If you sell CBD, supplements, travel, tickets, adult content, or anything that Stripe and PayPal reject, you already know how complicated it is to accept card payments.
That’s when Soar Payments (SoarPay) comes into play, because is a specialized processor for high-risk businesses that works with domestic and offshore banks and has an underwriting process designed for difficult profiles.
In today's note, I’ll tell you what it offers, its advantages, and the alternatives to this payment gateway so you can compare before deciding.
What is Soar Payments?
Soar Payments (also known as SoarPay) is a U.S. provider specialized in high-risk merchant accounts and regulated.
Founded in 2015 in Houston, Texas, it focuses exclusively on businesses that most traditional processors reject due to high risk of chargebacks (dispute or reversal of purchases), fraud, or strict regulation.
The most attractive thing is that it offers credit card, debit card, and ACH processing, with integrations for e-commerce (Shopify, WooCommerce, etc.) and gateways such as Authorize.net or NMI.
Advantages for which it is growing as a benchmark in the high-risk sector in 2026
To get started, serves more than 50 industries, including CBD, nutraceuticals, firearms and accessories, telemedicine, supplements, ticket sales, travel, subscription boxes, and regulated services.
In addition, it works with a network of domestic and offshore banks to place complex profiles or those with a history of problems. But aside from that, these are some of its other features:
Specialization of more than 10 years
Many processors say they work with high risk, but for them it is a side business. And this is not the case with SoarPay.
Since 2015, they have been dedicated solely to this, and it shows, since have direct relationships with specialized banksand an underwriting (verification) process that is designed for medium and high profiles, not for typical easy businesses.
Fast approvals and high acceptance rates
Typical approval time? It is usually between 24 and 72 hours, even for complicated cases. In fact, Merchant Maverick It named it in 2026 as «the best option for quick approval» in the high-risk world. And when you need liquidity now, that’s gold.
Independent recognitions in 2026
It’s not just marketing. TechnologyAdvice included it on its list of the 8 best high-risk merchant account providers for this year and, moreover, it was named «Best Mid-Market High-Risk Specialist».
What does that mean in plain English? It means that if your business is medium-sized and you want stability without diving into weird offshore solutions, SoarPay is one of the best options.
Educational approach and transparency
Here is something that almost nobody does, and that is educate. In the case of the platform, they have a podcast called «High Risk Merchant Accounts 101» which in 2025 became number one in its sector.
They talk about chargebacks, fraud, and compliance, and all without beating around the bush, which builds trust. Merchants come in knowing what to expect, and that attracts better customers.
Dedicated support and hands-on experience
Support is in the United States, no external call centers where they keep passing you from one person to another. They guide you throughout the entire onboarding process and they give you tools to control chargebacks and fraud.
They have been helping more than 1,000 merchants, and in regulated industries, where having a processor that doesn’t suddenly close your account is key, that has a lot of value.
And the drawbacks?
But since not everything that glitters is gold, Soar Payment also has some drawbacks:
- Non-transparent pricing: rates are not published on the website. Personalized quotes are provided, which makes it difficult to compare before applying.
- Typical high-risk rates: higher commissions than low-risk processors (generally several percentage points per transaction + monthly fees and chargeback fees).
- Early termination fee: up to $495 if you cancel the contract early.
- Rolling reservations or fund holds: common in risk profiles; they can retain a percentage of sales (5-10% typical) for months.
- Only for businesses in the U.S.: does not accept companies outside the United States or all ultra-high-risk industries (e.g. extreme adult, gambling, kratom, marijuana, or debt collection).
- Occasional complaints: some merchants report unexpected holds after the first processing, delays in releases, or slow support in complex cases.
Best alternatives to Soar Payments to diversify your operational risk
It's time to evaluate the other alternatives to SoarPay that can truly help your high-risk business:
1. RiskPaygo: the ultimate protection for subscription and high-volume models
| Feature | Benefit for your business |
| 🛡️ Payment shield | AI analysis to accept sales that others reject out of "fear". |
| 🚀 High conversion | Optimized so that the checkout process is smooth and frictionless. |
| 💸 Daily liquidity | Fast withdrawals so your cash flow never stops. |
| 🔄 PRO Subscriptions | The perfect partner for recurring billing models and SaaS. |
| 🔓 Without withholding | Goodbye to the arbitrary 21-day holds of traditional processors. |
If your business handles subscriptions, recurring billing, or a high volume of transactions, RiskPaygo is probably the best option you have today.
Why? Because it not only processes payments, but also protects you. Its “payment shield” system analyzes buyer behavior in real time and accepts transactions that other processors would reject out of fear of risk.
In addition, withdrawals are fast (in some cases daily), which greatly improves your liquidity. And if you’ve had problems with blocks or money being withheld on other sites, here you’ll notice the difference.
- Ideal for: subscription businesses, high-risk businesses, and entrepreneurs who need reliability without losing agility.
2. Monei: the option for small businesses looking for scalability
| Feature | Benefit for your business |
| 📲 Bizum payments | Native integration of the favorite method in Spain to increase sales. |
| ⏱️ Activation in 24 hours | Forget about waiting weeks; the approval process is digital and fast. |
| 🔗 Payments by link | Send a link by WhatsApp or email and get paid instantly without needing a website. |
| 📊 Omnichannel control | Manage your physical and online sales from a single dashboard. |
| 💳 Dynamic pricing | As you sell more, your commissions automatically go down. |
Donor European, with a Spanish IBAN, and designed for businesses that are starting out or want to grow without technical complications.
Its strength is simplicity. It lets you collect payments with payment links, card, or bank transfer, and everything integrates with platforms like WooCommerce or Shopify quite easily.
The fees are competitive and don’t have as many restrictions as Stripe or PayPal for certain sectors. It’s not the most powerful solution for extreme high risk, but for small businesses that want to scale without going crazy, it’s a very solid option.
- Ideal for: SMEs, freelancers, and businesses that are just starting out and want something that works without needing a technical team.
3. Durango Merchant Services: Solid experience in international transactions
| Feature | Benefit for your business |
| 🌍 Global reach | Process payments in almost any currency and country without borders. |
| 🎓 Know-how | More than 20 years of experience handling what others reject. |
| 🤝 Human resources management | Forget the bots; you'll have a dedicated account manager for you. |
| 🛡️ Proactive Prevention | Advanced tools to stop fraud before it costs you money. |
| 🏗️ Tailored accounts | Customized solutions according to the specific risk of your industry. |
Durango has been in this for many years. They are veterans in the high-risk sector and have a fairly extensive network of offshore and domestic banks.
Their strong point is international transactions. Therefore, if you sell in several countries and need to process payments in different currencies, Durango can save you from more than one tight spot.
That said, they usually require minimum volumes, and the underwriting process is more traditional (and sometimes slower). But if what you’re looking for is solidity and years of experience behind you, it’s an alternative you should consider.
- Ideal for: businesses with international sales, high volumes, and that prioritize stability over speed.
Is Soar Payments worth it for your business today?
If your business is high-risk, the operator is well worth it because it specializes in what others reject, has fast approvals, and gives you stability where most people close your account.
However, if your business is low risk or you’ve just started with few sales, you probably don’t need it, because generalist processors will be cheaper for you and involve less paperwork.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my business qualifies as “high risk” for Soar Payments?
Don’t be guided by the name alone; high risk is a technical category. If you sell CBD products, supplements, subscription services (SaaS), high-ticket coaching, or adult content, traditional banks see you as a red flag for payment platforms.
What is the best alternative to Soar Payments?
RiskPaygo has been designed as an active technological shield, while others are limited to processing; therefore, it is the best alternative today.
How long does it really take for my account to be approved?
In the high-risk sector, the usual timeframe with processors like Soar Payments is between 3 and 5 business days. It is the standard time required for the process of underwriting to validate your documents and risk level. However, if speed is your priority, RiskPaygo makes the difference.
