Shopify Chip & Swipe Reader Review
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- Date Established
- 2006
- Location
- Toronto, Canada
Pros
- First card reader is free
- Includes a dock
Cons
- No NFC support
Overview
I have a drawer full of mobile credit card readers, and I’ve tested quite a few others that aren’t currently in my possession. So when I start this review by saying that I think the Shopify Chip & Swipe Reader is one of the best mobile credit readers I’ve ever come across, that’s kind of a big deal.
When the EMV switch happened, Shopify opted, like many others, to license chip card-compatible hardware from another company. It went for the Miura M010, which Square and PayPal, among others, also licensed. But it also started developing its own card reader in-house. And that’s how we got the Chip & Swipe Reader, which is delightfully unlike just about any other card reader on the market.
The Miura M010 is still available from Shopify as the Tap, Chip & Swipe Reader. It’s an iOS exclusive, but it’s the only way you can accept contactless payments using the Shopify POS app. I think the lack of support for contactless payments is the only thing I don’t like about the Shopify Chip & Swipe reader, to be honest. But at least Shopify offers an alternative reader if that’s a priority for you, and it’s a well-designed reader at that.
A quick look at Shopify’s most popular solutions
| Mobile | POS | Online | Social Media |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |
| Mobile App + Free Card Reader | Point of Sale | Online Store | Social Media Selling |
| Get Started | Get Started | Get Started | Get Started |
| Low-cost POS for iOS and Android with free hardware | All-purpose POS integrated with all sales channels | Build a store or integrate with your current website | Sell on Facebook and other platforms |
| Starts at $9/month | Starts at $29/month | Starts at $29/month | Starts at $9/month |
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Free Trial | Free Trial |
There’s a lot to love about the Shopify Chip & Swipe Reader. For one, it’s free for new merchants (retail price is $29, which is still a great value). The design is excellent. And of course, the Shopify POS app is pretty outstanding overall. If you’re looking to get started with a mobile processing app that has a free reader, Shopify’s Lite plan would be perfect for you. If you’re already selling online with Shopify and looking to branch into in-person sales, Shopify’s free card reader is definitely worth considering. You don’t have to look at the Tap, Chip & Swipe Reader unless being able to accept contactless payments is very important to you.
For all these reasons, the Shopify Chip & Swipe Reader earns a spotless 5-star rating. It’s absolutely one of the best readers on the market, combined with a solid POS and competitive pricing.
Read on for a closer look at the Chip & Swipe Reader, from the actual design to the setup process. You can also check out Shopify Lite (read our review) and Shopify POS (read our review) for a closer look at the software.
Table of Contents
Overall Design
I really like the design of the Chip & Swipe reader. It feels good in the hand — about the size of a business card. It’s not overly thick, but also not super thin. If there is a flaw, I think that it’s too light. But the card reader is ever-so-slightly textured, so even though it’s light, I don’t think it’s super likely to slip out of your hand.
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- The Shopify card reader box. I like that the dock and reader are packaged together.
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- I like the fact that Shopify sends you a plastic protective case for the reader and dock.
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- The case snaps shut and is fairly easy to open (though the click to close it isn’t quite as satisfying as I would like it to be.)
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- Remove the paper cover surrounding the reader and you’ll find both the dock and a 3-foot charging cable. (No wall port base, however.)
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- The front of the card reader mounted in the base. It feels quite secure without any sort of locking mechanism required.
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- Side view of the reader. The light is both a power indicator and a Bluetooth indicator. There’s only one button — the power button.
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- Another side view. This one shows that the front of the reader is also the magstripe.
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- Back view of the card reader. The dock’s charging port is on the bottom of it, which plugs into the dock, which plugs into the power cable in the back.
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- The Shopify Swipe & Chip reader next to an iPad (9.7-inch screen).
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- The Shopify Swipe & Chip reader is about the size of a business card and fits comfortably in the hand if you don’t want to use the dock.
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- In addition to being a good size, I like the ever-so-slightly textured feeling on the reader. It’s not slick, so it doesn’t feel like it could slide out of your hands. However, it is pretty light.
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- Top view of the Shopify card reader, showing the EMV/chip card reader slot.
But it’s everything else that really shows how thoughtful Shopify has been in the design. For one, there’s a charging base/dock that you can permanently mount if so inclined. Most dock designs that I’ve seen generally…aren’t great. I mean they’re good enough, but they’re not flawless. Sometimes they take an extra set to secure, or there’s something fiddly, or trying to align the card reader with the charging port is dodgy. Shopify’s dock is pretty spot on. It snaps into the base easily and feels secure. The charging port is on the bottom of the dock, not on the side.
Shopify includes a carrying case for the reader, the dock, and a charging cable. It’s not a huge case, and everything has its dedicated place. It’s a pretty good design, and I like that it’s included. The only thing left out is a plug-in base, so you’ll have to find a spare charging base or buy one. (I don’t recommend stealing one from someone else in your household, but I suppose it’s an option.) Considering how common USB hubs are, and how convenient they are for connecting multiple charging cables, I grudgingly accept that this makes sense.
Card Reader Specs
I appreciate that POS providers have gotten very descriptive in naming their hardware. Instead of makers and model numbers, we get the “Chip & Swipe Reader” or the “Tap, Chip & Swipe Reader.” As the name implies, this card reader accepts magstripe (swipe) and EMV (chip card) payments. There’s no NFC/contactless support, so merchants can’t accept payments from Apple Pay and similar mobile wallets.
It’s also a Bluetooth-enabled device, so it will be compatible with, well, any mobile device that will come out in the near future as far as connections between the reader and the device. However, we’ve got some other specs to consider. Shopify says that any mobile devices must meet the following requirements:
- iPhone 5 + running iOS 9 or higher.
- iPad Gen 3 + running iOS 9 or higher.
- Android device running version 5.0 (KitKat) or higher.
As far as battery life, Shopify says it should take 1-2 hours to charge the reader (which matches my experience) and last for “a week of selling.” That equates to about 400 chip card transactions or 700 swipe transactions. If you deal with a mix of both, expect it to fall somewhere in between. And of course, your battery life will also depend on how many hours you keep it active. If your reader is running for 12-16 hours a day, you’ll need to charge it sooner than if it runs only 8-10 hours per day.
Of course, you can get around this issue entirely by keeping it on the charging dock.
Getting Started
I mentioned this when I did the initial Shopify Lite review: the pairing process for the Chip & Swipe Reader is one of the easiest possible. The reader I received was charged enough for me to use it right out of the gate, but I did charge it up completely after my initial fooling around and button pressing.
When you log into the Shopify POS and go to the “Hardware” menu, you’ll see an option to “Connect card reader”
The app will walk you through the process of pairing, but it’s fairly simple. On your mobile device, select the type of card reader you are pairing, then turn the reader on.
After choosing “Connect reader” Shopify POS will show you compatible readers and ask you to select one. Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your device and follow the instructions (which mostly involves turning on the reader and waiting for your device to recognize it.
The app will detect any available card readers and display them — you just simply have to tap the “connect” button to complete the process. What I really like is that after you’ve paired the reader, Shopify provides a tutorial to walk you through the basics of the device. You can also find the instructions within Shopify’s Help Center.
I tested the pairing process on an iPad as well as an Android smartphone (a Galaxy S7) and had no problems either time. The process was identical, as well. While you’ll see that some small details are different between Shopify POS on a smartphone and Shopify POS on an iPad, it’s nice to see that the connection process is completely uniform.
Compatible Software & Apps
Shopify POS (read our review) is available as a standalone POS app (with some entry-level online selling) tools for a small monthly fee if you sign up for Shopify Lite (read our review). That’s it. There are no per-device fees, but you don’t get staff PIN accounts, either. The only compatible hardware is the card reader, unless you add a separate Retail Package, which includes support for receipt printers, barcode scanners, and cash drawers. Also, the Retail Package — along with a handful of other features — is iPad exclusive. Using a smartphone (iOS or Android) will get you all of the essential basic functions; you’ll just need to upgrade to an iPad if you need advanced features.
You also get Shopify POS with any of the full-fledged monthly subscriptions, which start at $29/month for Shopify Basic. Higher-tiered plans include additional features, including some that relate to Shopify POS (such as gift card support). The standard Shopify plan, at $79/month, incorporates the Retail Package as well as unlimited staff PIN accounts for the POS.
Overall, I think Shopify POS works well as a mobile solution on iOS and Android. But if you want more you can convert it to a proper iPad POS without needing to switch apps or start paying substantially more. I like Shopify’s pricing and I think it’s a great deal. Even better, I like that Shopify is a scalable platform that will grow with a business from the very early days into the enterprise scale of operations.
Pricing
Shopify offers a free Chip & Swipe Reader to its new merchants, which is awesome. If you need more than one, they sell for $29 (also an awesome price). To be fair, Square offers an EMV reader at the same price, and PayPal’s is $25. So what’s so great about Shopify? Well, for one, a charging dock is included at no additional price. Most companies that offer readers with charging docks price them at an additional $30 — and to be honest, most card readers at the $30 price point aren’t designed to handle a countertop POS setup, which makes Shopify’s card reader one of the best values for merchants.
However, keep in mind that you’ll also have a monthly subscription fee — $9/month if you opt for the Lite plan with just the POS and some basic online selling tools, or $29/month for Shopify basic, with a hosted eCommerce site and the POS app. (Read our Shopify review for a better look at the ecommerce features.) Your payment processing rates will also depend on which plan you choose. Shopify Lite and Basic both charge 2.7% per transaction for magstripe or chip cards. Keyed transactions process at 2.9% + $0.30.
Also, if you’d like to use any additional hardware beyond the card reader with the Lite or Basic plans, Shopify requires you to upgrade to the Retail Package, another $49/month fee. Still, considering that $60/month is the bare minimum for most POS systems, and Shopify doesn’t charge any per-terminal usage fees, you’re actually getting a really great deal, especially if your priority is a seamless link between your online store and your POS.
Plus, if you opt for the Shopify plan, for $79/month you get access to advanced eCommerce features, the POS app, the Retail Package, unlimited staff PINs, and no additional charges for using the POS on multiple devices. That’s one hell of a deal. You’ll also get a discount on payment processing, with rates dropping to 2.5%.
Keep in mind that Shopify is first and foremost an ecommerce platform, so the bulk of the company’s efforts go toward maintaining the websites and making selling online easier. However, Shopify is spending time and effort to beef up the POS capabilities. Bundling the two — online and in-person sales — is really a matter of convenience. You get a seamless platform to sell. As long as you don’t need very particular advanced features, I think Shopify will tick all the right boxes for most merchants.
Customer Service & Support
Shopify offers extensive customer support options, but given how extensive the entire platform is, that’s not surprising. You can simply hire an expert from Shopify’s vetted list to help with complex things, like setting up your store, but you can also check out the video support library and webinars — and those are just a few of the options. For customer support concerning hardware, you’ll probably be most interested in Shopify’s phone support, chat support, or user forum, all of which can put you in direct contact with people who will be able to help you troubleshoot any issues that arise. Shopify has a detailed knowledgebase that covers a lot of your standard how-tos and specific troubleshooting tip.
While you can certainly find some complaints about the quality of service, plenty of users stand by Shopify and say the customer service is great all around. But we’ll talk more about that in the next section. I’m satisfied with the variety and quality of informational resources on offer, at least.
User Reviews
Finding specific comments on the Shopify Chip & Swipe Reader is actually a bit of a challenge because there are so many reviews of Shopify and Shopify POS out there. You’d think you’d see more mentions of the card reader, even as a tangential topic, but it’s not all that common. Fortunately, I am stubborn and I like to get information. After wading through the piles of information I was able to find a decent smattering of comments about the card reader itself.
For the most part, the chatter seems to be positive, or at least neutral. Users like that the reader is free, and they think it works well.
I have seen a few comments about the card reader having connection problems, but if I’m honest that’s not uncommon with most card readers, and Shopify has noted recently that it’s made improvements to the app to reduce the number of connection problems. The only other complaint I’ve seen about the card reader comes from Shopify’s international merchants who are unhappy with the options available in their own country.
Final Verdict
To be honest, the only negative thing I have to say about Shopify’s reader is that it’s not compatible with contactless transactions — but below the $50 price point, that’s a rare feature to find. A free chip card-capable card reader, with competitive pricing for card transactions, is a big deal. If you’re already using Shopify to sell online and want to add in-person sales, you pay nothing in addition. If you’re shopping around for a POS and might be interested in moving into online sales, Shopify should absolutely be on your shortlist.
I really like the design of the Shopify Chip & Swipe Reader. It feels good in the hand for mobile use. The free charging dock is secure and works well — and it can be permanently mounted if you’d like. Plus, you get a carrying case included. Even if you wind up purchasing additional readers, $29 is an incredibly reasonable price for what you get.
If you want to be able to accept contactless payments from Apple Pay and the like, you’ll need an iPhone (preferably an iPad) and the Tap, Chip & Swipe Reader. However, as much as I’d like to see contactless payments increase in popularity, we’re certainly not at a point where a card reader without NFC should be a deal breaker. You’re going to be just fine with the Chip & Swipe Reader.
Plus, you have to consider the Shopify Platform itself. Whether you’re looking at a standalone mPOS or an integrated platform, it’s hard to deny the value Shopify offers. It’s not the best option for merchants who have very specialized needs (especially those who aren’t in retail), but it’s a great all-around choice that will genuinely grow with your business.
For all of these reasons, I’m awarding the Shopify Chip & Swipe Reader a perfect 5 stars. It’s absolutely worth considering as a mobile card reader, and more importantly as a POS platform.
Thanks for reading! If you have thoughts or questions about the Shopify Chip & Swipe Reader, I’d love to hear them! Check out our comment guidelines before you post so that we can publish your comments.
A last look at Shopify’s most popular solutions
| Mobile | POS | Online | Social Media |
|---|---|---|---|
| | | |
| Mobile App + Free Card Reader | Point of Sale | Online Store | Social Media Selling |
| Get Started | Get Started | Get Started | Get Started |
| Low-cost POS for iOS and Android with free hardware | All-purpose POS integrated with all sales channels | Build a store or integrate with your current website | Sell on Facebook and other platforms |
| Starts at $9/month | Starts at $29/month | Starts at $29/month | Starts at $9/month |
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Free Trial | Free Trial |
Melissa Johnson
Melissa Johnson has been writing about payment processing and mobile payments since 2014, and has been quoted in articles for Credit Karma and The Next Web, among others. She graduated from The University of Kansas in 2010 with bachelor's degrees in English and journalism.
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