicated account representative to handle disputes.