Chargeback prevention is no longer just a fraud problem; it's a customer-experience mandate. When a simple shipping delay can snowball into penalties and lost loyalty, eCommerce brands need layered technology that stops friendly fraud before it starts.
Our team benchmarked alert networks, stop-ship APIs, descriptor tools, and policy-abuse analytics to identify eleven prevention platforms ready for 2025.
Whether you ship mattresses or micro-SaaS, this guide will show how the right stack keeps both shoppers and processors happy all year round.
Prevention First: The New Chargeback Playbook for 2025
Friendly fraud now accounts for more than half of eCommerce disputes, and card brands reward merchants who stop issues before they file. Pre-dispute alert networks, stop-ship APIs, and descriptor-clarity tools baked into prevention platforms let sellers resolve “where's-my-package” complaints in hours, not weeks—avoiding ratio penalties and preserving customer goodwill in an era where CX drives loyalty.
1. ChargebackStop
Overview:
Need bulletproof prevention? This chargeback management software stops disputes before filing by auto-refunding risky orders, feeding digital receipts to issuers, and filtering bogus alerts—slashing friendly-fraud ratios without hurting CX.
Key Features:
- Dual-network alerts intercepted within minutes
- Auto-refund or stop-ship actions configurable per rule
- Digital-receipt push to issuer apps via Consumer Clarity
- Invalid-alert logic to keep data clean
- Rapid Stripe / Shopify plug-ins
Pros:
- 95 % fewer disputes reported by pilot merchants
- Descriptor clarity reduces call-centre volume
- Month-to-month agreement—no lock-in risk
Cons:
- Alert coverage thinner in some APAC regions
- No PayPal/Bnpl dispute handling
- No liability shift if fraud sneaks through
Pricing:
Volume-ladder cost per alert; prevention suite bundled. White-label partners can opt for revenue-share pricing.
2. Verifi CDRN / Rapid Dispute Resolution
Overview:
Verifi's Rapid Dispute Resolution automates real-time decisions between merchant and issuer, refunding or rebilling before chargebacks post. Combined with Order Insight and CDRN, the platform prevents friendly-fraud disputes, keeps dispute ratios low, and sustains healthy processor relationships for high-growth eCommerce stores.
Key Features:
- Pre-dispute refund rules allow merchants to set auto-action thresholds by amount, BIN, or reason code.
- 24-hour average resolution prevents disputes from aging into chargebacks, preserving processor thresholds.
- Granular reporting shows dispute types, issuer trends, and ROI on refunded versus challenged transactions.
- Issuer-side receipt display strengthens shopper trust and reduces second-look declines.
Pros:
- Order Insight's rich receipts satisfy cardholder questions inside banking apps.
- RDR auto-refund rules preserve customer goodwill and stop friendly fraud early.
- Issuer-side receipt display reduces second-look declines on future purchases.
- Standalone prevention layer pairs easily with fraud engines like Kount or Riskified.
Cons:
- Refund-first model sacrifices product and shipping costs to keep ratios low.
- No bot/ATO protection, so friendly fraud isn't the only risk.
- One-size rule sets—limited customisation beyond basic refund triggers.
- Add-on representment service incurs extra fees if disputes still occur.
Pricing:
Pricing is strictly usage-based. You pay only for the alerts, Order Insight look-ups, or RDR refunds you actually process—no long-term commitments, and the plan can be paused month-to-month. Merchants must contact Verifi for a quote; small businesses report sub-$1 fees per alert, while enterprises secure lower rates at scale.
3. Ethoca Alerts
Overview:
Ethoca Alerts prevents chargebacks altogether: alerts arrive within hours, Consumer Clarity shares digital receipts with cardholders, and real-time refund workflows resolve issues before acquirer fees trigger. The solution scales from Shopify start-ups to global enterprises through REST, SFTP, or simple portal access.
Key Features:
- 30–40 % Dispute-rate Reduction reported by merchants who act on alerts within 24 hours.
- Digital Receipt Sharing: Order details, device fingerprints, and merchant branding delivered to issuer call-centres.
- Usage-based Pricing: pay only for alerts received—no annual licence or contract lock-in.
- Public Sandbox & Docs: developer resources accelerate testing and integration in days, not weeks.
Pros:
- Near-real-time alerts shrink dispute lifecycles from weeks to hours.
- Stop-ship and auto-refund workflows save goods, shipping, and labour costs.
- PCI-compliant cloud and regional data centres meet strict security mandates.
- Works as a stand-alone layer or alongside fraud engines, giving merchants modular flexibility
Cons:
- Refund-first model sacrifices margin on potentially valid sales.
- No analytics suite as deep as all-in-one management systems
- Merchant still pays card-network admin fees tied to each alert refund.
- Doesn't resolve service-quality disputes pursued outside the alert window.
Pricing:
Ethoca's prevention layer is contract-free: onboard at no cost, then pre-pay alert bundles or post-pay per use. Typical merchants report sub-$1 costs per alert; optional Outcome API automation adds only a modest platform surcharge.
4. Midigator
Overview:
Midigator's prevention stack pushes Ethoca and Verifi alerts in minutes, triggers auto-refunds, and flags policy gaps—stopping disputes before they materialize while its heat-map analytics spotlight underlying fraud patterns across SKUs, issuers, and campaigns.
Key Features:
- Real-time refund automations deflect friendly-fraud disputes and cut fulfilment losses.
- Chargeback reason-code library & evidence templates simplify compliance across Visa, Mastercard, Amex and Discover.
- PCI-compliant cloud with role-based access keeps sensitive dispute data secure.
- Custom trigger alerts let you sleep while Midigator watches ratios 24/7
Pros:
- Ethoca & Verifi alert partnerships let merchants refund orders before disputes become chargebacks.
- Auto-refund path reduces customer-service load while deflecting friendly fraud.
- Custom thresholds keep PSP health metrics green without daily babysitting.
- Scales seamlessly as order volume grows—no extra headcount required.
Cons:
- Issuer subjectivity remains: even perfect packets can lose if bank bias persists.
- Few third-party ratings compared with older platforms, making due diligence harder.
- Parent company focus (Equifax/Kount) could shift resources away from standalone roadmap.
- No bundled bot-defence module, requiring an extra tool for session-hijack fraud.
Pricing:
Costs revolve around prevention alerts. Each Ethoca or Verifi notice carries a micro-fee, and auto-refund workflows are included. Dispute-response automation is à la carte; activating it adds a per-case charge rather than a flat licence.
5. Kount
Overview:
Kount's Identity Trust Platform screens devices, behavior, and payment data at checkout to block bad orders before they spark disputes. Automated refund alerts and dynamic rules diffuse chargebacks long before they hurt your ratios.
Key Features:
- Machine-learning models (supervised + unsupervised) adapt hourly to the latest fraud patterns.
- Device fingerprint & IP reputation instantly flag mismatched geolocation or proxy usage.
- Comprehensive threat coverage spans bot detection, payment fraud, and account takeover in one suite.
- Risk-threshold presets allow merchants to switch between low, balanced, and high-conversion modes with a click.
Pros:
- Instant device/IP reputation checks shut down bots and account-takeover attempts.
- Automation slider offers fine control between manual oversight and full autopilot.
- Broad threat coverage lets brands retire multiple point solutions.
- Global data and compliance tools support friction-free international expansion.
Cons:
- Payment-fraud focus leaves blind spots for sophisticated bot and session hijacking.
- Requires periodic fine-tuning to keep false-positive rates low.
- No native behavioural analytics to flag mule or refund-abuse patterns.
- Setup can be time-consuming for multi-MID merchants with complex routing.
Pricing:
Kount tiers its pricing: Essentials costs $0.07 per transaction, Advanced begins at $1 K monthly, covering identity-trust analytics, while Enterprise and Custom agreements are quoted individually to match multi-MID setups, dedicated support, and contractual SLAs.
6. Signifyd
Overview:
Signifyd blocks fraud at checkout via Adaptive AI and pushes liability to itself, guaranteeing approved orders against chargebacks. Add-ons for account takeover, promo abuse, and authentication-rate optimisation make it a multi-layer prevention suite for high-volume eCommerce brands.
Key Features:
- Real-time fraud detection AI blocks risky payments before settlement, preventing chargebacks at the source.
- 3-D Secure orchestration invokes cardholder authentication only when required, maintaining conversion.
- Chargeback insurance shifts fraud liability away from the merchant, protecting MID health.
- Policy-abuse defence detects reseller, coupon and gift-card abuse to curb non-payment disputes.
Pros:
- Adaptive Checkout dynamically invokes 3-D Secure only when risk spikes, cutting issuer declines.
- Identity-intent engine stops bad orders at pre-auth, keeping dispute ratios tiny.
- Guarantee-backed approvals let brands enter higher-risk geographies without acquirer anxiety.
- Crystal-clear metrics panel shows approvals, declines, and ROI in real time.
Cons:
- Manual review queue can delay fulfilment on high-risk, high-value orders.
- Guarantee is void if merchants mis-classify abuse vs. fraud, creating grey areas
- No dedicated mobile app for on-the-go approvals or monitoring.
- Smaller brands find the sales cycle lengthy for what they need.
Pricing:
Pricing is negotiated around three modules—Fraud Protection, Account Protection, Return-Abuse Prevention. Each carries a per-approved-order fee; bundle discounts kick in once GMV crosses preset thresholds. No setup charges, but annual commitments secure better rates.
7. ClearSale
Overview:
ClearSale prevents disputes upfront by screening each order through AI scoring and human analysts, then guarantees approved transactions so fraud chargebacks never hit your statement.
Key Features:
- End-to-end cover – AI screens every order; guarantee absorbs fraud that slips through.
- Sub-hour approvals minimise fulfilment delays and keep CX smooth.
- Three-step setup via pre-built plug-ins means go-live in minutes, not weeks.
- Embedded reporting suite pinpoints high-risk SKUs and marketing campaigns.
Pros:
- G2 score of 4.7/5 positions ClearSale as a category leader among e-commerce merchants.
- Easily scales from a scrappy DTC brand to a global marketplace without re-platforming.
- Onboarding gets high marks for responsive support and clear implementation steps.
- Outcome-linked pricing means you never overpay for mediocre protection.
Cons:
- Heavy reliance on analysts introduces subjective decision risk.
- Fraud checks occasionally trail faster, fully automated competitors.
- Coverage is void if agreed KPI thresholds aren't maintained.
- Guarantee may be withheld when analysts can't verify unreachable buyers.
Pricing:
No public price list. Merchants sign a revenue-share agreement—typically a fraction of each cleared order—with an optional surcharge for full chargeback reimbursement.
8. Sift Dispute Management
Overview:
Running on Sift's Digital Trust & Safety platform, the chargeback module blocks risky orders in real time, then triggers instant refunds or tailored evidence to resolve disputes. Account-takeover defense and passwordless authentication further prevent chargebacks at the login, checkout, and post-purchase stages.
Key Features:
- Real-time risk scoring blocks suspect payments, slashing friendly-fraud disputes at the source.
- Account Defense shield stops credential stuffing and ATO, preventing post-purchase chargebacks.
- Dynamic rules builder lets merchants fine-tune thresholds without developer tickets.
- Instant refund triggers auto-resolve low-value claims to keep ratios below acquirer limits.
Pros:
- Real-time risk calls block friendly-fraud orders, lowering dispute ratios at checkout.
- Account Defense shields log-ins and wallets from credential stuffing, stopping post-purchase ATO chargebacks.
- Custom rule builder lets non-devs tweak thresholds on the fly to balance CX and security.
- False-decline reduction tools keep good customers flowing while bad actors are filtered out.
Cons:
- No native 3-D Secure orchestration, so issuer-side step-ups require a separate provider.
- Rule tuning can be labour-intensive for niche verticals that need granular control.
- Dispute module stops at auto-response; it doesn't handle full representment or network arbitration.
- Pricing unpublished—small merchants report sticker shock once custom fees surface.
Pricing:
Pricing is negotiated case-by-case. Low-volume merchants usually pay a straight cents-per-decision rate plus a modest dispute-automation surcharge; enterprises move to a hybrid plan with a contractual monthly floor and lower per-transaction costs.
9. Chargebacks911
Overview:
Using proactive alerts, VMPI connections, and real-time refund workflows, Chargebacks911 stops disputes before they post. Its multi-layer prevention stack blocks friendly fraud, affiliate abuse, and merchant-error claims—driving down chargeback ratios for fast-growing eCommerce brands.
Key Features:
- Order Insight & Consumer Clarity push rich receipts to issuers, defusing “unrecognized charge” disputes.
- VMPI auto-refund workflows stop Visa disputes at the pre-chargeback stage.
- Real-time fraud scrubbing flags high-risk orders for manual review or cancellation.
- Dynamic automation rules let merchants set refund, partial-credit, or shipment-halt actions by risk tier.
Pros:
- VMPI & Order Insight stop “unrecognized charge” disputes before filing.
- Real-time fraud scrubbing reduces false positives without hurting conversion.
- Custom automation rules auto-refund or halt shipment based on risk tier.
- Extensive resource library supplies templates, codes, and policy guides for quick fixes.
Cons:
- Refund-based alerts require swift action; delays negate savings.
- Affiliate Fraud Shield is an add-on, raising total cost.
- ACH/PayPal disputes remain uncovered, leaving gaps outside card rails.
- Some workflows still need manual analyst oversight, adding labour.
Pricing:
Prevention-focused plans revolve around alert charges and VMPI access—no long-term contract required. Optional modules (compliance reviews, affiliate shield) are a la carte and billed either per event or as a modest monthly uplift.
10. Riskified
Overview:
Riskified stops disputes before they start by running 480+ data signals—device, behavior, network anomalies—through adaptive machine learning. Add-on modules tackle refund and promo abuse, while the liability-shift guarantee ensures fraud chargebacks never land on your merchant account.
Key Features:
- Real-time risk scores stop bad orders at checkout, preventing chargebacks before they exist.
- Chargeback insurance shifts fraud-dispute liability entirely to Riskified, protecting MID ratios.
- Self-optimising ML models retrain continuously on merchant feedback for ever-higher accuracy.
- Plug-and-play apps & SDKs for Shopify, Magento, Salesforce and more accelerate deployment.
Pros:
- Guarantee-backed approvals let brands grow in high-risk markets without jeopardising processor ratios.
- Global data coverage supports safe expansion into APAC, LatAm and beyond.
- Forrester study shows 594 % ROI, underscoring strong financial upside.
- Real-time fraud blocking prevents disputes before they ever reach the chargeback stage.
Cons:
- Liability shift excludes service-related disputes, so not a full prevention blanket.
- SMBs find the bespoke pricing process cumbersome and time-consuming.
- Dashboard depth requires extra staff training to extract actionable insights.
- Public filings show the firm is still unprofitable, raising future cost concerns.
Pricing:
There's no public price list. Expect usage-based, per-approved-order billing with the fraud-chargeback guarantee baked in. High-volume brands can negotiate blended cents-per-order caps to control margin impact.
11. Accertify
Overview:
Accertify's alert network, device intelligence, and promo-abuse shields give eCommerce brands a multilayer prevention stack. Real-time risk calls stop bots and friendly fraud at checkout; early issuer data plus auto-refund rules avert disputes before they morph into costly chargebacks.
Key Features:
- Issuer-side alert feed flags disputes in near-real time, allowing refunds or shipment holds before chargebacks file.
- Device & behaviour analytics detect bots, emulators, and geolocation spoofing at checkout.
- Abuse-protection layer stops promo, refund, and loyalty fraud that often triggers “customer-service” disputes.
- Global community reputation data shares risk signals across thousands of brands to block emerging threats faster.
Pros:
- Low-latency decisions keep checkout fast while blocking bots and friendly fraud.
- Global issuer partnerships feed real-time alerts that cut dispute ratios for cross-border sellers.
- Abuse shield curbs promo, refund, and loyalty fraud—reducing non-payment disputes.
- Usage-based or hybrid pricing aligns fees with recovered value instead of fixed licences.
Cons:
- Card-rails focus only; ACH, PayPal and BNPL disputes remain uncovered.
- No mobile companion app for approving alerts or viewing KPIs on the go.
- Edge-case reviews funnel into a manual queue, adding labour and delay.
- Public reviews cite support turnover, raising concerns about long-term account continuity.
Pricing:
Prevention-only deployments follow a usage-based schedule: you pay a modest gateway fee plus pennies per issuer alert consumed. Large portfolios can negotiate blended CPM caps, but there's no published rate card—pricing is finalised after a technical assessment and volume forecast.
Prevention Layering 101: From Alert to Refund
Aim for a three-layer cake: ① real-time fraud scoring to block bad orders, ② issuer alerts to refund edge cases, ③ descriptor-and-receipt tools to calm confused cardholders. Verify that each layer shares data via API so insights cycle back upstream, shrinking disputes release after release.
Final Thoughts
Prevention beats reaction every time. The eleven tools listed provide layered safeguards—from fraud scoring to descriptor clarity—that stop disputes before they file. A/B-test one prevention layer at a time, track your dispute rate for two billing cycles, and watch fees fall while customer satisfaction rises. That's prevention working exactly as it should.