Standard payments are typically “Immediate Sale,” meaning funds are debited simultaneously as the user pays. Auth & Capture splits the payment process into two distinct steps:
Core value
Use cases
AI & usage-based services
E-commerce: shipment model
Travel & rentals: deposit model
Ideal for scenarios with high costs and variable fees, such as AI image generation, LLM inference, and cloud compute rental.Advantage: Avoids the poor experience of “Task interrupted due to insufficient balance” while preventing merchants from giving away expensive GPU resources for free.
The mainstream model for US/EU e-commerce (for example, Amazon).Advantage: Avoids financial reconciliation issues and fee losses caused by “User applies for refund immediately after payment” or refunds due to overselling.
Applicable to hotels, car rentals, power bank sharing, and similar services.Advantage: Ensures the user’s card has sufficient funds to pay potential fees, preventing bad debt.
Key capabilities & operations
Partial capture
Supports capturing an amount less than the original frozen amount for a pre-authorized order.
Scenario: AI task estimated at 10,actualconsumption4.50.Operation: Initiate a Capture request for 4.50.Thesystemdebits4.50 and automatically releases the remaining $5.50 limit. Void authorization
You can cancel the transaction at any time before initiating capture.
Scenario: AI task failed due to system overload; no actual cost incurred.Operation: Call the Void API.Feature: Zero cost (no processing fees), instant release (user limit restored within minutes) — far superior to refunds, which typically take 3–7 days.
Integration
API integration
Set the parameter capture_method: manual when creating a payment order to enable pre-authorization mode. The default is automatic for immediate sale.
Webhook notifications
The system sends notifications at the following nodes to help you sync business status:
View API documentation for parameter examples and integration guides.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the pre-authorization valid?
Typically, Visa/Mastercard pre-authorizations are valid for 7 days. This is usually sufficient for AI services or e-commerce shipping. If you are in a special industry (e.g., long-term rentals), we can assist in applying to extend the pre-authorization window to 30 days.
Why don't I see the pre-authorized money in my account?
Pre-authorization only “freezes” the user’s credit limit; the funds are still in the user’s bank account and have not been transferred to the merchant. Funds will only begin settlement and enter your account balance after you successfully call the Capture interface.
Do I need to refund if the AI task fails?
No “Refund” is needed because the money hasn’t actually been taken. You simply need to call the Void interface or do nothing (wait for auto-expiration), and the user’s limit will be restored. This is simpler than the refund process and avoids user confusion over “Charged then Refunded.”
Can I perform multiple captures on a single authorization?
Currently, we primarily support Single Capture. Once you initiate a Capture (even for a partial amount), the remaining pre-authorized limit is automatically released. If you run a continuous AI service (e.g., chat stream billed by the minute), we recommend using the Tokenization feature to bind the card and initiate charges periodically (e.g., every hour or upon reaching a $10 threshold).
Need help? Contact support 
