Payment processor that can hold a payment on a card and capture it only when the order ships

You’re looking for authorize now, capture later (also called manual capture): the card issuer places a temporary hold at checkout, and you capture the payment when the order ships.

• If you use Shopify: Shopify Payments can automatically capture when an order is fulfilled, but its standard authorization period is 7 days—so it’s best when you ship quickly. (help.shopify.com)
• For a custom website or integration: Authorize.net supports authorization-only transactions and says they can remain pending capture for up to 30 days. Adyen also supports manual capture; the available window depends on the card/payment method and setup. (support.authorize.net)
• Stripe: Supports manual capture too, but most card authorizations last about 7 days. (support.stripe.com)

Important: A card authorization is only a temporary hold, not a charge you can keep open indefinitely. If you won’t ship within the authorization window, look at saving the customer’s payment method and charging it later—with the customer’s consent—instead of authorizing at checkout.

If you tell me what platform you’re using and how long orders typically take to ship, I can narrow down the best fit.

Most major card processors support this "authorize now, capture at shipment" flow. The main constraint is how long the hold lasts.

Processors that support it

• Stripe: Create a PaymentIntent with manual capture so the hold is placed without charging the customer. You can also use automatic delayed capture, where Stripe captures before the authorization expires. Stripe's Dashboard also offers a "capture funds later" option for individual payments.
• Adyen: Manual capture lets you settle funds at fulfillment, when the order ships. Delayed automatic capture is also available, where you set the time between authorization and capture.
• J.P. Morgan Payments: Set the capture method to delayed or manual on the authorization request. Automatic delayed capture defaults to a 120-minute delay, and you can ask them to configure a different one.
• Braintree, Checkout.com, and others: These also support authorize-only flows, but I didn't verify their current docs here.

The hold window is the real limit

• Hold length is set by the card networks and issuing banks, and is typically seven to thirty days. If you don't capture in time, the hold is released.
• Stripe's standard card holds last about 7 days. Its Extended Authorizations feature can extend Visa and Mastercard holds to roughly 30 days for eligible merchants, depending on card brand, merchant category, and issuer. Stripe's help page still says 7 days, so the two sources conflict, and the extended window isn't guaranteed. Check the capture_before timestamp on each charge rather than assuming 30 days.
• Developer guides disagree on how long a Visa online authorization can be held. One comparison lists Stripe at 7 days, Braintree at 8, Adyen at 10, and says Visa's rulebook says 10. Confirm the current figure in each provider's docs.
• If your fulfillment can take longer than the window, you'd need to reauthorize, and the customer may have less available credit by then.

Practical advice

• Confirm that each provider's hold window covers your longest realistic time from order to shipment.
• Track the expiry timestamp for every authorization and capture or reauthorize before it lapses.
• For pre-orders or back orders, a delayed-capture setup avoids charging customers before anything ships.

If you tell me your typical time from order to shipment and your country or card mix, I can narrow this to one or two processors.

To achieve this, you need a payment processor that supports an "Authorize and Capture" workflow. This is a standard feature in the payment industry that allows you to separate the two steps of a transaction.

How the Process Works

1. Authorization (Hold): When the customer places an order, you send an authorization request. The bank verifies the funds and places a "hold" on the customer's account for that amount. No money has moved yet.
2. Capture (Charge): When you are ready to ship the order, you trigger the "capture" request through your payment dashboard or API. Only then is the money actually transferred to your account.

Recommended Payment Processors

Most major payment processors support this functionality. You can typically enable this in your settings by switching from "Automatic Capture" to "Manual Capture".

• Stripe: Highly recommended for developers and e-commerce platforms. It has robust support for manual capture and allows you to hold funds, capture them later, or release the hold if an order is canceled.
• Shopify Payments: If you use Shopify, this is built-in. You can set your store to authorize payments at checkout and only capture them when you fulfill (ship) the order.
• PayPal: Also supports authorization and capture workflows, which is useful if you want to hold funds for orders that might change or require inventory verification.
• Revolut (Merchant/Developer tools): Provides clear documentation and tools for manual capture to help businesses manage fulfillment and cash flow.

Important Considerations

• Authorization Expiration: Authorization holds do not last forever. Typically, they expire within 5 to 7 days for standard credit cards. If you do not capture the funds within this window, the authorization may lapse, and you might need to ask the customer to re-authorize the payment.
• Partial Capture: Many of these processors also support "partial capture". If a customer orders three items but only one is in stock, you can capture the payment for just that item and release the rest of the hold.
• Communication: Always inform your customers that the "pending" charge they see is a temporary hold and that they will only be fully charged once the item ships. This helps avoid customer confusion or unnecessary support inquiries.

Next Step: Check your current payment processor’s settings or documentation for "Manual Capture" or "Authorize and Capture." Most modern platforms allow you to toggle this on with a single click in your dashboard settings.

Yes—look for a processor with manual capture (also called authorize and capture). It places a temporary hold on the customer’s card, then lets you capture the authorized amount when the order ships.

• Stripe supports manual capture. For most online card payments, the hold lasts about 7 days; eligible transactions may qualify for an extended authorization of up to 30 days. If you don’t capture before the authorization expires, the hold is released. ¹²
• Adyen supports manual capture and specifically describes capturing after goods ship. ³

If your shipping time may exceed the hold window, check the processor’s rules for your card types and regions; you may need an extended authorization or to authorize closer to shipment. ¹²

Sources: ¹ Stripe: Place a hold on a payment method · ² Stripe: Extended authorizations · ³ Adyen: Capture