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NMI vs Authorize.net — Choosing Your Provider

NMI vs Authorize.net — Choosing Your Provider

CloudFFL supports two payment providers for processing credit cards and other payments through your Odoo system. This page explains what each one does, how they differ, and which one is right for your dealership.

NMI (Network Merchants Inc.)

NMI is the payment gateway that most CloudFFL dealers use for their day-to-day operations. CloudFFL connects to NMI through a custom-built module designed specifically for firearms retailers.

What NMI lets you do:

  • Physical terminal payments (CloudPOS) — Connect an EMV chip reader to your counter and accept chip-insert, tap-to-pay, and swipe transactions. This is your bread-and-butter for walk-in customers buying firearms, ammo, and accessories.
  • Manual card entry (key-in) — For phone orders or situations where the card isn't present, a secure card entry form (called a Collect.js lightbox) pops up right inside Odoo. You type in the card number without it ever touching your system directly.
  • Website payments — Accept cards on your CloudFFL webshop for online orders, with the same secure card entry form.
  • Partial and full refunds — Need to refund $50 off a $200 order because one box of ammo was damaged? NMI supports partial refunds directly from Odoo. You can also process full refunds when needed.

What is CloudPOS? CloudPOS is the physical card terminal (chip reader) that connects to NMI and works with your CloudFFL system. It sits on your counter just like any other card reader — customers insert or tap their card, and the payment flows directly into Odoo.

Best for: Dealers with a physical retail counter or showroom. If customers walk into your store and pay in person, NMI is your primary gateway.

Authorize.net

Authorize.net is one of the most widely-used payment gateways in the country. CloudFFL connects to it using Odoo's built-in payment module — no custom development needed.

What Authorize.net lets you do:

  • Online card payments — Accept Visa, Mastercard, Amex, and Discover on your website for online orders.
  • ACH / eCheck payments — Let customers pay directly from their bank account. This is useful for large transactions (like a $3,000 rifle order) where credit card processing fees would eat into your margin, or for B2B sales to other dealers.
  • Full refunds — Process complete refunds back to the original payment method from within Odoo.

What Authorize.net does NOT do:

  • No physical terminal support — Authorize.net is a gateway-only service in CloudFFL. There is no chip reader or countertop terminal. It handles online and keyed-in payments only.
  • No partial refunds — If a customer paid $200 and you need to refund $50, you cannot do a partial refund through Authorize.net in Odoo. You would need to process a full refund and re-charge the corrected amount, or handle the partial refund outside of Odoo.

Best for: Online-only dealers, dealers who want to accept ACH/eCheck bank transfers, or as a secondary gateway alongside NMI.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature NMI Authorize.net
Physical terminal (chip reader) Yes (CloudPOS) No
Manual card entry (key-in) Yes (Collect.js) Yes
Website payments Yes Yes
ACH / eCheck No Yes
Partial refunds Yes No
Full refunds Yes Yes
Odoo module type Custom (CloudFFL) Built-in (Odoo)
Best for In-store + online Online-only or ACH

Which One Should You Choose?

Our recommendation: Most CloudFFL dealers use NMI as their primary payment provider. It handles everything you need at the counter (chip reader, tap-to-pay) and online (website payments, phone orders with manual entry). If you also need ACH/eCheck payments or want a backup gateway for your online store, add Authorize.net as a secondary provider.

You can use both providers at the same time. This is not an either/or decision. Many dealers run NMI for their POS terminal and in-store card payments, while also using Authorize.net for website orders or ACH bank transfers. Talk to your CloudFFL rep about the best setup for your dealership.

Quick Decision Guide

  • "I have a retail store and customers pay at the counter." — You need NMI. The CloudPOS terminal is the only way to accept chip and tap payments in person through CloudFFL.
  • "I only sell online and don't have a physical store." — Either provider works. Authorize.net is simpler to set up since it uses the built-in Odoo module. NMI works too if you want partial refund capability.
  • "I want customers to pay by bank transfer (ACH)." — You need Authorize.net. NMI does not support ACH/eCheck.
  • "I want to do both — POS at the counter and ACH online." — Use both. NMI for your in-store terminal and card payments, Authorize.net for ACH/eCheck.
  • "I need to issue partial refunds regularly." — Make sure NMI is handling those transactions. Authorize.net only supports full refunds through Odoo.
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