Shopify Authorize.Net compatibility updates
If you need help with high-risk credit card processing for your website, please fill out the short form below and we will assist you right away.
Additionally, you can read our Shopify Authorize.Net compatibility updates by scrolling down this page. The most recent updates are at the top, directly under the contact form.
Great news for high-risk businesses, Shopify has added the Authorize.Net payment gateway back to its list of supported USA payment gateways.
It was a challenging few weeks for many, but we are happy to see things are back the way they were. We have confirmed this positive change via their support staff and their integration pages.
If you need help with a new high-risk Authorize.Net payment gateway for Shopify, contact us any time.
Reference: https://www.shopify.com/payment-gateways/united-states
Earlier this month, without warning or explanation, Shopify removed Authorize.Net as one of its supported gateways. For businesses that sell regulated items online like premium cigars, tactical items, CBD, smoking accessories, and nutritional supplements this was very disruptive.
There are still ways to connect Shopify to Authorize.Net – but there are also alternatives.
The removal of Authorize.Net as a supported payment gateway for new integrations matters to high-risk websites because Shopify’s main alternative – Shopify Payments – explicitly prohibits most regulated and age-restricted products. Additionally, Shopify – in 2018 – similarly removed support for the NMI payment gateway which is also popular with high-risk businesses.
If because of personal preference, outside integrations, or other legacy reasons you would like to use Authorize.Net – and you also prefer to remain with Shopify – we do have tested workarounds that allow for the use of Authorize.Net within a Shopify website.
How do Shopify Authorize.Net workarounds function?
These app-based solutions vary in cost and complexity but they do feel like stable options so far. Usually designed to offer other features, like seamless upsells or a different recurring billing system, these 3rd party workarounds have one thing in common – they connect to Shopify, and they connect to Authorize.Net. This allows high-risk website owners to use them as a bridge between their payment gateway and the Shopify shopping cart. This can, of course, add some costs and complexity.
Contact us anytime and we will pass on what we’ve learned and what others are doing to solve their Shopify AuthNet integration challenges.
There are other ways to connect Shopify to high-risk payment processing besides AuthNet
Although Authorize.Net, and before it, NMI were our preferred methods to connect Shopify to high-risk payment processing, there are other gateway solutions that still work. Although our real-world data is still limited, switching gateways can eliminate the need for additional 3rd party software to connect high-risk payment processing to Shopify.
Important note: In order for your payment processing to be high-risk, both the payment gateway and the merchant account must allow your exact products or services. If you have questions or need help with a high-risk Shopify payment gateway for your website, please contact us anytime for free friendly advice.
Changing website builders and exporting your products is an option
Some high-risk website owners are simply deciding for themselves that an open source solution like WooCommerce is the best fit for their website. This WooCommerce article details not only how to export product information, but some reasons why some high-risk businesses have chosen to make the switch.
References:
• WooCommerce: How to migrate from Shopify and why
• Shopify Payments restricted items: These can be found by scrolling halfway down the Shopify Payments Terms and Conditions
This week we spoke to along time industry insider who seemed hopeful that the Shopify Authorize.Net schism would soon be bridged.
Our contact explained that he had contacts close to the situation and that the issue had something to do with back-end reporting requirements. Our contact was told that these issues were not insurmountable and in fact, he expected Shopify to add Authorize.Net back within a couple of days.
Unfortunately, subsequent updates have not been promising. Apparently, the issue was more complicated. At this point, we are operating under the assumption that Authorize.Net may not return as an option and making workaround recommendations accordingly.
We have independently verified, via both live chats with Shopify support and via a phone call with Shopify customer service that Shopify – without prior notice or announcement that we are aware of – has removed Authorize.Net as a supported payment gateway. We were told, while on a 3-way call with a certified Shopify developer, that this change was effective yesterday, September 8th, 2022.
Not only did Shopify not make any announcement on their website that we can find, but from our two interactions with their staff, it was not well announced to their support folks either. Disseminating information through a large company like Shopify is difficult, but we only point out their confusion because businesses may end up receiving conflicting or outdated information. Both of the Shopify support staff members we interacted with were surprised that Authorize.Net was no longer on their list of supported gateways.
Both times we were asked to wait while the reps spoke to supervisors and eventually notified us that yes. It was true: Shopify will no longer allow for new Authorize.Net integrations.
Also of interest is that as of the writing of this post, Authorize.Net support articles, integration information, and numerous – unedited or notated – Shopify forum posts still speak of Authorize.Net and Shopify as if nothing has changed.
References:
https://www.authorize.net/resources/find-a-partner/certified-solutions/shopify-inc
https://www.shopify.com/payment-gateways/united-states
We have seen this movie before. NMI discontinued by Shopify in 2018
In 2018, again – apparently with no notice, Shopify removed its support for new businesses using the NMI payment gateway. This change, and the lack of notice surrounding it, cause a lot of headaches for businesses that had already built a Shopify store, set up their NMI gateway, and were simply waiting to integrate and launch. With the exception of some NMI-specific platforms like ClickFunnels, the NMI removal from Shopify’s supported gateway list was at least blunted by the fact that business owners could ask their merchant account provider to switch the gateway interface from NMI to Authorize.Net. This time, things are more challenging.
Reference: https://community.shopify.com/c/shopify-discussions/nmi-support/m-p/414044
High-risk merchants are left confused and fearful
There is no way to overstate the disruption this will cause to high-risk merchants about to launch their websites. Websites selling CBD, pipes, and glass, adult toys, premium cigars, tactical items, make money from home courses, nutritional supplements, and countless other categories are understandably upset.
Shopify Payments has a long list of prohibited uses which encompass many, if not most high-risk businesses we encounter. Many businesses have spent countless hours and thousands of dollars building out their Shopify site. Now, it appears they will not be able to accept credit cards using Shopify. Although Shopify still supports dozens of low-risk and international payment gateways, NMI and Authorize.Net – along with smaller players like ePN – are by far the most common way to integrate high-risk payment processing. Without those integrations, many fear they will have to move their site to an open-source solution like WooCommerce.
Resources:
https://taskerpaymentgateways.com/high-risk-resources/
https://taskerpaymentgateways.com/high-risk-woocommerce/
Existing businesses appear to be grandfathered
According to the reps at Shopify our team spoke and chatted with, existing Authorize.Net integrations will not be affected. This is at least a sliver of good news.
Need help accepting credit cards on Shopify?
We work hard to gather information and provide solutions. If you would like to be kept up to date or have any questions, please reach out to us any time using the short form below.