Understand the difference

Lithic vs Unit

Middleware solutions like Unit don’t provide the configurability serious card programs need to grow. Lithic's direct processing infrastructure gives you the control and flexibility to build without limitations.

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Businesses that partnered with Lithic over Galileo.

Compare key capabilities

The capabilities that inform your reliability, control, and reconciliation speed.

Direct to Metal Connections
Direct DEX connections to Visa, MIP connections to Mastercard, and American Express lower latency and points of failure.
Built on top of a legacy processor. Product changes require Unit to file tickets with their vendor.
Enterprise Scale
100s of dedicated BINs and 25+ sponsor bank integrations. Clear Graduation Path to self-manage.
Platform lock-in without a clear Graduation Path.
Authorization Intelligence
Configurable rules across 25+ attributes with AI-powered rule creation, testing, and challenges.
Requires third party integration or proprietary fraud prevention development.

Why clients choose Lithic over

Unit

Three places where the difference between Lithic and Unit shows up directly in network connectivity, scalability, and program control.

01

First in line for network innovation

Unit doesn't directly connect to Visa, instead using their legacy issuer processor solution, a layer removed from the network. The implication is extended timelines when you want to implement new cost-optimizing network products like Account Level Management (ALM) or Intelligent Commerce. Lithic's direct processing infrastructure gives you first access to network innovation, keeping you ahead of the competition.

02

If you need to rely on one scalable provider as you grow

Scaling card programs encounter complex needs as they grow, like needing flexible card art on a single Bank Identification Number (BIN) range, which embedded fintechs like Unit fail to provide. Lithic provides the full range of issuer processing capabilities designed from first principles, so you can create the differentiated programs your customers expect.

03

If your program requires control at scale

Unit’s architecture shares BINs across programs, making it impossible to renegotiate costs as your volume grows. Lithic provides dedicated BINs and continuous program optimization so your economics evolve alongside your business.
Why our clients love Lithic. From lean startup teams to mature enterprises, businesses choose Lithic for best-in-class payments infrastructure.
Mercury

“

Card programs look simple on the surface, but there's a lot of complexity underneath. What stood out with Lithic was the depth of their card expertise. They understand the edge cases, the tradeoffs, and the downstream impact of decisions, which makes it much easier for us to move quickly and build with confidence.”

John Mason
Senior Product Manager
Atlas

“

From day one, the Lithic team felt like an extension of ours. Their platform handled the complexity, so we could focus on designing the best possible card experience. It's been a true partnership built on reliability and trust."

Zane Salim
Co-Founder and CEO
Order.co

“

Lithic has been a huge part of what makes the Order.co platform work as smoothly as it does. We're issuing hundreds of thousands of single and multi-use virtual cards annually via the Lithic API.”

Zane Salim
Co-Founder and CEO

Still deciding between Lithic and

Unit

?

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