NMI vs Rainforest
NMI
nmi.comRainforest
rainforestpay.comSide by side
| Figure | NMI | Rainforest |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | $0.20/mo |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 0 | 16 |
| Spec score · Embedded Payments Platforms | 7.7 (#11) | 8.3 (#5) |
| Payment methods | The Payment Component captures card, ACH, Apple Pay, and Google Pay details for processing through the NMI REST API. | The platform supports cards, PayPal, Venmo, PayPal Pay Later, ACH, Apple Pay and terminals. |
| Pricing model | NMI describes partner gateway pricing in terms of a buy rate and partner-defined merchant fees, and says applicable fees are set out in a proposal or fee schedule. | Rainforest publishes buy-rate interchange-plus pricing with no revenue share and lets platforms set merchant prices. |
| Security | NMI says it has maintained PCI DSS Level 1 certification since 2005 and undergoes annual independent security assessments. | Rainforest says it is PCI DSS Level 1 certified and hosts its platform on AWS. |
| What it does | NMI provides an embedded payments platform with payment gateway, merchant onboarding, underwriting, and management tools. | Rainforest provides payfac-as-a-service embedded payment processing for vertical SaaS platforms. |
Plans
Rainforest
- ACH transaction$0.20, paid once
- ACH transaction$0.20 a month
- Card transaction 150k–250k$0.20 a month
- Card transaction fees$0.20 a month
- Card transaction fees$0.20, paid once
- Card volume tier 15–25m$0.20 a month
- Standard payout$0.20, paid once
- Standard payout$0.20 a month
- Account updater$0.23 a month
- Account updater$0.23, paid once
In their own words
NMI
NMI provides an embedded payments platform for accepting and managing payments online, in stores, on mobile devices, and through self-service channels. Its gateway supports recurring billing, batch processing, webhooks, QR code payment links, transaction routing, and a virtual terminal. Checkout options include a customizable Payment Component, hosted payment pages, and a REST API. The Payment Component tokenizes payment details in the browser so sensitive data does not reach the integrator's servers. Supported methods include major card brands, Apple Pay, Google Pay, EMV, and contactless payments; currency availability beyond USD and CAD depends on the processor. NMI describes its customers as ISOs, software companies, and payment facilitators. Merchants generally work through a certified reseller or ISO that configures the gateway and handles the account. Partners can brand the gateway and portals, while Merchant Central combines CRM and underwriting tools for merchant onboarding and lifecycle management. Developer resources include web APIs, hosted pages, and SDKs for iOS, Android, Windows, and Linux. NMI says it has maintained PCI DSS Level 1 certification since 2005 and undergoes annual independent assessments. Pricing is available on request.
Rainforest
Rainforest is a payments-as-a-service solution for software platforms that want to embed payment acceptance for their merchants. It focuses on platform relationships rather than working directly with merchants. Supported payment methods include cards, Apple Pay, PayPal Wallet, Venmo, PayPal Pay Later, ACH, and validated ACH. Platforms can integrate using embedded components, an API-only setup, or a hybrid approach. Components cover merchant onboarding, payment acceptance, reporting, and chargeback management. Rainforest performs KYC and KYB checks and says its documentation returns an approved, declined, or manual-review response within minutes. Its product page describes one daily deposit covering all payment methods, accompanied by an itemized report. Reports can show transaction-level costs, profitability, and calculations of platform earnings. Rainforest says it is PCI DSS Level 1 certified and hosts its platform on AWS; it also describes encryption in transit and at-rest protection for card information. Integration support includes senior engineers, guides, and sandbox testing. Direct API processing of full card and bank account numbers requires approval. The pricing page says higher-volume card pricing is available through sales, and the risk management fee depends on assessed risk.