Advertiser Disclosure

💳 Save money on credit card processing with one of our top 5 picks for 2024

The 8 Best Credit Card Readers For Android Phones & Tablets

More companies are starting to understand the importance of offering Android credit card reader options, including Square, PayPal Zettle, Clover Go, Shopify, and more.

    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.

Merchants looking for a credit card reader for Android devices had a hard time finding options back when Apple dominated the card reader field. Thankfully, times have changed. Capable card readers and mobile POS apps for Android credit card processing have become more common.

In this piece, we’re highlighting your best options for mobile credit card readers compatible with Android phones and tablets. The best credit card readers for Android share much in common, but they have some key differences in terms of the credit card reader benefits they offer and the fees you’ll encounter.

Afterward, you might want to look into the best credit card readers for small business more generally.

Learn More About Our Top Picks

CompanyBest ForNext StepsBest For
Square

Read More

  • Best overall for most small businesses
  • $0/month for the base POS
  • 2.6% + $0.10 per in-person transaction
  • Best overall for most small businesses
  • $0/month for the base POS
  • 2.6% + $0.10 per in-person transaction

Visit Site

Read More

Clover Go

Read More

  • Best for Clover POS merchants
  • $0-$14.95/month when purchased directly from Clover
  • 2.6% + $0.10 per in-person transaction when purchased directly from Clover
  • Best for Clover POS merchants
  • $0-$14.95/month when purchased directly from Clover
  • 2.6% + $0.10 per in-person transaction when purchased directly from Clover

Visit Site

Read More

SwipeSimple

Read More

  • Best for sellers seeking a dedicated merchant account
  • Monthly cost determined by the reseller
  • Payment processing rate determined by the reseller
  • Best for sellers seeking a dedicated merchant account
  • Monthly cost determined by the reseller
  • Payment processing rate determined by the reseller

Visit Site

Read More

SumUp

Read More

  • Best for low-volume sellers
  • $0/month
  • 2.75% per in-person transaction
  • Best for low-volume sellers
  • $0/month
  • 2.75% per in-person transaction

Visit Site

Read More

Shopify Payments

Read More

  • Best for occasional mobile sellers
  • Starts at $5/month
  • Starts at 5% per in-person transaction
  • Best for occasional mobile sellers
  • Starts at $5/month
  • Starts at 5% per in-person transaction

Visit Site

Read More

Show More Options
Helcim

Read More

  • Best for higher-volume sellers
  • $0/month
  • Variable but competitive interchange-plus pricing that decreases as your sales volume rises
  • Best for higher-volume sellers
  • $0/month
  • Variable but competitive interchange-plus pricing that decreases as your sales volume rises

Visit Site

Read More

PayPal Zettle

Read More

  • Best for PayPal sellers
  • $0/month
  • 2.29% + $0.09 per in-person transaction
  • Best for PayPal sellers
  • $0/month
  • 2.29% + $0.09 per in-person transaction

Visit Site

Read More

Intuit GoPayment

Read More

  • Best for sellers using QuickBooks for accounting
  • Starts at $0/month (or $30/month if you want accounting with QuickBooks Online)
  • 2.5% per in-person transaction
  • Best for sellers using QuickBooks for accounting
  • Starts at $0/month (or $30/month if you want accounting with QuickBooks Online)
  • 2.5% per in-person transaction

Visit Site

Read More

Show Fewer Options

Read more below to learn why we chose these options.

Table of Contents

The 8 Best Card Readers For Android

The best card readers for Android connect to a POS app on your mobile device while offering affordable payment processing, good customer support, and business features like reporting and invoicing. However, each option has unique strengths, so your best Android card reader choice depends on your specific selling needs.

How The Best Card Readers For Android Compare

Magstripe Chip & NFC PIN payments Display Price
Square (separate free reader) $49-$59
Clover Go $49 (from Clover.com)
SwipeSimple Varies
SumUp $54-$99
Shopify $49
Helcim $99
PayPal Zettle $29 for your 1st unit, $79 for additional units
QuickBooks GoPayment $49

Square: Best Overall For Most Small Businesses

Total Rating 4.8
Fees & Rates5.0

Products & Services4.7

Contract4.3

Sales & Advertising Transparency5.0

Customer Service4.9

User Reviews4.9



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

Pros

  • Affordable contactless & chip reader
  • Free headphone jack magstripe reader
  • No monthly fee
  • Free online store

Cons

  • Expensive for higher-volume businesses
  • Less account stability than a full merchant account
  • Not for businesses in high-risk industries (except CBD sellers)

square contactless & chip reader

What Makes The Square Reader Best For Most Small Businesses

Square features in a lot of our articles, as it ranks near the top of the mobile processing field when it comes to features, pricing, hardware -- you name it. As for Square Point of Sale, this free app has more features than your standard mobile POS app, even if it doesn't quite match the abilities of a full-fledged POS system.

Combining mobile point-of-sale features with payment processing, an online store, and much more, Square's business services ecosystem is ever-expanding, yet accessible for even the smallest business.

Square Card Reader Software Features

Square is high on our list of the best POS systems, and here’s why:

  • A free magstripe card reader and a contactless + chip card reader, both Android-compatible
  • All-in-one POS devices with built-in card readers (Square Register and Square Terminal)
  • Payment processing with flat-rate pricing
  • Offline mode (very important when you’re selling in a location with a poor/nonexistent internet connection)
  • A free website builder
  • Square Online checkout links for selling online via email or social media
  • Order and inventory management
  • Invoicing
  • Barcode and label printing
  • Multilocation management
  • Square Payroll
  • Buy now, pay later

We don’t recommend you use Square’s free magstripe-only reader for anything more than very light/occasional sales, but it’s a great backup card reader option in case your main POS goes down. The device and POS app are free, so even if you never end up using it, you won’t have spent any money.

Square Pricing & Contract Terms

POS Software Pricing

  • Square POS: $0/month
  • Square For Retail POS: $0-$60/month/location
  • Square For Restaurants POS: $0-$60/month/location

Card Reader Pricing

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

Unlike Square’s cheaper device options, the Square Terminal contains a touchscreen and runs the POS natively so you don’t have to pair it with your Android device. Knowing how the different types of credit card readers work can help you make the choice that best balances the features and convenience you want with the price you’re willing to pay.

Furthermore, Square now offers Tap to Pay for Android phones. This feature lets you take NFC payments from customers without using a card reader — essentially, your phone becomes the card reader. However, you probably won’t want to solely rely on this to take payments, as not everyone has an NFC-enabled card yet. My own debit card is chip and magstripe only!

Payment Processing Rates

  • In-Person Payments: 2.6% + $0.10 per transaction
  • Online Payments: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
  • Keyed-In Payments: 3.5% + $0.15 per transaction

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

What To Watch Out For

Because Square is a payment service provider (or PSP) and not a merchant account provider, you’ll face an increased risk of withheld funds and account terminations should Square’s hair-trigger algorithm detect suspect activity (rightly or wrongly).

Like other PSPs, Square is best for small businesses processing under $10K/month. Square’s processing rates are less cost-effective as your sales volume rises. Larger businesses also stand to benefit from the superior account stability of a dedicated merchant account.

When To Use Square

  • You're launching a new business and you want a powerful, well-featured mPOS app paired with an inexpensive Android card reader
  • You want a great Android card reader + mPOS system for your existing mobile business
  • You want a free magstripe reader as a backup means of taking card payments in case your main POS goes down

Get Started With Square

Read our in-depth review

Jump back to comparison chart

Clover Go: Best For Clover POS Sellers

Total Rating 4.3
Pricing4.1

Ease Of Use4.4

Features4.7

Customer Service4.4

User Reviews3.9



Pros

  • Comes with your own merchant account
  • Available from numerous Clover resellers
  • Affordable rates available
  • Syncs with sales from your other Clover devices

Cons

  • Not all Clover sellers offer fair rates or are reputable
  • Not the best standalone processing solution if you don’t use other Clover POS devices
  • Many features only available with the paid Essentials plan

clover go hardware

What Makes Clover Go Great For Clover POS Sellers

Clover Go is the mobile app linked to the Clover suite of POS products. All Clover devices are sold with a Fiserv merchant account. If you already use a countertop Clover solution such as Clover Station or Clover Mini and you want to go mobile with your POS, the Android-friendly Clover Go app is the obvious answer because it's built to be an extension of the full Clover POS app.

With a capable card reader for Android, a solid (if not amazing) mPOS app, and a merchant account, Clover Go is a solid mobile processor so long as you buy it from a reputable provider. You may not get all the features Square offers, but you'll get a full merchant account and the stability that comes along with it.

Clover Go Card Reader Software Features

Clover Go features include:

  • Android-compatible chip + swipe + NFC card reader
  • Payment processing with flat-rate pricing (when purchased through Clover directly)
  • Paperless receipts
  • Basic sales tracking
  • Basic inventory management
  • Employee permissions and shift management
  • Client database
  • Detailed sales reports
  • Tax reporting
  • Bookkeeping integrations

Before we get to the pricing sections, know that various entities sell Clover. The pricing shown below applies when you buy from Clover directly, but if you sign up with a Clover reseller, rates and fees will vary.

Clover Go Pricing & Contract Terms

POS Software Pricing

  • Clover Payments: $0/month
  • Clover Essentials (Includes More Features): $14.95/month

Card Reader Pricing

  • Clover Go Reader: $49

Payment Processing Rates

  • In-Person Payments: 2.6% + $0.10 per transaction
  • Keyed-In Payments: 3.5% + $0.10 per transaction

Buy direct from Clover, and you’ll get month-to-month pricing with no long-term contracts. However, you may be able to get a better deal on pricing with certain resellers, such as National Processing. If you sign up for National Processing’s basic in-person package, you’ll get a free Clover Go, and you’ll pay a $12 monthly fee and 2.5% + $0.10 per transaction.

What To Watch Out For

Be warned that there are many shady Clover resellers out there. These resellers employ independent sales reps to rope merchants into terrible agreements: multi-year contracts with early termination fees, equipment leases, predatory fees, etc.

Avoid local sales agents like the plague. Either sign up directly with Clover or go with a large reputable reseller like National Processing.

When To Use Clover Go

  • You use Clover POS to take payments and you want to add an Android-compatible mobile sales tool to your business arsenal
  • You want a mobile card reader + mPOS app that you can match with the merchant services provider that best fits your business model

Get Started With Clover Go

Read our in-depth review

Jump back to comparison chart

SwipeSimple: Best For Sellers Seeking A Dedicated Merchant Account

SwipeSimple


Visit Site


Pros

  • Capable card readers
  • Solid feature set
  • You can get your own merchant account with a SwipeSimple reseller

Cons

  • Pricing, contract terms, and customer service quality will depend on the reseller
  • Not as feature-rich as some other mPOS apps

swipesimple bluetooth card readers

What Makes SwipeSimple Great For Sellers Seeking A Decidated Merchant Account

SwipeSimple's card readers and mobile app comprise a solid Android mobile sales solution. However, your pricing, contract terms, and customer support will be determined by the SwipeSimple reseller you choose, as SwipeSimple is not a direct provider.

While this process means more work on your part, it does mean that you can shop around for the best deal. Plus, you'll enjoy the security and stability of a dedicated merchant account.

SwipeSimple Card Reader Software Features

SwipeSimple combines two capable Android-friendly card readers with a strong mobile POS app that provides a good amount of feature strength, examples of which include:

  • SwipeSimple B200 (chip + magstripe) and B250 (NFC + chip + magstripe) card readers
  • Item catalog
  • Inventory management
  • Invoicing
  • Offline mode
  • In-app reporting
  • Discounts
  • Tax settings
  • Tips

SwipeSimple Pricing & Contract Terms

SwipeSimple’s main drawback is that it isn’t offered directly by the company. Instead, you’ll need to buy it through a reseller. The reseller will determine the pricing.

Our favorite SwipeSimple resellers include Host Merchant Services and National Processing. Each of these providers will set you up with your own merchant account, giving you heightened account stability over a payment service provider like Square.

Card Reader Pricing

The cost of the Swipesimple B200 and B250 will be determined by the reseller.

Payment Processing Rates

Likewise, the cost of payment processing will be determined by the reseller you purchase SwipeSimple from. However, you can get interchange-plus pricing for SwipeSimple from our preferred vendors, which means that you’ll be able to find very competitive per-transaction rates.

What To Watch Out For

Your contract terms will vary depending on the reseller you go with. That’s why your choice of SwipeSimple reseller is so important.

Look for a provider that will offer you month-to-month agreements with no early termination fees, monthly minimums, or equipment leases.

When To Use SwipeSimple

  • You want an Android-compatible card reader and mPOS app with a full merchant account, and you don't mind shopping around for the provider that suits your business

Get Started With SwipeSimple

Jump back to comparison chart

SumUp: Best For Low-Volume Sellers

Total Rating 4.5
Fees & Rates4.8

Products & Services3.5

Contract4.8

Sales & Advertising Transparency5.0

Customer Service4.3

User Reviews4.0



Pros

  • No monthly fee
  • 2 capable card readers with displays
  • The processing rate is cheaper than Square for small transactions

Cons

  • Lacks some features
  • Less account stability than a full merchant account
  • Not cost-effective for high-volume sellers

sumup credit card readers

What Makes SumUp Great For Low-Volume Sellers

Payment service provider SumUp offers an inexpensive Android-friendly card reader (plus an all-in-one smart terminal) and processing fees that benefit merchants with small average tickets. If you're a smaller seller needing a simple, straightforward mobile processing option, consider SumUp.

While SumUp's 2.75% per-transaction fee isn't going to save you boatloads over the alternatives, low-volume sellers with small transaction sizes may save a modest amount if they use SumUp instead of Square, as Square's 10-cent per-transaction fixed fee adds up when you take a lot of payments under $10.

Having said that, SumUp doesn't offer all the bells and whistles Square offers. See our Square vs. SumUp comparison for a closer look at how the two stack up.

SumUp Card Reader Software Features

SumUp features include:

  • An Android-compatible card reader (and a standalone touchscreen reader)
  • Flat-rate payment processing with no fixed per-transaction fee
  • Item library
  • Product variants
  • Tipping
  • Cash recording
  • Basic analytics
  • Multiple tax rates
  • Email/text receipts
  • QR code payments

SumUp Pricing & Contract Terms

POS Software Pricing

SumUp does not charge a monthly fee for its POS software.

Card Reader Pricing

  • SumUp Plus: $54
  • SumUp Solo: $99
  • SumUp Solo Printer Bundle: $169

Payment Processing Rates

  • In-Person Payments: 2.75% per transaction
  • Keyed-In and Payment Link Payments: 3.25% + $0.15 per transaction
  • Invoiced Transactions: 2.9% + $0.15 per transaction

As for contract terms, SumUp offers the kind of terms we like to see: pay-as-you-go, no long-term contracts, and no early termination fees or monthly minimums.

What To Watch Out For

As we said, SumUp isn’t the most full-featured mobile POS + Android card reader combo out there, so it likely won’t fit the needs of larger retailers and other businesses that need a higher level of feature heft.

Additionally, SumUp is a PSP, so just as with Square and PayPal, you’ll want to take care to minimize the chance of experiencing an account hold or termination.

When To Use SumUp

  • You run a mobile business and you need a simple Android-compatible mPOS package
  • Your average ticket size is quite small and you want to save money on transaction fees

Get Started With SumUp

Read our in-depth review

Jump back to comparison chart

Shopify Payments: Best For Occasional Mobile Sellers

Shopify Payments

Total Rating 4.6
Fees & Rates4.7

Products & Services4.5

Contract5.0

Sales & Advertising Transparency4.6

Customer Service3.7

User Reviews4.4



Pros

  • Affordable card readers
  • Excellent online store features
  • Social media selling tools
  • Good processing rates for merchants with small average tickets

Cons

  • Fewer features than Square
  • Less account stability than a full merchant account
  • Monthly fee charged

shopify tap and chip reader

What Makes Shopify Great For Occasional Mobile Sellers

People know Shopify as an eCommerce giant, but not everyone knows that Shopify POS is available as a standalone payment processing option for small retail businesses that need a mobile app for selling at markets, fairs, or pop-ups but don't need a full-fledged online store.

Shopify is great for merchants who want to take mobile payments and sell online, whether with a full online store or via social media. Bear in mind that it isn't quite as capable as Square on the POS front, however.

If you want lower transaction fees and advanced features like professional reports, eCommerce automations, and additional shipping options and discounts, you'll need to sign up for one of the pricier Shopify plan tiers.

Shopify Card Reader Software Features

The $5/month Shopify Starter plan gives you access to the Android-friendly Shopify POS app along with other tools and features:

  • Tap + chip card reader, compatible with Android
  • Flat-rate payment processing with no fixed per-transaction fee
  • Reporting
  • Gift cards
  • Split tickets
  • Invoicing
  • Sell on social media
  • Embeddable buy buttons
  • Sync inventory on multiple sales channels

Shopify Pricing & Contract Terms

POS Software Pricing

Shopify subscriptions that include Shopify POS start at $5/month. However, if you want a full online store and in-person processing rates that are more in line with the competition, you’ll need at least a Shopify Basic subscription ($39/month or $29/month if billed annually)

Card Reader Pricing

Shopify now offers an inexpensive mobile card reader and an all-in-one touchscreen terminal, Shopify POS Go.

  • Shopify Tap and Chip Card Reader: $49
  • Shopify POS Go: $299

Note that like Square, Shopify now offers a free tap-to-pay solution that lets Android users take NFC (contactless) payments directly on their phones.

Payment Processing Rates

  • In-Person Payments: 5% per transaction for Shopify Starter users; 2.7% per transaction for Shopify Basic users
  • Keyed-In, Online, and Invoiced Payments: 5% + $0.30 for Shopify Starter users; 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction for Shopify Basic users

Note that with Shopify’s two most advanced subscription tiers, you’ll pay less for processing than with Shopify Basic, but you’ll be paying $105/month and $399/month, respectively ($79/month and $299/month if paid annually).

As for contracts, Shopify offers month-to-month and annual billing. There’s no early termination fee or monthly minimum. If you choose annual billing, be aware that Shopify does not issue refunds following plan cancellations.

What To Watch Out For

Shopify’s Starter plan is a convenient way to start selling in person if you don’t need a full online store. However, you’ll be paying 5% per transaction, which may be the highest processing fee I’ve ever seen.

Processing fees get much more reasonable starting at the Shopify Basic subscription level, but the monthly (or annual if you choose annual billing) fees will start to escalate as well.

Additionally, Shopify Payments is a PSP, so you’ll want to do your due diligence to avoid funding holds and account terminations.

When To Use Shopify

  • You want an easy-to-use mobile selling solution that syncs with your online Shopify sales (whether that consists of a full online store or Shopify-powered social media sales)

Get Started With Shopify Payments

Read our in-depth review

Jump back to comparison chart

Helcim: Best For Higher-Volume Sellers

Total Rating 4.9
Fees & Rates5.0

Products & Services4.4

Contract5.0

Sales & Advertising Transparency5.0

Customer Service4.8

User Reviews4.5



Pros

  • Excellent customer support
  • Low interchange-plus processing rates
  • Accepts international payments
  • Processing costs decrease with business growth

Cons

  • Pricey card reader
  • POS features not as extensive as those of Square
  • Not all businesses will qualify

helcim card reader

What Makes Helcim Great For High-Volume Sellers

With interchange-plus pricing and a strong feature lineup, Helcim provides a solid mobile processing option for businesses processing upward of $5K-$10K/month. It's also a scalable option -- you can use it either for mobile processing only or on a tablet or desktop.

Helcim's Android card reader may be pricier than the other options on this list, but the more you sell, the more Helcim's low transaction fees will compensate for that. Add in the stability of a traditional merchant account, and you have a mobile sales package with a lot of appeal for higher-volume sellers.

Helcim Card Reader Software Features

Helcim’s features include:

  • An Android-compatible card reader with a display and PIN pad
  • Payment processing with interchange-plus pricing
  • Customer management
  • Inventory tracking
  • Foodservice management
  • Email receipts
  • Batch history
  • Card on file
  • SMS payments
  • QR code payments

Helcim Pricing & Contract Terms

POS Software Pricing

Helcim does not charge a monthly fee for POS software.

Card Reader Pricing

  • Helcim Card Reader: $99
  • Helcim Smart Terminal: $329 (contains a touchscreen and a built-in thermal receipt printer)

Payment Processing Rates

As we explain in our guide to interchange-plus pricing, interchange fees are affected by a number of factors, including card type and card security features. However, Helcim provides the following estimates as to your average rates:

  • In-Person Payments: 1.93% + $0.08 per transaction
  • Keyed-In and Online Payments: 2.49% + $0.25 per transaction

Regarding contracts, Helcim offers the great terms and flexibility of Square — pay-as-you-go pricing and no early termination fees, monthly minimums, or even a monthly fee — while also giving you your own merchant account.

What To Watch Out For

Helcim offers a remarkable merchant services package, but its card reader options may be on the pricey side for small-time sellers.

When To Use Helcim

  • You want a well-featured mobile POS for in-person sales along with the stability of a unique merchant account

Get Started With Helcim

Read our in-depth review

Jump back to comparison chart

PayPal Zettle: Best For PayPal Sellers

PayPal Zettle


Visit Site

Pricing

No monthly fee

Contract

None

Equipment Cost

$29 for your first card reader

Pros

  • No monthly fee
  • Same day funding to your PayPal account
  • The Zettle Reader is inexpensive and has a PIN pad
  • Accept in-person PayPal payments via a QR code

Cons

  • Account stability issues
  • Not as strong as Square feature-wise

paypal zettle

What Makes PayPal Zettle Great For PayPal Sellers

PayPal is a juggernaut of commerce, and if you want to sell online, accepting PayPal is an easy solution. If you want to accept payments in person, PayPal's free mobile POS app, PayPal Zettle, is a very solid option.

PayPal's Android-compatible mPOS solution offers rates lower than that of Square and other PSP competitors while connecting you to PayPal's vast ecosystem of business tools. As for POS features, PayPal Zettle isn't quite as robust as Square, and PayPal generally recommends integrating with one of its POS partners if you need more advanced software features.

If you're curious about how PayPal Zettle compares to Square, our Square vs PayPal comparison gets into the nitty-gritty.

PayPal Zettle Card Reader Software Features

Let’s go through PayPal Zettle’s features:

  • An Android-compatible card reader with a display and PIN pad
  • Flat-rate payment processing
  • In-app invoicing
  • Same-day funding to your PayPal account
  • PayPal and Venmo QR code payments
  • Item library
  • Reports
  • Discounts
  • Support for register setup
  • Refunds and partial refunds

PayPal Zettle Pricing & Contract Terms

We soured a bit on PayPal after the company raised its online processing rates, but its in-person processing rates are very competitive.

POS Software Pricing

PayPal Zettle does not charge a monthly fee for POS software.

Card Reader Pricing

Your first PayPal Zettle Reader costs $29. Any additional readers cost $79.

PayPal also offers the standalone touchscreen Zettle Terminal for $199.

Payment Processing Rates

  • In-Person Payments: 2.29% + $0.09 per transaction
  • Online Payments: 2.59%-3.49% + $0.49 per transaction, depending on the circumstances
  • Keyed-In Payments: 3.09% + $0.49 per transaction + $30/month

Contract-wise, PayPal offers pay-as-you-go agreements with no early termination fees and no monthly minimums.

What To Watch Out For

With PayPal, as with other payment service providers, you’ll want to minimize the chance that you’ll face an account hold or termination. Also, note that while many payment processors offer a virtual terminal at no additional monthly cost, PayPal charges $30/month for its virtual terminal, unfortunately.

When To Use PayPal Zettle

  • You use PayPal to sell online (or you want to) and you're looking for an easy mobile sales solution that fits in with your payments ecosystem
  • You want an Android-compatible mobile card reader with competitive transaction fees

Get Started With PayPal Zettle

Read our in-depth review

Jump back to comparison chart

Intuit GoPayment: Best For Sellers Using QuickBooks For Accounting

Intuit GoPayment

Total Rating 3.7
Pricing4.1

Ease Of Use5.0

Features2.4

Customer Service3.3

User Reviews4.2



Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Inexpensive card reader + competitive transaction fees
  • Easy integration with your QuickBooks Online account
  • No setup or application fee

Cons

  • Inconsistent customer support
  • Limited features
  • No scanner or receipt printer support

quickbooks gopayment credit card reader

What Makes QuickBooks GoPayment Great For Sellers Using QuickBooks For Accounting

QuickBooks GoPayment is a mobile payment app and card reader that works with Android phones and tablets.

If you use QuickBooks Online for accounting (or if you want to), the GoPayment app is a handy tool for processing mobile sales; plus, you'll get a full QuickBooks merchant account, giving you account stability.

Furthermore, if you're interested in using the QuickBooks mobile POS but don't need accounting features, Intuit now offers QuickBooks Money, which gives you a mobile card reader, payment processing features, and a business bank account, but no accounting.

QuickBooks GoPayment Card Reader Software Features

Feature-wise, GoPayment doesn’t quite stack up with the likes of Square. However, if you’re already a happy QuickBooks user, you’ll be able to integrate with the QuickBooks platform, giving you a solid mobile processing solution. And if you don’t need an accounting solution, the QuickBooks Money package offers easy payment acceptance with no monthly fee.

Features include:

  • An Android-compatible card reader
  • A business bank account
  • Flat-rate payment processing
  • Easy QuickBooks Online integration
  • Item library
  • Item sync
  • Discounts
  • Invoicing
  • Expense tracking
  • Reports

QuickBooks GoPayment Pricing & Contract Terms

POS Software Pricing

You can use QuickBooks’s GoPayment mPOS software for $0/month with QuickBooks Money. If you want QuickBooks Online as well, the cheapest QB Online subscription (which includes mobile payments) costs $30/month ($15 for the first three months).

Card Reader Pricing

The chip + tap QuickBooks Card Reader sells for $49.

Payment Processing Rates

  • In-Person Payments: 2.5% per transaction
  • Online/Invoiced Transactions: 2.99% per transaction
  • Keyed-In Transactions: 3.5% per transaction

With QuickBooks Payments and the GoPayment app, there are no long-term contracts, early termination fees, or monthly minimums.

What To Watch Out For

As our QuickBooks Payments review explains, you can also take payments if you have QuickBooks Desktop, but the pricing scheme is completely different.

However, Intuit/QuickBooks seems to be gradually phasing out QB Desktop along with its other locally installed products, so if you want QuickBooks accounting, QB Online is a wiser choice if you want a solution that will be supported well into the future.

When To Use QuickBooks GoPayment

  • You want a mobile sales tool that works seamlessly with QuickBooks's accounting software
  • You don't need accounting software, but you want an Android-friendly mobile POS with no monthly fee and a transaction rate that doesn't include a fixed fee

Get Started With Intuit GoPayment

Read our in-depth review

Jump back to comparison chart

Payment Processing Rating Methodology

Merchant Maverick has been researching the payment processing industry since 2009. Our writers have reviewed hundreds of credit card processors, merchant account services, and mobile payment apps, evaluating each provider carefully on several different metrics.

When comparing different payment processing companies and applications to one another, we consider numerous data points. Our experts start by comparing credit card processing rates, the presence of additional fees, contract length, sales practices, and the presence or absence of additional features and services, like point of sale software. Each provider is judged on its own merits and how well it stacks up to industry standards; then it is weighed against the other providers on the list.

We spend an average of 10-15 hours researching and updating each one of our lists, making sure every company or application included meets our internal standards for quality and reputation. Any list of recommended payment processors on our site might contain a mix of standard merchant accounts, third-party payment processors, mobile payment devices, and high-risk payment processors, depending on what our expert feels is the best fit for certain scenarios or business types.

For additional details about Merchant Maverick’s review and rating processes, please refer to any or all of the following methodology pages:

15

Years reviewing payment processors

100+

Providers evaluated

25

Attributes and features assessed per vendor

40+

Years combined experience


Credit Card Processing Options Without An Android Card Reader

The best mobile POS systems are flexible, and as payment technology advances, merchants now have several payment acceptance methods that don’t even require a card reader. Let’s explore a few of these payment methods.

Tap To Pay

With tap-to-pay software, customers tap their credit or debit cards directly on your phone to make an NFC transaction, eliminating the need for a separate card reader entirely. This requires your customers to have an NFC-enabled card or a mobile wallet app like Apple Pay on their phones, however.

Tap-to-pay technology is still young, and many merchant service providers don’t yet offer it. However, Square now offers a tap to pay solution that works on Android phones, and recently, Shopify’s tap to pay feature became available for Android devices.

QR Codes

With QR code payments, your customer scans a two-dimensional barcode with their phone’s camera and is then prompted to open a website or app through which the payment is completed, using either a credit card or a mobile wallet, such as PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.

Payment Links

With payment links, you can directly invoice your customers by sending them a URL (or a QR code as described above) via text, email, or messaging app. When clicked, the link launches the online transaction process.

Virtual Terminals

A virtual terminal allows you to manually enter your customer’s credit card information via an internet browser and submit the transaction for processing. A virtual terminal lets you accept payments remotely or in person from your computer or even your smartphone.

Final Thoughts: Which Card Reader App For Android Is Right For Your Business?

If you need a top credit card reader app for Android, know that there are several solid Android-based credit card reader apps with competitive pricing and great hardware. Consider the features you need as well as the pricing when choosing the right credit card reader for your business.

While you’ll want to consider the credit card reader fees charged by different providers, you’ll also need to factor in the cost of POS and your unique business situation. This includes your monthly sales volume, your average transaction size, and which other sales channels you sell on or want to sell on — whether that’s social media, PayPal, your business website, your countertop POS register, or cash sales.

For example, most higher-volume mobile sellers processing more than $10K/month will get lower rates by going with one of the more traditional best credit card processing companies than by using a third-party processor like Square. Businesses processing a lot of cash sales in addition to credit cards may want an Android POS app that lets them record cash transactions as well.

To learn more about mobile credit card readers in general, check out how to accept credit card payments on your phone.

FAQs: The Best Credit Card Reader App For Android

How can I use my Android phone as a credit card reader?

As things stand, the best way to use your Android phone as a credit card reader is to pair it with a mobile credit card reader, though you can now use tap-to-pay technology with certain POS providers. This lets you take card payments directly on your Android device, but since not all consumers have NFC-enabled cards, you’ll still want to have a physical card reader on hand.

You can also take payments directly on your phone by using a virtual terminal. Processing fees for virtual terminal transactions are higher than those for typical credit card transactions, though.

How much is a credit card reader for an Android?

Square offers a magstripe-only Android card reader for free, but if you want to accept chip card and NFC transactions, most such readers go for $29-$59, with a few such readers costing upwards of $100.

Jump back to comparison chart

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.
Jason Vissers

Latest posts by Jason Vissers (see all)