Chargeflow vs CertNode Reflex
An honest, detailed comparison of two automated chargeback defense platforms. We cover pricing, technology, evidence quality, and platform support so you can make an informed decision.
Platform Overview
Chargeflow
Chargeflow is a well-funded chargeback defense platform backed by $35M in Series A funding. Founded in Israel, they were among the first to apply GPT-powered AI to automated dispute responses. They support Stripe and Shopify integrations and have processed disputes for thousands of merchants.
CertNode Reflex
CertNode Reflex is a chargeback defense platform built on cryptographic accountability infrastructure. It uses Claude (Anthropic) for AI narratives, RFC 3161 certified timestamps for evidence verification, and device fingerprinting for fraud pattern matching. It supports five payment platforms.
1. Pricing
Both platforms use a success-fee model: you only pay when a dispute is won. The core difference is the percentage. Chargeflow charges 25% of the recovered amount. CertNode Reflex charges 15%.
Chargeflow also offers optional subscription tiers ($49 and $99 per month) that provide analytics, alerts, and reporting features. CertNode has no monthly fee at any level — all features are included.
Annual Fee Comparison by Dispute Volume
| Annual Recovery | Chargeflow Fee | CertNode Fee | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | $6,250 | $3,750 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $12,500 | $7,500 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $25,000 | $15,000 | $10,000 |
| $250,000 | $62,500 | $37,500 | $25,000 |
| $1,000,000 | $250,000 | $150,000 | $100,000 |
Chargeflow subscription fees ($0-$99/mo) not included. CertNode has no monthly fees.
2. Technology
Chargeflow uses OpenAI's GPT models for narrative generation. They were early adopters of AI-powered dispute responses and have refined their prompts over several years of production data. Their experience with GPT tuning is a genuine strength.
CertNode uses Anthropic's Claude for AI narratives. Beyond AI generation, CertNode adds a cryptographic layer that Chargeflow does not offer: RFC 3161 certified timestamps from an independent Timestamping Authority (FreeTSA), JWS digital signatures, and optional Bitcoin blockchain anchoring. These create independently verifiable proof chains, not just AI-generated text.
The practical difference: CertNode's evidence includes cryptographic proof that transaction data existed at a specific time and has not been modified. This is the same standard used in legal proceedings under Federal Rules of Evidence 902(13) and 902(14) for self-authenticating electronic records.
Chargeflow
- • GPT-powered AI narratives
- • Years of production data for model tuning
- • Standard evidence submission
CertNode Reflex
- • Claude-powered AI narratives (Anthropic)
- • RFC 3161 certified timestamps
- • JWS digital signatures
- • Optional Bitcoin blockchain anchoring
- • 3-layer independent verification
3. Evidence Quality
The quality of evidence submitted to card networks is the single biggest factor in dispute outcomes. Both platforms generate AI narratives, but they differ in how much structured data accompanies those narratives.
Stripe accepts 28 evidence fields per dispute. CertNode populates 21 of 28 fields automatically, including customer purchase IP, service dates, access activity logs, billing address verification, refund and cancellation policy disclosures, and reason-specific fields like duplicate charge IDs or refund refusal explanations.
CertNode also generates a 7-page evidence PDF that is submitted to Stripe as an additional document. This PDF includes a cover page, executive summary with strength rating, evidence breakdown with the AI narrative, authentication and verification details (3DS, AVS, CVC, device forensics), cryptographic verification certificates, legal framework references, and a transaction timeline.
Evidence Package Contents
Standard (Both Platforms)
- ✓ AI-generated defense narrative
- ✓ Transaction details
- ✓ Customer information
- ✓ Automated Stripe submission
CertNode Additions
- ✓ RFC 3161 timestamp certificates
- ✓ Device fingerprint matching
- ✓ Visa CE 3.0 evidence structure
- ✓ 7-page PDF evidence document
- ✓ Contradiction detection callouts
- ✓ Network-specific legal references
4. Platform Coverage
Chargeflow supports Stripe and Shopify. If your payment processing is entirely on these two platforms, both solutions will cover you.
CertNode Reflex supports five platforms: Stripe, Shopify, PayPal, Square, and WooCommerce. For merchants who process payments across multiple platforms, this eliminates the need for separate dispute defense tools. All disputes, regardless of platform, feed into a single dashboard with unified reporting.
| Platform | CertNode Reflex | Chargeflow |
|---|---|---|
| Stripe | Live (Marketplace) | Supported |
| Shopify | Submitted for review | Supported |
| PayPal | Backend ready | Not supported |
| Square | Partner app submitted | Not supported |
| WooCommerce | Live (plugin) | Not supported |
5. Dispute Types Handled
Both platforms handle all standard dispute types: fraudulent charges, product not received, duplicate charges, subscription cancellations, product quality issues, unrecognized charges, credit not processed, and general disputes.
The difference is in how they approach each type. CertNode generates dispute-type-specific narratives with tailored evidence strategies. A fraud dispute gets device fingerprinting evidence and Visa CE 3.0 matching. A product-not-received dispute gets delivery tracking with carrier confirmation. A duplicate charge dispute gets transaction ID comparison and timeline analysis. Each type has a purpose-built evidence strategy rather than a generic response template.
6. Setup and Onboarding
Both platforms offer a zero-code installation from the Stripe App Marketplace. You install the app, authorize access to your Stripe account, and dispute monitoring begins automatically. Neither platform requires changes to your checkout code for basic functionality.
CertNode offers an optional enhancement: adding a lightweight JavaScript snippet (collect.js) to your checkout page for device fingerprinting and IP collection. This is not required for the platform to work, but it significantly strengthens fraud dispute evidence by enabling Visa CE 3.0 matching.
7. Transparency
CertNode Reflex shows merchants the complete evidence package before and after submission. You can view the AI-generated narrative, the evidence strength score, which Stripe fields were populated, and the full 7-page PDF — all from within the Stripe Dashboard via the embedded app view.
Both platforms provide dispute outcome tracking and win/loss metrics. CertNode includes win probability estimates with factor breakdowns (3DS status, AVS match, evidence completeness) so you can understand why a dispute is likely to be won or lost before submission.
When Chargeflow Might Be the Better Choice
We believe in honest comparisons. There are scenarios where Chargeflow may be the better choice for your business:
- •You want an established company with VC backing. Chargeflow has raised $35M in funding and has been operating longer. If company maturity and funding stability are important factors in your vendor selection, Chargeflow has a clear lead.
- •You process very high volumes and want dedicated support. Chargeflow's larger team and enterprise tiers may offer more hands-on support for high-volume merchants. If you process thousands of disputes per month and need a dedicated account manager, ask both platforms about their enterprise offerings.
- •You value years of GPT-tuned dispute models. Chargeflow has been training their GPT models on dispute data for longer. Their AI may have seen more edge cases and dispute patterns from years of production data.
When CertNode Reflex Is the Better Choice
- •You want the lowest fees in the market. At 15%, CertNode's success fee is 40% lower than Chargeflow's 25%. On $100,000 in annual dispute recovery, that saves you $10,000 per year. There are no monthly fees at any tier.
- •You want the strongest possible evidence. Cryptographic timestamps, device fingerprinting, 3-layer verification, and 21 of 28 Stripe evidence fields give bank analysts more verifiable data points to evaluate. The 7-page evidence PDF provides structured, professional documentation.
- •You process payments on more than two platforms. If you use PayPal, Square, or WooCommerce alongside Stripe, CertNode covers all five from a single account. No need for separate tools per platform.
- •You want Visa CE 3.0 support. CertNode's device fingerprinting and IP collection enable Visa Compelling Evidence 3.0 matching, which significantly improves win rates on fraud disputes by proving the same device made previous undisputed purchases.
- •You want evidence transparency. CertNode shows you exactly what evidence was submitted, the strength score, win probability factors, and the complete PDF — all visible in your Stripe Dashboard before and after submission.
The Verdict
Chargeflow is a capable, well-funded platform that proved AI-powered chargeback defense works. They have a larger team, more funding, and more years of production data. These are real advantages.
CertNode Reflex offers lower fees (15% vs 25%), stronger evidence (cryptographic timestamps, device fingerprinting, 21/28 Stripe fields), and broader platform coverage (5 vs 2 platforms). For most Stripe merchants looking for the best combination of cost and evidence quality, CertNode Reflex delivers more value per dollar.
The best way to evaluate is to try both. CertNode has no monthly fee and no minimum commitment — you can install it from the Stripe Marketplace and see the evidence quality for yourself on your next dispute.
Try CertNode Reflex Risk-Free
No monthly fee. No minimum commitment. Install from the Stripe Marketplace and see the evidence quality on your next dispute. You only pay 15% when you win.