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The Best Mobile Credit Card Readers For iPhone & iPad Credit Card Processing

Need an iPhone credit card reader that suits your small business? Check out our guide to the best iOS credit card readers, including discussions about pricing, key features, and contract details.

    Jason Vissers
  • Last updated onUpdated

  • Frank Kehl
  • REVIEWED BY

    Frank Kehl

    Senior Staff Writer

Advertiser Disclosure: Our unbiased reviews and content are supported in part by affiliate partnerships, and we adhere to strict guidelines to preserve editorial integrity.
Credit card reader for iPhone

If you’re a business owner looking for a capable credit card reader for iPhone, you need to think about the mobile POS features your business will need, not just the credit card reader itself. You also need to consider credit card processing costs and look into the best POS system for your business.

In this article, we’ll discuss which iPhone and iPad credit card reader — and the mobile processing app offering it — is right for your small business, whatever your needs are. Afterward, you may want to check out the best credit card readers for small businesses more generally.

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Square

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  • Card Readers: $0-$59
  • Transaction Fee: 2.6% + $0.10
  • Monthly Fee: $0
  • Card Readers: $0-$59
  • Transaction Fee: 2.6% + $0.10
  • Monthly Fee: $0

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Clover Go

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  • Card Reader: $49
  • Transaction Fee: 2.6% + $0.10
  • Monthly Fee: $0-$14.95
  • Card Reader: $49
  • Transaction Fee: 2.6% + $0.10
  • Monthly Fee: $0-$14.95

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Shopify

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  • Card Reader: $49
  • Transaction Fee: Starts at 2.7%
  • Monthly Fee: Starts at $29
  • Card Reader: $49
  • Transaction Fee: Starts at 2.7%
  • Monthly Fee: Starts at $29

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Zettle

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  • Card Reader: $29 for your 1st reader
  • Transaction Fee: 2.29% + $0.09
  • Monthly Fee: $0
  • Card Reader: $29 for your 1st reader
  • Transaction Fee: 2.29% + $0.09
  • Monthly Fee: $0

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SumUp

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  • Card Readers: $39-$129
  • Transaction Fee: 2.75%
  • Monthly Fee: $0
  • Card Readers: $39-$129
  • Transaction Fee: 2.75%
  • Monthly Fee: $0

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Helcim

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  • Card Reader: $109
  • Transaction Fee: Interchange + 0.15% + $0.06 to interchange + 0.40% + $0.08
  • Monthly Fee: $0
  • Card Reader: $109
  • Transaction Fee: Interchange + 0.15% + $0.06 to interchange + 0.40% + $0.08
  • Monthly Fee: $0

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Read more below to learn why we chose these options.

Table of Contents

The 6 Best Credit Card Readers For iPhone & iPad

You can accept payments on the go with a credit card reader for your iPhone or iPad. A great iPhone credit card reader is affordable and accepts magstripe, chip card, and contactless payments. It also needs to be paired with a mobile POS app that offers essential business features.

Square: Best iPhone & iPad Credit Card Reader For Robust POS

Square


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Get a free card swiper from Square at no cost when you create a free account. Claim your card reader.

Pros

  • Predictable flat-rate pricing
  • No monthly fees
  • Robust feature set
  • No cancellation fees

Cons

  • Some account stability issues
  • Not for businesses in high-risk industries (except CBD sellers)

Is Square Reader Secure

Why We Chose Square As A Top Credit Card Reader For iPhone

With its deep and extensive POS features, Square is ideal for businesses processing under $5,000/month and those that can’t get a traditional merchant account due to a lack of business history.

Its two mobile card readers are well-suited to smaller on-the-go merchants, but for more hardware options, read our guide to Square POS hardware card readers to learn about Square’s terminal and register bundles.

Square Credit Card Reader For iPhone Features

Square’s mobile POS app, called Square Point of Sale, gets a lot of love from mobile merchants for its exceptionally robust and varied feature set while offering two different card readers.

  • The Square Point of Sale app offers reporting, customer engagement tools, inventory and team management, invoicing, gift cards, and much more — it’s one of the best mPOS feature sets around.
  • The free Square Reader for magstripe comes in two versions: one with a headset jack for older iPhones and one with a Lightning connector for newer iPhones. It just takes swiped transactions, so it’s only appropriate for light/occasional sales due to the inferior security of magstripe tech.
  • The Square Reader for contactless and chip accepts chip cards, NFC (contactless) cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. It doesn’t accept magstripe payments, but you can use the free reader for those if necessary. It is currently being sold in two versions: first-generation and second-generation. Both share the same basic functionality, but the second-generation reader sports a longer battery life, swaps the micro-USB charging port for a USB-C port, and costs $10 more.
  • If you’d rather take payments on an all-in-one device that doesn’t need to be paired with your iPhone, there’s Square Terminal. This wireless touchscreen device takes chip card and NFC payments, runs Square POS natively, and contains a built-in receipt printer.

Square Pricing

Square Hardware Cost

  • Square Reader For Magstripe: $0
  • Square Reader For Contactless & Chip (second generation): $59
  • Square Reader For Contactless & Chip (first generation): $49
  • Square Terminal: $299

Square Payment Processing & Software Pricing

  • Processing Fees: 2.6% + $0.10 per card-present transaction
  • Monthly Fees: $0 for the basic POS; $29-$69/month/location for advanced industry-specific POS options

Read our guide to Square pricing for more details.

Square Contract Requirements/Warnings

Square is available on a month-to-month basis — there are no long-term contracts to sign, no early termination fees, and no monthly minimums.

Just know that Square is a payment service provider (or PSP) and not a full merchant account provider. With PSPs, you’ll face an increased risk of withheld funds and account terminations, so you’ll want to take care to minimize the chances of this happening.

Get Started With Square

Read our in-depth review

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Clover Go: Best iPhone & iPad Credit Card Reader For Merchant Account Options

Clover Go


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Pros

  • Free mobile processing app
  • Good web dashboard
  • Numerous features
  • Inexpensive card reader

Cons

  • Many features only available with the Essentials plan
  • Not all businesses will qualify

clover go mobile pos hardware

Why We Chose Clover Go As A Top Credit Card Reader For iPhone

Unlike many of the providers in this article, when you sign up with Clover Go, you get a card reader and mobile POS backed by a full merchant account, giving you more account stability than a third-party processor. As such, it’s great for mobile sellers with irregular processing volume (merchants who sell at conventions and the like). These merchants can sometimes run afoul of the hair-trigger flagging systems of third-party processors like Square and PayPal.

Note that numerous resellers offer Clover Go. Pricing, features, and support will vary with each reseller. All information herein is based on the Clover Go mPOS package sold directly at Clover.com.

Clover Go Credit Card Reader For iPhone Features

Let’s go through the features you’ll get with Clover Go:

  • The Clover Go mobile app gives you sales tracking, paperless receipts, an offline mode, order management, and an outstanding inventory mode for an mPOS app. However, these features (along with other robust abilities) are reserved for paid plan subscribers.
  • The Clover Go card reader is an ideal all-in-one mobile card reader that accepts swiped/dipped/tapped credit and debit card transactions, along with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.

Clover Go Pricing

Remember, the pricing listed below only applies when you buy directly from Clover.com, not when you buy from one of the many Clover resellers.

Clover Go Hardware Cost

The Clover Go card reader costs $49.

Clover Go Payment Processing & Software Pricing

  • Processing Fees: 2.6% + $0.10 per transaction
  • Monthly Fees: $0 (Payments plan) or $14.95/month (Essentials plan)

Our guide to Clover pricing goes into further detail, covering Clover’s various terminal/register offerings and advanced POS packages, as well as Clover Go.

Clover Go Contract Requirements/Warnings

When you buy direct from Clover, you’ll get month-to-month pricing without a long-term contract, but you may be able to get a better deal with a reputable reseller, particularly if your sales volume is upwards of $5K-10K/month. One such reseller is National Processing: sign up with NP, and you’ll get a free Clover Go while paying a $10/month fee and interchange + 0.2% + $0.10 per transaction.

Just look out for the shadier Clover resellers that employ independent sales reps. These local sales agents will try to get you to agree to multi-year contracts with early termination fees, equipment leases, predatory fees & rates — everything you want to avoid in a payment processing agreement. That’s why we recommend either signing up directly with Clover or going with a large, reputable reseller like National Processing.

Get Started With Clover Go

Read our in-depth review

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Shopify: Best iPhone & iPad Credit Card Reader For Multichannel Selling

Shopify


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Pros

  • Good processing rate for small-ticket sellers
  • Month-to-month pricing
  • Suitable for low-volume businesses
  • Supports PayPal payments

Cons

  • Account stability issues
  • Limited offline mode

shopify tap and chip reader

Why We Chose Shopify As A Top Credit Card Reader For iPhone

Shopify made its name in eCommerce, but it has also become a POS powerhouse over the last several years.

Shopify’s 2.4-2.7% card-present processing rate is great for merchants with small average tickets because there’s no $0.10 fixed fee. With the 2.6% + $0.10 rate offered by competitors like Square/Clover Go/etc., that extra ten cents adds up when you’re processing lots of small transactions.

Shopify Credit Card Reader For iPhone Features

A Shopify subscription gives you the mobile POS features you need, along with industry-leading eCommerce. Let’s discuss the features on offer:

  • The Shopify POS app gives you print and email receipts, automatic tax calculation based on location, team management with custom staff permissions, reporting, and advanced inventory management, all paired with the online selling features Shopify is known for.
  • For mobile in-person sales, Shopify offers the Bluetooth-enabled Tap & Chip Card Reader, which accepts dipped/tapped card payments, Apple Pay, and Google Pay (but not magstripe payments).
  • If you want to bypass your iPhone entirely, Shopify just released its new all-in-one Shopify POS Go touchscreen reader, which combines a card reader, barcode scanner, and touchscreen tablet that runs Shopify POS natively.

Shopify Pricing

Shopify Hardware Cost

The Shopify Tap & Chip Reader sells for $49. The new Shopify POS Go sells for $399.

Shopify Payment Processing & Software Pricing

  • Processing Fees: 2.7% per transaction with Basic Shopify, 2.5% with Shopify, and 2.4% with Advanced Shopify
  • Monthly Fees: $39/month for Basic Shopify, $105/month for Shopify, and $399/month for Advanced Shopify if billed monthly ($29/month, $79/month, and $299/month if billed annually)

Note that Shopify has recently changed its $5/month Shopify Starter plan to allow you to use Shopify POS Lite with one location when you sign up. However, you’ll have to pay 5% per in-person transaction with this plan. For all but the smallest/most occasional sellers, this trade-off won’t make financial sense. The vast majority of in-person retailers will be better off getting the $29-39/month Basic Shopify subscription or higher. You’ll pay far less for payment processing this way.

Shopify Contract Requirements/Warnings

Shopify offers month-to-month and annual billing, both with no early termination fee or monthly minimum requirement. This is what we like to see from a merchant services provider.

If you choose annual billing, just be aware that Shopify does not issue refunds following plan cancellations.

Get Started With Shopify

Read our in-depth review

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PayPal Zettle: Best iPhone & iPad Credit Card Reader For Low-Volume & New Sellers

Zettle


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Pricing

No monthly fee

Contract

None

Equipment Cost

$29 for your first card reader

Pros

  • Low transaction fees
  • Inexpensive Zettle card reader
  • Card reader has a PIN pad & display
  • In-app invoicing & other features

Cons

  • Account stability issues
  • No offline mode

paypal zettle

Why We Chose PayPal Zettle As A Top Credit Card Reader For iPhone

PayPal now offers one of the lowest flat rates around for in-person sales. Combine that with a PIN-enabled iPhone card reader that sells for $20 less than the PIN-less $49 readers offered by some competitors and a solid mPOS app, and you’ve got a great package for smaller sellers who don’t want to pay too much, as well as new sellers needing an easy-to-use payments system.

PayPal Zettle Credit Card Reader For iPhone Features

PayPal Zettle, PayPal’s mobile processing app, gives you a capable mPOS, an exceptional mobile card reader, and access to PayPal’s comprehensive ecosystem of merchant tools.

  • The PayPal Zettle app supports QR code payments and offers an item library, reports, custom gift cards, refunds (partial and whole), discounts, and support for a full register setup.
  • The Zettle Reader takes chip and NFC card transactions and supports PIN transactions (the most secure way to process debit charges), as the reader has a PIN pad and display screen like the advanced card readers found in Europe. It also takes Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.
  • Like Square and Shopify, PayPal Zettle now offers an all-in-one wireless touchscreen terminal: the Zettle Terminal. It takes chip, NFC, Apple/Google/Samsung Pay, and QR code payments, can be purchased with a built-in barcode scanner for $40 extra, and can be paired with a separate receipt printer and dock.

PayPal Zettle Pricing

PayPal Zettle Hardware Cost

The Zettle Reader costs $29 for the first reader and $79 for all additional readers.

The Zettle Terminal starts at $199. The version with a built-in barcode scanner goes for $239.

PayPal Zettle Payment Processing & Software Pricing

  • Processing Fees: 2.29% + $0.09 per transaction
  • Monthly Fee: $0

PayPal Zettle Contract Requirements/Warnings

PayPal offers pay-as-you-go monthly agreements with no early termination fees and no monthly minimums. We always prefer to see this type of merchant agreement. Of course, as with other payment service providers, you’ll face an increased risk of an account hold or termination.

Get Started With Zettle

Read our in-depth review

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SumUp: Best Affordable 3-In-1 iPhone & iPad Credit Card Reader

SumUp


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Pros

  • Great card readers
  • No monthly fees
  • Flat-rate pricing with no fixed $0.10 fee
  • Free virtual terminal for qualifying businesses

Cons

  • Account stability issues
  • No discounting feature

sumup plus card reader

Why We Chose SumUp As A Top Credit Card Reader For iPhone

SumUp’s 2.75% transaction rate lacks a $0.10 fixed fee, giving a boost to sellers with small average tickets. The card readers are technologically advanced and reasonably priced, while the mPOS features are solid enough if you don’t need the advanced functionality Square offers.

SumUp Credit Card Reader For iPhone Features

SumUp serves up a solid mPOS system and two unique card readers for mobile sales.

  • The SumUp app offers an item library, tipping, basic analytics, multiple tax rates, email/text receipts, receipt printer connectivity, and QR code support — it’s not on par with Square’s mPOS, but it’ll do for many merchants.
  • The SumUp Plus card reader is akin to the PayPal Zettle in that it accepts EMV/chip and contactless card transactions while providing a PIN pad for additional debit transaction security. It also takes Apple Pay, Google Pay, and (unlike the Zettle) magstripe transactions, making it a great value for the price.
  • The SumUp Solo is a unique standalone terminal with a touch screen and a built-in SIM card with free unlimited 4G mobile data. It takes EMV and NFC payments (not magstripe) along with Google Pay and Apple Pay, offers smart tipping, lets you access reports, and can send digital receipts right from the screen.

SumUp Pricing

SumUp Hardware Cost

  • SumUp Plus Card Reader: $39
  • SumUp Solo Card Reader: $129

SumUp Payment Processing & Software Pricing

  • Processing Fees: 2.75% per transaction
  • Monthly Fee: $0

SumUp Contract Requirements/Warnings

Thankfully, SumUp offers pay-as-you-go monthly arrangements with no long-term contracts, no early termination fees, and no monthly minimums. However, with SumUp being a PSP, the usual warnings about potential funding holds and account terminations apply here.

Get Started With SumUp

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Helcim: Best iPhone & iPad Credit Card Reader For High-Volume Sales

Helcim


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Pros

  • Great POS features
  • Excellent card reader
  • Interchange-plus pricing benefits larger merchants
  • Great public reputation

Cons

  • Expensive card reader
  • Not all businesses will qualify

helcim card reader

Why We Chose Helcim As A Top Credit Card Reader For iPhone

Helcim is a merchant account provider (like Clover Go’s parent company) that offers an advanced chip + contactless + PIN card reader, full POS capabilities, and, uniquely among the providers listed here, interchange-plus pricing, which works to the benefit of most merchants.

While interchange-plus pricing isn’t as easy to understand as the flat-rate pricing offered by the other companies listed here, most merchants will save money with Helcim over the likes of PayPal and Square. Combine this with an incredible array of POS features and a full merchant account, and you have an ideal mobile selling solution for higher-volume merchants.

Smaller merchants, however, may not need all the advanced POS functionality and may find the card reader expensive. Merchants with little to no processing history may not qualify for a merchant account anyway.

Helcim Credit Card Reader For iPhone Features

Here’s what Helcim has to offer, feature-wise:

  • Helcim’s mobile POS features include email receipts, inventory and customer tracking, analytics, reporting, automatic tax calculation, unlimited invoice creation, and more. It’s a stellar feature lineup.
  • The Helcim Card Reader has a PIN pad and display, it accepts chip + NFC (including Apple Pay and Google Pay) + PIN payments, and it works with iPhones, iPads, and PC and Mac computers.

Helcim Pricing

Helcim Hardware Cost

The Helcim Card Reader costs $109.

Additionally, Helcim has just released the Helcim Smart Terminal, a standalone touchscreen device with a built-in thermal printer, which sells for $349.

Helcim Payment Processing & Software Pricing

  • Processing Fees: Interchange + 0.15% + $0.06 to interchange + 0.40% + $0.08, depending on your processing volume (process more, pay less)
  • Monthly Fee: $0

Helcim Contract Requirements/Warnings

With pay-as-you-go pricing and no early termination fees, monthly minimums, or even a monthly fee, Helcim offers the great terms and flexibility of Square & Stripe while also giving you the stability and reliability of a unique merchant account.

Get Started With Helcim

Read our in-depth review

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How To Find The Best iPhone & iPad Credit Card Reader

When you want the best possible credit card readers for your iPhone or iPad, we’re here to help. With businesses adjusting to fit evolving customer preferences in the pandemic era, you may now have to offer curbside pickup or delivery options when that wasn’t your original plan. That means mobile payment apps are becoming crucial for success in many industries.

The best mobile POS providers offer iPhone and iPad credit card readers that accept chip, contactless, and (sometimes) even old-school magstripe payments. The “contactless” part of that is key, with the increasing emphasis on how to accept Apple Pay as a quick and safe payment method.

When building our list of the best iPhone credit card apps and processing options, we took into consideration many other factors, including:

  • Compatibility of the credit card reader with the iPhone/iPad
  • Initial and recurring costs
  • Bluetooth connection
  • Hardware options
  • Credit card processing app features
  • Your business type
  • Your sales volume
  • The credit card processor’s reputation

Remember that the processing rate given for each vendor above is for swiped/dipped/tapped transactions — keyed-in and online transactions will always cost more.

Can You Take Credit Card Payments Without An iPhone Credit Card Reader?

Yes. You absolutely can take credit card payments without a mobile card reader. QR code payments — payments in which the customer scans a funky square barcode with their iPhone or Android cameras and then completes the transaction on their own device — are becoming increasingly common during the COVID era and are now widely understood by consumers.

Likewise, many processors now support payment links. With payment links, you directly invoice a customer by sending them a text or email with a URL or QR code that launches the transaction process. It’s great for freelancers, professional service workers, and others who need an easy way to bill clients and can even be used by occasional in-person vendors.

Perhaps the biggest competition facing the iPhone credit card reader is coming from the iPhone itself. Unveiled recently, Apple’s Tap To Pay technology (not to be confused with Apple Pay) allows merchants to accept NFC payments from credit cards and digital wallets using just their iPhones (XS or newer) and an iOS partner app — no card reader necessary. As I type this, Stripe, Square, and Adyen have already partnered with Apple to offer Tap To Pay in the US.

However, considering how new this technology is and the likelihood that a substantial portion of your customer base will be unable or unwilling to use these payment methods, they are best offered in conjunction with an actual physical credit card reader, not as a replacement for such readers. Of course, how long this remains true is anybody’s guess, what with NFC-enabled credit cards becoming ubiquitous.

Which Credit Card Reader For iPhone Is Best For You?

When looking for an iPhone credit card reader for iPhone, your research into mobile credit card processing should go beyond just the card readers, just as our research did for this article. Your business size, current business model, feature needs, growth plans, and even your aesthetic preferences (and/or the preferences of your customers) should factor into your overall decision-making process. Consider the cost of POS as well.

Once you’ve done this, you might want to look into the best free POS systems, some of which support Apple products. In fact, many of the best POS software offer reasonable pricing and growth options, with hardware that works for iPhone and iPad users.

Each credit card reader for iPhone we’ve shared has its pros and cons, but there’s likely one or two that hit your sweet spot in terms of pricing and features. There’s no one-size-fits-all choice, but we hope this list can help you get a picture of the strongest and most reputable options.

For those looking for the lowest-cost payment options possible, the cheapest payment processors aren’t always inferior to more expensive solutions, and there are plenty of free credit card readers on the market today.

Finally, if you’ve reached the end of this article and decided that Apple products aren’t for you, check out the best Android POS systems.

FAQs: The Best Credit Card Readers For iPhone & iPad Credit Card Processing

Which iPhone credit card reader is good for small business?

Square offers the best all-around mobile card readers for iPhones. In addition to a free basic magstripe reader, merchants can also opt for the Contactless & Chip reader for EMV and tap-to-pay features.

Which is the best contactless credit card reader for iPad?

Square’s Contactless & Chip card reader is the best all-around mobile reader for nearly any situation. It pairs with iPads via Bluetooth and can accept contactless and chip card payments.

How much is a card reader for iPhone?

A card reader for iPhone can cost anywhere between $0 (for Square’s basic magstripe reader with a Lightning connector) and $109 for a contactless and chip-enabled Bluetooth reader from a merchant services provider, such as Helcim.

Can I use my iPhone as a POS?

If you download an app such as Square POS or Shopify, you can turn your iPhone into a mobile POS system. These credit card processing apps allow you to track sales, accept payments, and even send invoices.

Can an iPhone be used as a credit card reader?

Yes. Many payment processors now let you accept payments via QR codes, payment links, and/or Apple’s Tap To Pay system. Each one of these methods lets you take payments directly from your iPhone. You can also take payments from your iPhone via a virtual terminal, though this will typically cost you more in processing fees than the aforementioned payment methods.

Just bear in mind that these payment methods are not foolproof, and some of your customers may be unfamiliar or uncomfortable with them. That’s why it’s still a good idea to make use of a mobile card reader so you can offer your customers a supplementary payment option.

In Summary: The 6 Best Credit Card Readers For iPhone & iPad

  • Square:
    • Card Readers: $0-$59
    • Transaction Fee: 2.6% + $0.10
    • Monthly Fee: $0
  • Clover Go:
    • Card Reader: $49
    • Transaction Fee: 2.6% + $0.10
    • Monthly Fee: $0-$14.95
  • Shopify:
    • Card Reader: $49
    • Transaction Fee: Starts at 2.7%
    • Monthly Fee: Starts at $29
  • Zettle:
    • Card Reader: $29 for your 1st reader
    • Transaction Fee: 2.29% + $0.09
    • Monthly Fee: $0
  • SumUp:
    • Card Readers: $39-$129
    • Transaction Fee: 2.75%
    • Monthly Fee: $0
  • Helcim:
    • Card Reader: $109
    • Transaction Fee: Interchange + 0.15% + $0.06 to interchange + 0.40% + $0.08
    • Monthly Fee: $0
Jason Vissers

Jason Vissers

Senior Staff Writer at Merchant Maverick
Jason has been writing about small business software platforms, services, and financing since 2015. Jason’s expertise has been featured in Yahoo Finance, Time/NextAdvisor, Home Business Magazine, CreditCards.com, GoBankingRates, TheLadders.com, and other publications. He has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from San Diego State University and currently lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Jason Vissers
View Jason Vissers's professional experience on LinkedIn.

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