Best Mobile Credit Card Readers of July 2025

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Best Mobile Credit Card Processors and Readers

Product	Best for	NerdWallet rating	Payment processing fees	Monthly fee	Learn more
Helcim Learn more on Helcim's secure website	High-volume sales	5.0 /5	In-person: 0.4% + $0.08 Online: 0.5% + $0.25 Plus interchange	$0	Learn more on Helcim's secure website
QuickBooks GoPayment Read review	QuickBooks loyalists	4.0 /5	In-person: 2.5% + $0.00 Online: 2.99% + $0.00	$0	Read review
Square Learn more on Square's secure website	Overall mobile credit card processor	5.0 /5	In-person: 2.6% + $0.15 Online: 2.9% + $0.30	$0 Starts at $0/month for unlimited devices and locations.	Learn more on Square's secure website
Clover Go Learn more on Clover Go's secure website	Using third-party processors	5.0 /5	In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 3.5% + $0.10	$0 Payments plan; $14.95 Essentials plan.	Learn more on Clover Go's secure website
PayPal POS Read review	Low card-present processing rates	4.1 /5	In-person: 2.29% + $0.09 Online: 3.49% + $0.09	$0	Read review

Product	Best for	NerdWallet rating	Payment processing fees	Monthly fee	Learn more
Helcim Learn more on Helcim's secure website	High-volume sales	5.0 /5	In-person: 0.4% + $0.08 Online: 0.5% + $0.25 Plus interchange	$0	Learn more on Helcim's secure website
QuickBooks GoPayment Read review	QuickBooks loyalists	4.0 /5	In-person: 2.5% + $0.00 Online: 2.99% + $0.00	$0	Read review
Square Learn more on Square's secure website	Overall mobile credit card processor	5.0 /5	In-person: 2.6% + $0.15 Online: 2.9% + $0.30	$0 Starts at $0/month for unlimited devices and locations.	Learn more on Square's secure website
Clover Go Learn more on Clover Go's secure website	Using third-party processors	5.0 /5	In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 3.5% + $0.10	$0 Payments plan; $14.95 Essentials plan.	Learn more on Clover Go's secure website
PayPal POS Read review	Low card-present processing rates	4.1 /5	In-person: 2.29% + $0.09 Online: 3.49% + $0.09	$0	Read review

Best Mobile Credit Card Processors and Readers

Helcim

5.0

Best for High-volume sales

Payment processing fees

In-person: 0.4% + $0.08
Online: 0.5% + $0.25

Plus interchange

Monthly fee

Learn more

on Helcim's website

Pros

Businesses save when customers use cards with low interchange rates.
Offers free POS software.
Offers volume-based discounts automatically.
No termination fees, long-term contracts or PCI compliance fees.

Cons

Deposits are available within two business days; same-day deposit option is not available.
Interchange-plus costs can be difficult to predict.

Helcim

Best for High-volume sales

5.0

Payment processing fees

In-person: 0.4% + $0.08
Online: 0.5% + $0.25

Plus interchange

Monthly fee

Learn more

on Helcim's website

Pros

Businesses save when customers use cards with low interchange rates.
Offers free POS software.
Offers volume-based discounts automatically.
No termination fees, long-term contracts or PCI compliance fees.

Cons

Deposits are available within two business days; same-day deposit option is not available.
Interchange-plus costs can be difficult to predict.

QuickBooks GoPayment

4.0

Best for QuickBooks loyalists

Payment processing fees

In-person: 2.5% + $0.00
Online: 2.99% + $0.00

Monthly fee

Read Review

Pros

Convenient for QuickBooks users.
No monthly fee with a QuickBooks account.
No long-term contract.

Cons

QuickBooks account is required.
Customer support is limited to weekdays.

QuickBooks GoPayment

Best for QuickBooks loyalists

4.0

Payment processing fees

In-person: 2.5% + $0.00
Online: 2.99% + $0.00

Monthly fee

Read Review

Pros

Convenient for QuickBooks users.
No monthly fee with a QuickBooks account.
No long-term contract.

Cons

QuickBooks account is required.
Customer support is limited to weekdays.

Square

5.0

Best for Overall mobile credit card processor

Payment processing fees

In-person: 2.6% + $0.15
Online: 2.9% + $0.30

Monthly fee

Starts at $0/month for unlimited devices and locations.

Learn more

on Square's website

Pros

Free magstripe reader.
No monthly fees with the Free plan.
Offline mode with magstripe reader.
No long-term contract.

Cons

Offline mode not offered with chip card and contactless payments reader.
Phone support on weekdays only.

Square

Best for Overall mobile credit card processor

5.0

Payment processing fees

In-person: 2.6% + $0.15
Online: 2.9% + $0.30

Monthly fee

Starts at $0/month for unlimited devices and locations.

Learn more

on Square's website

Pros

Free magstripe reader.
No monthly fees with the Free plan.
Offline mode with magstripe reader.
No long-term contract.

Cons

Offline mode not offered with chip card and contactless payments reader.
Phone support on weekdays only.

Clover Go

5.0

Best for Using third-party processors

Payment processing fees

In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.10

Monthly fee

Payments plan; $14.95 Essentials plan.

Learn more

on Clover's website

Pros

No monthly fees with Starter plan.
You can process offline sales after you reconnect.
24/7 phone support.

Cons

No free reader.
May require a contract.

Clover Go

Best for Using third-party processors

5.0

Payment processing fees

In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.10

Monthly fee

Payments plan; $14.95 Essentials plan.

Learn more

on Clover's website

Pros

No monthly fees with Starter plan.
You can process offline sales after you reconnect.
24/7 phone support.

Cons

No free reader.
May require a contract.

PayPal POS

4.1

Best for Low card-present processing rates

Payment processing fees

In-person: 2.29% + $0.09
Online: 3.49% + $0.09

Monthly fee

Read Review

Pros

No long-term contract.
No monthly fee.
Low card-present transaction fee rate.
Daily phone support for businesses.

Cons

No free reader.
Money transferred into your PayPal account instead of a bank account.

PayPal POS

Best for Low card-present processing rates

4.1

Payment processing fees

In-person: 2.29% + $0.09
Online: 3.49% + $0.09

Monthly fee

Read Review

Pros

No long-term contract.
No monthly fee.
Low card-present transaction fee rate.
Daily phone support for businesses.

Cons

No free reader.
Money transferred into your PayPal account instead of a bank account.

Our picks for the best mobile credit card readers and processors

Square

Best overall mobile credit card processor

Our editorial take: Square doesn’t require a contract, provides a free magstripe reader and offers a free POS software plan and app. You can opt to purchase a chip card and contactless payments reader and upgrade to the Plus or Premium plans if you want more advanced features. Square's mobile credit card readers can’t print receipts, but you can provide customers with a receipt through text or email. Phone support is limited to weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PST. Read our full

Square review

Monthly fee

$0 for Square POS, Restaurant, Retail and Appointments Free plans.
$29 for Square Appointments Plus plan.
$69 for Square Appointments Premium and Square Restaurants Plus plans.
$89 for Square Retail Plus plan.
$165 for Square Restaurant Premium plan.
Custom pricing for Square Retail plan.

Hardware cost

$0 for Square magstripe-only card reader ($10 for each additional reader) or if using Tap to Pay for iPhone (iPhone not included).
$59 for Square Reader contactless and chip card reader.
$149 for Square Stand iPad POS or Square Stand Mount (iPad not included; monthly financing available).
$149 for Square Kiosk for self-serve ordering.
$299 for Square Terminal mobile card reader with built-in printer (monthly financing available).
$399 for Square Handheld portable POS system with built-in barcode scanner (monthly financing available).
$799 for Square Register two-screen system (monthly financing available).

Payment processing fees

2.6% plus 15 cents for in-person transactions with all free plans.
2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions with paid restaurant plans.
2.5% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions with paid retail and appointments plans.
2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions.
3.5% plus 15 cents for manually keyed transactions.
3.3% plus 30 cents for invoices.

» MORE:

Best free POS software

Clover Go

Best for using third-party processors

Our editorial take: If you want to use Clover as your payment processor, you can purchase the Clover Go mobile card reader directly through its website. Alternatively, you can also purchase it through resellers that program the reader to work with outside payment processors. This mobile card reader accepts swiped, chip and contactless payments, and the accompanying mobile app is free. Customers can receive their receipt via text or email. For more information, read our full

Clover review

Monthly fee

$0 for Payments plan.
$14.95 for Essentials plan.

Hardware cost

$199 for chip, swipe and contactless Clover Go card reader.
$349 for countertop card reader.
$749 for Clover Flex mobile POS with receipt printer.
$699 for slimmer Flex Pocket with no printer.
$849 for Clover Mini POS.
$799-$899 + $25 per month for kitchen display system.
$1,799 for Clover Station Solo.
$1,899 for Clover Station Duo.
$3,499 + $34.95 per month for self-ordering kiosk.

Payment processing fees

2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions.
3.5% plus 10 cents for online or keyed-in transactions.

PayPal POS

Best for low card-present processing rates

Our editorial take: PayPal POS offers one of the lowest card-present transaction rates. While its mobile credit card reader isn’t free, the first one is relatively inexpensive. The price increases for any additional card readers. You won’t be charged a monthly fee and the POS app is also free. There’s no long-term contract and daily phone support is available for businesses from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT. You can text or email your customers a receipt. Payment funds are transferred into your PayPal account, but you can then schedule deposits to your bank account. Read our full

PayPal POS review

Monthly fee

$0.

Hardware cost

$29 for first card reader; additional readers cost $79. Price includes USB cable.
$199 for terminal only.
$239 for terminal with barcode scanner built in.
$229 for Store Kit Mini (tablet stand with card reader and dock).
$339 for Store Kit Portable kit with mobile card reader and printer.
$479 for Store Kit Standard (tablet stand, card reader, dock and printer).
$699 for Store Kit Plus (adds barcode scanner).

Payment processing fees

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).

QuickBooks GoPayment

Best for QuickBooks loyalists

Our editorial take: The QuickBooks GoPayment mobile app is a convenient option for QuickBooks accounting users. The POS app is free, and you won’t be tied to a long-term contract. Card-present transaction fees are competitive, but you’ll need a QuickBooks Online account in order to use GoPayment. The cheapest QuickBooks solopreneur plan starts at $20 per month, and customer support is limited to weekdays. Read our full

QuickBooks GoPayment review

for more details.

Monthly fee

$0 if you already have a QuickBooks Online plan.
$35 for Simple Start plan for new QuickBooks users.
$65 for Essentials plan for new QuickBooks users.
$99 ($45 for first three months) for Plus plan for new QuickBooks users.
$235 ($100 for first three months) for Advanced plan for new QuickBooks users.
QuickBooks Desktop users pay an annual subscription fee for the accounting software.

Hardware cost

$39 for QuickBooks charging stand.
$49 for QuickBooks card reader.
$79 for QuickBooks card reader with charging stand.

Payment processing fees

For QuickBooks Online users

2.5% for in-person payments.
2.99% for online and invoiced payments.
3.5% for manually keyed payments.
1% for ACH transactions.

For QuickBooks Desktop users

Pay as you go plan (no monthly fee):

2.4% plus 30 cents per in-person transaction.
3.5% plus 30 cents per keyed-in or invoiced transaction.
1% per ACH transfer.

Pay monthly plan ($20 monthly fee):

1.6% plus 30 cents per in-person transaction.
3.3% plus 30 cents per keyed-in or invoiced transaction.
1% per ACH transfer.

Helcim

Best for high-volume sales

Our editorial take: Unlike many of its competitors that rely on a flat-rate pricing model, Helcim uses an interchange-plus model that has the potential to save high-volume businesses money in processing costs. You can use both of Helcim’s hardware options (the Smart Terminal and Card Reader) to track inventory, email receipts, track sales trends and accept contactless and chip credit card payments. There are no contracts or monthly fees. For more information, read our full

Helcim review

Monthly fee

$0.

Hardware cost

$99 for a mobile card reader (with stand).
$329 for a stand-alone terminal with built-in thermal printer (or 12 monthly payments of $30).

Payment processing fees

Interchange plus 0.4% and 8 cents per in-person transaction (if $50,000 or less in monthly card transactions).
Interchange plus 0.5% and 25 cents per online or manually keyed transaction (if $50,000 or less in monthly card transactions).
0.5% plus 25 cents for ACH payments (capped at $6).

What is a mobile credit card reader?

A mobile credit card reader is a piece of POS hardware that accepts debit and credit card payments. All you need to do is pair it with a mobile app on your smartphone to start taking payments on the go. The company providing the reader usually offers payment processing services, too. That way, you don’t need to integrate the reader with a third-party

payment processing company

Ultimately, mobile credit card readers are a must if your business needs the flexibility to accept in-person payments from more than one location.

» MORE:

Best credit card readers

How to choose a mobile credit card reader

Here are the major factors to consider while choosing the right mobile credit card reader and processor for your small business.

POS system integrations

If you operate primarily out of a brick-and-mortar location and already use a

POS system

, sticking with your current provider is likely the most convenient option when choosing a mobile card reader. If you don’t use a countertop POS register or subscribe to POS software, your options are much less restricted.

Cost

Simple mobile card readers are relatively inexpensive, especially compared to more robust

mobile POS systems

that come with receipt printers or barcode scanners. In addition to the cost of the hardware itself, make sure to factor in any accompanying monthly POS software subscriptions and payment processing costs. Lots of basic POS software plans are free, but you will need to pay payment processing fees regardless.

» MORE:

How much are credit card processing fees?

Android vs. iPhone compatibility

While there’s certainly overlap between the best

credit card readers for Androids

and the top

credit card readers for iPhones

, some card readers’ apps pair better with one or the other. Make sure to explore reviews of each app in Apple’s App Store or the Google Play store, depending on which type of smartphone you own, so you can ensure seamless credit card processing.

Types of payments accepted

For the most part, mobile card readers let customers “dip” their chip cards or use

contactless payments

by tapping their phone or card to the reader. The ability to swipe magstripes, however, is becoming less common. Make sure you understand how your customer base prefers to pay you before choosing a reader.

Learn more about credit card processing

Understand the costs associated with accepting credit cards, as well as the differences between in-store, online and mobile sales.

» MORE: How to accept credit card payments

Last updated on June 3, 2025

Methodology

NerdWallet’s ratings of payment processing providers rewards companies whose products and services are priced well and work in a variety of payment scenarios, among other criteria. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including overall cost, hardware and software options, system capabilities, customer service, contract requirements and integrations. Learn more about how we rate

payment processing providers

These ratings are a guide, but fees, hardware, software and contract requirements can vary widely from business to business and provider to provider. We encourage you to shop around and compare several providers.

NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our

editorial guidelines

Meet the editorial team

Lisa A. Anthony

Lead Writer | Small-business lending, payroll, marketing

Lisa A. Anthony is a former lead writer on NerdWallet’s small-business team, primarily covering small-business lending. She has over 20 years of diverse experience in finance, lending and taxes. Prior to joining NerdWallet, Lisa worked as a writer for Intuit Turbo Tax, loan officer for Bank of America and a business analyst for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. Over the years, she has had the opportunity to interact directly with consumers on lending products and tax preparation software. Her work has appeared in The Associated Press, Washington Post and Entrepreneur, among other publications.