Business.com aims to help business owners make informed decisions to support and grow their companies. We research and recommend products and services suitable for various business types, investing thousands of hours each year in this process.
As a business, we need to generate revenue to sustain our content. We have financial relationships with some companies we cover, earning commissions when readers purchase from our partners or share information about their needs. These relationships do not dictate our advice and recommendations. Our editorial team independently evaluates and recommends products and services based on their research and expertise. Learn more about our process and partners here.
Stax Payments Review and Pricing
Table of Contents
- Stax is equipment-agnostic, so you can use its processing software with many different POS systems.
- Stax offers subscription-based pricing based on annual transaction volume; it doesn't take a cut of your revenue.
- All subscribers, regardless of transaction volume, can access Stax’s features and optional add-ons.
- Stax doesn’t manufacture its own hardware, so you’ll need to purchase POS equipment from Stax or another vendor.
- Some optional features come with additional fees beyond the regular subscription cost.
- Next-day funding isn’t always available and may require an extra fee.
Merchants must weigh several factors when choosing a credit card processor, including what point-of-sale (POS) system options are available and how well the processor’s software integrates with the applications they use daily. Stax stands out from the competition with an equipment-agnostic approach; it allows businesses to use nearly any POS hardware they choose. Additionally, Stax has over 200 prebuilt integrations and can work with thousands of other apps via Zapier to help merchants create a custom solution.
Stax Editor's Rating:
9 / 10
- Pricing and fees
- 9.4/10
- Customer service
- 9.2/10
- Third-party integrations
- 9.5/10
- Payment options
- 9.3/10
- Added POS tools
- 8.0/10
Why we chose Stax as the best credit card processor for integration
We were impressed by Stax’s unique, platform-agnostic approach to credit card processing. We’ve reviewed several Stax competitors that take a “walled garden” approach to their services — merchants can’t run their payment processing software on third-party POS devices, and their hardware is restricted to their own ecosystem. In contrast, Stax prioritizes flexibility. Its software works with the vast majority of third-party POS systems, and the vendor can even reprogram compatible existing terminals to work with its platform.
That flexibility extends to Stax’s integrations. The processor offers more than 200 built-in integrations and can connect with 7,000 other business apps via Zapier. A payment processor with so much integration potential can help businesses streamline operations, reduce manual work and create a seamless payment experience for customers.
We appreciate that Stax doesn’t lock customers into a specific setup and helps businesses create a customized payment processing system. For those reasons, Stax is our choice for the best credit card processor for integration.
Stax offers a powerful payment processing platform with real-time analytics and mobile transaction capabilities. Source: Stax
Ease of use
During testing, we were pleased to note Stax’s highly intuitive dashboard. The data analytics section displays at-a-glance sales insights that owners of brick-and-mortar and e-commerce stores can use to gauge operational success and cash flow. You can easily see your gross and net annual sales, month-over-month sales trends, the average transaction value, how many customers you’ve served, and processed transactions over the past 30 days. You can also view data for multiple business locations. We like that you can even see hourly sales activity, which can help you plan to staff your business appropriately.
The Stax dashboard also shows new vs. returning customers and calculates customer lifetime value for repeat customers. We appreciate that level of detailed reporting — typically found in the best POS systems — that many competitors don’t offer.
The Stax dashboard provides key sales metrics at a glance, even for multiple locations. Source: Stax
Stax features
Stax is stacked with services and features businesses of all sizes will find valuable, especially those seeking flexibility and integrations. Here’s an overview of Stax’s key features.
Virtual terminal
Customers can access the virtual terminal through Stax’s dashboard on any computer, tablet or smartphone. Users can manually enter credit card details to accept payments over the phone. We like that the virtual terminal also allows you to invoice customers, schedule recurring payments, track inventory and issue receipts.
Reporting
Small business data analysis provides critical insights into business performance, and we appreciate that Stax’s reporting features simplify the process. Similar to POS reports, you can access reports on payment methods, sales, item categories and more. You can also access details within a specified date range and view real-time reports.
Stax’s reporting tools help owners track their business’s financial health. Source: Stax
E-commerce
We like that Stax can help you set up an online store with prebuilt templates — an excellent option for business owners without web-design experience. Tech-savvy users can work with Stax’s developer tools to build custom shopping carts to integrate into an existing online store. Stax also integrates with popular payment e-commerce platforms like BigCommerce, Magento, Shift4Shop, WooCommerce and Salesforce.
Integrations
Stax’s integration options impressed us; that’s where the platform shines. Stax has built-in integrations with over 200 top business applications, so you don’t have to enter sales details into your other systems manually. It integrates with:
- Many of the best accounting software solutions, including QuickBooks Online
- Many of the best CRM software platforms, including Keap and Salesforce
- Top POS systems, including Revel Systems, ShopKeep and Vend
- Top e-commerce platforms, including BigCommerce, Shopify and WooCommerce
Stax also offers a robust API for businesses that need a custom solution and can integrate with over 7,000 additional applications through Zapier.
We appreciate Stax’s flexibility and integration capabilities, which help businesses create a customized payment processing solution.
Mobile app
Not all credit card processors include a mobile app, so many businesses will find the Stax Pay mobile app extremely helpful. You can pair it with a mobile reader to accept credit card payments on a mobile phone, creating an effective mobile POS system. The app allows you to manually enter card details, swipe or dip cards, and send receipts and invoices to customers. You can also perform key POS functions, such as accepting tips, applying discounts and issuing refunds.
We like that all transaction information syncs with the Stax platform, allowing you to review everything later in the browser version.
The Stax Pay mobile app lets you track activity, monitor cash flow and more. Source: Stax
Invoicing
We like how Stax makes invoicing simple and customizable, helping you manage your business’s cash flow. You can create professional invoices with drag-and-drop fields, memos and tax rates, and then send them via email or text. Set up recurring and scheduled invoices, and track payments at every stage to see when you’ve been paid and when an invoice is still pending.
Stax makes it easy to send customizable digital invoices. Source: Stax
Security
Stax’s equipment is PCI- and EMV-compliant, allowing you to accept chip cards securely and avoid liability for credit card fraud.
There’s no separate PCI compliance fee with Stax, but merchants must still comply with PCI data security standards and other credit card payment processing laws and rules. Businesses must submit a PCI compliance self-assessment questionnaire annually; some must also undergo quarterly vulnerability tests to maintain compliance.
Hardware
Part of Stax’s appeal is that its credit card processing software works with various POS systems. Although Stax doesn’t manufacture its own hardware, it resells equipment from other vendors at what it claims is close to cost.
Stax-provided hardware options include Dejavoo, Verifone, Clover and SwipeSimple terminals. You’ll have to contact the company for pricing. If you already own compatible POS hardware, the company says it will work with you to reprogram existing terminals for free to work with its processing software.
Payouts
Stax says payments are deposited into your business bank account within 24 hours to three days. Unlike some competitors, however, next-day funding isn’t guaranteed and requires an additional fee.
Stax pricing
Stax’s subscription-based pricing model is based on a business’s annual transaction volume.
Transaction volume | Starting price |
|---|---|
Up to $150,000 per year | $99 per month |
$150,000 to $250,000 per year | $139 per month |
Over $250,000 per year | Starting at $199 per month |
All subscriptions include access to:
- Dashboards and analytics
- Digital invoicing
- API key integration capabilities
- Text2Pay mobile payments
- Automatic updates for stored cards
- Recurring and scheduled payments
- Accounting reconciliation
- Hosted payment pages
- Payment links, buttons and QR codes
- Data exports
You can also opt for paid add-ons such as next-day funding, ACH payment processing, and equipment and terminal protection. We were disappointed, however, that the extra costs aren’t transparently listed on the Stax website to help businesses get a better idea of what they’ll ultimately pay.
Processing fees
When it comes to processing fees, many Stax competitors, including Stripe and PayPal, use an interchange-plus model, which means they charge the base card network fee (called “interchange”) plus an extra percentage on every sale.
Stax does it differently. It skips the extra percentage and just charges a small flat fee per transaction on top of the interchange (plus your monthly subscription). Here’s what you’ll pay based on how you receive payment:
- EMV credit card terminal: $0.08 per transaction above interchange
- Mobile credit card reader or online: $0.15 per transaction above interchange
Unlike some competitors — such as Clover and Square — Stax does not take a cut of your revenue.
Implementation and onboarding
As with most credit card processing companies, you should apply for a Stax account about two weeks before you plan to start accepting payments. We like that Stax’s application is online and takes about five minutes to complete.
You’ll need to provide basic information, including your business license, Social Security number and tax ID. Once submitted, the company will review your application and set up your merchant account within two days. If you’re switching to Stax from another processor, you must also submit a voided check and previous processing statements.
After approval, Stax will ship your equipment (if purchased through the company), which should arrive in four or five days. The equipment is plug-and-play, allowing you to start processing immediately.
We were impressed that Stax assigns each new merchant a dedicated account manager to help configure the account, software and hardware. The service will help ensure your account, hardware and software are properly configured.
Customer support
Businesses can contact Stax support via phone, live chat, email or the help ticket form on the Stax website. During the application process, you’ll have access to a payment consultant, who will then be followed by a dedicated account manager to assist with configuration and onboarding.
We liked the company’s comprehensive online knowledge base, which provides articles and step-by-step instructions on product updates, chargebacks, PCI compliance, various software features and technical support issues. Webinars are also regularly offered to assist with typical setup situations.
The Stax online Knowledge Base is a great resource for customer self-help. Source: Stax
Limitations
Stax has a unique pricing structure and potentially low rates (if you’re a high-volume business), but it’s not the right payment processor for everyone. We identified some drawbacks.
- High costs: Stax may end up being prohibitively expensive if your business has a low processing volume.
- No proprietary hardware: Stax’s compatibility with various POS systems is a plus for some businesses, but others may prefer a one-stop-shop solution with a proprietary hardware ecosystem (like Clover).
- Lack of pricing transparency: It’s great that you can see your subscription cost upfront based on transaction volume, but Stax doesn’t disclose hardware costs and potential fees.
- Next-day payouts are not guaranteed: Some competitors offer guaranteed next-day payouts, but that requires an additional fee with Stax.
Methodology
We researched and analyzed many of the best credit card processors to help small businesses find a service that meets their unique needs. We also carefully examined user reviews and interactions with each vendor’s customer-service teams. We evaluated each company’s hardware and software offerings and how fair the contract terms are to merchants. We scrutinized and compared the rates and fees each processor charges. To identify the best credit card processor for integration, we paid particular attention to equipment compatibility and third-party app integrations. To learn more about our methodology, see our full editorial process.
FAQs
Bottom Line
We recommend Stax for …
- Businesses seeking flexibility in their POS hardware.
- High-volume businesses that want to avoid credit card processors that take a cut of their revenue.
We don’t recommend Stax for …
- Businesses that need an all-in-one integrated POS and payment processing solution.
- Low-volume or budget-conscious businesses that may struggle with the monthly subscription fees.
Anna Baluch contributed to this article.
