6 Best Mobile Credit Card Processing Apps In 2023

Square is one of the best-known names among credit card processing apps. Just about anyone can sign up for a Square account and start accepting credit card payments.

Square Payment App Features

The real value of Square is its all-in-one platform. Square offers free invoicing, a virtual terminal (you just pay the transaction costs), eCommerce integrations, a free online store, plus premium POS apps with competitive pricing tailored to various industries.

Features include:

• Multistore support
• Contactless payments
• Multichannel selling
• Marketing tools
• Online ordering
• Inventory management
• Reporting
• Employee management
• Text messaging

Square Pricing

The cost of Square payment apps ranges from $0 to $69/month. Check out our guide on Square’s costs for a full breakdown of fees.

Square Hardware Cost

Square is one of the few processors that still offers a free (magstripe) reader. Readers top out around $299.

Payment Processing

Square’s base transaction rate for in-person transactions is a flat 2.6% + $0.10. Rates vary slightly depending on the service.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Square’s paid plans are month-to-month, and you can quit anytime. Free accounts can remain unused until needed, as your transaction fees completely fund them.

The only thing to watch out for with Square is account freezes and holds, which can be difficult to resolve. This is a problem common to all third-party processors.

Where Square Really Shines

The free app, Square Point of Sale, is one of the most advanced mPOS options available, with an extensive array of supported features on both iOS and Android. Square began with a focus on simple, accessible mobile processing, and it remains among the best in its class for that purpose.

SumUp is a bit like Square’s sophisticated, minimalist European cousin. SumUp’s standalone mPOS app works in many European countries and expanded into the US a while back. While SumUp’s app is the simplest option on this list, it has the essentials that merchants need for in-person sales.

SumUp Payment App Features

SumUp is lean on features but effective.

• Item library
• Quick-sale mode
• Tipping
• Cash recording
• Basic analytics
• Email/SMS receipts
• QR code payments
• Remote payments (payment links, virtual gift cards, etc.)

SumUp Pricing

Like most other options on this list, SumUp is a third-party aggregator, so you can sign up and start taking payments very quickly. The app itself is free, with transaction fees providing revenue for the service.

SumUp Hardware Cost

SumUp hardware starts as low as $35/£29, maxing out at $99/£99. There’s a UK-only model with a printer for £149.

Payment Processing

Payment processing is enabled in the basic app setup. Transactions process at 2.75%, a competitive rate for businesses processing small transactions.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

SumUp uses a pay-as-you-go model, so you can cancel at any time without penalty. Just be aware that SumUp will automatically terminate inactive accounts after two years, so be sure to empty your account of funds before that happens.

Where SumUp Really Shines

If you don’t need a lot and just want a well-designed mobile processing app, SumUp is a great choice. It’s simple, straightforward, and easy to use. The 2.75% processing rate makes it an excellent option for processing small transactions.

Shopify started solely as an eCommerce provider, but it’s slowly built up its products into a powerful all-in-one platform. You can sell seamlessly online and in person, using its branded third-party payment service powered by Stripe.

Shopify Lite Payment App Features

Shopify’s eCommerce tools are top of the line, and its POS app, simply called Shopify POS, is constantly improving.

Features include:

• Embeddable buy buttons
• Sell on social media
• Create invoices
• Product library
• Customer list
• Analytics and reports
• Discounts at POS
• Order fulfillment
• Tip collection

Shopify Lite Pricing

Shopify Lite has a monthly fee of $9.

Shopify Lite Hardware Cost

Shopify Lite’s readers are available for $29 and $49.

Payment Processing

In-person credit and debit transactions with Shopify Lite are charged a flat 2.7%. Shopify Lite gives you to option to swap out the default payment processor (Stripe) with one of your preferences, but this will add a 2% surcharge.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Shopify works on month-to-month agreements. You can pay for an entire year upfront for a discount, but you won’t be able to get a refund or pro-rated bill if you decide to cancel early.

Where Shopify Lite Really Shines

The Shopify platform makes it easy to grow your business within its ecosystem. You can just pay for as much Shopify as you need.

Shopify POS is included for free with all Shopify eCommerce plans, which start at $29/month. Our full Shopify review breaks down your options for online selling.

However, if you’re only interested in the POS and some entry-level selling tools, the Shopify Lite plan, at $9/month, might be appealing. It includes invoicing and the ability to create “buy” buttons and a Facebook shop. Shopify’s inventory is on par with Square’s, and most of its other features are closely in line with Square’s as well.

QuickBooks is still one of the most recognizable names in accounting software, so it’s no surprise that Intuit has leveraged the brand into mobile payment processing.

QuickBooks GoPayment Payment App Features

QuickBooks GoPayment can work as a standalone solution or as part of your current QuickBooks software package.

Features include:

• QuickBooks integration
• Merchant service center
• Apply discounts at POS
• Item library
• Item sync
• QuickBooks checking account
• Invoicing
• Estimates
• Expense tracking
• Live bank feeds
• Mileage tracking
• 1099 tax support

QuickBooks GoPayment Pricing

You’ll need a QuickBooks Online subscription to use QuickBooks Go Payment. Plans range between $30/month and $200/month.

QuickBooks GoPayment Hardware Cost

The QuickBooks Card Reader retails for $49.

Payment Processing

In-person transactions cost 2.4% + $0.25 each.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

As mentioned above, you’ll need a QuickBooks Online account to use GoPayment. Make sure you’re up to speed on the terms of your QuickBooks Online contract. Service-only plans, for example, require a minimum 12-month subscription.

Where QuickBooks GoPayment Really Shines

Unlike many of the other options on this list, QuickBooks GoPayment is not a third-party processor. Instead, you’ll have your own comparatively stable merchant account.

As you might expect, GoPayment integrates seamlessly with the rest of the QuickBooks software suite, making it a more appealing solution if you’re already heavily invested in the ecosystem.

For standalone users, GoPayment is respectably free of bloat, with straightforward pricing. One highlight: GoPayments allows up to 50 users to operate on a single account.

Formerly PayPal Here, PayPal Zettle represents the eCommerce giant’s foray into in-person payment processing. Ironically, as PayPal’s eCommerce pricing has become more expensive, PayPal Zettle remains a competitive POS option.

PayPal Zettle Payment App Features

In keeping with the PayPal brand, Zettle is both easy-to-use and functional. Features include:

• PayPal and Venmo QR codes
• Cash payments
• Item library
• Reports
• Discounts
• Custom gift cards
• Support for register setups
• Refunds and partial refund
• Integration with PayPal business account features

PayPal Zettle Pricing

There’s no monthly fee for using PayPal Zettle.

PayPal Zettle Hardware Cost

Your first Zettle 2 reader costs $29. Additional readers cost $79 each.

Payment Processing

Card present transactions on PayPal Zettle will run you 2.29 + $0.09.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

As there’s no monthly fee for default PayPal accounts, you shouldn’t have any issues canceling should you want to. Just be aware that, as a third-party processor, PayPal accounts have some stability issues.

Where PayPal Zettle Really Shines

PayPal leverages its extensive infrastructure to make the most of Zettle. In addition to processing credit and debit cards, you’ll be able to process PayPal and Venmo transactions by scanning QR codes. Throw in inventory management, reports, and at-register discounts, and you have a well-rounded app that integrates with PayPal’s longstanding features, such as invoicing, same-day funding, and recurring billing.

Toast is an Android-based POS system built specifically for restaurants.

Toast Payment App Features

Toast’s feature set is highly focused on its industry. Features include:

• Cloud-based POS
• Customer care
• Real-time fraud monitoring
• Custom configuration
• Mobile orders
• Online ordering and delivery
• Gift cards
• Marketing
• Loyalty programs

Toast Pricing

Toast’s plans range from $0/month for the Starter Kit to $165/month for Essentials. Custom pricing is also available for more advanced features.

Toast Hardware Cost

Hardware can be included as part of your Pay-as-you-Go costs for no additional upfront cost. This raises your processing fees, however. If you want to buy POS hardware kits outright, prices range from $609 to $999.

Payment Processing

Toast’s payment processing rates vary depending on your plan. The rate for the Pay-as-you-Go plan, which includes hardware at no additional cost, is 2.99% + $0.15.

Contract Requirements/Warnings

Toast offers various contracts of different lengths, so make sure you know exactly what you’re signing up for. If you cancel a long-term contract early, you may have to pay an early termination fee.

Where Toast Really Shines

Toast provides a comprehensive, industry-focused toolset that can scale to restaurants of just about any size. Getting “free” readers with Pay-as-you-Go plans is a nice perk for new restaurants that may not have a lot of spare cash to throw around.