Best Mobile Credit Card Processors and Readers
The best mobile card readers offer competitive transaction fees and sync with your POS system. Their available payment options — like magstripe, chip and contactless — may also influence your decision.
Learn more Why trust NerdWallet
Sponsored partner picks for
| Product | Best for | NerdWallet rating | Payment processing fees | Monthly fee | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Square | Overall mobile credit card processor | In-person: 2.6% + $0.15 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0 Starts at $0/month for unlimited devices and locations. | on Square's website | |
 Helcim | High-volume sales | In-person: 0.4% + $0.08 Online: 0.5% + $0.25 Plus interchange | $0 | on Helcim's website | |
 QuickBooks GoPayment | QuickBooks loyalists | In-person: 2.5% + $0.00 Online: 2.99% + $0.00 | $0 | ||
 Clover Go | Using third-party processors | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 3.5% + $0.10 | $0 Payments plan; $14.95 Essentials plan. | on Clover's website | |
 PayPal POS | Low card-present processing rates | In-person: 2.29% + $0.09 Online: 3.49% + $0.09 | $0 |
Best all-in-one payments service
Square
Best for Overall mobile credit card processor
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.15
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$0
Starts at $0/month for unlimited devices and locations.
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.
Helcim
Best for High-volume sales
Payment processing fees
In-person: 0.4% + $0.08
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Plus interchange
Monthly fee
$0
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
Best for QuickBooks loyalists
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.5% + $0.00
Online: 2.99% + $0.00
Online: 2.99% + $0.00
Monthly fee
$0
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.
Clover Go
Best for Using third-party processors
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.10
Monthly fee
$0
Payments plan; $14.95 Essentials plan.
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
Best for Low card-present processing rates
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.29% + $0.09
Online: 3.49% + $0.09
Online: 3.49% + $0.09
Monthly fee
$0
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.
Sort by:
Best all-in-one payments service
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.15
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$0
Starts at $0/month for unlimited devices and locations.
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.
Best all-in-one payments service
Square
Best for Overall mobile credit card processor
Best for Overall mobile credit card processor
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.15
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Online: 2.9% + $0.30
Monthly fee
$0
Starts at $0/month for unlimited devices and locations.
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.
Payment processing fees
In-person: 0.4% + $0.08
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Plus interchange
Monthly fee
$0
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
Best for High-volume sales
Payment processing fees
In-person: 0.4% + $0.08
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Online: 0.5% + $0.25
Plus interchange
Monthly fee
$0
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.
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
Best for QuickBooks loyalists
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.5% + $0.00
Online: 2.99% + $0.00
Online: 2.99% + $0.00
Monthly fee
$0
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.
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.10
Monthly fee
$0
Payments plan; $14.95 Essentials plan.
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
Best for Using third-party processors
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.6% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.10
Online: 3.5% + $0.10
Monthly fee
$0
Payments plan; $14.95 Essentials plan.
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.
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
Best for Low card-present processing rates
Payment processing fees
In-person: 2.29% + $0.09
Online: 3.49% + $0.09
Online: 3.49% + $0.09
Monthly fee
$0
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.
Jump to
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
- $0 for Square Free plan.
- $49 for Square Plus plan.
- $149 for Square Premium plans.
- $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).
- 2.6% plus 15 cents for in-person transactions with Free plan.
- 3.3% plus 30 cents for online transactions with Free plan.
- 2.5% plus 15 cents for in-person transactions with Plus plan.
- 2.4% plus 15 cents for in-person transaction with Premium plan.
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions with Plus and Premium plans.
- 3.5% plus 15 cents for manually keyed transactions.
» 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
- $0 for Payments plan.
- $14.95 for Essentials plan.
- $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.
- 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
$0.
- $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).
- 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
- $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.
- $39 for QuickBooks charging stand.
- $49 for QuickBooks card reader.
- $79 for QuickBooks card reader with charging stand.
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
$0.
- $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).
- 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
Cost
Simple mobile card readers are relatively inexpensive, especially compared to more robust mobile POS systems
Android vs. iPhone compatibility
While there’s certainly overlap between the best credit card readers for Androids credit card readers for iPhones
Types of payments accepted
For the most part, mobile card readers let customers “dip” their chip cards or use contactless payments
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.
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