Skip to content
Español

Card processing review

Stax

Stax's subscription pricing: interchange with no percentage markup plus 8¢ per in-person payment and 15¢ online or keyed, for a monthly plan set by your yearly volume (a starting price, by quote, above $250,000 a year). Month-to-month with 30 days' notice and no cancellation penalty, and the CardX credit card surcharge. Its PCI, annual and surcharge platform fees have no published amount.

By StaxParent company: Fattmerchant, Inc. d/b/a Stax (private)

RTC SCORE

6.1

#8 of 16 with enough data

Our verdict

A fit for full-service and higher-volume restaurants that want interchange with no percentage markup and can absorb a monthly plan (by quote above $250,000 a year), or that want a managed credit card surcharge. Ask for the amounts of the PCI, annual and surcharge platform fees before signing: Stax doesn't publish them.

What we like

  • No percentage markup on interchange: 8¢ per in-person payment and 15¢ online, plus the monthly plan.
  • No penalty for canceling (30 days' notice) and no batch fee.
  • CardX credit card surcharge: your customers pay 3% on credit cards and Stax checks card type and state rules automatically.
  • Works with restaurant POS systems such as Clover, Aloha, Oracle Micros and NCR through the gateways it supports.
  • Next-business-day deposits for most accounts.

What to watch

  • The monthly plan makes it expensive at low volume: $99 a month even under $150,000 a year in card sales.
  • Stax doesn't publish the amounts of its PCI platform, annual, dispute and surcharge platform fees, so we can't compute its full cost.
  • With the CardX surcharge, consumer debit cards cost you 1.25% + 25¢, more than interchange plus 8¢ on most debit cards, and CardX says debit pricing varies by processor platform (on some, commercial debit costs 2.91%, and keyed-in debit on the CardX terminal doesn't get the 1.25% rate); CardX doesn't serve Connecticut or Massachusetts.
  • Support isn't 24/7: Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5:30 PM Eastern.

How the score breaks down

RTC Score6.1out of 10

Methodology v0.1.0

Data completeness61%

We could verify 61% of the scoring data

Strongest points
What leaving in month 12 costs, Standard deposit speed, Published pricing
Weakest point
24/7 support

Score by criterion

  • 12-month cost of the reference restaurantWeight 37%No data
  • Standard deposit speedWeight 11%Strongest8.0 out of 10
  • What leaving in month 12 costsWeight 9%Strongest10.0 out of 10

    $0 to leave in month 12

  • Price increases during the contractWeight 8%7.0 out of 10
  • Published pricingWeight 7%Strongest8.0 out of 10
  • 24/7 supportWeight 6%Weakest0.0 out of 10
  • Contract termWeight 4%10.0 out of 10
  • Support channelsWeight 4%9.0 out of 10
  • No equipment lease you can't cancelWeight 3%10.0 out of 10
  • Works with restaurant POS systemsWeight 3%3.3 out of 10
  • Automatic renewalWeight 2%10.0 out of 10
  • Equipment works with another processorWeight 2%No data
  • Offers dual pricing or a surcharge programWeight 2%10.0 out of 10
  • Works without the vendor's own POSWeight 1%10.0 out of 10

Before you pass the card fee to your customers

This vendor offers a program that passes the card cost to your customers. Card network rules cap credit card surcharges (Visa 3%, Mastercard 4%) and never allow them on debit, and some states ban or limit them.

This is general information, not legal advice. Card network rules and state laws change, and how they apply depends on your business: check with a lawyer and with your processor before adding a surcharge or a cash discount.

See the rules by state

All the data, with sources

Each value links to its source. "Not published" means the vendor doesn't disclose it; "Unconfirmed" means we looked and couldn't confirm it. Data points we have for fewer than four vendors are left out until we can compare them.

Type of processor and pricing
Data pointValue
Type of processorInterchange-plus or subscription processorSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)
Pricing modelSubscription (interchange + monthly fee)Source: Stax (opens in a new tab)
Published pricing (points out of 100)80Source: Stax (opens in a new tab)Same rubric for every vendor: in-person rate (25), online and keyed rates (15), monthly plans (20) and a stated $0 cancellation fee (20) are published; the PCI platform, annual, dispute and surcharge platform fees have no published amount (0 of 20).
Card rates
Data pointValue
In-person rate0%Source: Stax (opens in a new tab)No percentage markup: you pay interchange plus 8¢ and the monthly plan.
In-person fee per transaction8¢Source: Stax (opens in a new tab)
Online rate0%Source: Stax (opens in a new tab)No percentage markup: interchange plus 15¢.
Online fee per transaction15¢Source: Stax (opens in a new tab)
Keyed-in rate0%Source: Stax (opens in a new tab)No percentage markup: interchange plus 15¢.
Keyed-in fee per transaction15¢Source: Stax (opens in a new tab)
American Express pricingAmerican Express's cost plus a markupSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)American Express's OptBlue cost appears on your Stax statement; Stax publishes no separate American Express rate, so we price it like the other cards (its cost plus Stax's per-transaction fee). OptBlue is for businesses under $1 million a year in American Express sales.
American Express rateN/ASource: Stax (opens in a new tab)American Express doesn't have a rate of its own here.
Rates by monthly volumeThe monthly plan depends on your yearly card volume: $99 up to $150,000 a year, $139 from $150,000 to $250,000, and from $199 above $250,000 (custom quote at higher volume). The per-transaction fees (8¢ in person, 15¢ online or keyed) don't change.Source: Stax (opens in a new tab)
Monthly and other fees
Data pointValue
Monthly account or plan feeQuote onlySource: Stax (opens in a new tab)A starting price, not your price: Stax lists "$199+/month" above $250,000 a year and quotes higher volumes. The same rule for every vendor: a published floor or range counts as not published (quote only). $99 up to $150,000 a year and $139 up to $250,000.
Annual fee per accountNot publishedSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)Stax's statement guide lists an annual fee with no published amount.
Annual fees per device or locationUnconfirmedSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)Stax publishes no fee per device or location; its statement guide lists account-level fees only.
PCI compliance fee (yearly)$10/yr()(due for a re-check)Source: NerdWallet (opens in a new tab)Stax's help center says a monthly PCI platform fee is charged while the account is open but doesn't give the amount; NerdWallet (Aug 7, 2026) says Stax confirmed it's $10 a month. Its statement guide also lists a yearly PCI fee with no amount.
PCI non-compliance fee (monthly)Not publishedSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)
Statement feeUnconfirmedSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)Stax's statement guide lists no statement fee, but it lists an 'On File' fee with no published amount.
Monthly minimumNot publishedSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)Only for months with no sales; no published amount.
Fee per batch$0Source: Stax (opens in a new tab)
Chargeback feeNot publishedSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)
Other feesACH: 1% per payment, capped at $10. Optional terminal protection plan: $19 a month. Seasonal hold (up to 3 months): $25 a month instead of your plan, plus any PCI fees. With the CardX surcharge, CardX says debit pricing varies by processor platform: on some, commercial debit costs 2.91%. With fees that have no published amount: account updater, yearly PCI, annual, 'On File', minimum bill in months without sales, disputes, PCI non-compliance and the surcharge platform fee.Source: Stax (opens in a new tab)ACH and the protection plan come from Stax's pricing page, the seasonal hold from its help center article on seasonal billing, the debit caveat from CardX's pricing page, and the fees without an amount from its statement guide.
Equipment
Data pointValue
How you get the equipmentYou buy itSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)Terminals have a per-unit price.
Price of a countertop terminal$310 one-timeSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)Dejavoo QD4 countertop terminal: $310 per unit.
Equipment lease you can't cancelNoSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)Stax sells its terminals at a per-unit price; its equipment page offers no lease. The optional $19 protection plan can be canceled.
Equipment lease termN/ASource: Stax (opens in a new tab)No lease offered.
Equipment at $0 upfront: what it commits you toN/ASource: Stax (opens in a new tab)Stax doesn't offer equipment at $0 upfront: you buy it.
Equipment only works with this processorUnconfirmedSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)Stax doesn't say whether its Dejavoo terminals can be reprogrammed for another processor. Its help center says Dejavoo QD2, QD4 and QD5 terminals less than a year old must be returned to Stax, and older ones wiped before recycling.
Getting your money
Data pointValue
Standard deposit speedNext business daySource: Stax (opens in a new tab)Next business day for most accounts; new merchants with little history may start at 48 hours.
Instant payout feeUnconfirmedSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)Stax doesn't publish an instant payout option or its fee.
Holds and reservesStax can place a temporary risk hold when a sale exceeds the ticket limits set at approval or, for new merchants, to verify the first batch; it releases the funds once the sale is verified. Its merchant agreement isn't public, so reserve terms aren't published.Source: Stax (opens in a new tab)
Contract and exit
Data pointValue
Contract termMonth to monthSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)Month-to-month, with 30 days' notice to cancel.
Automatic renewalMonth to monthSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)Month-to-month, with no renewal term.
Notice to avoid renewal0 daysSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)No renewal to opt out of; canceling takes 30 days' notice.
Notice to cancel30 daysSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)
Early termination feeNo penalty for canceling; you give 30 days' notice and may owe that month's processing fees and subscription.Source: Stax (opens in a new tab)
How the early termination fee is calculatedNo early termination feeSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)
Liquidated damages clauseNoSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)
Price increases during the contractWith notice, and you can leave without a feeSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)At least 30 days' written notice, and leaving costs no penalty with 30 days' notice. Card network costs pass through as they change.
Right to raise pricesStax can change its own rates and fees at its discretion with at least 30 days' written notice, which can come on your statement; card network and other third-party charges change when they do.Source: Stax (opens in a new tab)
Personal guarantee by the signerUnconfirmedSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)Stax's merchant agreement isn't public.
Dual pricing and surcharges
Data pointValue
Dual pricing or surcharge programYesSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)CardX by Stax credit card surcharge (3% for your customers, where eligible). With it, consumer debit cards cost you 1.25% + 25¢, but CardX says debit pricing varies by processor platform: on some, commercial debit costs 2.91%, and keyed-in debit on the CardX terminal doesn't get 1.25% (its virtual terminal does). CardX doesn't serve businesses in Connecticut or Massachusetts, and Maine and New York have extra terms. Card network rules and state laws apply.
Cards the program coversCredit cards only (surcharge)Source: Stax (opens in a new tab)
Monthly fee for the programNot publishedSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)A monthly surcharge platform fee with no published amount. CardX's client terms also say a monthly subscription fee may be charged and that CardX can change its pricing with 30 days' notice.
Your POS and your business
Data pointValue
Works with these restaurant POSClover, OthersSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)Through the First Data, TSYS and other gateways it supports; your POS dealer may charge to integrate.
Requires the vendor's own POSNoSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)
Monthly volume it's built forUnconfirmedSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)Stax doesn't publish a minimum volume; its cheapest plan ($99 a month) covers up to $150,000 a year.
Accepts high-risk businessesUnconfirmedSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)Stax doesn't publish which business types it accepts.
Routes debit to the lowest-cost networkUnconfirmedSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)Stax doesn't say whether it routes debit to the cheapest network.
Support
Data pointValue
24/7 support for merchantsNoSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)
Support channelsPhone, Chat, Email or formSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)Phone, chat from the Stax dashboard during business hours, and a support form or email.
Language
Data pointValue
Support in SpanishHelp articles onlySource: Stax (opens in a new tab)Its help center has a Spanish version (about 50 articles, including how to contact support and how to cancel); Stax doesn't say its agents speak Spanish.
Merchant dashboard in SpanishUnconfirmedSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)Stax doesn't say whether its dashboard is available in Spanish.
Contract or terms in SpanishUnconfirmedSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)Stax's merchant agreement isn't public.
US website in SpanishNoSource: Stax (opens in a new tab)staxpayments.com/es answers 404; only the help center has a Spanish version.

More about Stax

Head-to-head comparisons

How we score