active_merchant
Active Merchant is a simple payment abstraction library extracted from Shopify. The aim of the project is to feel natural to Ruby users and to abstract as many parts as possible away from the user to offer a consistent interface across all supported gateways.
Top Related Projects
ShopifyAPI is a lightweight gem for accessing the Shopify admin REST and GraphQL web services.
Ruby library for the Stripe API.
Quick Overview
Active Merchant is a Ruby library for processing credit card transactions. It provides a consistent interface to numerous payment gateways, simplifying the integration of payment processing into Ruby applications. The library supports a wide range of payment providers and offers a unified API for handling various payment-related operations.
Pros
- Supports a large number of payment gateways, providing flexibility in choosing payment providers
- Offers a consistent API across different gateways, simplifying integration and maintenance
- Actively maintained with regular updates and improvements
- Extensive documentation and community support
Cons
- Primarily focused on Ruby, which may limit its use in non-Ruby projects
- Some less common or region-specific payment gateways may have limited support
- Learning curve can be steep for developers new to payment processing concepts
Code Examples
- Creating a new credit card object:
credit_card = ActiveMerchant::Billing::CreditCard.new(
number: '4111111111111111',
month: '8',
year: '2024',
first_name: 'John',
last_name: 'Doe',
verification_value: '123'
)
- Initializing a payment gateway:
gateway = ActiveMerchant::Billing::StripeGateway.new(
login: 'sk_test_123456789'
)
- Processing a payment:
response = gateway.purchase(1000, credit_card, {
description: 'Purchase of goods',
currency: 'USD'
})
if response.success?
puts "Payment processed successfully"
else
puts "Payment failed: #{response.message}"
end
Getting Started
To use Active Merchant in your Ruby project:
-
Add the gem to your Gemfile:
gem 'activemerchant' -
Run
bundle installto install the gem. -
Require the library in your code:
require 'active_merchant' -
Configure the payment mode (test or production):
ActiveMerchant::Billing::Base.mode = :test # Use :production for live transactions -
Initialize a gateway and start processing payments using the examples provided above.
Competitor Comparisons
ShopifyAPI is a lightweight gem for accessing the Shopify admin REST and GraphQL web services.
Pros of shopify-api-ruby
- Specifically designed for Shopify's API, offering more tailored functionality
- More actively maintained with frequent updates and improvements
- Better documentation and examples for Shopify-specific use cases
Cons of shopify-api-ruby
- Limited to Shopify's ecosystem, less versatile for other e-commerce platforms
- Steeper learning curve for developers not familiar with Shopify's API
- Potentially more complex setup for simple payment processing tasks
Code Comparison
active_merchant:
require 'active_merchant'
gateway = ActiveMerchant::Billing::StripeGateway.new(
:login => 'YOUR-SECRET-KEY'
)
response = gateway.purchase(1000, credit_card, :ip => '127.0.0.1')
shopify-api-ruby:
require 'shopify_api'
session = ShopifyAPI::Auth::Session.new(shop: "your-shop.myshopify.com", access_token: "your-access-token")
ShopifyAPI::Context.activate_session(session)
order = ShopifyAPI::Order.new
order.line_items = [{ title: "Test Product", price: 10.00, quantity: 1 }]
order.save
The code examples highlight the difference in focus between the two libraries. active_merchant is more generic and centered around payment processing, while shopify-api-ruby is tailored for interacting with Shopify's broader API, including order management and other e-commerce functionalities.
Ruby library for the Stripe API.
Pros of stripe-ruby
- Focused specifically on Stripe integration, offering more comprehensive Stripe-specific features
- Regularly updated with new Stripe API features and improvements
- Simpler setup and configuration for Stripe-only implementations
Cons of stripe-ruby
- Limited to Stripe payment processing, lacking support for other payment gateways
- May require additional libraries for features beyond Stripe's core functionality
- Less flexibility for multi-gateway implementations compared to Active Merchant
Code Comparison
stripe-ruby:
require 'stripe'
Stripe.api_key = 'sk_test_...'
charge = Stripe::Charge.create({
amount: 2000,
currency: 'usd',
source: 'tok_visa',
description: 'My First Test Charge (created for API docs)',
})
Active Merchant:
require 'active_merchant'
gateway = ActiveMerchant::Billing::StripeGateway.new(login: 'sk_test_...')
credit_card = ActiveMerchant::Billing::CreditCard.new(
number: '4242424242424242',
month: '8',
year: '2024',
verification_value: '123'
)
response = gateway.purchase(2000, credit_card)
Both libraries offer Ruby-based solutions for payment processing, but stripe-ruby is tailored specifically for Stripe integration, while Active Merchant provides a more versatile approach supporting multiple payment gateways. The code examples demonstrate the difference in setup and usage between the two libraries.
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Active Merchant
Active Merchant is an extraction from the ecommerce system Shopify. Shopify's requirements for a simple and unified API to access dozens of different payment gateways with very different internal APIs was the chief principle in designing the library.
It was developed for usage in Ruby on Rails web applications and integrates seamlessly as a Rails plugin, but it also works excellently as a stand alone Ruby library.
Active Merchant has been in production use since June 2006 and is now used in most modern Ruby applications which deal with financial transactions. It is maintained by the Shopify and Spreedly teams, with much help from an ever-growing set of contributors.
See GettingStarted.md if you want to learn more about using Active Merchant in your applications.
If you'd like to contribute to Active Merchant, please start with our Contribution Guide.
Installation
From Git
You can check out the latest source from git:
git clone git://github.com/activemerchant/active_merchant.git
From RubyGems
Installation from RubyGems:
gem install activemerchant
Or, if you're using Bundler, just add the following to your Gemfile:
gem 'activemerchant'
Usage
This simple example demonstrates how a purchase can be made using a person's credit card details.
require 'active_merchant'
# Use the TrustCommerce test servers
ActiveMerchant::Billing::Base.mode = :test
gateway = ActiveMerchant::Billing::TrustCommerceGateway.new(
:login => 'TestMerchant',
:password => 'password')
# ActiveMerchant accepts all amounts as Integer values in cents
amount = 1000 # $10.00
# The card verification value is also known as CVV2, CVC2, or CID
credit_card = ActiveMerchant::Billing::CreditCard.new(
:first_name => 'Bob',
:last_name => 'Bobsen',
:number => '4242424242424242',
:month => '8',
:year => Time.now.year+1,
:verification_value => '000')
# Validating the card automatically detects the card type
if credit_card.validate.empty?
# Capture $10 from the credit card
response = gateway.purchase(amount, credit_card)
if response.success?
puts "Successfully charged $#{sprintf("%.2f", amount / 100)} to the credit card #{credit_card.display_number}"
else
raise StandardError, response.message
end
end
Contributing
For more in-depth documentation and tutorials, see GettingStarted.md and the API documentation.
Emerging ActiveMerchant 3DS conventions are documented in the Contributing guide and Standardized 3DS Fields guide of the wiki.
Supported Payment Gateways
The ActiveMerchant Wiki contains a table of features supported by each gateway.
- Adyen - US, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GI, GR, HK, HU, IE, IS, IT, LI, LT, LU, LV, MC, MT, MX, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SE, SG, SK, SI
- Authorize.Net CIM - US
- Authorize.Net - AU, CA, US
- Axcess MS - AD, AT, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FO, FR, GB, GI, GR, HR, HU, IE, IL, IM, IS, IT, LI, LT, LU, LV, MC, MT, MX, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RU, SE, SI, SK, TR, US, VA
- Balanced - US
- Bambora Asia-Pacific - AU, NZ
- Bank Frick - LI, US
- Banwire - MX
- Barclays ePDQ Extra Plus - GB
- Be2Bill - FR
- Beanstream.com - CA, US
- BluePay - US
- Borgun - IS
- Braintree - US, CA, AU, AD, AT, BE, BG, CY, CZ, DK, EE, FI, FR, GI, DE, GR, HU, IS, IM, IE, IT, LV, LI, LT, LU, MT, MC, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SM, SK, SI, ES, SE, CH, TR, GB
- BridgePay - CA, US
- Cardknox - US, CA, GB
- CardSave - GB
- CardStream - GB
- Cashnet - US
- Cecabank - ES
- Cenpos - AD, AI, AG, AR, AU, AT, BS, BB, BE, BZ, BM, BR, BN, BG, CA, HR, CY, CZ, DK, DM, EE, FI, FR, DE, GR, GD, GY, HK, HU, IS, IN, IL, IT, JP, LV, LI, LT, LU, MY, MT, MX, MC, MS, NL, PA, PL, PT, KN, LC, MF, VC, SM, SG, SK, SI, ZA, ES, SR, SE, CH, TR, GB, US, UY
- CAMS: Central Account Management System - US
- Checkout.com - AD, AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BH, BR, CH, CL, CN, CO, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, EG, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, JO, JP, KW, LI, LT, LU, LV, MC, MT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, OM, PE, PL, PT, QA, RO, SA, SE, SG, SI, SK, SM, TR, US
- Clearhaus - AD, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FO, FR, GB, GL, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LI, LT, LU, LV, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SE, SI, SK
- Commercegate - AD, AT, AX, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GG, GI, GR, HR, HU, IE, IM, IS, IT, JE, LI, LT, LU, LV, MC, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SE, SI, SK, VA
- Conekta - MX
- CyberSource - US, BR, CA, CN, DK, FI, FR, DE, JP, MX, NO, SE, GB, SG
- DIBS - US, FI, NO, SE, GB
- DataCash - GB
- Efsnet - US
- Elavon MyVirtualMerchant - US, CA
- ePay - DK, SE, NO
- EVO Canada - CA
- eWAY - AU, NZ, GB
- eWAY Rapid - AU, NZ, GB, SG
- E-xact - CA, US
- Ezic - AU, CA, CN, FR, DE, GI, IL, MT, MU, MX, NL, NZ, PA, PH, RU, SG, KR, ES, KN, GB
- Fat Zebra - AU
- Federated Canada - CA
- Finansbank WebPOS - US, TR
- Flo2Cash - NZ
- 1stPayGateway.Net - US
- FirstData Global Gateway e4 - CA, US
- FirstGiving - US
- Garanti Sanal POS - US, TR
- Global Transport - CA, PR, US
- HDFC - IN
- Heartland Payment Systems - US
- iATS Payments - AU, BR, CA, CH, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GR, HK, IE, IT, NL, NO, PT, SE, SG, TR, UK, US
- Inspire Commerce - US
- InstaPay - US
- IPP - AU
- Iridium - GB, ES
- iTransact - US
- JetPay - US
- Komoju - JP
- LinkPoint - US
- Litle & Co. - US
- maxiPago! - BR
- Merchant e-Solutions - US
- Merchant One Gateway - US
- MerchantWARE - US
- MerchantWarrior - AU
- Mercury - US, CA
- Metrics Global - US
- MasterCard Internet Gateway Service (MiGS) - AU, AE, BD, BN, EG, HK, ID, IN, JO, KW, LB, LK, MU, MV, MY, NZ, OM, PH, QA, SA, SG, TT, VN
- Modern Payments - US
- MONEI - AD, AT, BE, BG, CA, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FO, FR, GB, GI, GR, HU, IE, IL, IS, IT, LI, LT, LU, LV, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SE, SI, SK, TR, US, VA
- Moneris - CA
- MoneyMovers - US
- NAB Transact - AU
- NELiX TransaX - US
- NetRegistry - AU
- BBS Netaxept - NO, DK, SE, FI
- NETbilling - US
- NETPAY Gateway - MX
- NMI - US
- Ogone - BE, DE, FR, NL, AT, CH
- Omise - TH, JP
- Openpay - MX
- Optimal Payments - CA, US, GB
- Orbital Paymentech - US, CA
- Pagar.me - BR
- PagoFacil - MX
- PayConex - US, CA
- PayGate PayXML - US, ZA
- PayHub - US
- PayJunction - US
- PaySecure - AU
- Paybox Direct - FR
- Payeezy - CA, US
- Payex - DK, FI, NO, SE
- Windcave (formerly PaymentExpress) - AU, CA, DE, ES, FR, GB, HK, IE, MY, NL, NZ, SG, US, ZA
- PAYMILL - AD, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FO, FR, GB, GI, GR, HU, IE, IL, IS, IT, LI, LT, LU, LV, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SE, SI, SK, TR, VA
- PayPal Express Checkout - US, CA, SG, AU
- PayPal Express Checkout (UK) - GB
- PayPal Payflow Pro - US, CA, SG, AU
- PayPal Payments Pro (US) - US
- PayPal Payments Pro (UK) - GB
- PayPal Website Payments Pro (CA) - CA
- PayPal Express Checkout for Digital Goods - AU, CA, CN, FI, GB, ID, IN, IT, MY, NO, NZ, PH, PL, SE, SG, TH, VN
- Payscout - US
- Paystation - NZ
- Pay Way - AU
- PayU India - IN
- Pin Payments - AU
- Plug'n Pay - US
- Psigate - CA
- PSL Payment Solutions - GB
- QuickBooks Merchant Services - US
- QuickBooks Payments - US
- Quantum Gateway - US
- QuickPay - AT, BE, BG, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LI, LT, LU, LV, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SE SI, SK
- Qvalent - AU
- Raven - AI, AN, AT, AU, BE, BG, BS, BZ, CA, CH, CR, CY, CZ, DE, DK, DM, DO, EE, EL, ES, FI, FR, GB, GG, GI, HK, HR, HU, IE, IL, IM, IN, IT, JE, KN, LI, LT, LU, LV, MH, MT, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SC, SE, SG, SI, SK, UK, US, VG, ZA
- Realex - IE, GB, FR, BE, NL, LU, IT
- Redsys - ES
- S5 - DK
- SagePay - GB, IE
- Sage Payment Solutions - US, CA
- Sallie Mae - US
- SecureNet - US
- SecurePay - US, CA, GB, AU
- SecurePayTech - NZ
- SecurionPay - AD, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FO, FR, GI, GL, GR, GS, GT, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LI, LR, LT, LU, LV, MC, MT, MU, MV, MW, NL, NO, PL, RO, SE, SI
- SkipJack - US, CA
- SoEasyPay - US, CA, AT, BE, BG, HR, CY, CZ, DK, EE, FI, FR, DE, GR, HU, IE, IT, LV, LT, LU, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SI, ES, SE, GB, IS, NO, CH
- Spreedly - AD, AE, AT, AU, BD, BE, BG, BN, CA, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, EG, ES, FI, FR, GB, GI, GR, HK, HU, ID, IE, IL, IM, IN, IS, IT, JO, KW, LB, LI, LK, LT, LU, LV, MC, MT, MU, MV, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, OM, PH, PL, PT, QA, RO, SA, SE, SG, SI, SK, SM, TR, TT, UM, US, VA, VN, ZA
- Stripe - AT, AU, BE, CA, CH, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, IE, IT, LU, NL, NO, SE, SG, US
- Swipe - CA, NZ
- TNS - AR, AU, BR, FR, DE, HK, MX, NZ, SG, GB, US
- Transact Pro - US
- TransFirst - US
- Transnational - US
- Trexle - AD, AE, AT, AU, BD, BE, BG, BN, CA, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, EG, ES, FI, FR, GB, GI, GR, HK, HU, ID, IE, IL, IM, IN, IS, IT, JO, KW, LB, LI, LK, LT, LU, LV, MC, MT, MU, MV, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, OM, PH, PL, PT, QA, RO, SA, SE, SG, SI, SK, SM, TR, TT, UM, US, VA, VN, ZA
- TrustCommerce - US
- USA ePay - US
- Vanco Payment Solutions - US
- Verifi - US
- ViaKLIX - US
- WebPay - JP
- WePay - US
- Wirecard - AD, CY, GI, IM, MT, RO, CH, AT, DK, GR, IT, MC, SM, TR, BE, EE, HU, LV, NL, SK, GB, BG, FI, IS, LI, NO, SI, VA, FR, IL, LT, PL, ES, CZ, DE, IE, LU, PT, SE
- Worldpay Global - HK, GB, AU, AD, BE, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GI, GR, HU, IE, IL, IT, LI, LU, MC, MT, NL, NO, NZ, PL, PT, SE, SG, SI, SM, TR, UM, VA
- Worldpay Online - HK, US, GB, AU, AD, BE, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GI, GR, HU, IE, IL, IT, LI, LU, MC, MT, NL, NO, NZ, PL, PT, SE, SG, SI, SM, TR, UM, VA
- Worldpay US - US
API stability policy
Functionality or APIs that are deprecated will be marked as such. Deprecated functionality is removed on major version changes - for example, deprecations from 2.x are removed in 3.x.
Ruby and Rails compatibility policies
Because Active Merchant is a payment library, it needs to take security seriously. For this reason, Active Merchant guarantees compatibility only with actively supported versions of Ruby and Rails. At the time of this writing, that means that Ruby 2.5+ and Rails 5.0+ are supported.
Top Related Projects
ShopifyAPI is a lightweight gem for accessing the Shopify admin REST and GraphQL web services.
Ruby library for the Stripe API.
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