Who This Comparison Is For
Payment Depot built a strong reputation among mid-volume merchants who wanted membership-based pricing — interchange at cost plus a flat per-transaction fee, no percentage markup. The model appealed to businesses that had outgrown flat-rate processors but were not ready to negotiate individually with an ISO.
In 2022, Payment Depot was acquired by Stax (formerly Fattmerchant), which operates a nearly identical subscription pricing model. Both brands continue to operate as of 2026. If you are evaluating Payment Depot today, this context matters: you are evaluating a brand under Stax's ownership, which introduces some uncertainty about long-term brand direction that prospective merchants should be aware of.
This comparison covers Payment Depot's pricing model, the break-even math against GoPayhawk, and what the Stax acquisition means for merchants considering Payment Depot as a long-term solution.
How Payment Depot's Pricing Actually Works
Payment Depot uses a subscription model. You pay a monthly membership fee and in return you access interchange at cost plus a flat per-transaction fee. No percentage markup. As of early 2026, the approximate plan structure is:
- Starter (~$79/month): Interchange + $0.15 per transaction
- Growth (~$99/month): Interchange + $0.10 per transaction
- Scale (~$199/month): Interchange + $0.07 per transaction
The monthly fee is the key variable. At low volumes, the fee makes Payment Depot more expensive than traditional IC+. At higher volumes, eliminating the percentage markup more than covers the fee. The crossover point is where this comparison gets interesting.
Break-Even and Effective Rate Comparison
Same assumptions throughout: $75 average ticket, 70% credit / 30% debit, blended interchange ~1.34%.
| Monthly Volume | Payment Depot Growth (~$99/mo + $0.10) | GoPayhawk IC+ (~0.25% + $0.10) | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000/month | $99 + $134 + $13 = ~$246 | $134 + $25 + $13 = ~$172 | GoPayhawk (~$74 less) |
| $20,000/month | $99 + $268 + $27 = ~$394 | $268 + $50 + $27 = ~$345 | GoPayhawk (~$49 less) |
| $30,000/month | $99 + $402 + $40 = ~$541 | $402 + $75 + $40 = ~$517 | GoPayhawk (~$24 less) |
| $40,000/month | $99 + $536 + $53 = ~$688 | $536 + $100 + $53 = ~$689 | Approximately equal |
| $50,000/month | $99 + $670 + $67 = ~$836 | $670 + $125 + $67 = ~$862 | Payment Depot (~$26 less) |
| $75,000/month | $99 + $1,005 + $100 = ~$1,204 | $1,005 + $188 + $100 = ~$1,293 | Payment Depot (~$89 less) |
Break-even point: At $75 average ticket and this card mix, Payment Depot Growth plan breaks even with GoPayhawk IC+ at approximately $40,000/month. Below that volume, GoPayhawk wins. Above it, Payment Depot's subscription model provides modest savings. At $100K+/month the savings on the Scale plan are more meaningful. TODO: Verify current Payment Depot rates and recalculate before publishing.
Note that these calculations assume a $75 average ticket. With a larger average ticket (say $200), the per-transaction fee becomes a smaller fraction of transaction value, and the break-even shifts in Payment Depot's favor. With a smaller average ticket (say $25), the per-transaction fee matters more and Payment Depot's advantage at higher volumes is reduced.
Account Type and Stability
Payment Depot provides dedicated merchant accounts, not a pooled PayFac arrangement. This is a shared advantage with GoPayhawk. Both processors underwrite each merchant individually, which means account stability is not the primary concern for either.
However, the Stax acquisition introduces a different kind of uncertainty: long-term brand continuity. Payment Depot has historically had strong customer satisfaction ratings. Whether the brand continues to operate independently or gets folded into Stax's operations is a question worth asking directly before signing a longer-term commitment.
Contract Terms
Payment Depot has historically operated month-to-month with no long-term processing contract and no cancellation fee. Verify current terms, as the Stax acquisition may have introduced changes. GoPayhawk operates month-to-month with no cancellation fee or early termination fee.
Support Comparison
| Support Type | Payment Depot | GoPayhawk |
|---|---|---|
| Phone support | Yes () | Yes (dedicated rep) |
| Dedicated account rep | Not standard | Yes (every merchant) |
| Online portal | Yes | Yes |
| Hands-on onboarding | Supported | Yes |
| US-based support | Yes | Yes (Roswell, GA) |
Pricing Model Availability
| Model | Payment Depot | GoPayhawk |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription IC+ (no % markup) | Yes (core model) | N/A (GoPayhawk uses traditional IC+) |
| Traditional Interchange Plus | No | Yes |
| Flat Rate | No | Yes |
| Surcharging | Unknown | Yes |
| Cash Discounting | Not prominently offered | Yes |
| Dual Pricing | Not prominently offered | Yes |
The Honest Verdict
Payment Depot is better if...
- You process $40,000+/month consistently where the subscription math works
- You have a higher average ticket (over $100) that benefits from zero percentage markup
- You are comfortable with the post-Stax-acquisition brand context
- You want the subscription model structure over traditional IC+
- You do not need zero-fee programs (cash discounting, surcharging)
GoPayhawk is better if...
- You process under $40,000/month and want no monthly subscription fee
- You want cash discounting, surcharging, or dual pricing
- You want a dedicated account rep
- You want month-to-month certainty with a stable single-brand processor
- Your average ticket is under $75 where per-transaction fee drives cost
- You want zero-fee processing that eliminates card costs entirely
Frequently Asked Questions
Payment Depot is a subscription-based payment processor acquired by Stax (formerly Fattmerchant) in 2022. It passes interchange at cost plus a flat per-transaction fee on top of a monthly membership fee. Both brands continue to operate as of 2026.
As of early 2026, approximately $79/month (Starter), $99/month (Growth), $199/month (Scale), with decreasing per-transaction fees at higher tiers. Verify current pricing at paymentdepot.com — this may have changed post-acquisition.
At approximately $40,000/month at a $75 average ticket, Payment Depot Growth plan and GoPayhawk IC+ break even. Above that volume, Payment Depot has a modest cost advantage. At higher average tickets (over $100), the break-even shifts lower. Use the interchange vs. flat rate calculator to model your specific scenario.
Payment Depot and Stax operate nearly identical subscription models and share the same parent company since the 2022 acquisition. Payment Depot's entry plan has historically been slightly less expensive. See also the GoPayhawk vs. Stax comparison for a full breakdown of the subscription model math.
Cash discounting is not a prominently advertised feature of Payment Depot. GoPayhawk offers cash discounting, surcharging, and dual pricing. Verify Payment Depot's zero-fee model availability before making a final decision.
Yes. Payment Depot provides dedicated merchant accounts, not a pooled PayFac arrangement. This is a shared advantage with GoPayhawk compared to Square and Stripe.
The acquisition is worth acknowledging. Payment Depot and Stax continue to operate as separate brands, but they share ownership and infrastructure. If long-term brand stability is important to your business, ask Payment Depot directly about its roadmap and what would happen to your account in the event of a brand consolidation. GoPayhawk operates independently as a dedicated ISO with stable Elavon/U.S. Bank backing.
Payment Depot's subscription model is best suited for businesses processing $15,000 to $20,000/month or more. Below that volume, GoPayhawk's traditional IC+ pricing is typically more cost-effective because there is no monthly subscription dragging up total cost. Use the interchange vs. flat rate calculator to model your specific volume.
