Last updated 08-12-2026
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Basis Theory
Basis Theory tokenizes, routes, and stores payment data outside your own systems so finance teams can keep checkout running without touching raw card numbers. Merchants collect cards through Universal Form Elements, keep tokens for recurring charges, and send those tokens to any payment service provider without rebuilding checkout. The site describes it as more than a token vault because it also handles PSP routing, authorization optimization, and resilience when a processor fails.
Most payment vaults lock you into one processor stack. Basis Theory stays PSP-agnostic so you can route transactions to Stripe, Braintree, Adyen, or a backup provider when the primary path declines. That unbundling matters most when a single PSP shutdown would otherwise take revenue offline, which creator platforms and vertical SaaS vendors cite as the core reason they adopt it over all-in-one checkout bundles.
Developers integrate through APIs, SDKs, and prebuilt web Elements documented at developers.basistheory.com. Product and finance teams at subscription businesses, e-commerce brands, and platforms building PayFac capabilities use it to shrink PCI scope, configure retry logic for failed renewals, and add Linque-powered payment method discovery at checkout.
Starter plan includes 20,000 vault tokens for $995 per month, with $0.05 per additional token
PCI Level 1 CDE plus SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, and HIPAA compliance certifications on the security page
Configurable retry logic re-presents failed subscription charges through a backup payment processor
Universal Form Elements SDK mounts cardNumber, cardExpirationDate, and cardVerificationCode fields without raw PAN data touching your app
Linque payment discovery covers roughly 80% of U.S. consumers using first name, last name, and phone verification
Proxy and Share APIs format token payloads for Stripe, Braintree, Adyen, and other processors
PSP-agnostic vault lets you add backup processors without rebuilding checkout.
PCI Level 1 vault reduces compliance scope for card-not-present and recurring flows.
Retry logic re-presents failed subscription charges through a backup payment processor.
Developer SDKs and Universal Form Elements fit existing web and mobile stacks.
Linque can surface saved payment methods at checkout with minimal customer input.
Starter production plan starts at $995 per month with a US-only environment.
Tokens deleted within a calendar month still count toward that month's billing total.
Enterprise features like SSO, dedicated IP, and PHI support require a sales contract.
Linque payment discovery is a separate product layer beyond the base vault offering.
What does Basis Theory do?
Basis Theory provides a PCI Level 1 payment vault that tokenizes cards, stores tokens separately from your app, and routes charges to any PSP. Merchants use it to collect payment data through Elements or APIs, keep tokens for recurring billing, and send formatted payloads to processors like Stripe, Braintree, or Adyen.
How much does Basis Theory cost?
Basis Theory's Starter plan is $995 per month and includes 20,000 stored vault tokens. Additional tokens bill at $0.05 each at month end. Enterprise plans with SSO, dedicated IP, PHI options, and unlimited interactions per token require contacting sales.
Is Basis Theory PCI compliant?
Yes. Basis Theory operates a PCI Level 1 compliant cardholder data environment and provides a PCI Attestation of Compliance on the Starter plan. E-commerce and subscription pages state merchants can reduce PCI scope by storing card tokens in the vault instead of their own systems.
Can Basis Theory route to multiple PSPs?
Yes. Basis Theory is PSP-agnostic and lets you route transactions to any processor. Subscription and e-commerce pages describe retry logic that re-presents failed payments through a backup PSP, and the Linque solution page lists Stripe, Braintree, and Adyen as compatible checkout integrations.
Does Basis Theory have a free tier?
Yes. Basis Theory offers free registration at portal.basistheory.com/register to start testing, alongside paid production plans. The Starter production plan begins at $995 per month with 20,000 included tokens.
What is Linque on Basis Theory?
Linque is Basis Theory's payment method discovery layer that verifies identity by phone and surfaces existing Visa, Mastercard, or Amex cards at checkout. Basis Theory cites up to 50% conversion lift versus guest checkout, roughly 80% U.S. consumer coverage, and up to 98% authorization rates on its Linque product page.