Comprehensive comparison for MVP products planning subscription-based billing in Indonesia.
| Aspect | 🟠 Midtrans | 🔵 Xendit |
|---|---|---|
| Registration & Onboarding | ||
| Account Signup | Free, online. Sandbox available immediately after sign-up with no document required. | Free, online. Sandbox available immediately. Account verification required for production. |
| KYC / Documents | Required for production activation. Business documents, NPWP, NIB. Can take 1–3 business days. | Required for production. Similar docs: KTP, NPWP, business license. Response usually within 1–2 days. |
| Sandbox | ✓ Instant | ✓ Instant |
| Technical Integration | ||
| Documentation | Excellent. Highly praised by developers. docs.midtrans.com is very clear with code samples in multiple languages. | Very good. docs.xendit.co. Multi-language SDK (JS, Python, PHP, Go, Ruby). Slightly more modern feel. |
| Quickest Path | Payment Link from dashboard — no code at all. Snap integration: ~2–4 hours for a developer. | Payment Link from dashboard — no code. Invoice API: ~2–4 hours. Slightly more batteries-included for subscriptions. |
| Official SDKs | Node.js, PHP, Python, Go, Ruby, Java | Node.js, PHP, Python, Go, Ruby — plus official mobile SDKs (Android/iOS) |
| CMS Plugins | WooCommerce, Magento, Shopify, WHMCS, PrestaShop, OpenCart | WooCommerce, Magento, Shopify (with native subscription plugin) |
| Reputation (community) | Best Docs in ID Strong reputation among Indonesian devs | Developer-First Praised for responsiveness, plugin support |
Xendit wins for subscriptions — significantly broader support for recurring via e-wallets (OVO, DANA, etc.), which is critical because most Indonesian users don't have credit cards. Midtrans recurring is limited to cards + GoPay only, and requires extra activation steps. If subscriptions are your core model, Xendit's dedicated Subscription product is the better fit. The extra ~Rp 5K/active sub/month is a fair trade for the automation and coverage. Midtrans is still viable if most of your users pay by credit card.
| Standard / Feature | 🟠 Midtrans | 🔵 Xendit |
|---|---|---|
| PCI-DSS | Level 1 — Highest level. Card data never touches your servers. | Certified — PCI-DSS compliant. Card data handled by Xendit, not merchant. |
| ISO/IEC 27001 | Certified — Information Security Management System | Not publicly stated. Likely compliant (required for BI license) but not prominently advertised. |
| Data Encryption | AES-256 for all sensitive data at rest and in transit. | TLS/SSL in transit; encrypted storage. Sensitive data sent directly to Xendit (not through merchant server). |
| 3D Secure (3DS) | ✓ Supported for credit card transactions | ✓ Supported. Plus built-in fraud filters reduce friction for legit buyers. |
| Fraud Detection Engine | Aegis — AI + machine learning + rule-based system. Prevents ~IDR 15 Billion fraudulent transactions/week. | In-house fraud detection — automated filters, real-time scoring, claims up to 30% higher card acceptance rates by reducing false declines. |
| Chargeback Handling | Merchant handles dispute via Midtrans dashboard. Support team assists. | Returns fee % on refunded card payments. Chargeback tools built-in. |
| Your Server Exposure | Payment data goes directly to Midtrans (Snap/Core API). Your server only handles order creation & webhook. | Sensitive data sent directly to Xendit. Your server doesn't handle raw card data. |
| License | 🟠 Midtrans | 🔵 Xendit |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Indonesia License | ✓ Licensed since 2018 — Payment System Operator (PJP) | ✓ Licensed — Payment System Operator (PJP) under BI Regulation 23/6/2021 |
| Kominfo Registration | ✓ Registered as Electronic System Provider (PSE) | ✓ Registered as Electronic System Provider (PSE) |
| Philippines (BSP) | Not applicable (Indonesia-only) | ✓ Licensed — Remittance & Transfer Co., VASP |
| Singapore (MAS) | Not applicable | ✓ Licensed — Major Payment Institution |
| Malaysia (BNM) | Not applicable | ✓ Licensed — Merchant Acquiring Services |
| Summary | Fully compliant for Indonesia. Strong regulatory standing within GoTo Group. | Fully compliant for Indonesia + regional SEA licenses. Better if you plan to expand outside Indonesia later. |
| Category | 🟠 Midtrans | 🔵 Xendit |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Accounts | BCA, BNI, BRI, Mandiri, Permata, BSI, others | BCA, BNI, BRI, Mandiri, Permata, BTN, CIMB, NOBU + 140+ banks |
| E-Wallets | GoPay (exclusive deeplink), ShopeePay, OVO, DANA, LinkAja, QRIS | OVO, DANA, ShopeePay, LinkAja, Jenius, GoPay (via QRIS), QRIS |
| Credit / Debit Cards | Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex — all Indonesian + foreign banks | Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex — up to 30% better acceptance rate claimed |
| Over-the-Counter (Cash) | Indomaret, Alfamart | Alfamart, Alfamidi, 7-Eleven — 12,000+ outlets |
| BNPL / PayLater | Akulaku, Kredivo | Kredivo, Akulaku, Indodana, Billease |
| Direct Debit | Limited | Strong — BRI, BNI, Mandiri, BCA (pull payments from bank account) |
| International Cards | All Visa/MC/Amex issued by foreign banks | International cards: 4% + Rp 800; broader multi-currency support |
| GoPay Exclusive | ✓ Exclusive — Deeplink & GoPay Tokenization only via Midtrans | GoPay only available through QRIS — no tokenization |
Your users primarily pay by credit card or GoPay. You want the best-in-class docs and broadest ecosystem integration (GoTo). Your subscription volume is low and you want to avoid Xendit's per-active-subscription fee. You need ISO 27001 compliance explicitly stated. You're only targeting Indonesia with no plans to expand SEA.
Subscription/recurring is your core model. You need to auto-charge e-wallet users (OVO, DANA, ShopeePay) — this alone is a strong reason to choose Xendit for Indonesia's payment landscape. You might expand to Philippines, Malaysia, or elsewhere. You want built-in retry logic, webhook reliability, and subscription-specific tooling out of the box.
For an MVP subscription product in Indonesia, Xendit is the stronger choice. Indonesia's low credit card penetration means a large portion of your potential subscribers will want to pay via OVO, DANA, or ShopeePay — and Xendit is the only gateway that supports true auto-recurring for these e-wallets. The extra Rp 2,500/active subscription/month is minimal overhead for the automation you gain. Both gateways have no setup fees, sandbox environments, and comparable developer experience — so you can prototype with either. But for subscriptions at scale, Xendit's architecture is better aligned to your use case.