Tilopay
Tilopay is a Costa Rica-based payment gateway and facilitator serving 65K+ retail, hospitality, and services businesses across 33 Central American and Caribbean markets with a transaction-fee model, local payment methods, and 90+ platform integrations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersSanta Ana, Costa Rica
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Tilopay does
Tilopay is a Costa Rica-based payment service provider operating a payment gateway and facilitator platform that processes digital card and local-method payments for businesses across Central America and the Caribbean. The platform is built around three core product primitives — Link de Pago y Código QR (no-website link/QR payments), Conexión a Plataformas (native e-commerce/PMS gateway integrations across 90+ platforms including Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, VTEX, and Cloudbeds), and Cobro de Suscripciones (recurring billing with automatic card updater) — supported by a layer of add-on modules such as tokenization, smart routing, split payments, 3DS 2.0 authentication, virtual terminal (Datáfono Virtual), deposit holds, and discount coupons. Underlying the stack is a REST API and JavaScript SDK with sandbox, PCI DSS Level 1 certified infrastructure with redundant data centers, and AI-assisted fraud detection layered through third-party partners Kount and Fraudio.
The company's revenue model is purely transaction-based: a percentage commission plus a small fixed per-transaction fee, with no monthly or annual subscription charges — merchants pay only when they sell. Tilopay operates a multi-channel go-to-market combining self-serve digital onboarding (48-hour activation), enterprise direct sales with dedicated account managers, channel partnerships through e-commerce platform marketplaces, and API/SDK-led developer integrations. Geographic operations span 33 markets across Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and a broad Caribbean footprint, with local payment method coverage (SINPE Móvil, Yappy, BAC installments, Tasa Cero) supplemented by Apple Pay, Google Pay, and a network of 45 financial institution allies. Named customers span Apple Authorized Resellers (iCon/DJI, iShop), regional retailers (Unimart, SIMAN, Xiaomi, Adidas), hospitality properties (Corcovado Wilderness Lodge, Oxygen Jungle Villas), and emerging logos (Amazon Places, ADT), with 65K+ affiliated businesses and 1.4M+ annual transactions on the platform. Tilopay has disclosed approximately US$1.65M in external funding across a 2020 seed and a 2022 round, is privately held (TILOPAY SOLUCIONES COMERCIALES LTDA), and employs between 11 and 50 people.
Tilopay firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tilopay
- Legal name
- TILOPAY SOLUCIONES COMERCIALES LTDA
- Website
- https://tilopay.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Tilopay is a Costa Rica-based payment gateway and facilitator serving 65K+ retail, hospitality, and services businesses across 33 Central American and Caribbean markets with a transaction-fee model, local payment methods, and 90+ platform integrations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tilopay industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Payment Processing
- NAICS
- Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320), Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (52232)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Merchant Payment Gateways (API/Hosted Checkout) (FSAMACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Smart Routing, Cascading & Payment Optimization (FSAMACAJ), Payment Gateways & Orchestration (BPAMAFAA), POS, SoftPOS & In-Person Acceptance Infrastructure (FSAGABAO), International / Cross-Border BNPL & Multi-Currency POS Financing (FSAGAIAN), EMV Chip, Magstripe & PIN Debit Acceptance (FSAMADAG)
Keywords
Where Tilopay is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santa Ana
- HQ country
- Costa Rica
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Tilopay business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Transaction Fees: Commission-based revenue model charging a percentage plus fixed fee per successful transaction. No monthly fees, annual fees, or fixed costs. Merchants only pay when they sell.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | VISA transactions in Costa Rica |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | BAC bank integration transactions |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Aggregator/Payment Facilitator model |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
Tilopay product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tilopay operates a digital payment platform (payment gateway and facilitator) for businesses in Central America and the Caribbean, enabling online card acceptance, link/QR-based payments, e-commerce platform integration, and automated subscription billing. It provides PCI DSS Level 1 security, AI-powered fraud prevention (Kount and Fraudio), 3DS 2.0 authentication, tokenization, and a REST API/SDK for custom integrations, with native plugins for 90+ global platforms including Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, VTEX, and Cloudbeds.
Product overview
Tilopay is a fintech payment platform operating as a payment facilitator (and aggregator) that offers a unified ecosystem of three core products: Link de Pago y Código QR for link-based and QR code payments without a website, Conexión a Plataformas for e-commerce gateway integrations with 90+ platforms, and Cobro de Suscripciones for automated recurring billing. These core products are complemented by security and optimization add-on modules including Tokenización de Tarjetas, CAU (Cardholder Update) for automatic card data renewal, Smart Routing, Split Payments, 3DS 2.0 authentication, Virtual Terminal (Datáfono Virtual), Deposit Holds for hospitality, Discount Coupons, and Protect Group reservation insurance. Tilopay operates in 33 markets across Central America and the Caribbean, serving 65K+ businesses with 45+ financial institution partners and 1.4M+ annual successful transactions. The platform offers developer tools including SDK and REST API with sandbox environment.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Link de Pago y Código QR A payment link and QR code product that allows businesses to receive online payments without a website by generating shareable links or scannable codes for WhatsApp, social media, or physical display. Targeted at merchants without an online store and at retail and service businesses.
- Conexión a Plataformas An e-commerce payment gateway integration that connects Tilopay to online stores and platforms (Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, VTEX, and more) for secure card payment processing without redirects. Targeted at retail and brand e-commerce merchants.
- Cobro de Suscripciones Automated recurring payment management system for subscription billing, supporting configurable plans with frequencies (daily to annual), trial periods, discount coupons, and automatic card updates via CAU technology. Targeted at SaaS, subscription services, and membership organizations.
- Cobros con Datáfono Virtual (Virtual Terminal) Virtual terminal for in-person card payments, enabling businesses to process Visa, Mastercard, and American Express directly to their bank account. Targeted at merchants that need to accept card-present payments alongside online channels.
- Tilopay API REST API enabling developers to create personalized checkout experiences and automate payment workflows for merchants. Targeted at developers and integrators building custom payment experiences on top of Tilopay.
- Tilopay SDK Software Development Kit for designing a unique payment flow that guarantees a smooth checkout experience while maintaining Tilopay's security standards. Targeted at developers building custom checkout integrations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Digital affiliation and validation in 48 hours
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Tilopay
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Tilopay technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration90 records
AI capability3 records
Feature9 records
Tilopay partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- YappycoreStrategic partnership with Yappy, Panama's most popular mobile payment method with 1.6+ million users. Enables Tilopay merchants to accept Yappy payments directly through their online stores, strengthening digital commerce options in Panama.
- BACcorePartnership with BAC bank for Tasa Cero (Zero Rate) installments and Minicuotas payment options in Guatemala. Enables merchants to offer promotional financing to customers directly through their e-commerce integration.
- KountcorePremium partner with native direct integration for AI-powered fraud detection and prevention services.
- FraudiocoreIntegration for AI-based fraud detection technology combined with Kount for comprehensive transaction security.
- CredixsupportingIntegration for installment payment plans in Costa Rica, enabling merchants to offer financing for higher-value purchases.
- CredivivasupportingBuy Now Pay Later integration allowing customers to purchase today and pay later with fully digital enrollment.
- TafisupportingBNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) solution for Panama enabling installment payments in online stores.
- Apple PaycoreIntegration enabling merchants to accept Apple Pay as a fast, secure payment method using Face ID or fingerprint authentication.
- Google PaysupportingIntegration for fast, secure payments using Google Pay on Android devices and Chrome browser.
- ShopifycoreNative plugin partnership - Tilopay is the only native Shopify payment plugin in Central America and Caribbean, enabling merchants to accept international cards with certified integration.
- WooCommercecoreCertified WooCommerce plugin partnership in the region for accepting Mastercard, Visa, and American Express.
- WixcoreNative Wix integration partnership enabling merchants to accept global cards without technical complexity.
- VTEXsupportingIntegration with VTEX commerce platform for processing global card payments in enterprise e-commerce deployments.
- CloudbedssupportingOnly local solution with direct integration in Central America for Cloudbeds hospitality management system, enabling international payment acceptance.
- SimpleBookingsupportingIntegration with SimpleBooking online reservation engine for accepting international card payments.
- PowertranzsupportingPayment gateway integration for secure, fluid transactions with enhanced fraud protection.
- CardinalsupportingPayment gateway integration creating a shielded payment environment with enhanced authentication.
- SINPE MóvilcoreIntegration for Costa Rica's favorite mobile payment method, enabling 100% automated collection via phone number without manual receipt validation.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Tilopay competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Stripe: Global payment gateway with developer-first API and broad platform integrations (Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix). While not Central America-specialized, Stripe competes for the same enterprise and SMB merchants that Tilopay serves and offers the same hosted checkout and subscription billing primitives.
- Mercado Pago: Dominant LATAM payment platform attached to Mercado Libre's marketplace. Provides card processing, installments, and QR payments across most of the region, representing the primary incumbent competitive threat to Tilopay's merchants in Central America.
- PayU: Global payment processor with significant LATAM operations through PayU Latam. A broader incumbent offering card processing, local methods, and merchant services across multiple Latin American countries, overlapping with Tilopay's target merchants.
Regional players
- Clip: Mexico-focused POS and payment acceptance provider for SMBs. Comparable to Tilopay's recent Virtual Terminal expansion into in-person acceptance, with a similar SMB self-serve onboarding approach but different geographic focus.
- Conekta: Mexico-focused online payment gateway offering card processing, OXXO cash payments, and SPEI transfers. Operates in the same LATAM fintech gateway category as Tilopay but serves a different primary geography.
- OpenPay: Mexico-based online payment gateway with plugin integrations for major e-commerce platforms. Operates in a similar product category to Tilopay—e-commerce gateway with platform integrations—but serves Mexican merchants rather than Central American ones.
Direct peers
- dLocal: Cross-border payment platform specializing in emerging markets including Latin America. Comparable to Tilopay in enabling merchants to accept local payment methods and settle in local currencies across fragmented emerging-market geographies.
- EBANX: Cross-border payments company focused on Latin America, offering local payment method acceptance and settlement. Directly comparable to Tilopay's value proposition of enabling international merchants to tap into regional LATAM payment rails.
- Kushki: LATAM-focused payment gateway and orchestration platform operating across multiple Latin American countries. Directly comparable to Tilopay in offering local payment methods, multi-country processing, and platform integrations for merchants in the region.
Emerging players
- Yuno: LATAM payment orchestration platform enabling merchants to route transactions across multiple acquirers and local payment methods. Comparable to Tilopay in the orchestration and smart-routing value proposition, though operating at a different stage and scale.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Tilopay social profiles
Digital presenceTilopay compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Tilopay financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tilopay leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Tilopay funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tilopay 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 Tilopay
What does Tilopay do?
Tilopay operates a digital payment platform (payment gateway and facilitator) for businesses in Central America and the Caribbean, enabling online card acceptance, link/QR-based payments, e-commerce platform integration, and automated subscription billing. It provides PCI DSS Level 1 security, AI-powered fraud prevention (Kount and Fraudio), 3DS 2.0 authentication, tokenization, and a REST API/SDK for custom integrations, with native plugins for 90+ global platforms including Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, VTEX, and Cloudbeds.
Is Tilopay a public or private company?
Tilopay is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Tilopay founded?
Tilopay was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Tilopay based?
Tilopay is headquartered in Santa Ana, Costa Rica, in the Latin America region.
How does Tilopay make money?
One revenue line is on record: transaction Fees.
Who are Tilopay's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Stripe, Mercado Pago and PayU. Regional players are Clip, Conekta and OpenPay. Direct peers are dLocal, EBANX and Kushki. Yuno is listed as an emerging player.
Does Tilopay have an API?
Yes. Tilopay offers a REST API and SDK (Software Development Kit) for developers to build custom payment integrations. The API is documented via Postman and allows businesses to create personalized checkout experiences, process transactions, manage subscriptions, and automate payment workflows. A sandbox environment is available for testing with test card details provided. Developers can register for sandbox credentials and receive API keys, API user, and API password for integration. Developer documentation is at documenter.getpostman.com/view/12758640/TVKA5KUT.
What industry is Tilopay in?
Tilopay's product category is Payment Processing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAMACAA, Merchant Payment Gateways (API/Hosted Checkout), with a secondary code of FSAMACAJ, Smart Routing, Cascading & Payment Optimization. Its NAICS code is 522320 and its SIC code is 7372.