Comparing payment providers - nine questions before you sign
Almost every comparison of payment providers starts and ends at the percentage, which is exactly the number you can negotiate. What decides how much you actually pay, and how much of a headache you get, is everything around it: settlement days, what happens in a chargeback, and who holds your customers' card details.
How to choose a payment provider without looking only at the rate
A payment provider moves money from your customer's card to your account. Every provider in Israel does that, so the difference between them is almost never the processing itself - it is everything around it: how many days until the money reaches you, who handles a chargeback, whether you can bill an existing customer again without asking for the card once more, and whether the system produces the reports your accountant and the tax authority ask for. The nine questions here are ordered that way, with our answer beside each one.
The nine questions, and our answer to each
1. What exactly is included in the rate
Ask for a written breakdown: per-transaction fee, fixed monthly fee, foreign or debit card fees, refund fees, and the cost of a payment link or terminal. A low rate with four add-ons costs more than a higher one with none. We do not publish prices on the site - ask for a quote that itemises all of it, ours included.
2. How many days until the money reaches you
Settlement days are cash flow, not convenience. Ask what the actual date is, not the best case, and whether it changes for instalments or foreign cards. Worth asking before the rate, because it affects the business every month.
3. What happens in a chargeback
A customer disputing a charge is not a rare scenario. Ask who notifies you, how long you have to respond, and what the provider does on your behalf. We have a dedicated chargebacks screen with status and alerts, so it does not arrive as a surprise on a statement.
4. Can you bill an existing customer again
This is the question that separates providers. Ask whether payment methods can be stored for recurring billing, and who holds the card details. We have subscription links for recurring charges and a billing history, so a regular customer is not asked for a card every time.
5. Bit, Apple Pay and Google Pay
This is how Israeli consumers pay now, not only by card. Check which methods are genuinely supported and on which screens - not just on a marketing list. With us the wallets and Bit are part of the payment page itself.
6. Who sets the authentication policy
3DS protects you from disputes but adds friction at checkout. Ask whether you can decide when it is required, or whether it is a blanket provider rule. With us the 3DS policy and its settings are a screen you control.
7. What a refund actually looks like
Ask whether any rep can refund a customer, or whether there is an approval. Refunds are where a mistake costs real money. With us a refund request is approved or rejected on the record, rather than a free credit for anyone with access.
8. What comes out for your accountant
Usually asked after the first quarter. Check whether the system produces what the authorities and your bookkeeper ask for. We produce VAT reports, PCN874, the unified file format and a bookkeeping import file - from the same system that processed the payment.
9. What happens when you want to leave
Ask before signing, not after: is there a commitment, what happens to active subscriptions and standing charges, and will you get the recurring-billing list in a format you can move. A provider that struggles with this has already answered.
And finally - who people compare in Israel, and why there is no table about them here
The names that come up in most comparisons are Tranzila, Cardcom, Meshulam, PayPlus, Grow, Isracard and MAX. We will not publish a fee or feature table about them: terms vary by business and by package, and such a table becomes marketing dressed as a comparison. The nine questions above are what to ask each of them, ourselves included, and then compare answers.
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Choosing a payment provider - FAQ
What is the difference between a payment provider and a card terminal
How long does approval take for a new business
Can you take payments without a physical terminal
What is 3DS and do I have to use it
Is it worth working with more than one provider
What should I check about security
We will show you how it works here, and say honestly where another provider would suit you better.
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