Set up Stripe payments
Stripe is Rex's default payment processor and the only option included on the Core plan. Each venue connects its own Stripe account, so payouts go directly to the venue's bank — there's no Rex-held middle account.
Open the venue you're configuring and click Venue Info, then click Payment Settings to open the payments modal.
Connect your Stripe account
In the Payments dropdown, select Stripe Connect. A connection panel appears below. Click Connect with Stripe — you'll be redirected to Stripe's OAuth authorization page. Sign in to your existing Stripe account or create a new one, then approve the connection. Stripe redirects you back to Rex when authorization completes.
The status field shows Pending while Stripe finishes verifying your account, then flips to Connected once your account can accept charges. Click Check Status if it stays on Pending for more than a minute.
Stripe requires business details — legal entity, tax info, bank account — to fully activate your account. If you haven't filled these out yet, Stripe walks you through it during the connection flow. You can connect first and complete the verification details from Stripe later, but you can't accept live payments until verification is complete.
Configure payment behavior
After Stripe shows as Connected, the modal exposes a few settings that control how Rex charges guests.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Capture Payment | On (default) — Rex captures the charge immediately when the guest completes checkout. Off — Rex only authorizes the card; you must manually capture from the Stripe Dashboard within 7 days, otherwise the authorization expires. Most venues should leave this on. |
| Stripe Test Mode | Toggle on to use Stripe's sandbox environment. No real money moves while Test Mode is on — useful when you're previewing the booking flow before going live. Toggle off before you start taking real bookings. |
| Payment Method Configuration | Optional. If you've set up custom payment method configurations in your Stripe Dashboard (e.g. enabling Apple Pay, Google Pay, or specific local payment methods), select the configuration here. Leave blank and Stripe picks payment methods automatically. |
Click Save changes at the bottom of the modal. A success toast confirms the settings were saved.
What Stripe handles automatically
Once Stripe is connected, Rex takes care of the rest of the payment lifecycle for you. Worth knowing:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Checkout | When a guest completes a reservation, Rex creates a Stripe customer (or reuses an existing one matched by email) and charges the card per the package's deposit setting. |
| Deposits | If a package requires a deposit instead of full payment, only the deposit is charged at checkout. The remaining balance can be collected later — at check-in, by invoice, or by charging a saved card. |
| Saved cards | Guests can save their payment method during checkout. On future bookings, Rex retrieves saved cards from Stripe and offers them at checkout. |
| Refunds | When a reservation is cancelled or modified, Rex issues Stripe refunds against the original transactions, most recent first. If a charge was only authorized (not captured), Rex cancels the authorization instead of refunding. |
| Failed payments | If a charge fails, Rex records the failure on the reservation. The guest sees an error and can re-enter payment details; staff can retry from the Host App for terminal payments. |
| Stripe Terminal (in-person) | If your venue uses a Stripe Terminal reader, the Host App can charge the card in person during check-in. The transaction flows through the same Stripe Connect account. |
Test before going live
Turn Stripe Test Mode on and run through a real booking on your reservation page using Stripe's test card 4242 4242 4242 4242 with any future expiry and any CVC. Confirm the booking shows up in Rex, the confirmation email lands, and the test transaction appears in your Stripe Dashboard. Turn Test Mode off when you're ready to take live bookings.
Other payment options
Stripe is included on the Core plan and works for most venues. Pro plan and higher unlocks additional processors for venues with specific needs — POS integrations, existing merchant relationships, or specialized industries. Upgrade your plan to enable any of the options below.
- Set up Square payments — for venues already running Square as their in-store POS. Combines online bookings with in-person payment in one Square account.
- Set up GoTab — for venues using GoTab for food and beverage. Reservations sync to GoTab tabs at check-in.
- Set up Heartland payments — for venues with an existing Heartland merchant account.
Updated May 13, 2026
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