Stax Review

Why Stax Is Best for High-Revenue Businesses

Stax is our top credit card processor for businesses that generate at least $500,000 in annual revenue, thanks to its flat monthly subscription pricing and low per-transaction fees, which become more cost-effective as volume increases. We also like that customer service and tech support are handled in-house for faster, more reliable assistance, and that businesses earning over $1 million annually receive a dedicated account manager.

The platform supports a wide range of point-of-sale (POS) systems, numerous integrations, and add-ons like stored card information, sales tracking and branded invoices, receipts and websites. 

Usability

We found Stax to be straightforward, feature-rich and fairly intuitive. It boasts more functionality than many POS packages with similar capabilities, going well beyond the technology offered by most payment processors. Here are a few usability elements that stood out to us during our review. 

• Organized dashboard: The Stax Pay dashboard (the platform’s centralized interface) keeps everything in one place. A panel on the left lists core features such as reports, payments, invoices and disputes, while the main screen highlights deposits, sales, receivables and action items. We like that you can filter reports by day, week, month or year, or choose a preset range to analyze transactions. You can also see which team member processed a payment, their total sales volume, overdue invoices and more.
• Customization options: Stax supports advanced customization, including display options like color coding. 
• Recurring payment support: Its recurring payments system is especially useful, allowing businesses to securely store customer details and schedule charges for exact dates. If a customer changes their payment method, you can simply update their profile without having to start from scratch.
• PCI compliance: All Stax systems are PCI-compliant, which eliminates a technical burden that frustrates many small businesses.

Stax Features

Credit Card Terminals

Stax offers a flexible range of card readers and free payment gateway integrations, which impressed us because many providers charge extra fees. While Stax doesn’t manufacture its own hardware, it resells popular equipment from brands like Dejavoo, Verifone, Clover and SwipeSimple, often at or near cost. If you already own compatible hardware, Stax will reprogram your existing terminals for free. We like that this makes it easy for businesses to get started without overhauling their POS setup. In contrast, platforms like Square require proprietary hardware that can’t be used outside their ecosystem.

Stax also includes a virtual terminal, accessible through the dashboard on any computer, tablet or smartphone. This feature lets businesses process card-not-present payments by manually entering card details for phone orders, sending invoices and payment links, scheduling recurring payments, tracking inventory and issuing receipts, all without needing additional hardware.

Security

Stax is certified as a Level 1 PCI Service Provider, the highest standard of payment card industry compliance. The company uses tokenization and encryption technology across its devices, and sensitive information is kept in secure customer vaults so outside parties can’t intercept or misuse transaction data.

We also like that Stax is EMV-compliant, so businesses can accept chip card transactions securely and reduce liability for payment fraud. Unlike some competitors, Stax doesn’t charge a separate PCI compliance fee. However, merchants are still responsible for following PCI data security standards, which means completing an annual self-assessment and, in some cases, undergoing quarterly vulnerability scans.

Integrations

We were impressed to see that Stax connects with more than 200 leading business applications, eliminating the need to manually enter sales data into other systems. It integrates with: 

• Some of the best accounting software, such as QuickBooks Online
• Many of the best CRM software solutions, such as Keap and Salesforce
• Top e-commerce tools, including BigCommerce, Shopify and WooCommerce

On the POS side, Stax works with many of the best POS systems, like Revel Systems, ShopKeep and Vend, and the company says it supports roughly 90 percent of third-party POS systems.

For businesses that need even more flexibility, Stax offers a robust API and Zapier support, opening the door to more than 7,000 additional applications. This wide integration network makes it easy to fit Stax into your existing tech stack without overhauling your systems.

Mobile Payments

The Stax Pay mobile app turns your phone or tablet into a mobile POS system. You can pair it with a Bluetooth card reader to swipe or dip cards, or manually enter card details to process transactions on the go. The app also lets you send receipts and invoices, accept tips, apply discounts and issue refunds, with all transaction data syncing back to the main Stax platform for easy review in the browser.

We like that the app works on both iOS and Android devices and includes a text-to-pay feature, which allows you to send customers a mobile-friendly payment link and encourage SMS payments. Few credit card processors provide this option, making it a standout tool for businesses that want flexible ways to get paid.

Customization and Reporting

Stax helps businesses present a professional brand image and tailor the platform to their needs. You can customize invoices (more on this below), receipts and payment pages with your company logo and colors, and set employee permissions so team members only see the tools and data relevant to their role.

We also like that Stax’s reporting tools are highly customizable. You can filter reports by date range, payment method, sales volume or item category, and access real-time data to monitor performance. These reporting options make it easier to focus on the metrics that matter most to your business without digging through unnecessary details.

Invoicing

One advantage Stax has over bare-bones credit card processors is its full invoicing suite. You can create invoices and send them via email or text, making it easier for customers to pay you quickly. Stax also supports recurring and scheduled invoices, which is especially valuable for subscription-based businesses. You can even customize invoices with your logo, memo fields and tax rates to present a professional brand image.

We like that Stax gives you the flexibility to set up partial payments, apply discounts and add tax rates directly into invoices. You can also automate payment reminders, helping reduce late payments and keep cash flow steady. Embedded payment links let customers pay invoices instantly, while tracking tools show you at a glance which invoices are pending and which are paid.

We appreciate that these robust invoicing features simplify collections, reduce subscriber churn, improve cash flow and give businesses clearer visibility into sales trends and customer activity.

Stax Pricing

Stax charges a flat monthly subscription price based on your annual transaction volume, plus a small per-transaction fee on top of interchange (no percentage markup). For high-volume businesses, this structure can add up to significant savings.

No matter your transaction volume, you’ll benefit from the following features: 

• Stax dashboards and analytics
• Digital invoicing
• API key integration
• 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

Additional Pricing Details

• No percentage markup: When it comes to credit card processing fees, unlike providers such as Square or Clover, Stax doesn’t add a percentage cut on top of interchange; it uses a flat per-transaction fee:
  • In-person EMV terminal: $0.08 per transaction
  • Mobile reader or online/virtual terminal: $0.15 per transaction
• Add-ons: Optional paid add-ons include accelerated funding (same-day or next-day), ACH processing, some integrations and terminal protection. You’ll need to contact Stax for exact pricing, since add-on costs aren’t listed publicly.
• Contracts: Stax doesn’t require a long-term contract and doesn’t charge an early-termination fee. However, it does require 30 days’ written notice to cancel.
• PCI: Unlike some rivals, Stax doesn’t charge a separate PCI compliance fee. This cost saver is another way Stax beats the competition when it comes to serving large-volume businesses.
• Equipment: You’re not locked into proprietary hardware, but you will need to purchase devices separately. Stax can resell equipment from brands like Clover, Dejavoo and SwipeSimple and can often reprogram compatible existing terminals at no cost.

Stax Setup

Getting started with Stax is relatively straightforward. You can apply online in about five minutes by submitting basic details like your business license, tax ID and Social Security number. Stax typically reviews applications within a couple of business days and will set up your merchant account once you’re approved. If you’re switching from another processor, you’ll also need to provide a voided check and past processing statements.

Equipment purchased through Stax usually arrives within four to five days and is plug-and-play, so you can begin accepting payments right away. We like that Stax assigns every new customer a dedicated account manager to guide onboarding. Your manager will help you configure your account, connect your hardware and walk you through any payment methods or integrations you plan to use. This extra support makes setup easier than with many competitors.

Stax Customer Service

Stax offers customer support by phone, email, live chat or help ticket. Phone agents are available Monday through Friday during business hours (9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET), and you can also request help through the company’s online channels. During the application process, you’ll work with a payment consultant, and after approval, a dedicated account manager assists with configuration and onboarding. We like that support is handled in-house rather than outsourced, so representatives are familiar with Stax’s features and setup process.

Stax also maintains a comprehensive online knowledge base with step-by-step guides on chargebacks, PCI compliance, product updates, software features and more. The company supplements this with webinars and support articles, giving businesses multiple ways to troubleshoot issues and stay current on payment processing best practices.

Stax Drawbacks

While Stax is one of the most feature-rich processors we reviewed, it isn’t the best option for every business. The following may be potential limitations for your organization:

• High costs for low-volume merchants: With a $99 starting monthly subscription, Stax can be costly for businesses with lower sales volumes, since the flat fee is harder to offset without consistent transaction volume. If your budget is tight, check out our review of National Processing. This company offers transparent, low prices and works with businesses of all sizes across multiple industries.
• No proprietary hardware: Stax’s platform works with many third-party POS systems, but if you prefer an all-in-one hardware-and-software solution with integrated or ecosystem hardware, Square or Clover may be a better fit. Read our Square credit card processing review or our review of Clover to learn more.
• Limited transparency: Stax doesn’t publish all costs, including hardware pricing, add-on fees and chargeback costs, making it harder to predict your total expenses. Consider looking at our review of Helcim if this is a concern. This processor offers fully transparent pricing with no hidden fees.
• Funding delays: With Stax, same-day or next-day payouts are available only for an extra fee, while some competitors, like North Payments, guarantee faster funding as part of their standard service. Our review of North Payments explains more about its competitive same-day or next-day funding and weekend settlement.

Methodology

To determine the best credit card processors for the diverse needs of businesses of all sizes, we evaluated vendors through demos, free trials, marketing materials and independent customer feedback. We compared providers across affordability, ease of use, features and customer support to identify the strongest options.

For high-revenue businesses specifically, we focused on pricing models that reward high transaction volumes, scalability through integrations and the level of account support offered. As part of this process, we arranged a live demo with the Stax team that included a full product walk-through and Q&A session. Stax’s subscription-based pricing and feature-rich platform gave it the edge in this category.

Overall Value

We recommend Stax for …

• Fast-growing businesses that process a high volume of transactions.
• Subscription-based companies that need recurring billing tools.
• Businesses that want advanced reporting and data visualization beyond standard credit card processing.

We don’t recommend Stax for …

• Businesses with lower sales volumes or tight budgets.
• Companies that prefer an all-in-one POS and payment system with proprietary hardware.
• Businesses that want straightforward, transparent pricing without hidden costs or add-on fees.