Payment gateway vs.
payment processor.

A payment gateway securely moves payment information from a checkout experience toward authorization. A processor manages the transaction’s movement through the card networks and banking system.

For ecommerce and many integrated business systems, the gateway is the bridge between your software and the processing relationship. Compatibility, reporting, tokenization, recurring billing, and integrations all matter alongside price.

• ✓Gateway: captures and routes payment data
• ✓Processor: handles authorization and settlement flow
• ✓Merchant account: receives card-payment proceeds
• ✓Alavon: helps evaluate how the pieces fit