What Is Payment Token Portability and Why It Matters

What is payment token portability?

Payment token portability refers to the ability to move encrypted credit card data (tokens) from one payment gateway to another without requiring customers to re-enter their card details.

In B2B SaaS, this capability is critical. When switching payment processors, the lack of token portability can create friction for your customers. If they are forced to re-enter payment information, it increases the risk of churn, failed payments, and support tickets.

Instead, with portable tokens, your business retains control of customer billing data—even if your gateway changes.

Why do SaaS companies need token portability?

Many B2B SaaS businesses operate on recurring billing models. Cards are stored securely using tokenization—replacing sensitive data with a non-sensitive equivalent (a token) that only the processor can decrypt.

If those tokens can’t be transferred between gateways, switching providers becomes risky. You’re forced to either:

• Ask customers to re-submit payment details
• Maintain legacy gateway relationships
• Delay or avoid migrations altogether

Token portability removes that barrier. You can change gateways while preserving billing continuity for your customers.

What happens if your tokens are not portable?

Without token portability, you're locked into your current gateway—even if they raise fees, degrade service, or fail to support new payment types.

The cost of switching rises with your customer count. That’s why many businesses end up paying premium rates or working around poor gateway experiences.

Even a minor increase in churn or failed transactions due to re-entering card details can offset any savings from a cheaper processor.

How do gateway migrations work with token portability?

Token migration is a technical and security-driven process. Your new gateway works with your existing provider to securely transfer tokens.

There are two common methods:

1. Gateway-to-gateway transfer

The most seamless approach. The new processor receives token data directly from your current gateway through a secure, compliant channel. No customer action is needed.

2. Platform-managed vault migration

Some billing platforms, like ChargeOver, support vault-level token management. That means the tokens are stored in a way that allows them to be ported without depending solely on the gateway.

In both cases, token migration must follow PCI DSS standards and often includes audit trails and legal agreements.

What are the benefits of token portability in B2B SaaS?

Here are 5 key benefits:

• Reduce churn during processor changes
  Customers aren’t required to take any action, so renewal rates stay stable.
• Avoid vendor lock-in
  Your finance and ops teams can negotiate better terms without being stuck with one gateway.
• Support growth into new regions
  Add gateways with stronger international coverage while retaining existing tokens.
• Lower payment failure rates
  Use fallback gateways if a card fails on one processor, improving recovery rates.
• Stay compliant with security best practices
  Migrations happen securely, without exposing raw payment data.

Which platforms support token portability?

Not all billing platforms make token portability easy. Some are tightly coupled with specific gateways and don’t offer migration support.

ChargeOver, for example, supports token migration across 60+ payment gateways including:

• Authorize.net
• NMI
• Stripe
• PayPal
• Braintree

Your team can initiate a migration, run billing without interruption, and switch gateways as your business evolves. Learn more about ChargeOver’s gateway integrations.

Is payment token portability secure?

Yes. Token migration is a controlled process that happens between PCI DSS-compliant parties. Your team never sees or handles raw card data.

The actual tokens are moved using encrypted channels. In most cases, both processors coordinate the transfer, and your billing platform facilitates it without exposing customer information.

It’s important to ensure that your new gateway and billing system follow these standards and provide documentation for the migration process.

How do I know if I have token portability?

Start by checking your current contract and technical documentation:

• Does your payment gateway allow outbound token migration?
• Does your billing platform offer migration support?
• Are there any fees or delays involved in the process?

If you’re unsure, ask your vendor directly. You can also check your billing system’s knowledge base or help center for integration specifics.