E-commerce · head to head
Authorize.net vs Principle
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Authorize.net all-in-One plan charges a $25 monthly gateway fee plus 2.9% + 30 cents per transaction on top of it; Principle macOS only with no Windows or Linux editor available
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Authorize.net and Principle actually diverge.
| Attribute | Authorize.net | Principle |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | $129/one-time |
| Pricing model | subscription | Unknown |
| Platforms | Web | macOS |
| Category | E-commerce | Design |
| Founded | Unknown | 2015 |
Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Authorize.net
Nothing recorded that Principle does not also cover.
Only in Principle
- Timeline-based animation
- Interactive prototypes
- Touch gestures
- Component reuse
- Video export
- Sketch import
- Figma import
- Driver animations
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Authorize.net
No use cases recorded yet. See the Authorize.net review.
Principle
- Mobile app prototypesnot Authorize.net
- Micro-interactionsnot Authorize.net
- Animation designnot Authorize.net
- User flow designnot Authorize.net
- Gesture-based interfacesnot Authorize.net
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Authorize.net
- All-in-One plan charges a $25 monthly gateway fee plus 2.9% + 30 cents per transaction on top of it
- eCheck processing carries its own $10 monthly minimum fee separate from the card processing charges
Principle
- macOS only with no Windows or Linux editor available
- No vector morphing capability for complex shape transformations
- Limited asset creation tools; cannot create vectors or shapes directly within Principle
- Sketch import flattens certain properties including paths, fills, borders, masks, blur effects, and text layers
- Limited variable support, logical loops, and data input capabilities compared to tools like ProtoPie or Origami
Pricing, plan by plan
Authorize.net
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Authorize.net review.
Principle
$129/one-time- License$129/one-time
- One year of upgrades
- Full access to all features
- Upgrade License$99/year
- Annual renewal for ongoing upgrades
Which should you pick?
Choose Authorize.net if
Nothing in the data separates Authorize.net from Principle on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Choose Principle if
- You need timeline-based animation.
- You work on macOS.
- You also want interactive prototypes.
Questions people ask
- Is Authorize.net or Principle better?
- Neither clearly leads. Authorize.net starts at On request and Principle at $129/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Authorize.net or Principle?
- Authorize.net starts at On request and Principle at $129/one-time.
- Does Authorize.net or Principle run on more platforms?
- Authorize.net runs on Web. Principle runs on macOS.
- What can Authorize.net do that Principle cannot?
- Principle covers Timeline-based animation, Interactive prototypes, Touch gestures, Component reuse.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Principle: Does Principle run on Windows or Linux?
No. Principle is macOS only and runs on Intel and Apple Silicon Macs. There is no Windows or Linux editor available; however, prototypes can be shared and viewed on any platform via web link.
SourcePrinciple: What is the cost of Principle?
Principle costs $129 for a one-time purchase with 1 year of upgrades included. After 1 year, upgrade licenses cost $99/year. A 14-day free trial is available with all features included.
SourcePrinciple: Can I import designs from Figma or Sketch into Principle?
Yes. Principle supports importing designs from Figma and Sketch with intelligent merging of re-imported files. Some Sketch properties such as paths, fills, borders, blur effects, masks, and text layers are flattened upon import.
SourcePrinciple: How do I share Principle prototypes with others?
Prototypes can be shared via web link with one click (File > Export > Share to Web). Recipients can view and interact with prototypes in any browser on any platform: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, or iOS. No installation required.
SourcePrinciple: Can I create vector shapes and morphing animations in Principle?
Principle does not support vector morphing, where vector objects transform into other vector shapes. It also has limited asset creation capabilities and editing is restricted to basic operations like scale and rotate.
SourceRelated pages
More on Authorize.net
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