Forage
Forage is a USDA-approved payments technology company that enables merchants and delivery platforms to accept SNAP EBT and EBT Cash payments online and in-store. Founded in 2020 in San Francisco, it processes EBT transactions for retailers including Uber Eats, DoorDash, Dollar General, Save A Lot, and Toast.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Forage does
Forage is a USDA-approved payments technology company founded in 2020 and headquartered in San Francisco that enables merchants, marketplaces, and delivery platforms to accept SNAP EBT and EBT Cash payments online and in-store. The company is one of only three payment providers approved by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service to process SNAP EBT, providing regulatory exclusivity against incumbent processors. Its cloud-native infrastructure exposes REST APIs and SDKs for JavaScript, iOS, and Android, with purpose-built components including a custom PIN entry UI that reduces invalid PIN errors by 70%, a PCI-compliant fraud layer partnered directly with USDA, and a public status page reporting 99.9%+ reliability. The platform serves online grocers (Weee!, Thrive Market, FreshDirect), national retailers via delivery aggregators (Dollar General at 16,000+ stores through DoorDash, Save A Lot at 325+ locations through Uber Eats), delivery platforms (Uber Eats, DoorDash, Instacart, Gopuff), POS and payments platforms (Toast, Adyen), and a long tail of SMB merchants via the Shopify App Store.
Forage's product portfolio centers on three pillars underpinned by the same API: Forage Online EBT Payments for e-commerce and marketplace checkouts, Forage In-Store EBT Payments for POS-integrated acceptance, and the Forage Consumer App (launched late 2025) that lets SNAP shoppers check EBT balances, upload receipts via computer vision, and earn up to 2% rewards redeemable as Visa prepaid cards. Supporting products include a configurable Merchant Dashboard with SFTP-based reporting, an item-level SNAP Eligibility Compliance Service for state-level waivers, and an EBT Processor Upgrade migration service targeting legacy providers. The company holds PCI-compliant security certifications and works directly with USDA on fraud defense.
Forage generates revenue primarily through a publicly listed 3.5% + $0.30 per-transaction fee on EBT SNAP and EBT Cash payments, supplemented by custom volume pricing for high-volume enterprise and POS deployments on multi-year contracts. Its hybrid go-to-market combines API-first developer adoption (public docs, GitHub, sandbox), direct enterprise sales for mid-market and large merchants, self-serve via the Shopify App Store, and channel distribution through embedded integrations with Uber Eats, DoorDash, Adyen, Toast, and others. The free consumer app monetizes indirectly by driving transaction volume to the merchant side rather than via direct consumer fees.
Forage firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Forage
- Legal name
- Forage Technology Corporation, Inc.
- Website
- https://joinforage.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Forage is a USDA-approved payments technology company that enables merchants and delivery platforms to accept SNAP EBT and EBT Cash payments online and in-store. Founded in 2020 in San Francisco, it processes EBT transactions for retailers including Uber Eats, DoorDash, Dollar General, Save A Lot, and Toast.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Forage industry classification
Industry- Product category
- EBT Payment Processing
- NAICS
- Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320), Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (52232)
- SIC
- Finance Services (6199)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Embedded Payments (Pay-ins, Pay-outs, Wallets) (FSAGALAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Embedded Payroll, Earned Wage Access & Benefits Finance (FSAGALAI)
Keywords
Where Forage is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Forage business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- EBT Payment Processing Fees: Standard pay-as-you-go processing fee of 3.5% + $0.30 per transaction on EBT SNAP and EBT Cash payments processed through Forage's online platform. No setup fees or hidden fees.
- Custom & POS Volume Pricing: Volume-based custom pricing packages for customers with large payment processing volumes and in-store/POS deployments; available via contact sales with discounts over the standard rate.
- Forage Consumer App Rewards Economics: Free consumer app that surfaces retailer-funded grocery deals and rewards (up to 2% back) to SNAP shoppers; revenue generated indirectly through merchant transaction volumes rather than direct consumer fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Standard: 3.5% + $0.30 processing fee per transaction |
| Usage-based | Multi-year contract | Custom & POS: Volume pricing discounts for large processing volumes |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
Forage product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Forage provides cloud-based, USDA-approved SNAP EBT and EBT Cash payment processing infrastructure for merchants, delivery platforms, and POS systems. It enables online and in-store acceptance of government food benefits through REST APIs, native SDKs (JavaScript, iOS, Android), and pre-built integrations with Shopify, Toast, and Adyen. The platform is complemented by a free consumer mobile app that lets SNAP recipients check EBT balances, upload receipts, and earn up to 2% rewards redeemable as a Visa prepaid card.
Product overview
Forage is a mission-driven, USDA-approved payments platform built around a single core offering (cloud-based EBT payment processing) extended via three product pillars: Forage Online EBT Payments (web/app checkout for ecommerce and marketplaces), Forage In-Store EBT Payments (POS-integrated acceptance), and the Forage App (consumer-facing rewards and balance-check). The Forage API & SDKs underpin all three, while the Forage Merchant Dashboard provides analytics and the Forage EBT Processor Upgrade is a migration service targeting retailers on legacy processors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Forage Online EBT Payments Cloud-based USDA-approved EBT SNAP and EBT Cash payment processing for ecommerce and marketplace retailers, delivered via REST APIs and SDKs with purpose-built PIN entry UI, high-converting checkout, and embedded compliance.
- Forage In-Store EBT Payments POS-integrated EBT SNAP and EBT Cash payment acceptance with customizable native checkout UI, automated onboarding, and dedicated EBT expert support for grocery, convenience, and restaurant meal program merchants.
- Forage App Free consumer-facing mobile application enabling SNAP/EBT recipients to check EBT balances, find exclusive grocery deals, and earn up to 2% rewards on EBT purchases by uploading receipts; rewards are redeemable via a Visa prepaid card.
- Forage API & SDKs REST API with JavaScript, iOS, Android, and cURL SDKs that enables merchants and platforms to integrate EBT SNAP, EBT Cash, WIC, HSA, and FSA payments, with prebuilt UI components, sandbox environment, and Bearer-token authentication.
- Forage Merchant Dashboard Configurable merchant analytics dashboard purpose-built for EBT businesses, supporting flexible reporting, SFTP export, settlement customization, and real-time visibility into EBT transaction performance, fraud signals, and shopper behavior.
- Forage EBT Processor Upgrade Switch/migration service helping retailers move from legacy EBT processors to Forage, promising an average 12%+ increase in SNAP EBT sales with most retailers going live in less than a day via configuration change rather than re-integration.
Quantifiable outcome
- 15%+ sales growth for merchants enabling EBT via Forage
- +9 more outcomes
Companies that use Forage
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Forage technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration14 records
AI capability6 records
Feature9 records
Forage partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major regional grocery delivery partner, core strategic; flagship payments platform integration expanding merchant reach, major retail customer; flagship in-store and delivery partnership, tactical time-limited initiative, major online grocery customer in ethnic e-grocery segment, major national retailer customer, niche saas partner enabling local food and csa access, core strategic integration; flagship distribution channel for smb merchants, flagship delivery platform partner, major quick-commerce customer; expanded hsa/fsa support and major pos platform partner for restaurant/retail ebt.
- FreshDirectmajor regional grocery delivery partnerForage and FreshDirect enabled online SNAP for New Yorkers, expanding EBT acceptance to FreshDirect's customer base in the New York metropolitan area.
- Adyencore strategic; flagship payments platform integration expanding merchant reachForage partnered with payments platform Adyen to enable SNAP EBT payments for Adyen merchants in the United States. Forage provides the technical infrastructure and USDA compliance support while Adyen offers its unified commerce platform, allowing grocery, convenience, and restaurant meal program merchants to add EBT with minimal integration effort. Supports mixed-basket transactions, secure PIN entry, and EBT-specific refunds; first merchants expected to go live in early 2026.
- Save A Lotmajor retail customer; flagship in-store and delivery partnershipSave A Lot and Forage launched SNAP EBT payments on Uber Eats at 325+ Save A Lot store locations, enhancing grocery access for underserved communities. SNAP beneficiaries can shop for eligible items online with EBT, including a promotional discount through December 31, 2025. Save A Lot's 2025 Business and Social Impact Report also cites Forage among expanded eCommerce partnerships across approximately 650 stores.
- Ziptactical time-limited initiativeForage and Zip collaborated to offer a no-fee installment payment option to Americans impacted by the 2025 government shutdown, helping households access groceries if SNAP benefits were delayed. Zip waived transaction fees and Forage leveraged its network of grocers accepting EBT to support affected households. The initiative was contingent upon delays in federal benefit issuance.
- Weee!major online grocery customer in ethnic e-grocery segmentWeee!, the largest ethnic e-grocer in the US, partnered with Forage (a USDA-approved EBT payments processor) to accept SNAP benefits. This enables culturally relevant food shopping for the approximately 1 in 8 Americans who rely on SNAP.
- Dollar Generalmajor national retailer customerDoorDash expanded SNAP/EBT payment capabilities to 16,000+ Dollar General stores (with Forage as the enabling payments processor), nearly doubling the network of stores accepting online SNAP/EBT to over 35,000 across 48 states.
- Local Food Marketplace (LFM)niche saas partner enabling local food and csa accessLocal Food Marketplace (LFM) integrated Forage into its software to support online SNAP/EBT payment processing for local food retailers and CSAs. The integration includes automated SNAP Match and reporting tools and targets customers like Thrive Market.
- Shopifycore strategic integration; flagship distribution channel for smb merchantsForage launched a Shopify integration enabling merchants using Shopify's e-commerce platform to directly integrate with Forage and enable EBT payments. The Shopify app allows merchants to accept SNAP, EBT Cash, and credit/debit card payments in an all-in-one solution, with Forage handling USDA FNS approval coordination and going live within approximately 90 days.
- Uber (Uber Eats)flagship delivery platform partnerForage is the SNAP EBT payments partner enabling Uber Eats customers to use their SNAP benefits across participating retailers including Save A Lot. Uber's Karl Hebert (VP of Payments, Risk, and Identity) endorsed Forage as enabling a 'seamless experience' for SNAP shoppers.
- DoorDashflagship delivery platform partnerForage enables SNAP/EBT payments on DoorDash, expanding acceptance to 16,000+ Dollar General stores across 48 states (nearly doubling the online SNAP/EBT network to 35,000+ stores). DoorDash's Fuad Hannon (VP of New Verticals) endorsed Forage for supporting food access.
- Gopuffmajor quick-commerce customer; expanded hsa/fsa supportGopuff launched FSA & HSA payments powered by Forage, expanding access to healthcare essentials for consumers using tax-advantaged health benefit accounts.
- Toastmajor pos platform partner for restaurant/retail ebtToast and Forage offer a combined solution enabling Toast restaurant and retail customers to accept EBT SNAP benefits in-store. Toast's Omri Traub (GM, Retail) endorsed Forage as a 'like-minded technology partner' helping customers 'do both what's right and what's good for their business.'
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Forage competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Conduent: One of the other two USDA-approved EBT payment processors alongside Forage and FIS. Conduent is the incumbent government payments specialist managing a large share of legacy state EBT contracts, making it the most direct head-to-head competitor for merchant EBT processor upgrade deals.
- Fidelity National Information Services (FIS): The third USDA-approved EBT payment processor and the dominant incumbent merchant acquirer in grocery. FIS processes a substantial share of legacy in-store EBT volume and represents both a direct competitor and the primary processor Forage is targeting to displace via its EBT Processor Upgrade product.
- Worldpay (FIS subsidiary): Worldpay is a top-tier merchant acquirer that historically bundled EBT into broader processing contracts for grocery and convenience merchants. Its scale and incumbent contracts make it the most important competitor in mid-market and enterprise EBT processor replacement deals.
Broad incumbents
- Stripe: Stripe is the leading developer-first online payments API serving millions of merchants. While Stripe does not currently process EBT at scale, its developer-first DNA, grocery merchant penetration, and PayPal Ventures' investment in Forage make it a credible future direct competitor should Stripe pursue USDA FNS approval.
- Adyen: Adyen is Forage's flagship payments platform partner but also a potential competitor. As a global unified commerce platform serving large grocery and restaurant merchants, Adyen could pursue USDA approval independently if it chooses to internalize EBT rather than routing through Forage.
- PayPal: PayPal Ventures is a strategic investor in Forage, but PayPal itself operates a large merchant processing business and could conceivably build or acquire EBT capabilities. As a federal benefit recipient payment rail (via prepaid cards), PayPal overlaps with the broader benefit-payments landscape Forage is expanding into.
- Toast: Toast is Forage's POS platform partner for restaurant and retail EBT. As a vertically integrated restaurant POS platform, Toast is comparable to Forage in targeting restaurant/retail merchants with embedded payments and analytics, and serves as both a distribution channel and a future potential competitor if Toast pursues its own USDA-approved EBT rail.
- Block (Square): Block operates Square for Restaurants, Square for Retail, and Cash App, all of which overlap with Forage's merchant and consumer use cases. While Block does not process EBT at scale, its SMB merchant reach and prepaid card infrastructure position it as a credible adjacent incumbent that could enter USDA-approved rails.
Emerging players
- Marqeta: Marqeta is a modern card-issuing and payments API platform serving fintechs and platforms with embedded card programs. Comparable to Forage in developer-first API design and platform-embedded distribution model, with potential overlap in prepaid/govt benefit card issuing use cases.
- Modern Treasury: Modern Treasury is a developer-first payments operations platform serving fintechs and platforms. Comparable to Forage in API-first infrastructure approach and platform-embedded distribution, though Modern Treasury focuses on bank-to-bank and ACH flows rather than government benefit card rails.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat7 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Forage social profiles
Digital presenceForage compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Forage financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Forage leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Forage funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors17 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Forage M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Forage
What does Forage do?
Forage provides cloud-based, USDA-approved SNAP EBT and EBT Cash payment processing infrastructure for merchants, delivery platforms, and POS systems. It enables online and in-store acceptance of government food benefits through REST APIs, native SDKs (JavaScript, iOS, Android), and pre-built integrations with Shopify, Toast, and Adyen. The platform is complemented by a free consumer mobile app that lets SNAP recipients check EBT balances, upload receipts, and earn up to 2% rewards redeemable as a Visa prepaid card.
Is Forage a public or private company?
Forage is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Forage founded?
Forage was founded in 2020. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Forage based?
Forage is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Forage make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. EBT Payment Processing Fees are the primary driver. The others are custom & POS Volume Pricing and forage Consumer App Rewards Economics.
Who are Forage's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Conduent, Fidelity National Information Services (FIS) and Worldpay (FIS subsidiary). Broad incumbents are Stripe, Adyen, PayPal, Toast and Block (Square). Emerging players are Marqeta and Modern Treasury.
Does Forage have an API?
Yes. Forage offers a public REST API for processing EBT SNAP payments, demonstrated with cURL, JavaScript (JS), iOS, and Android SDKs. Authentication uses a Bearer token (e.g., 'Authorization: Bearer prod_vOrumiuRFG7ouMoZNF8AeFNwMhZRET'). Endpoints include payments (POST https://api.sandbox.joinforage.app/api/payments/) with idempotency keys (Idempotency-Key header), Merchant-Account header support, and parameters for amount, payment_method, funding_type (e.g., 'ebt_snap'), and customer_id. A sandbox environment is available. Developers can build merchant-side integrations to enable EBT, SNAP, WIC, HSA, FSA, and EBT Cash payments across online, in-store, and marketplace experiences. Developer documentation is at docs.joinforage.app/reference/introduction.
What industry is Forage in?
Forage's product category is EBT Payment Processing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAGALAB, Embedded Payments (Pay-ins, Pay-outs, Wallets), with a secondary code of FSAGALAI, Embedded Payroll, Earned Wage Access & Benefits Finance. Its NAICS code is 522320 and its SIC code is 6199.