Running a small business on the Android operating system can sometimes limit what you can do, but finding a good credit card reader isn't an area where you need to settle. Several companies offer sleek designs with competitive processing rates and useful point-of-sale, or POS, systems to help businesses grow in their markets.
Here are the top five credit card readers that made our list for Android users.
Best Credit Card Readers for Android
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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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Clover Go Learn more on Clover Go's secure website | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | 4.0/5 Best for Payment processing fees | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 3.5% + $0.10 | $0 Starter plan; $14.95 Standard plan. | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | Learn more on Clover Go's secure website |
PayPal Zettle | 4.5/5 Best for QR codes | In-person: 2.29% + $0.09 Online: 3.49% + $0.49 | $0 | |||
SumUp Plus Learn more on SumUp Plus' secure website | 3.5/5 Best for Low-cost option | In-person: 2.75% + $0.00 Online: 2.9% + $0.15 | $0 | Learn more on SumUp Plus' secure website | ||
Square Reader Learn more on Square Reader's secure website | 5.0/5 Best for POS features | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0 Starts at $0/month for unlimited devices and locations. | Learn more on Square Reader's secure website | ||
Stripe Learn more on Stripe Payments' secure website | 5.0/5 Best for Customization | In-person: 2.7% + $0.05 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0 | Learn more on Stripe Payments' secure website |
Our pick for
Payment processing fees
Clover Go
Learn more
on Clover Go's secure website
Monthly fee
$0
Starter plan; $14.95 Standard plan.
Pros
- Charges via standard USB charger.
- Uses passcodes for employees.
Cons
- Takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes to charge.
- Requires a monthly fee for advanced POS features.
Our pick for
QR codes
PayPal Zettle
Monthly fee
$0
Pros
- Solid core features.
- No monthly fees.
- No long-term commitment.
- Low initial costs.
- Easy to use.
Cons
- No add-on features available.
- Limited integrations.
- Funds are transferred to your PayPal account and not your bank account.
Our pick for
Low-cost option
SumUp Plus
Learn more
on SumUp Plus' secure website
Monthly fee
$0
Pros
- Accepts chip, swipe and contactless payments.
- Has a screen to display transaction details.
Cons
- Has less robust POS software features than other card readers.
Our pick for
POS features
Square Reader
Learn more
on Square Reader's secure website
Monthly fee
$0
Starts at $0/month for unlimited devices and locations.
Square’s Reader accepts chip cards and contactless methods including Google Pay, Samsung Pay and Apple Pay. It uses a pay-as-you-go structure, so you don’t have a monthly fee and pay only when customers are charged. Square’s processing rates are competitive and come with POS features that include reporting and inventory management.
Pros
- Accepts chip credit cards and digital wallets.
- Doesn’t require a contract or monthly fee.
Cons
- Doesn’t accept magstripe credit cards.
- Doesn’t have a screen to show transaction details.
- Doesn’t accept offline payments.
- Doesn’t print receipts.
Our pick for
Customization
Stripe
Learn more
on Stripe Payments' secure website
Monthly fee
$0
Stripe’s Reader M2 doesn’t require a contract and comes with pay-as-you-go pricing for accepting magstripe and chip cards as well as digital wallets. The reader requires you to use a software development kit, or SDK, to integrate it with your application, so some coding knowledge is helpful. But the POS comes with a lot of features that make customization and integrations easier.
Pros
- Highly customizable.
- Competitive pricing.
Cons
- Prioritizes online merchants.
- Requires developer experience.
Clover Go: Best for payment processing fee
Runs on: Android or iOS.
Style: Handheld.
Monthly POS software fee:
- $0 for Starter plan.
- $14.95 for Standard plan.
Hardware:
- $49 for chip, swipe and contactless Clover Go card reader.
- $599 for Clover Flex mobile POS with printer.
- $799 for Clover Mini POS.
- $1,699 for Clover Station Solo.
- $1,799 for Clover Station Duo.
Payment processing:
- 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions.
- 3.5% plus 10 cents for online or keyed-in transactions.
Why we like it: Clover Go’s sleek design is easy to use on the go. You can accept all credit cards along with Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay, and it takes offline payments when you lose Wi-Fi or a cell signal. While you’ll have to choose a monthly plan, Clover offers a free option with basic POS features, including processing payments and sales tracking.
Pros:
- Accepts magstripe and chip credit cards along with digital wallet payments.
- Accepts offline payments.
- Has a free monthly plan available.
Cons:
- Doesn’t have a screen to view transaction details.
- Doesn’t print receipts.
- Requires paid monthly plan for advanced features.
PayPal Zettle: Best for QR codes
Runs on: Android or iOS.
Style: Handheld.
Monthly POS software fee: Free.
Hardware:
- $29 for first card reader; additional readers cost $79. Price includes USB cable.
- $249 for Store Kit Mini (screen terminal with card reader).
- $339 for Store Kit Portable kit with mobile card reader and printer.
- $499 for Store Kit Standard (adds printer).
- $699 for Store Kit Plus (adds barcode scanner).
Payment processing:
- 2.29% plus 9 cents for in-person and QR code transactions.
- 3.49% plus 9 cents for manual-entry card transactions.
- 2.99% plus 49 cents for invoicing (payment made with card).
- 3.49% plus 49 cents for invoicing (payment made with PayPal).
Why we like it: PayPal’s Zettle accepts credit cards, digital wallet payments and QR codes for PayPal accounts. With no monthly fee, the platform offers a cheaper option for businesses that need to accept payments on the go.
Pros:
- Accepts chip and contactless payments and digital wallets.
- Creates QR codes for an additional payment method.
- Has a screen to show transaction details.
- Doesn’t require a contract or monthly fee.
Cons:
- Doesn’t swipe magstripe credit cards.
- Doesn’t support offline payments.
- Doesn’t print receipts.
SumUp Plus: Best for low-cost option
Runs on: Android or iOS.
Style: Handheld.
Monthly POS software fee: Free.
Hardware:
- $39 for SumUp Plus card reader.
- $49 for SumUp Plus cradle bundle.
- $129 for SumUp Solo touchscreen.
Payment processing:
- 2.75% for in-person transactions.
- 2.90% plus 15 cents for online and invoice transactions.
- 3.25% plus 15 cents for manually keyed or payment-linked transactions.
Why we like it: The SumUp Plus reader is small but efficient, processing magstripe and chip cards as well as Apple Pay and Google Pay. It includes a screen to show transaction details and charges pay-as-you-go processing fees so you pay only when you charge customers.
Pros:
- Accepts magstripe and chip credit cards and digital wallets.
- Has a screen.
- Doesn’t require a contract or monthly fee.
Cons:
- Doesn’t print receipts.
- Doesn’t process offline payments.
Square Reader for contactless and chip: Best for POS features
Runs on: Android or iOS.
Style: Handheld.
Monthly POS software fee:
- $0 for Square POS, Restaurant, Retail and Appointments Free plans.
- $29 for Square Appointments Plus plan.
- $60 for Square Restaurant and Retail Plus plans.
- $69 for Square Appointments Premium plan.
Hardware:
- $0 for Square magstripe-only card reader ($10 for each additional reader) or if using Tap to Pay for iPhone (iPhone not included).
- $49 and up for Square Reader contactless and chip card reader.
- $149 for Square Stand iPad POS or Square Stand Mount (iPad not included).
- $299 for Square Terminal mobile card reader with built-in printer.
- $799 for Square Register two-screen system.
Payment processing:
- 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions.
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions.
- 3.5% plus 15 cents for manually keyed transactions.
- 3.3% plus 30 cents for invoices.
Why we like it: Square’s Reader accepts chip cards and contactless methods including Google Pay, Samsung Pay and Apple Pay. It uses a pay-as-you-go structure, so you don’t have a monthly fee and pay only when customers are charged. Square’s processing rates are competitive and come with POS features that include reporting and inventory management.
Pros:
- Accepts chip credit cards and digital wallets.
- Doesn’t require a contract or monthly fee.
Cons:
- Doesn’t accept magstripe credit cards.
- Doesn’t have a screen to show transaction details.
- Doesn’t accept offline payments.
- Doesn’t print receipts.
Stripe Reader M2: Best for customization
Runs on: Android or iOS.
Style: Handheld.
Monthly POS software fee:
- $0 for standard Stripe Connect.
- $2 per account for Stripe Express (for marketplaces) or Stripe Custom (the white-label option that allows businesses to customize the checkout process).
Hardware:
- $59 for Stripe Reader M2.
- $249 for BBPOS WisePOS E card reader.
Payment processing:
- 2.7% plus 5 cents for in-person transactions.
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions.
- 3.4% plus 30 cents for manually keyed transactions.
- 4.4% plus 30 cents for international card transactions.
Why we like it: Stripe’s Reader M2 doesn’t require a contract and comes with pay-as-you-go pricing for accepting magstripe and chip cards as well as digital wallets. The reader requires you to use a software development kit, or SDK, to integrate it with your application, so some coding knowledge is helpful. But the POS comes with a lot of features that make customization and integrations easier, including embedded checkout, currency conversion, reporting, 24/7 support and a developer dashboard. With these features, skilled users can customize their reader to do more than most others on the market.
Pros:
- Accepts magstripe and chip cards and digital wallets.
- Doesn’t require a contract or monthly fee.
Cons:
- Doesn’t accept offline payments.
- Doesn’t have a screen to show transaction details.
- Doesn’t print receipts.
Last updated on April 11, 2023