NMI and Authorize.Net are both payment gateways, but they sell in opposite ways. NMI is a white-label platform resold through ISOs and software companies who brand it as their own and route to 200+ processors. Authorize.Net is a direct gateway, owned by Visa, that merchants typically sign up for under its own well-known brand. The core features overlap; the business model is the real dividing line.
Side by side
NMI
White-label, reseller-distributed, processor-agnostic (200+ acquirers). Branded by ISOs/ISVs. You usually use it under a payment company's name.
Authorize.Net
Direct-to-merchant gateway owned by Visa. Well-known consumer-facing brand, self-serve signup, broad cart/plugin support.
Which to pick
Pick NMI if…
You're an ISO, ISV, or PayFac who wants a brandable gateway, or a merchant whose payment company runs on NMI. You value processor flexibility.
Pick Authorize.Net if…
You're a merchant who wants a recognizable, self-serve gateway directly, with abundant documentation and plugins, and no interest in reselling.
People also ask
What is the difference between NMI and Authorize.Net?
Both are gateways. NMI is white-label and processor-agnostic, sold through resellers who brand it; Authorize.Net is a direct gateway owned by Visa with its own merchant-facing brand. NMI is what powers many payment companies behind the scenes; Authorize.Net is what a merchant often signs up for by name. See the NMI gateway.
Is NMI better than Authorize.Net?
Neither is universally better — it depends on your role. NMI fits resellers and platforms that want to brand payments; Authorize.Net fits merchants who want a known gateway directly. Both cover tokenization, recurring billing, and fraud tools.
Can I switch from Authorize.Net to NMI?
Often yes, through a reseller that offers NMI — tokenized cards may need migration, and your integration points (cart plugin or API) change. Your prospective NMI reseller handles the onboarding and any vault migration.
The question usually isn't "which gateway is best" but "am I reselling payments or just accepting them?" — that answers NMI vs Authorize.Net.
FAQ
NMI vs Authorize.Net — core difference?
White-label reseller platform (NMI) vs direct merchant gateway owned by Visa (Authorize.Net).
Which is better?
Depends on role — NMI for resellers/platforms, Authorize.Net for direct merchants. Feature sets overlap.
Do both do recurring billing?
Yes — NMI Customer Vault and Authorize.Net CIM both tokenize and support recurring.
Can I migrate between them?
Usually yes via a reseller; expect vault migration and integration changes.