Why trust Enigma Vault: This guide comes from the team behind a PCI DSS Level 1 card vault, so I know which details matter once real cards are in production. Every platform here, including ours, follows the same template with real limitations, and every rating, price, and compliance claim comes from the vendor's own pages, the PCI Security Standards Council, G2, or Capterra, checked in October 2026. We list ourselves first because this is our guide. See how I evaluated each platform and the legal disclaimer.
TL;DR
- Enigma Vault: best for a free PCI DSS Level 1 card vault that works with any gateway.
- VGS: best for cutting PCI scope without rewriting your application.
- IXOPAY (formerly TokenEx): best for enterprises removing card data across many processors.
- PCI Vault: best for a zero-knowledge card vault with published pricing.
- Spreedly: best for multi-gateway merchants that want one PCI Level 1 vault plus routing.
- Basis Theory: best for fintech builders who want an AOC and PCI environment included.
- Evervault: best for developers who want PCI DSS 4.0.1 Level 1 with per-use pricing.
- Bluefin ShieldConex: best for vaultless tokens plus validated P2PE for in-person payments.
- Thales CipherTrust Tokenization: best for enterprises running tokenization in-house.
- Skyflow: best for governing card data alongside PII and PHI.
PCI DSS Tokenization Software Comparison: Which Is the Best?
The best PCI DSS compliant tokenization software removes card numbers from your environment, shrinks what your assessor has to review, and keeps payments flowing through the processor you choose. The best choice depends on how you take cards and how much of the PCI burden you want to hand off.
| Platform | Best for | How it cuts PCI scope | PCI status (vendor-stated) | G2 rating | Capterra rating | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enigma Vault | A free PCI DSS Level 1 card vault that works with any gateway | Hosted card forms, phone capture, gateway proxy | Level 1 service provider, SOC 2 Type II | 4.4/5 (6 reviews) | 4.8/5 (4 reviews) | $0 (Lite, free forever) |
| VGS | Cutting PCI scope without rewriting your application | Inbound and outbound proxy, iframe fields | PCI compliance add-ons (L1, L2 to L4) | 4.7/5 (47 reviews) | No reviews yet | From $1,000 a month |
| IXOPAY (formerly TokenEx) | Enterprises removing card data across many processors | Hosted capture, transparent gateway, universal tokens | Public PCI DSS v4.0 AOC (July 2024) | 4.6/5 (17 reviews) | No reviews yet | Quote |
| PCI Vault | A zero-knowledge card vault with published pricing | Capture forms, zero-knowledge PCI proxy | Level 1 storage | 4.5/5 (12 reviews) | No reviews yet | From $255 a month |
| Spreedly | Multi-gateway merchants that want one PCI Level 1 vault plus routing | Independent vault, 150+ gateway connections | PCI-1 vault | 4.4/5 (35 reviews) | 4.5/5 (13 reviews) | From $750 a month |
| Basis Theory | Fintech builders who want an AOC and PCI environment included | Collection elements, PCI environment you build in | Level 1, AOC included | 0 reviews on G2 | No reviews yet | $995 a month (free start) |
| Evervault | Developers who want PCI DSS 4.0.1 Level 1 with per-use pricing | Iframe inputs, encryption relays | PCI DSS 4.0.1 Level One, SOC 2 Type II | 4.4/5 (17 reviews) | No reviews yet | $995 a month plus usage (free sandbox) |
| Bluefin ShieldConex | Vaultless tokens plus validated P2PE for in-person payments | Vaultless tokens, PCI-validated P2PE | ISO/IEC 27001:2022, SOC badges | 0 reviews on G2 | No reviews yet | Quote |
| Thales CipherTrust Tokenization | Enterprises running tokenization in-house | Self-run vaulted and vaultless tokenization | Covered by your own assessment (self-run software) | 4.5/5 (33 reviews, full platform) | No reviews yet | Quote |
| Skyflow | Governing card data alongside PII and PHI | Isolated data privacy vault | Level 1, SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001:2022 | 5.0/5 (1 review, Payments vault) | No reviews yet | Custom quote |
What Is PCI DSS Compliant Tokenization Software?
PCI DSS compliant tokenization software replaces card numbers (PANs) with tokens that are worthless if stolen and keeps the real numbers inside a provider's PCI-validated vault, so far fewer of your own systems fall under a PCI DSS assessment.
Your apps, databases, and logs store only tokens. The provider holds the card data and carries the controls for it, and your acquirer or QSA confirms what stays in scope.
How Tokenization Reduces PCI DSS Scope
The PCI Security Standards Council's tokenization guidance sets the rule: for tokens and the systems holding them to be out of scope, they must have no value to an attacker trying to retrieve the PAN. Three points from that guidance shape every buying decision.
- The vault stays in scope: the tokenization system is part of the cardholder data environment, which is why handing it to a Level 1 provider moves that burden off your team.
- Retrievable PAN keeps you in scope: if your environment can pull the PAN back, your environment is in scope.
- Payment tokens need a check: tokens that can start a transaction may still be in scope, so confirm with your acquirer.
Source: PCI DSS Tokenization Guidelines, PCI Security Standards Council.
What your integration means for your questionnaire
| Integration pattern | Questionnaire it usually points to | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Card data enters a provider's iframe, hosted fields, or full redirect | SAQ A | The smallest set of controls; your servers never touch the PAN |
| Card data passes through your own servers before tokenization | SAQ D | The full set of controls applies to your environment |
| Card-present payments through a PCI-listed P2PE solution | SAQ P2PE | Fewer requirements for in-person payments, following the solution's instruction manual |
What changed for SAQ A in 2025: the SAQ A revision for PCI DSS v4.0.1 removed requirements 6.4.3 and 11.6.1 and added an eligibility criterion that the merchant's site is not susceptible to attacks from scripts. The PCI SSC FAQ 1588 says this applies when your page embeds a provider's payment form, and that written confirmation from a PCI DSS compliant provider about its embedded solution can help you meet it. Ask every vendor below for that confirmation.
Version note: PCI DSS v3.2.1 retired on 31 March 2024, and the future-dated requirements of v4.0 became mandatory after 31 March 2025, according to the PCI Security Standards Council.
How I Evaluated PCI DSS Tokenization Software
I weighted six criteria toward the two that decide how much PCI work stays with you: scope-reduction architecture and compliance evidence. This is an editorial comparison by the vendor that publishes it, not a certified ranking.
| Criterion | Weight | What I checked |
|---|---|---|
| Scope-reduction architecture | 25% | Whether card data can skip your servers entirely (iframe, hosted fields, proxy, P2PE) |
| Compliance evidence | 20% | Level 1 status, published AOC, SOC 2, ISO 27001, as stated by each vendor |
| Processor portability | 15% | Whether stored cards survive a change or addition of gateway |
| Capture channels | 15% | Web, mobile, phone, and in-person coverage |
| Pricing transparency | 15% | Published prices, free tiers, self-serve signup |
| Peer reviews | 10% | G2 and Capterra ratings and what reviewers actually say |
Sources and method: I read each vendor's product, pricing, and compliance pages, PCI Security Standards Council documents, and G2 and Capterra listings between 13 and 14 October 2026. I did not run paid production tests. Compliance status is what each vendor publishes; ask for the current AOC before you sign.
The 10 Best PCI DSS Compliant Tokenization Software Platforms
1. Enigma Vault: Best for a Free PCI DSS Level 1 Card Vault That Works With Any Gateway
- Starting price
- $0 (Lite), then $49.99 or $249.99 a month
- Free tier or trial
- Lite tier, free forever
- PCI status
- Level 1 service provider
- Who it suits
- Businesses that keep cards on file (travel, hospitality, healthcare, professional services, software platforms) and want card data off their systems without changing the gateway they already use.
A Level 1 vault that sits in front of your gateway: Card Vault captures the card through a hosted form, a phone payment through Twilio Pay, or the API, and returns a token to your app. When you charge, the gateway proxy places the real number into the request inside the vault and sends it to Authorize.net, Stripe, Braintree, PayPal, or any REST-based gateway, so your servers never hold the PAN.
Key features
- Hosted card forms: embeddable fields that keep card data off your web servers, the pattern that points toward SAQ A.
- Phone capture: callers enter cards through Twilio Pay, keeping PANs out of agents' screens and call recordings.
- Gateway proxy: charge through your existing gateway; switching processors is a configuration change.
- Deterministic and optional format-preserving tokens: the same card can map to the same token, and tokens can pass card-number checks.
- Ephemeral CVV: held encrypted for at most 30 minutes, then deleted.
- AES-256, per-customer keys, and audit logging: on every plan, including the free one.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Card Vault requests | Overage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lite | $0, free forever | 1,000 | $0.08 per request |
| Plus | $49.99 a month | 20,000 | $0.04 per request |
| Premium | $249.99 a month | 250,000 | $0.02 per request |
Billing runs through AWS Marketplace with no contract to start. See current pricing.
PCI and compliance
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| PCI DSS | Level 1 service provider |
| SOC 2 | Type II |
| ISO 27001 | In progress (per the company's own Security Policy) |
| Encryption | AES-256, per-customer keys |
Pros
- You can put real cards into a Level 1 vault on the free tier, with no sales call.
- Your gateway stays; Card Vault charges through it.
- It covers phone and back-office card handling, not just web checkout.
Cons
- It does not offer network tokens or account updater on its published plans.
- It does not route or retry transactions; pair it with your processor or an orchestrator for that.
- It is cloud-delivered and vaulted, so fully on-premises estates may prefer a self-run product.
What users like and dislike
- Likes: a simple, easy-to-understand API, no surprises on PCI DSS de-scoping, pricing below other vendors, and fast support. Read the Enigma Vault reviews on G2.
- Dislikes: one reviewer finds pricing a bit high and another wants more documentation; most report no complaints.
My verdict: the fastest route to a Level 1 vault without a contract, and a strong fit when cards reach you by web, phone, and email. Your acquirer or QSA confirms the questionnaire that applies. Start free.
Your gateway stays. Your card numbers leave.
Put your first 1,000 cards in a PCI DSS Level 1 vault on the free Lite plan.
2. VGS (Very Good Security): Best for Cutting PCI Scope Without Rewriting Your Application
- Starting price
- From $1,000 a month
- Free tier or trial
- Get started for free
- PCI status
- PCI add-ons (L1, L2 to L4)
- Who it suits
- Payments and engineering teams that want card data intercepted before it reaches their systems, with minimal changes to existing code.
A proxy that swaps cards for aliases in transit: VGS sits in front of your application as an inbound and outbound proxy. Card data from your forms or APIs is replaced with aliases before it reaches you, and VGS Collect renders each card field in its own secure iframe.
Key features
- Inbound and outbound proxy: redact card data on the way in, reveal it only to approved destinations on the way out.
- VGS Collect: iframe-based card fields for web and mobile.
- PCI Compliance Subscription: a Growth add-on covering Level 1 and Levels 2 to 4.
- VGS Provided Auditor: available as a separate add-on.
- Network tokens and account updater: Growth add-ons for stored cards.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | From $1,000 a month | Contact VGS for package details; get started for free |
| Growth | Quote | Add-ons such as the PCI Compliance Subscription, network tokens, account updater |
PCI and compliance
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| PCI support | PCI Compliance Subscription (L1, L2 to L4) as an add-on |
| Auditor | VGS Provided Auditor as an add-on |
Pros
- A proxy model can cut scope with few code changes.
- The highest G2 rating here with a meaningful sample: 4.7 from 47 reviews.
Cons
- About $1,000 a month to start.
- Add-on fees, such as $40 per extra CNAME, come up in reviews.
What users like and dislike
- Likes: fast onboarding to a proxied workflow, helpful chat support, and a quicker path through PCI certification with payment partners. Read the VGS reviews on G2.
- Dislikes: $40 for each extra CNAME, some out-of-date documentation, limited log filtering, and cost on the high side.
My verdict: a strong pick when you want scope reduction with the least application change and the budget fits.
3. IXOPAY (Formerly TokenEx): Best for Enterprises Removing Card Data Across Many Processors
- Starting price
- Quote
- Free tier or trial
- Demo
- PCI status
- Public PCI DSS v4.0 AOC (July 2024)
- Who it suits
- Enterprises and fintechs with several acquirers and payment methods that need one tokenization layer across all of them.
Universal tokens with a published AOC: TokenEx is now part of IXOPAY. Its PCI DSS v4.0 Attestation of Compliance for service providers (report dated 20 July 2024) is public and lists services including browser and mobile tokenization, the token services API, the transparent gateway, and P2PE devices.
Key features
- Transparent gateway: strips card data from requests before they enter your environment.
- Universal Tokens: card tokens that work across processors.
- 500+ payment adapters: covering 200+ payment service providers and 300+ payment methods.
- Network tokens and account updater: network tokens in TokenEx Core; account updater as a separate module.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| TokenEx Core, TokenEx Connect, Alternative Payments | Quote | Universal and network tokens; Connect adds 20+ prebuilt PSP integrations |
PCI and compliance
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| PCI DSS | v4.0 AOC for service providers, report dated 20 July 2024 |
| Assessed services | Tokenization, token API, transparent gateway, batch file transfer, P2PE devices |
Pros
- A public AOC makes your due diligence easier.
- Very wide processor coverage for multi-acquirer setups.
Cons
- Quote-only pricing.
- Two brand names in circulation, so confirm which contract applies.
What users like and dislike
- Likes: easy API integration with no sensitive data left in their environment, fast support, and a transparent gateway that let one team use processors without an SAQ A integration. Read the IXOPAY reviews on G2.
- Dislikes: few real complaints; one reviewer finds two-factor login to the dev region a hassle.
My verdict: built for enterprise card programs that span many processors and want a published AOC.
- Starting price
- From $255 a month
- Free tier or trial
- Self-serve signup
- PCI status
- Level 1 storage
- Who it suits
- Developer teams that want a straightforward card storage API with a published price and a zero-knowledge design.
A vault that cannot read your data on its own: PCI Vault describes itself as a zero-knowledge PCI DSS Level 1 compliant environment. It does not store your passphrase, which you need to retrieve your data, and it offers capture forms and a zero-knowledge PCI proxy so card data can reach your payment provider without touching your servers.
Key features
- Zero-knowledge storage: data is locked with your own key and passphrase, and PCI Vault does not store the passphrase.
- Card capture forms: hosted forms for collecting card input.
- PCI proxy: receive and transmit card data without it reaching your systems.
- Self-serve plans: pick a subscription and sign up on the site.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | From $255 a month | As shown on the PCI Vault homepage in October 2026 |
PCI and compliance
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| PCI DSS | Level 1 storage |
| Scope claim | PCI Vault says it can reduce your compliance burden to SAQ A; confirm with your QSA |
Pros
- Published pricing and a self-serve start.
- Zero-knowledge design limits what the provider itself can see.
Cons
- Because PCI Vault does not store your passphrase, losing it means you cannot retrieve that data.
- You need developers to integrate the API.
What users like and dislike
- Likes: a simple tokenization API (one reviewer integrated in about 15 minutes) and freedom to move transactions to any PSP. Read the PCI Vault reviews on G2.
- Dislikes: no phone support, occasional slow or busy servers, and fewer extras than larger competitors.
My verdict: a focused, priced-upfront option when you want zero-knowledge storage and have developers to integrate it.
5. Spreedly: Best for Multi-Gateway Merchants That Want One PCI Level 1 Vault Plus Routing
- Starting price
- From $750 a month
- Free tier or trial
- Demo
- PCI status
- PCI-1 vault
- Who it suits
- Merchants already running several gateways that want one vault of record and the option to route between processors.
A PCI-1 vault you own, with orchestration on top: Spreedly's Independent Vault keeps tokens portable across 150+ gateway connections, and its optimization package adds routing and authorization-rate features.
Key features
- PCI-1 vault with unlimited storage: on the Independent Vault plan.
- Token ownership: move between processors without re-collecting cards.
- Performance Optimization: network tokens, account updater, smart retries, routing, and 3D Secure.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Independent Vault | From $750 a month | PCI-1 vault, unlimited storage, token ownership, vault health insights |
| Performance Optimization | Quote | Network tokens, account updater, retries, routing, 3DS, fraud controls |
PCI and compliance
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| PCI DSS | PCI-1 compliant vault |
Pros
- One of the widest gateway networks.
- Vault and routing from one vendor.
Cons
- $750 a month is a steep floor for small teams.
- Per-call pricing can add up for high-volume, low-margin merchants.
What users like and dislike
- Likes: one centralized vault across more than a hundred gateways, quick support, and a simple API with clear documentation. Read the Spreedly reviews on G2.
- Dislikes: a slow dashboard, per-API-call pricing that makes automated testing costly, and gateway-specific updates that can take a while to ship.
My verdict: the right call when gateway sprawl is your main problem.
6. Basis Theory: Best for Fintech Builders Who Want an AOC and PCI Environment Included
- Starting price
- $995 a month
- Free tier or trial
- Free start
- PCI status
- Level 1, AOC included
- Who it suits
- Fintech and platform teams that need to run their own card logic in a compliant environment instead of building one.
A PCI environment you build inside: Basis Theory's $995 monthly plan includes a production-ready PCI environment and a PCI Attestation of Compliance, and its top tier adds prepared responses for 95% of PCI SAQ D.
Key features
- Included AOC: a PCI Attestation of Compliance on the standard plan.
- Production-ready PCI environment: run card-handling logic without standing up your own.
- Collection elements: UI components that send cards straight to the vault.
- SAQ D support: responses for 95% of SAQ D on the top tier.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free start | $0 | Getting-started access |
| Standard | $995 a month | 20,000 tokens, PCI environment, AOC, US environment |
| Enterprise | Quote | SAQ D responses, SSO, custom payloads, uptime guarantees |
PCI and compliance
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| PCI DSS | Level 1 |
| SOC 2 | Type II |
| AOC | Included on the standard plan |
Pros
- Compliance paperwork is part of the product.
- Flexible building blocks for custom payment flows.
Cons
- Nearly $1,000 a month, with a US-only environment on the standard plan.
- No G2 or Capterra reviews yet.
What users like and dislike
- Likes and dislikes: Basis Theory has no published G2 or Capterra reviews yet, so I rely on its published pricing and compliance pages. View the Basis Theory profile on G2.
My verdict: a good fit when your team builds its own payment logic and wants the AOC handled.
7. Evervault: Best for Developers Who Want PCI DSS 4.0.1 Level 1 With Per-Use Pricing
- Starting price
- $995 a month plus usage
- Free tier or trial
- Free sandbox, no time limit
- PCI status
- PCI DSS 4.0.1 Level One
- Who it suits
- Developer teams that want card collection, encryption, and network tokens with every fee published.
Encrypt on entry, pay per action: Evervault states PCI DSS 4.0.1 Level One and SOC 2 Type II. Its card inputs load in an iframe, and Evervault says that in most cases it reduces your PCI scope to the SAQ A control set. Relays forward encrypted card data to third parties.
Key features
- Iframe card inputs: keep card data off your servers.
- AoC and auditor introduction: Evervault provides its PCI DSS AoC, a policies and procedures bundle, and an introduction to an auditor familiar with its architecture.
- Relays: forward encrypted card data to processors and partners.
- Network tokens: $0.03 per creation, cryptogram, and update.
- Card account updater: $0.25 per updated card.
- Free sandbox: no credit card and no time limit.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Sandbox | Free | Building and testing |
| Platform | $995 a month plus usage | Under 25,000 transactions a month |
| Custom | Quote | 25,000+ transactions, volume discounts, SSO |
PCI and compliance
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| PCI DSS | 4.0.1, Level One |
| SOC 2 | Type II |
| Other | CSA STAR, EMVCo 3D Secure, HIPAA |
Pros
- Every per-action fee is public.
- A free sandbox with no time limit.
Cons
- Production starts at $995 a month plus usage.
- Standard support is Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm GMT.
What users like and dislike
- Likes: a friendly, modern UI, smooth relay setup, and easy SDKs and documentation. Read the Evervault reviews on G2.
- Dislikes: the enterprise package is expensive, connecting it can need IT help, and one reviewer feels it does not stand out from established secrets products.
My verdict: a solid developer choice when you want fee-level predictability.
8. Bluefin ShieldConex: Best for Vaultless Tokens Plus Validated P2PE for In-Person Payments
- Starting price
- Quote
- Free tier or trial
- Sandbox on request
- PCI status
- PCI-validated P2PE, ISO 27001:2022
- Who it suits
- Merchants and software vendors that take cards online and in person and want both channels out of scope.
Vaultless tokens online, validated encryption at the terminal: ShieldConex creates tokens with hardware security modules and, per Bluefin, never stores the data in a vault or database. For card-present payments, Bluefin runs a PCI-validated P2PE solution, and Decryptx lets partners offer it through an API.
Key features
- Vaultless tokens: no central store of card data to breach.
- Format-preserving options: format-preserving tokenization or encryption.
- Consistent tokens: the same input always produces the same token across channels.
- PCI-validated P2PE: for in-person payments, pointing toward SAQ P2PE.
- Enterprise Security Proxy Service: keeps PCI, PII, and PHI data out of merchant systems.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| ShieldConex and P2PE | Quote | Sandbox on request |
PCI and compliance
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| P2PE | PCI-validated P2PE solution |
| Other | SOC for Service Organizations, ISO/IEC 27001:2022 |
Pros
- Covers card-present and card-not-present scope from one vendor.
- Vaultless design removes a central token store.
Cons
- Quote-only pricing.
- No G2 or Capterra reviews for ShieldConex yet.
What users like and dislike
- Likes and dislikes: ShieldConex has no published G2 or Capterra reviews yet, so I rely on Bluefin's published product details. View the ShieldConex profile on G2.
My verdict: the strongest option here when in-person payments are a big part of your PCI scope.
9. Thales CipherTrust Tokenization: Best for Enterprises Running Tokenization In-House
- Starting price
- Quote
- Free tier or trial
- Free Community Edition (platform)
- PCI status
- Self-run, in your own assessment
- Who it suits
- Banks, insurers, and large retailers that must keep tokenization inside their own infrastructure.
Software you run yourself: CipherTrust Tokenization offers vaulted and vaultless tokenization, format-preserving and random tokens, and dynamic masking, with keys held in CipherTrust Manager. Because you run it, it sits inside your own PCI assessment rather than a provider's AOC.
Key features
- Vaulted and vaultless options: choose per application.
- Format-preserving tokens: no schema changes for existing systems.
- Dynamic data masking: most users see only the last four digits.
- Appliance deployment: virtual or bare-metal, with keys in CipherTrust Manager.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| CipherTrust Platform Community Edition | Free | Platform evaluation |
| CipherTrust Tokenization | Quote | Enterprise licensing |
PCI and compliance
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| PCI DSS | Covered by your own assessment (self-run software) |
| Thales claim | Tokenization can remove cardholder data from PCI DSS scope |
Pros
- Keeps card data and keys inside your own estate.
- Reaches legacy databases that hosted vaults cannot.
Cons
- You operate and assess it yourself.
- Enterprise sales cycle and deployment effort.
What users like and dislike
- Likes: centralized key management across multicloud and one platform for discovery, encryption, and tokenization. Read the CipherTrust reviews on G2.
- Dislikes: onboarding takes effort, a steep learning curve for new admins, and challenging deployment in complex hybrid clouds.
My verdict: the choice when policy requires tokenization to stay in-house.
- Starting price
- Custom quote
- Free tier or trial
- Demo; private offer on AWS Marketplace
- PCI status
- Level 1, SOC 2, ISO 27001:2022
- Who it suits
- Enterprises in healthcare, insurance, and financial services that need one vault and policy model for cards, personal data, and health data.
A PCI Level 1 privacy vault: Skyflow states PCI DSS Level 1, SOC 2 Type II, and ISO 27001:2022, and stores sensitive fields in an isolated vault with per-field access policies. Its payments solutions cover card acceptance and card issuance.
Key features
- Isolated vault: cards and PII stored apart from your application data.
- Field-level policies: different roles see different views of the same card.
- Payments use cases: card acceptance and issuance.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Skyflow vault | Custom quote via private offer | Priced by data subjects protected |
PCI and compliance
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| PCI DSS | Level 1 |
| SOC 2 | Type II |
| ISO 27001 | 2022 |
Pros
- One vault and policy model for cards, PII, and PHI.
- Pricing by data subjects can favor high call volumes.
Cons
- Built for enterprise programs with demos and contracts.
- A single G2 review on the Payments listing.
What users like and dislike
- Likes: the single reviewer values keeping client payment data confidential while still using it. Read the Skyflow reviews on G2.
- Dislikes: the reviewer reports none; one review is too small a sample to draw conclusions.
My verdict: fits organizations that must govern cards, PII, and PHI under one policy model.
Buyer Checklist: Seven PCI Questions for Every Vendor
| Ask this | A good answer looks like | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Can we see your current AOC and responsibility matrix? | A current service provider AOC, shared on request | Shows which controls stay with you |
| Which questionnaire will our integration likely support? | A clear answer by integration pattern, with qualifiers | Your acquirer or QSA makes the final call |
| Will you confirm your embedded payment form protects against script attacks? | Written confirmation, per PCI SSC FAQ 1588 | Supports the 2025 SAQ A eligibility criterion |
| Which capture channels are covered? | Web, mobile, phone, and in-person where needed | Every channel that sees a PAN adds scope |
| Can stored cards move to another provider? | A documented PCI-to-PCI export with stated fees | Avoids lock-in later |
| Which gateways can you charge through today? | Your current gateway, by name | Decides whether your processor stays |
| What will year one cost at our volume? | Monthly, per-request, add-on, and exit fees itemized | Totals vary widely between vendors |
Which PCI DSS Tokenization Software Fits Your Business?
Best PCI DSS tokenization software by use case
| Your situation | Prioritize | Shortlist |
|---|---|---|
| Cards on file through one gateway, small team | Free Level 1 vault, hosted forms, gateway proxy | Enigma Vault |
| Cards by phone or email | Phone capture, secure intake | Enigma Vault |
| Minimal code changes | Proxy-based aliasing | VGS |
| Several processors and regions | Universal tokens, routing | IXOPAY, Spreedly |
| Building your own payment logic | Included AOC and PCI environment | Basis Theory, Evervault |
| In-person and online payments | Validated P2PE plus tokens | Bluefin ShieldConex |
| Tokenization must stay in-house | Self-run vaulted and vaultless | Thales CipherTrust |
| Cards plus PII and PHI | One governed vault | Skyflow, Enigma Vault |
Best PCI DSS tokenization software by company stage
| Stage | Approach |
|---|---|
| Startup or small business | Start free or on published pricing: Enigma Vault, PCI Vault, Evervault sandbox |
| Growth or mid-market | Cut scope before your card base grows: Enigma Vault, VGS, Spreedly |
| Enterprise | Run a structured evaluation: IXOPAY, Thales CipherTrust, Skyflow, with Enigma Vault where API-first speed matters |
The Bottom Line for 2026
The best PCI DSS compliant tokenization software keeps card numbers out of your systems, gives you an AOC you can show your assessor, and fits the way you actually take payments. The best choice depends on your channels and how much of the PCI burden you want to hand off. If you want to see how a Level 1 vault fits your stack, start with Enigma Vault's free tier and keep charging through the gateway you already use. Explore Card Vault.
Shrink your PCI scope before your next assessment.
Start free with Card Vault, or book a demo to map your card flows with our team.
Legal Disclaimer
- Vendor information comes from public sources in October 2026 and may change.
- Compliance statuses are as stated by each vendor; request current AOCs directly.
- Trademarks belong to their owners; no endorsement is implied.
- Enigma Vault publishes this guide and is listed first as the publisher.
- This is not legal or compliance advice; PCI scope outcomes depend on your environment, acquirer, and assessor.
