We may earn money when you click on our links.
We updated the pricing information for all brands. The name and form factor were changed for the Shopify Start-up Bundle 10.2"/Air 10.5" but the price remains the same as it was with the previous version. Also, the Ingenico iCT220 Dual Com Terminal is no longer being manufactured and can only be purchased used. Because of this we plan to replace this hardware with a newer product in an upcoming month.
There are hundreds of different card readers on the market—some are mobile and some are packed with point-of-sale features.
We chose Square’s Contactless and Chip Reader as our number one pick because it’s mobile and it connects you to Square’s top-notch POS system.
Whether you go with the Square reader or something else, this article will help you choose the best credit card reader for your business and point-of-sale (POS) system.
Reader | Lowest price | Buy it | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Square Contactless and Chip Reader | $49.00 | Shopify Start-up Bundle 10.2"/Air 10.5" | $879.00 | PayAnywhere PAR-1 Mobile Card Reader | $24.99 | View on Amazon |
Ingenico iCT220 Dual Com Terminal | $90.00 (used) | View on Amazon | ||||
MagTek | $57.94 | View on Amazon |
Data effective 4/14/21. At publishing time, pricing and features are current but are subject to change. Offers may not be available in all areas.
Accepts chip and contactless payments
Includes free POS software and subscription 
Requires separate (but included) magstripe reader for swipe payments
Requires iOS or Android device, app, and subscription There’s a reason we picked Square as the best mobile credit card reader and app for small business—actually, there are several reasons. Square readers connect to any iPhone, Android phone, or tablet to accept payments from just about anywhere. And our favorite Square credit card reader is the $49 Contactless and Chip Reader. It’s light, it’s compact, and it can accept EMV chip cards and NFC payments.
No magstripe reader, you ask? Square also throws in a free swipe reader with your contactless and chip reader purchase. One potential drawback: you’ll need to use Square’s free mobile app to use the reader and pay Square’s transaction fees, which are 2.6% + 10¢ for swiped, dipped, and tapped transactions or 3.5% + 15¢ for keyed transactions.
In this article, we discuss two specific kinds of payment acceptance.
Accepts swipe and chip payments
Prints receipts and stores cash
Works only with iOS devices
Requires POS system subscription, starting at $29 per month If you run a brick-and-mortar shop and are looking to upgrade from a simple mobile credit card reader and app, we recommend the Shopify Start-up Bundle 10.2"/Air 10.5". It’s the best all-in-one solution for accepting credit cards, securely storing cash, and printing customer receipts. The package includes a Shopify Tap & Chip Card Reader, a Chip & Swipe Reader, a Shopify Retail Stand for iPad 9.7, a bluetooth receipt printer, a cash drawer, and a barcode scanner.
Shopify’s POS software works on iOS and Android, but the kit only comes with an iPad stand, which means you’ll need to have or purchase an iPad. And at $879, the kit equipment is much more expensive than our other credit card reader picks. But if your store needs just one permanent solution for taking every type of customer payment, it’s an excellent value.
Costs under $30
Charges low transaction fees
Doesn’t accept chip or contactless payments
Has mediocre customer ratings Moving from all-in-one with Shopify to one-and-done with PayAnywhere, the PAR-1 Mobile Card Reader is a simple and cheap way to take customer payments on the go.
One potential drawback of this reader is that it’s out of production. There are still a number of them left in inventory on Amazon and other sites, but the PayAnywhere website is no longer promoting the reader.
The reader also isn’t as sleek or functional as the Square device—you’ll have to pay extra for a chip and NFC reader, for example—but it comes with a price tag below $30 and an affordable 2.69% transaction rate. These low costs make the PayAnywhere PAR-1 mobile card reader a smart choice for food trucks, boutique storefronts, and pop-up retailers.
If you want the cheapest POS device, you better pick one of these up before they’re gone.
Accepts swipe, chip, and contactless payments
Features user-friendly and private PIN pad
Costs $178
Doesn’t include POS or merchant processing Mobile credit card readers and apps may be the fancy new kids on the block, but that doesn’t mean more traditional credit card terminals are entirely out of fashion. Ingenico is a reputable manufacturer of POS solutions, and its iCT220 Dual Com Terminal is one of the best credit card readers available. Customers can use EMV-enabled cards, use contactless payments like Apple Pay, or swipe their traditional magstripe cards.
The reader features a bright display, easy-to-read buttons, and a PIN-obscuring privacy shield for debit card transactions. You’ll pay more for a terminal than for most mobile card readers. But you can connect the iCT220 to almost any existing POS system—via ethernet cable or cellular communication—and use any major credit card processing provider.
Connects to any USB-enabled device
Allows swipes in any direction
Requires separate POS terminal, device, and merchant account
Doesn’t accept chip or contactless payments For a simple, affordable, and versatile way to receive payments using a PC, Mac, or existing POS terminal, consider the MagTek 21040145 SureSwipe Reader. This credit card reader connects to any USB-enabled device (like a PC or POS terminal) and gets power through the same connection.
Setup is just as simple: simply plug in the six-foot cable and launch your POS software—no separate drivers required. The biggest downside? The reader is for swipes only—no EMV or NFC payments allowed. Still, the SureSwipe is durable and flexible, and it can upgrade to just about any mobile POS system.
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use.
Data effective 4/14/21. At publishing time, pricing and features are current but are subject to change. Offers may not be available in all areas.
A credit card reader is any device that can translate the encrypted data on a credit card into information that your POS system can use to process a payment.
Most credit card readers can read the information on magnetic stripe cards. Many readers can also accept EMV-enabled cards which are harder to steal information from thanks to their advanced microchip encryption. And nowadays, some readers can take contactless payments using NFC technology, allowing a customer to simply tap their smartphone or smartwatch to the reader.
A credit card terminal—or payment terminal—is a type of reader that typically features a digital display and PIN pad. Credit card terminals usually don’t include their own POS or processing systems but instead connect to a separate system using cables or wireless technology. Terminals are best for brick-and-mortar shops, especially those that have multiple customer registers.
Mobile readers are credit card machines that connect to smartphones or tablets to accept payments from anywhere you can take the reader. The readers often come packaged with a POS application and merchant services account. Mobile credit card readers are excellent for small businesses that need to take mobile payments, such as food trucks, farmer’s market merchants, or retailers with only one register.
Whether your small business is a traditional retailer, a roving food truck, or a nomadic pop-up shop, you need to accept customer payments on their terms. More customers than ever are going cashless, and new technology allows them to make payments without traditional credit card methods. One of our picks for the best credit card readers should let you help more customers and take more payments.
Now that you've picked out a credit card reader, you may want to consider a point-of-sale system. We've reviewed the top options in our guide to the best small-business POS systems to help you find the best method for processing and tracking payments.
Disclaimer
At zhulitouzi.com, our research is meant to offer general product and service recommendations. We don't guarantee that our suggestions will work best for each individual or business, so consider your unique needs when choosing products and services.
Stay updated on the latest products and services anytime anywhere.
