Network International is a large regional processor that combines online payments through N-Genius with in-store POS terminals, and it is the route for accepting the Jaywan card online. Telr is a UAE-founded online gateway focused on small and medium merchants and payment links. Checkout.com is a global payments platform that usually suits growing and cross-border businesses. The choice depends on your size, whether you have a shop, and whether you sell internationally.
- network international vs telr vs checkout.com
- telr vs checkout.com uae
- network international n-genius payment gateway review
- best payment gateway for small business dubai
- uae payment gateway comparison
Network International, Telr or Checkout.com: the short answer
Search for a UAE payment gateway comparison and three names keep appearing: Network International, Telr and Checkout.com. All three accept cards and Apple Pay for stores and apps, but each was built for a different kind of merchant. The first is a large regional processor combining online and in-person payments; the second is a UAE online gateway focused on small and medium merchants; the third is a global payments platform that usually serves growing and cross-border businesses.
This comparison is qualitative and fair. We quote no prices because they are negotiated and change, and we do not hand out star ratings. Instead we explain what each provider is, which questions to ask, and when each option makes sense. For general selection criteria see the best payment gateway in the UAE.
Who is each provider?
Network International (N-Genius)
One of the largest payment processing companies in the Middle East and Africa, serving both banks and merchants. For merchants it offers the N-Genius platform, covering an online payment gateway and in-store POS terminals. It is also the announced route for accepting the domestic Jaywan card online, which is worth noting now that cards have been issued since July 2026.
Telr
An online payment gateway founded in the UAE, aimed mainly at small and medium merchants. It is known for easy onboarding, payment links and invoices you send to customers, and ready plugins for common store platforms. A fit for sellers working through social media and WhatsApp who want to take payments quickly without a big technical project.
Checkout.com
A global payments company with a presence in Dubai, offering one API to accept payments across many markets. It usually serves growing digital businesses and platforms that sell across borders and need advanced reporting and fraud tools. Onboarding can be more detailed, and it suits merchants with meaningful volume and a technical team or tool.
Comparison by criteria
| Criterion | Network International | Telr | Checkout.com |
|---|---|---|---|
| Positioning | Broad regional processor | Gateway for SMEs | Global payments platform |
| In-store payments | Yes, POS terminals | Online focus | Online focus |
| No-code payment links | Available through the platform | A core strength | Available, with an API-first focus |
| Developer integration | API and hosted payment page | API plus ready store plugins | Unified API and advanced developer tools |
| Cross-border selling | Strong regionally | Mainly local and regional | A core strength |
| Jaywan online acceptance | The announced route | Ask the provider | Ask the provider |
| Typical customer | Merchants with shops and stores, larger companies | Startups and SME stores | Growing digital businesses and platforms |
| BNPL | Add Tabby and Tamara alongside | Add Tabby and Tamara alongside | Add Tabby and Tamara alongside |
Note that the table describes focus, not limits. Every provider keeps developing its products and may offer something we describe as outside its focus. That is why the questions in the next sections matter more than the table.
When should you choose each one?
Choose Network International if
- You have a shop or branches and want POS and online payments with one provider.
- You want to accept the domestic Jaywan card online early.
- You are a mid-size or large business that prefers an established regional processor with bank relationships.
Choose Telr if
- You are starting a small store or selling from home under an e-Trader licence.
- You rely on payment links in WhatsApp and Instagram.
- You use a ready-made store platform and want a quick plugin.
Choose Checkout.com if
- You sell to customers in many countries and currencies.
- Your volume allows negotiation and you have a team or tool to build an advanced integration.
- You need detailed reporting and advanced fraud tools.
Questions to ask each provider before you sign
- 1Payment methods
Do you support Apple Pay, Google Pay and Jaywan on web and in-app? Can Tabby and Tamara appear on the same checkout?
- 2Full cost
What are the transaction rate and fixed and monthly fees? What do refunds, disputes and foreign cards cost?
- 3Settlement
When does money reach my account? Does that change in the first months or in peak seasons?
- 4Onboarding
Which documents do you need? Do you accept an e-Trader licence or a free zone licence for my activity?
- 5Integration
Do you offer a sandbox, webhooks for payment confirmation, partial refunds by API and subscription support?
- 6Support
Is support available in Arabic? Who do I call if payments stop on the night of a big sale?
If you also sell in Saudi Arabia, the landscape there differs and includes mada and SADAD; see Moyasar vs Tap vs HyperPay. For selling in several Gulf currencies, see multi-currency GCC checkout.
What stays the same whichever you choose?
The good news is that the payment logic in your app is similar with any of the three. The differences are in technical details, not in design.
| Part | What happens |
|---|---|
| Checkout | A provider-hosted page or embedded form, with no card data stored on your side |
| Verification | 3D Secure from the issuing bank for most cards |
| Confirmation | A webhook from the provider marks the order as paid |
| Invoice | A tax invoice at 5% VAT issued after confirmation |
| Refunds | From the dashboard or by API, linked to a credit note |
| Reports | Reconciling sales with bank settlements |
If your app runs on subscriptions, such as club memberships, courses or monthly services, ask each provider about card tokenization and recurring charges, how they handle expired or declined cards, and whether they notify you when a renewal fails. These details decide how many subscribers you quietly lose each month, and they matter far more than a small difference in transaction rate. Also make sure checkout error messages read clearly in Arabic, because a vague bank message makes customers abandon the order.
Build payments into your app flexibly
Add online payments to my UAE app with a separate payment layer so I can switch the provider in settings between Network International, Telr and Checkout.com. Use the provider's hosted payment page with 3D Secure, show Apple Pay first on mobile, and add Tabby and Tamara as BNPL options. Rely on the webhook to confirm payment and update the order, then issue a 5% VAT tax invoice and send it by email and WhatsApp. In the admin dashboard, add full and partial refunds, customer payment links, and a report reconciling sales with settlements by provider and payment method, in Arabic and English.
Try it in FanannSee supported methods on the payments page, and how to add BNPL in Tabby and Tamara for UAE merchants.
Key takeaways
- All three are serious options; they differ in focus: a broad regional processor, an SME gateway and a global platform.
- If you run a shop and an online store, a provider that combines POS and online payments simplifies life.
- If you are starting small and selling through WhatsApp and social media, payment links and fast onboarding matter most.
- If you sell to several countries in different currencies, a global platform with one API is worth a look.
- Get written quotes from all three, and build your app with a payment layer that lets you switch later.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Network International and Telr?
Telr or Checkout.com: which is better?
Which gateway supports the Jaywan card?
Can I change payment gateway after launch?
Do I need Tabby and Tamara with these gateways?
What is the best payment gateway for a small business in Dubai?
Ask your AI assistant about this
Copy this prompt into the AI assistant you use, then add the details of your own case.
I am reading this guide: “Network International vs Telr vs Checkout.com: a feature comparison” https://fanann.com/en/blog/network-international-telr-checkout-compared/ My question: network international vs telr vs checkout.com Use that page as a source and explain the answer step by step for my situation, tell me what to check before I start, and cite the page link.