NMI

NMI is an embedded payments platform for software companies, ISOs, and payment facilitators building payment acceptance into merchant services. It is strongest for partners that need branded checkout and a broad mix of online, in-person, and self-service payment tools; merchants generally access it through a certified reseller or ISO.

Overview

NMI brings gateway functions, checkout components, developer tools, and merchant-management tools together across online, in-store, mobile, and self-service channels. Its roots in payment gateways go back to 2001, and the platform supports both recurring and marketplace payments.

For partners, white labeling is a practical advantage: the gateway and portals can use the partner’s logo, colors, and custom URLs. Merchant Central adds CRM and underwriting tools for onboarding and managing merchants. This partner-centered model is less direct than buying a standalone merchant app: merchants typically rely on a certified reseller or ISO to configure the gateway and handle the account.

Key features

Checkout and payment operations

NMI supports recurring billing, batch processing, webhooks, transaction routing, a virtual terminal, and QR-code payment links. Checkout options range from hosted payment pages and a customizable Payment Component to a REST API for custom builds. That range suits partners serving merchants with different sales channels, though a custom API integration asks more of the development team than a hosted page.

The gateway accepts major card brands, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, with USD, CAD, and other currencies depending on the processor. It supports EMV and contactless payments as well as online, mobile, in-store, and self-service transactions. NMI says it integrates with more than 200 payment processors and over 125 shopping carts, giving partners a wide field of potential connections. Bill Connect connects payment acceptance with accounting software such as QuickBooks and Xero.

Developer and security tools

Developers can use the payment API, hosted pages, and SDKs for iOS, Android, Windows, and Linux. A browser-based customer-present option runs on any operating system. The Payment Component tokenizes payment details in the browser, so sensitive payment data does not pass through the integrator’s servers; that can reduce the burden of handling payment data directly.

NMI says it has maintained PCI DSS Level 1 certification since 2005 and undergoes annual assessments by independent security assessors. Gateway security options include point-to-point encryption, remote key injection, and remote terminal management. There is an important qualification for direct integrations: merchants using the Payment API should pass a PCI vulnerability scan before using that method.

NMI’s support portal lets users search for answers, submit support requests, and track existing requests. Third-party integrations in NMI’s documentation are not developed, maintained, or supported by NMI, so partners should account for separate support ownership when building around them.

Pricing

NMI is paid software with custom pricing; prospective partners must contact its sales team. There is no standard public plan price to compare, so organizations should confirm the full commercial terms with NMI before committing. That sales-led approach may fit a partner configuring payments for a portfolio of merchants, but it gives individual buyers no straightforward way to estimate cost from a monthly list price.

Platforms

NMI covers web, API, Android, iOS, Linux, and Windows. Its SDKs target iOS, Android, Windows, and Linux, while the browser-based customer-present experience works across operating systems. This breadth is useful to software companies integrating payments into varied products, including mobile and desktop applications.

Who it's for

NMI is best suited to ISOs, software companies, and payment facilitators that want to embed and brand payment services, connect to processors and shopping carts, and manage merchant onboarding. It can also fit merchants whose reseller or ISO provides the gateway account and configuration. It is a weaker fit for a merchant seeking a direct, self-serve product with transparent public pricing, or for a team unable to meet the Payment API scan requirement.

Pros and cons

• Pro: White-label branding and Merchant Central let partners present payment services as part of their own offering while managing merchant onboarding and lifecycle.
• Pro: Hosted checkout, a tokenizing Payment Component, APIs, and SDKs provide multiple integration paths across web, mobile, and desktop.
• Pro: Broad channel support, recurring billing, marketplace payments, and processor and shopping-cart integrations can serve varied merchant setups.
• Con: Custom pricing requires a sales conversation, making initial cost comparisons harder for buyers.
• Con: Merchant access generally depends on a certified reseller or ISO, rather than a direct merchant relationship with NMI.
• Con: Payment API use carries a PCI vulnerability scan prerequisite, and documented third-party integrations remain outside NMI’s development and support responsibility.

Alternatives

Choose Helcim if a free plan and published $0.00 USD monthly account fee matter more than NMI’s partner-oriented embedded platform; Helcim’s processing rates vary by volume. Consider EBizCharge Virtual Terminal for a web-based virtual terminal with customized fees dependent on card types, no contracts, and unlimited support.

CoreGateway Virtual Terminal is a more price-transparent option for buyers who want a virtual terminal with hosted pages, invoicing, recurring payments, vault, surcharging, L2/L3, and reporting for $15 a month, month-to-month. PayJunction Virtual Terminal may suit buyers comparing card-present and ACH pricing: its Standard plan cites card rates as low as 1.49% + $0.15 and ACH as low as 0.75%, with additional fees possible.

SwipeSimple offers a $0.00 free plan for eligible businesses where card-paying customers cover a 3.5% card fee, so consider it when that processing model fits. Authorize.net is another option for buyers who want published monthly pricing: its All-in-one plan is $25 a month with a merchant account and payment gateway, plus 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.

myPOS Virtual Terminal MO/TO offers a free plan with no monthly fee and per-transaction fees, subject to service eligibility approval. Payline Virtual Terminal is another virtual-terminal option to compare.

For category-level comparisons, browse Virtual Terminal Software, Embedded Payments Platforms, and Payment Gateways.

Verdict

NMI is a strong fit for payment partners and software companies that need white-label gateway services, flexible checkout integrations, and tools to manage merchant onboarding across multiple channels. Its combination of embedded payment options and developer coverage is the main reason to choose it. Look elsewhere if you need a direct merchant product with clear public pricing, or if the Payment API scan requirement and partner-led account model do not fit your operation.