Choosing between Redstone Payment Solutions and another processor comes down to three things: your monthly volume, your hardware situation, and how much you value seeing every cost on your statement in writing. This page does the one thing most comparison pages avoid: it tells you when to stay with Redstone Payment Solutions and when ProTech Payments is the better fit. Below is a factual, side-by-side breakdown, an honest scorecard, and a clear decision framework so you can choose on the math, not the marketing.
Redstone Payment Solutions at a glance, and what they genuinely do well
Redstone Payment Solutions is a Houston-based processor at 10406 Lake Rd, Houston, TX 77070. They build their pitch around relationships and personalized, face-to-face service, and several things on their offer are genuinely good:
- A relationship-first, in-person approach. Redstone explicitly sells on honesty and personalized face-to-face service, and for many owners that human contact is worth a lot.
- A Clover-centric POS focus. Clover is a strong, widely used platform, and a partner who knows it deeply can be a real asset.
- Cash advances for businesses that need working capital between cycles.
- Inventory and business-management tools alongside payment processing, which helps owners run more than just the register.
- 24/7 support and a stated aim to help merchants avoid unnecessary fees.
- Real backing: Redstone is a Registered ISO of Woodforest National Bank and Pathward, N.A., and is PCI compliant. That is legitimate, citable infrastructure behind the relationship.
If you value a local rep you can sit across from, you run on Clover, and you want a business-management toolset bundled with processing, Redstone is a credible choice. We will say that plainly, because it is true. Redstone and ProTech actually agree on a lot here: both believe local, honest service beats a faceless 1-800 line.
ProTech Payments at a glance
ProTech Payments is a merchant services provider headquartered at 25140 Kingsland Blvd STE 180, Katy, TX 77494, serving the Katy and greater Houston metro in person and the rest of the United States remotely. ProTech leads with pricing transparency and a documented savings guarantee:
- Four pricing models under one roof: dual pricing, cash discount, surcharge, and transparent interchange-plus, so the program fits the business rather than the other way around.
- A Best Price Guarantee: a free, no-obligation statement analysis that compares your current effective rate line by line, beats it where possible, or tells you honestly to stay.
- Multi-brand hardware, not a single locked platform: Clover Station Solo, Duo, and Flex, Dejavoo P1, Valor VL100, Ingenico Desk 3500, OrderCounter, and Oracle Simphony for full-service restaurants.
- Capital lending and equipment leasing for businesses that need working capital or want to spread hardware cost.
- In-person Katy and Houston support from real reps, backed by First Data and Fiserv processing infrastructure.
Why merchants look for an alternative to Redstone Payment Solutions
None of these are accusations against Redstone. They are the general, model-based reasons owners shop their processor, and they apply to most relationship-driven ISOs:
- They want published, written pricing. Redstone does not publish its rates or fees. That is common in this industry, but it means you cannot compare the offer until you ask for the full schedule in writing.
- They want hardware choice. Redstone is Clover-focused. Clover is excellent, but some businesses want to weigh Dejavoo, Valor, Ingenico, or full-service restaurant systems before committing to one platform.
- They want a documented savings guarantee, not just a promise to help avoid fees.
- They want to compare dual pricing, cash discount, and surcharge side by side against straight interchange-plus and pick the model that nets the lowest cost.
- They want a free, line-by-line statement analysis before they sign anything.
ProTech Payments vs Redstone Payment Solutions: side by side
The tables below compare only verifiable facts. Where a number is not published, we say so, because "ask them for it in writing" is the honest answer and the smart buyer move. Redstone's rates, fees, and contract terms are not published, so several rows below correctly read "Not published, ask in writing."
Company overview
| Factor |
ProTech Payments |
Redstone Payment Solutions |
| Headquarters |
Katy, TX (Kingsland Blvd) |
Houston, TX (Lake Rd) |
| Service model |
Local Katy and Houston metro, plus national US |
Local Houston, face-to-face service |
| Backend processing |
First Data and Fiserv |
Registered ISO of Woodforest National Bank and Pathward, N.A. |
| POS platform |
Multi-brand (Clover, Dejavoo, Valor, Ingenico, OrderCounter, Oracle Simphony) |
Clover-focused |
| Added financial services |
Capital lending, equipment leasing |
Cash advances, inventory and business-management tools |
Pricing and transparency
| Factor |
ProTech Payments |
Redstone Payment Solutions |
| Pricing models |
Dual pricing, cash discount, surcharge, interchange-plus |
Not published, ask in writing |
| Monthly cost |
Quoted after free statement analysis |
Not published, ask in writing |
| Pricing transparency |
Every cost layer shown, statement-level |
States an aim to help avoid unnecessary fees; full schedule not published |
| Savings guarantee |
Best Price Guarantee, in writing |
Not published, ask in writing |
| Free statement analysis |
Yes, no obligation |
Not published, ask in writing |
Hardware and equipment
| Factor |
ProTech Payments |
Redstone Payment Solutions |
| Hardware approach |
Multiple brands, keep your hardware where possible |
Clover-focused (single primary platform) |
| Up-front hardware cost |
Leasing available, buy options vary |
Not published, ask in writing |
| Restaurant systems |
OrderCounter, Oracle Simphony |
Clover for restaurants |
| Mobile and virtual |
Clover Flex, virtual terminal |
Clover mobile options |
Onboarding, funding, and support
| Factor |
ProTech Payments |
Redstone Payment Solutions |
| Funding speed |
Standard next-day; ask about same-day eligibility |
Not published, ask in writing |
| Support model |
In-person Katy and Houston reps, plus phone |
24/7 support, personalized face-to-face service |
| Onboarding |
Statement analysis first, then quote |
Relationship-led, in person |
| Contract terms |
Request in writing before signing |
Not published, ask in writing |
The honest scorecard
No vendor wins every row, and any scorecard that says otherwise is selling you something. Here is a fair tally based only on the facts above.
| Category |
Edge |
Why |
| Pricing transparency and guarantee |
ProTech Payments |
Documented Best Price Guarantee plus a free line-by-line statement analysis; Redstone's pricing is not published |
| Hardware flexibility |
ProTech Payments |
Multiple brands and a keep-your-hardware path, not one platform |
| Clover depth |
Redstone Payment Solutions |
A Clover-centric specialist can know that one platform very well |
| Relationship and face-to-face service |
Tie |
Both lead with local, honest, in-person service |
| Working capital options |
Tie |
Redstone offers cash advances; ProTech offers capital lending and equipment leasing |
| Business-management tools |
Redstone Payment Solutions |
Inventory and management tooling bundled with processing |
| Pricing-model choice |
ProTech Payments |
Dual pricing, cash discount, surcharge, and interchange-plus under one roof |
The takeaway: Redstone wins on Clover depth and bundled business-management tools, and the two are evenly matched on relationship-driven local service and working-capital options. ProTech wins on published pricing transparency, the written savings guarantee, hardware flexibility, and pricing-model choice.
When Redstone Payment Solutions is the right choice
Stay with or choose Redstone Payment Solutions if:
- You value a relationship-first, face-to-face local rep and that human contact matters more to you than a published rate sheet.
- You are committed to Clover and want a partner who specializes in that platform.
- You want inventory and business-management tools bundled with your processing in one place.
- You may need a cash advance and prefer to handle it through your processor.
- You have asked for their full fee schedule in writing, the effective rate on your statement is competitive, and the relationship is working.
If that describes you, there is no reason to switch, and we will tell you so after we read your statement.
When ProTech Payments is the better fit
Choose ProTech Payments if:
- You want every cost layer visible on your statement and a written rate sheet before you commit.
- You want to compare dual pricing, cash discount, and surcharge against straight interchange-plus and pick the model that nets the lowest cost.
- You want a written Best Price Guarantee and a free statement analysis before you sign anything.
- You want hardware choice across Clover, Dejavoo, Valor, Ingenico, and full-service restaurant systems, not a single platform, with a path to keep equipment you already own.
- You may need capital lending or equipment leasing alongside processing.
- You want a rep you can meet in person in Katy or Houston.
How the Best Price Guarantee works
The Best Price Guarantee exists so you never have to take a rate claim on faith. It runs in three steps:
- You send a recent merchant statement. We read it line by line and calculate your true effective rate, not the headline rate.
- We build a side-by-side comparison showing your current cost versus a ProTech quote across the pricing models that fit your business.
- We beat your current effective rate where the math allows. Where it does not, we tell you to stay where you are. There is no obligation and no pressure either way.
The turnaround is about 48 hours, and the only thing we ask for is the statement.
Understanding the pricing models, so you can judge any quote
You cannot compare two processors without understanding what sits underneath the price. Three models dominate US merchant services in 2026.
- Interchange-plus: you pay the card network interchange cost, plus assessments, plus a defined processor markup. It is transparent because each layer is visible. ProTech offers this model. Redstone does not publish which model it uses, so ask in writing.
- Flat-rate: one fixed percentage for every card, used by aggregators like Square and Stripe. Simple, but the processor keeps the gap between your flat rate and real interchange.
- Dual pricing, cash discount, and surcharge: the customer who pays by card covers the processing cost, so your net cost of acceptance drops toward zero. Texas allows compliant surcharging within card-network rules and the state cap.
A quick worked example on a $100 Visa consumer credit sale: interchange runs about $1.61, assessments about $0.14, and a transparent processor markup might add $0.40, for roughly $2.15 in total fees. Under a compliant dual-pricing program, that cost shifts to the card-paying customer instead. The right model depends on your ticket size, card mix, and customers, which is exactly what the free analysis settles. For a deeper breakdown, see interchange-plus vs flat-rate pricing and how to read your merchant statement.
How switching to ProTech actually works
Switching is less disruptive than most owners expect.
- Free statement analysis. Send one recent statement, get a line-by-line read in about 48 hours.
- Honest recommendation. If you are already on a good rate, we say so. If not, you get a side-by-side quote.
- Hardware check. We confirm what you can keep. Many terminals and Clover devices carry over, which avoids re-buying equipment. If you run Clover with Redstone today, that often matters here.
- Onboarding. Application, underwriting, and program setup, with a Katy or Houston rep walking you through it.
- Go live. We test transactions, confirm funding timing, and stay on call for the first batches.
Other alternatives worth considering
ProTech is not the only option, and pretending otherwise would undercut the point of an honest comparison. Depending on your needs:
- Helcim is worth a look if you want transparent interchange-plus for online and want published rates.
- Stax suits very high-volume merchants who prefer subscription-style pricing.
- Square fits the smallest, seasonal, or pop-up sellers who value simplicity over the lowest effective rate.
For a local lens, see our Houston merchant services guide and Katy merchant services guide, and the full list of comparisons on our alternatives hub.
Frequently asked questions
Is ProTech Payments cheaper than Redstone Payment Solutions?
It depends on your card mix, ticket size, and current effective rate, which is why we do not quote a number blind. Redstone does not publish its rates, so the only honest way to compare is to read your actual statement. The free statement analysis settles it with your real data, and if Redstone is already giving you a competitive effective rate, we will tell you to stay.
Do I have to replace my hardware to switch?
Often no. Many terminals and Clover devices carry over to ProTech, and if you run Clover with Redstone today that frequently works in your favor. We confirm exactly what you can keep during the hardware check before you commit.
What is the Best Price Guarantee?
It is a written commitment to read your statement, compare your effective rate side by side, and beat it where the math allows, or tell you honestly to stay. It is free and carries no obligation.
Is dual pricing legal in Texas?
Yes, compliant dual pricing, cash discount, and surcharge programs are allowed in Texas within Visa and Mastercard rules and the applicable cap. We set the program up to stay compliant, including the required signage and receipt disclosures.
Redstone focuses on Clover. Does ProTech support Clover too?
Yes. ProTech supports Clover Station Solo, Duo, and Flex, so a Clover business is fully covered. The difference is that ProTech is not limited to one platform, so you can also weigh Dejavoo, Valor, Ingenico, and full-service restaurant systems before deciding.
How do I find out Redstone's actual rates and contract terms?
They are not published on their site, which is common in this industry and not a red flag by itself. Ask Redstone for the full fee schedule and contract terms in writing, then send that same statement to ProTech for a free side-by-side. Comparing two written numbers is the only fair way to choose.
Get your free, no-obligation rate review
If you want certainty instead of a sales pitch, send one recent statement and let the math decide. ProTech Payments will read it line by line, show you a side-by-side comparison against your current Redstone Payment Solutions costs, and beat your effective rate where possible or tell you to stay. Call (888) 255-0425 or start your free rate review.
