Freedom251 › Card Issuing Platforms
Lithic

What Lithic is
Lithic is an issuer processing platform for businesses building card programs, moving money, and managing program operations. Available through API and web, it supports debit, prepaid, charge, and revolving credit programs with physical, virtual, and tokenized cards. Authorization rules can limit spending by merchant category, amount, velocity, time of day, and other criteria. The platform connects to Visa, Mastercard, and American Express through one processing integration and provides ACH transfers, virtual and routable accounts, Federal Reserve connectivity, and ledger-based reconciliation. Risk and identity tools include KYC/KYB workflows, 3DS authentication, shadow mode, backtesting, and client decisioning through Authorization Stream Access. Lithic can also manage sponsor-bank operations, network onboarding, regulatory compliance, card fulfillment, and reporting. Each account includes a free Sandbox API key supporting all API endpoints; production requires an account enabled for that environment. Pricing is on request and depends on transaction volume and needed features. Lithic was founded in 2021 and is headquartered in New York, New York, United States.
Who it suits
Lithic is aimed at businesses and developers building card programs or money movement services. Its program management, risk tools, and enterprise cardholder support may suit teams that need those services alongside issuing infrastructure.
What it does well
- Supports debit, prepaid, charge, and revolving credit.
- Connects to three card networks through one integration.
- Sandbox includes all API endpoints.
- Offers 24/7/365 cardholder support as a program service.
What to know first
- Pricing is available by custom quote only.
- Production API access requires an enabled account.
- Card program support is enterprise.
Limits
The Sandbox is free and intended for development and testing. Production access requires an account enabled for the production environment; production pricing is available by custom quote based on transaction volume and needed features.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Custom quote | Pricing depends on transaction volume and features needed · Contact sales for a custom quote | On request |
As lithic.com lists them, read 1 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit the Lithic website.
- Create an account to receive a Sandbox API key.
- Use the Sandbox API key to develop and test with the API endpoints.
- Contact sales for a custom quote based on transaction volume and needed features.
- Get production access when your account is enabled for the production environment.
Verdict
Lithic combines card issuing, payment movement, controls, and program operations in an API and web platform. Businesses should request pricing based on their transaction volume and required features.
Questions
How much does Lithic cost?
Pricing depends on transaction volume and the features needed. Contact sales for a custom quote.
Is there a free plan?
Lithic provides a free Sandbox API key with every account. The Sandbox supports all API endpoints and is intended for development and testing.
How do I get production access?
A Production API key is available when an account is enabled for the production environment.
Which card networks does Lithic connect to?
Lithic connects directly to Visa, Mastercard, and American Express through one processing integration.
Which platforms are available?
Lithic lists API and web access.
When was Lithic founded, and where is it based?
Lithic was founded in 2021 and is headquartered in New York, New York, United States.
Facts from Lithic's own pages
- Availability
- Lithic advertises 99.99%+ uptime with no scheduled downtime. · lithic.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Business audience
- Lithic says it powers card programs for more than 100 clients across use cases including credit, disbursements, and digital banking. · lithic.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Card controls
- Its authorization rules can restrict spending by merchant category, amount, velocity, time of day, and other criteria. · lithic.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Card types
- Lithic supports debit, prepaid, charge, and revolving credit programs, with physical, virtual, and tokenized cards. · lithic.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Customer support
- Lithic provides 24/7/365 cardholder support through chat, email, phone, and IVR as a program service. · lithic.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 2021 · lithic.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Fraud prevention
- Lithic offers KYC/KYB workflows, 3DS authentication, authorization rules, shadow mode, backtesting, and client decisioning through Authorization Stream Access. · lithic.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- New York, New York, United States · lithic.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Money movement
- The platform provides ACH transfers, virtual and routable accounts, Federal Reserve connectivity, and ledger-based reconciliation. · lithic.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Network integrations
- Lithic connects directly to Visa, Mastercard, and American Express networks through one processing integration. · lithic.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Production access
- A Production API key is available when an account is enabled for the production environment. · docs.lithic.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Program management
- Lithic can manage sponsor-bank operations, network onboarding, regulatory compliance, card fulfillment, and reporting. · lithic.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Sandbox
- Every account comes with a Sandbox API key, and the Sandbox is free, supports all API endpoints, and is intended for development and testing. · docs.lithic.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Security and compliance
- Lithic states that its security program aligns with SOC 1, SOC 2, ISO 27001, and PCI DSS. · trust.lithic.com, 1 Oct 2026
- Wallet provisioning
- Lithic supports manual, in-app, and web-push provisioning to digital wallets and manages merchant network tokens by API. · lithic.com, 1 Oct 2026
- What it does
- Lithic is a developer-friendly issuer processing platform for card issuing, money movement, and program management. · lithic.com, 1 Oct 2026
Where Lithic stands on Freedom251
- Card Issuing Platforms#6 of 22