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NMI vs Authorize.net — Choosing Your Provider

NMI vs Authorize.net — Choosing Your Provider

CloudFFL supports two payment gateways: NMI and Authorize.net. You can use one or both, depending on how your dealership operates. This page breaks down what each one does and helps you decide which to set up.

NMI

NMI (Network Merchants Inc.) is integrated into CloudFFL through a custom-built module. It's the most full-featured option for dealers who sell at a physical counter.

  • Physical card terminals — Connect an EMV chip reader to your POS. Customers tap, insert, or swipe their card right at your counter.
  • Key-in mode — Manually type a card number into the POS using a secure Collect.js popup. Great for phone orders or when the terminal is down.
  • Website payments — Accept card payments on your CloudFFL website using a secure inline form.
  • Partial and full refunds — Refund part of a transaction (e.g., one item from a multi-item order) or the full amount.

Authorize.net

Authorize.net is one of the most widely used payment gateways in the US. It's a built-in Odoo module — no custom development needed.

  • Online card payments — Accept Visa, Mastercard, Amex, and Discover on invoices and your website using a secure Accept.js form.
  • ACH / eCheck — Let customers pay directly from their bank account. Useful for large orders where card fees would be significant.
  • No physical terminals — Authorize.net is a gateway-only solution. It does not connect to card readers at the counter.
  • Full refunds only — You can refund the entire transaction amount, but partial refunds are not supported through the CloudFFL integration.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature NMI Authorize.net
Physical card terminal at POS Yes (EMV chip reader) No
Key-in (manual card entry) at POS Yes (Collect.js popup) No
Website / online payments Yes (Collect.js form) Yes (Accept.js form)
ACH / eCheck (bank transfer) No Yes
Partial refunds Yes No
Full refunds Yes Yes
Module type Custom CloudFFL module Built-in Odoo module
Best for Retail counters, POS, in-store sales Online-only, ACH, secondary gateway

Which Should You Choose?

Most CloudFFL dealers use NMI as their primary payment processor. It handles everything — counter sales with a terminal, phone orders with key-in, and website payments. If you only set up one provider, NMI is the one to pick.

Here are some common scenarios:

  • Retail store with a counter → NMI (you need the physical terminal)
  • Online-only dealer → Either works, but Authorize.net adds ACH/eCheck
  • Retail store + online sales → NMI for everything, or NMI for POS + Authorize.net for website/ACH
  • Need to accept bank transfers (ACH) → Add Authorize.net
  • Want a backup gateway → Set up both — if one goes down, you have the other

You can use both providers at the same time. Many dealers use NMI for POS and in-store payments, and add Authorize.net for website orders or ACH payments. Talk to your CloudFFL support representative about the best setup for your dealership.

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