Our Nerdy picks for
Best Virtual Terminals for Small Business
Calculate your monthly cost estimate
Input your business’s monthly transaction details and we’ll help you sort from the best valueProduct | Cost Estimate | Payment processing fees | Cost Estimate | Learn more | ||
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Square POS Learn more on Square POS's secure website | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | 5.0/5 Best for Overall | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0.00 and up. | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | Learn more on Square POS's secure website |
Stax by Fattmerchant Learn more on Stax by Fattmerchant's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for Subscription pricing model | In-person: 0% + $0.08 Online: 0% + $0.15 Plus interchange | $99.00 and up. | Learn more on Stax by Fattmerchant's secure website | ||
Clover POS Learn more on Clover POS's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for POS flexibility | In-person: 2.3% + $0.10 Online: 3.5% + $0.10 | $14.95 and up. | Learn more on Clover POS's secure website | ||
Shopify Retail POS Learn more on Shopify POS's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for Shopify e-commerce users | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $39.00 and up for e-commerce plans with POS Lite; Can upgrade to POS Pro for an extra $89. | Learn more on Shopify POS's secure website | ||
TouchBistro Learn more on TouchBistro's secure website | 3.5/5 Best for Restaurants | N/A Quote-based. | $69.00 and up. | Learn more on TouchBistro's secure website | ||
Dharma Merchant Services | 4.5/5 Best for Surcharging option | In-person: 0.15% + $0.08 Online: 0.2% + $0.11 Plus interchange | $15.00 for most industries; $12 for nonprofits. | |||
PayPal Zettle | 4.0/5 Best for Software integrations | In-person: 2.29% + $0.09 Online: 2.89% + $0.49 | $0.00 |
Our pick for
Overall
Square POS
on Square POS's secure website
and up.
Pros
- No monthly fee.
- App and card readers are compatible with iOS and Android devices.
- No long-term contracts.
- All plans include a free online store.
Cons
- Live chat or phone support is limited to weekdays.
Our pick for
Subscription pricing model
Stax by Fattmerchant
on Stax by Fattmerchant's secure website
and up.
Pros
- No contract required.
- Option for same-day access to funds, including holidays and weekends, as an add-on.
- Set up an online store through an add-on.
- Mobile app is compatible with Android and iOS devices.
Cons
- Technical support is through a ticketing system.
Our pick for
POS flexibility
Clover POS
on Clover POS's secure website
and up.
Pros
- App works with iOS and Android mobile devices.
- Next-day deposits to your bank account in most cases.
- Online payment option.
- 24/7 phone support.
Cons
- Differing pricing structures depending on business type.
Our pick for
Shopify e-commerce users
Shopify Retail POS
on Shopify POS's secure website
and up for e-commerce plans with POS Lite; Can upgrade to POS Pro for an extra $89.
Pros
- No long-term contracts or termination fees.
- All plans include an online store.
- Built specifically for online sellers.
- 24/7 chat support.
Cons
- No free plan options.
- Cannot process cards in offline mode.
Our pick for
Restaurants
TouchBistro
on TouchBistro's secure website
Quote-based.
and up.
Pros
- 24/7 phone, chat and email support.
- Includes restaurant-specific features, like table and menu management.
- Optional profit management system provides tools for improving margins.
- As a hybrid POS system, TouchBistro can operate without the cloud. Offline capabilities include accepting payments, taking orders, editing menus and managing staff.
Cons
- Payment processing rates are quote-based, making them difficult to compare to the competition.
- Contracts are automatically renewed and can't be terminated early.
- No free plan options and charges setup fee.
- Ability to accept online orders costs extra.
Our pick for
Surcharging option
Dharma Merchant Services
for most industries; $12 for nonprofits.
Pros
- No long-term contract.
- Mobile app is free and compatible with iOS and Android devices.
- Two-day funding for card-not-present transactions.
- 24-hour customer support help lines.
Cons
- Invoicing and recurring billing is an additional monthly fee.
- Account closure fee of $49 is charged.
Our pick for
Software integrations
PayPal Zettle
Pros
- Solid core features.
- No monthly fees.
- No long-term commitment.
- Low initial costs.
- Easy to use.
Cons
- No add-on features available.
- Doesn’t accept swiped payments.
How do virtual terminals work?
- Card number.
- Expiration date.
- CVV/CVV2 number (the three- or four-digit number on the back of a card).
- Customer name.
- Billing ZIP code.
How much does a virtual terminal cost?
- Monthly fee.
- Terminal fee.
- Processing fees.
- Interchange fees.
- Margin fees.
- Assessment fees.
What businesses use virtual terminals?
- Mail-order and telephone-order businesses, also called MOTO businesses.
- Restaurants, diners and cafes that process phone and online orders.
- Delivery-based businesses such as food and beverage stores, florists and gift shops.
- Mobile businesses such as food trucks, pet groomers and photographers.
- Freelancers such as web designers, artists, SEO specialists and bookkeepers.
What to look for in a virtual terminal
Price
Other factors to consider
- Payment speed. You want to get your money quickly from your transactions — ideally the next business day, with an option for the same day. If there’s a fee for same-day payments, remember to add that into your calculations.
- Customer support. At a minimum, you want support available during the hours you'll be submitting transactions. Getting 24/7 support is ideal.
- Integration with other apps. It will save you time if your virtual software works with your accounting software. If a third-party service is necessary for integration, add that fee to your calculation.