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APIs · head to head

Lithic vs Xano

Lithic logo

Lithic

APIs

API-first card issuing platform with direct Visa, Mastercard and Amex network connections

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Xano logo

Xano

Automation Integration

The low-code backend platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Xano has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Lithic pricing is entirely undisclosed, so a company cannot compare total cost against Marqeta, Galileo or Highnote without a sales conversation.; Xano limited real-time capabilities; websocket support underdeveloped and not suitable for real-time applications
  • They diverge on capability: Lithic covers Direct network connections, Xano covers API builder.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Lithic and Xano actually diverge.

Attributes where Lithic and Xano differ
AttributeLithicXano
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquoteusage-based
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, APIWeb, Cloud, BYOC
CategoryAPIsAutomation Integration
FoundedUnknown2014

Identical on both: 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 Lithic

  • Direct network connections
  • Processor Client mode
  • Lithic Program Management
  • Card lifecycle APIs
  • Sandbox environment
  • Real-time authorization controls

Only in Xano

  • API builder
  • Database management
  • Data transformation
  • Real-time sync
  • Webhooks
  • Authentication
  • Scheduling
  • REST API

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Lithic

  • A fintech wanting direct Visa or Mastercard network access rather than routing through a third-party processornot Xano
  • A company that already holds its own issuing licence and wants API access without full programme managementnot Xano
  • A neobank or expense platform wanting Lithic to manage bank and network relationships end to endnot Xano
  • A product team prototyping a card programme in sandbox before committing to a launchnot Xano

Xano

  • Workflow Automationnot Lithic
  • Data Integrationnot Lithic
  • Process Automationnot Lithic
  • App Integrationnot Lithic
  • API Connectivitynot Lithic

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Lithic

  • Pricing is entirely undisclosed, so a company cannot compare total cost against Marqeta, Galileo or Highnote without a sales conversation.
  • Choosing Processor Client mode still leaves the company responsible for holding its own issuing licence and managing the regulatory relationship, which is a substantial undertaking many teams underestimate.
  • As with any card infrastructure provider, an outage or network issue at Lithic becomes a direct outage for every card programme built on it, and a customer has limited visibility into root cause during an incident.
  • Building a card programme on API infrastructure requires real engineering investment; it is not a plug-and-play product for a non-technical team.
  • Switching card infrastructure providers after launch is a major undertaking involving card reissuance and programme migration, so the initial choice carries lasting lock-in.

Xano

  • Limited real-time capabilities; websocket support underdeveloped and not suitable for real-time applications
  • Performance concerns at scale; users report crashes, dropped queries, and no RAM visibility on any plan
  • Interface designed for mouse input only, does not work well with touch-screen tablets
  • Limited version control, data backup and restore features, and data management logging capabilities
  • Requires pairing with a frontend builder, adding cost, complexity, and integration overhead

Pricing, plan by plan

Lithic

On request
  • Lithic$undefined/year
    • Volume and interchange-based pricing, not published
    • Separate Processor Client and Program Management pricing tracks
    • Custom quote required via sales

Xano

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Limited requests
    • Basic features
  • Professional$99/month
    • 100K requests
    • Advanced features
  • Business$299/month
    • 500K requests
    • Premium support

Which should you pick?

Choose Lithic if

  • You need direct network connections.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want processor client mode.
Lithic review

Choose Xano if

  • You need api builder.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Cloud, BYOC.
  • You also want database management.
Xano review

Questions people ask

Is Lithic or Xano better?
Neither clearly leads. Lithic starts at On request and Xano at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Lithic or Xano?
Xano has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Lithic and Free for Xano.
Does Lithic or Xano run on more platforms?
Lithic runs on Web, API. Xano runs on Web, Cloud, BYOC.
Can I use Xano for free?
Yes. Xano has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Lithic starts at On request.
What is Lithic best used for?
Lithic is most often used for a fintech wanting direct visa or mastercard network access rather than routing through a third-party processor, a company that already holds its own issuing licence and wants api access without full programme management, a neobank or expense platform wanting lithic to manage bank and network relationships end to end, a product team prototyping a card programme in sandbox before committing to a launch. Of those, a fintech wanting direct visa or mastercard network access rather than routing through a third-party processor and a company that already holds its own issuing licence and wants api access without full programme management are not what Xano is typically brought in for.
What can Lithic do that Xano cannot?
Lithic covers Direct network connections, Processor Client mode, Lithic Program Management, Card lifecycle APIs. Xano covers API builder, Database management, Data transformation, Real-time sync.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Lithic: Does Lithic publish pricing?

No, pricing is volume-based and requires a sales conversation.

Xano: Does Xano offer a free plan?

Yes. Xano offers a free plan with unlimited APIs and a rate limit. The free plan includes watermarked stored images. Paid plans start at $85 per month.

Source
Lithic: What is the difference between Processor Client and Program Management?

Processor Client suits companies with their own issuing licence and bank relationships; Program Management is for companies wanting Lithic to coordinate those relationships on their behalf.

Xano: What databases does Xano use?

Xano provides managed PostgreSQL database with no migrations or DevOps overhead required. It includes automatic backups, scaling, and full ACID transaction support.

Source
Lithic: Which networks does it connect to?

Visa, Mastercard and American Express directly.

Xano: Does Xano require coding knowledge?

Xano is a no-code platform but requires foundational understanding of backend concepts like database structure, APIs, authentication, and logic flow. The learning curve is steep, requiring weeks or months to become proficient.

Source
Xano: What integrations does Xano support?

Xano integrates with Snowflake, Datadog, AWS, GCP, Azure, Stripe, Segment, and works with frontend platforms like Bubble, Webflow, FlutterFlow, and Lovable.

Source
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