PayPal Business vs Stax: which one fits your business?
Side-by-side comparison of PayPal Business and Stax — fees, features, ease, support, and which one fits your business. Scored on the same rubric.
Short answer: Stax wins on our scorecard (7.3/10 vs 7/10).
| Scored on | PayPal Business | Stax |
|---|---|---|
| Right fit for small biz | 7 | 8 |
| Ease of use | 9 | 7 |
| Fees & pricing | 6 | 7 |
| Customer support | 4 | 6 |
| Features | 8 | 8 |
| Monthly Fee | $0 | — |
| Standard Processing Fee | 2.99% + $0.49 | — |
| Debit Card Cashback | 1% | — |
| Chargeback Fee | $20.00 | — |
| Monthly Subscription | — | From $99 |
| Markup on Interchange | — | 0% |
| ACH Processing | — | Flat fee (varies) |
| PCI Compliance Fee | — | Included in some plans |
PayPal Business in one paragraph
A must-have secondary payment rail for e-commerce, but too risky and expensive to be your primary business bank.
Skip it if: You process high-ticket items ($1,000+) or require reliable phone support for fund freezes.
Stax in one paragraph
Stax is the premier 'scale-up' processor for businesses over $10k/month who are tired of their processor taking a raise every time they grow.
Skip it if: Skip it if you process less than $5,000 per month or have highly seasonal revenue where a $99+ monthly fee would hurt during the off-season.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, PayPal Business or Stax?
On our five-axis scorecard, Stax scores higher (7.3/10 vs 7/10). Stax is the premier 'scale-up' processor for businesses over $10k/month who are tired of their processor taking a raise every time they grow.
Who should skip PayPal Business?
You process high-ticket items ($1,000+) or require reliable phone support for fund freezes.
Who should skip Stax?
Skip it if you process less than $5,000 per month or have highly seasonal revenue where a $99+ monthly fee would hurt during the off-season.