Websites using Cardknox

Okay, let s break down Cardknox, covering its overview, revenue (or estimations thereof), alternatives, pricing, and customer care.

Cardknox: Overview

Cardknox is a payment gateway and payment processing technology company that provides developers and merchants with tools to integrate payment processing capabilities into their software, applications, and websites. It essentially acts as the bridge between a merchant s system and the payment networks (Visa, Mastercard, etc.).

• Key Focus: API-driven payment solutions for developers and ISVs (Independent Software Vendors).
• Target Audience: Businesses that need to integrate payment processing into their own software or platforms. Examples include:
  • Software developers
  • Software vendors
  • Point-of-sale (POS) system providers
  • E-commerce platforms
  • Healthcare providers
  • Retailers
• Core Features:
  • Payment Gateway: Securely transmits payment data.
  • Developer-Friendly API: Easy to integrate into existing systems.
  • EMV and NFC Support: Supports chip card and contactless payments.
  • Tokenization: Securely stores payment information by replacing sensitive data with non-sensitive tokens.
  • PCI Compliance: Helps merchants maintain Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard compliance.
  • Reporting and Analytics: Provides tools for tracking transactions and analyzing payment data.
  • Recurring Billing: Supports subscription-based payments.
  • Mobile Payments: Facilitates payments through mobile devices.
• Strengths:
  • Developer-Centric: Strong focus on providing tools and documentation for developers.
  • Customization: Highly customizable and flexible payment solutions.
  • Security: Emphasis on security with tokenization and PCI compliance support.
  • Integration Capabilities: Wide range of integrations with various platforms.
  • Partner Program: Offers a partner program for ISVs and developers.
• Weaknesses:
  • Potentially More Complex for Non-Developers: Might require technical expertise to implement effectively.
  • Less Direct Support for End-Merchants: Typically, support is channeled through the software provider or ISV.
  • Pricing Can Be Variable: Dependent on the ISV or partner providing the solution.

Revenue:

Cardknox is a private company, so specific revenue figures are not publicly available. However, we can make some estimations:

• General Estimates: Companies in the payment gateway space of Cardknox s size (likely in the range of 50-200 employees) typically generate revenues in the range of $10 million to $50 million annually. This is a broad estimate.
• Factors Affecting Revenue:
  • Number of active merchants using the platform.
  • Transaction volume processed through the gateway.
  • Pricing model (transaction fees, monthly fees, etc.).
  • Growth rate of the company and the overall payment processing market.

Alternatives to Cardknox:

Here are some alternative payment gateways and processors, categorized by their strengths and target markets:

• For Developer-Focused/Custom Integrations:
  • Stripe: A very popular choice for developers, with a robust API and extensive documentation. Good for e-commerce and custom applications.
  • Braintree (a PayPal company): Another developer-friendly option with good global reach and support for various payment methods.
  • Authorize.net: A long-standing, reliable gateway with a large market share. Offers a range of integration options.
  • NMI (Network Merchants, Inc.): Similar to Cardknox, focusing on providing a white-label gateway for partners.
• For E-commerce Platforms:
  • PayPal Payments Pro: Integrated directly with PayPal and offers a customizable checkout experience.
  • Square: While known for its POS systems, Square also offers e-commerce payment processing.
  • Shopify Payments: Tight integration with the Shopify platform.
• For All-in-One Solutions (Payment Gateway + Processor):
  • Square: Provides both payment processing and a gateway.
  • Payline Data: Offers a range of payment solutions for various business types.
  • First Data (Fiserv): A large, established payment processor with gateway capabilities.

Pricing:

Cardknox s pricing is not directly published for end-merchants. It operates primarily through partners (ISVs and software developers). Therefore, pricing will vary significantly depending on:

• The ISV or Software Partner: They bundle Cardknox s gateway into their overall software or platform.
• The Merchant s Business Type: Industry, transaction volume, and risk profile can influence pricing.
• The Payment Processor: The rates of the payment processor connected to the gateway also play a role.

Common Pricing Components You Might Encounter (Through a Partner):

• Setup Fee: A one-time fee to set up the account.
• Monthly Gateway Fee: A recurring fee for using the Cardknox gateway.
• Transaction Fee: A fee charged per transaction (e.g., $0.10 per transaction).
• Percentage Fee: A percentage of the transaction amount (e.g., 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction). This is usually the processor s fee.
• Batch Fee: A fee for settling transactions at the end of the day.
• Other Fees: Potentially fees for chargebacks, statement fees, etc.

To get accurate pricing, you need to contact a software vendor or ISV that uses Cardknox s payment gateway. Ask them to provide a detailed breakdown of their payment processing fees.

Customer Care:

• Indirect Customer Support: Cardknox itself primarily provides support to its partners (ISVs and developers). End-merchants typically receive support from the company that provides their software or platform (which is integrated with Cardknox).
• Partner Support: Cardknox offers documentation, API support, and training to its partners.
• Documentation: Cardknox generally has documentation on its website and partner portals to assist developers and ISVs with integrations and troubleshooting.

How to Get Support (as an End-Merchant):

1. Contact Your Software Provider: This is the first and most important step. They are your primary point of contact for any issues related to the software and the integrated payment processing.
2. Refer to Software Documentation: The software you re using likely has documentation or a help center that addresses common payment processing questions.
3. If Necessary, Escalate to Your Software Provider s Support Team: If the initial support channels cannot resolve the issue, ask to escalate the problem to a more senior support representative or technical team.
4. In rare cases, you may need to ask your software provider to contact Cardknox directly on your behalf. This is usually only necessary for very technical or complex issues.

In summary: Cardknox is a powerful payment gateway aimed at developers and ISVs who want to build custom payment solutions. Pricing is highly dependent on the specific partner you re working with. Customer support for end-merchants is typically handled through their software provider.