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Best Mobile Credit Card Processors and Readers

The best mobile card readers allow you to process payments from anywhere, offer competitive transaction fees and sync with your larger POS system.
Last updated on June 26, 2024

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The best mobile credit card processors and readers for your business let you accept in-person payments on the go. Processors, or processing companies, facilitate the flow of money from the customer’s bank account to your business’s account. They may also offer standalone, portable devices and/or credit card readers that connect to smartphones or tablets, typically via Bluetooth.
Free or inexpensive credit card readers, competitive processing fees and compatibility with point-of-sale (POS) systems are some of the top features to consider. The range of payment options available — including magstripe, chip and contactless transactions — may also influence your decision.
Here are our top picks for mobile credit card processors and readers.

Best Mobile Credit Card Processors and Readers

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Helcim

5.0 

Best for High-volume sales

Monthly fee
$0.00
Learn more

on Helcim's website

Helcim

Best for High-volume sales

5.0 
Monthly fee
$0.00
Learn more

on Helcim's website

QuickBooks GoPayment

4.0 

Best for QuickBooks loyalists

Monthly fee
$0.00

QuickBooks GoPayment

Best for QuickBooks loyalists

4.0 
Monthly fee
$0.00

Square

5.0 

Best for Overall mobile credit card processor

Monthly fee
$0.00

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

Learn more

on Square's website

Square

Best for Overall mobile credit card processor

5.0 
Monthly fee
$0.00

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

Learn more

on Square's website

Clover Go

5.0 

Best for Using third-party processors

Monthly fee
$0.00

Payments plan; $14.95 Essentials plan.

Learn more

on Clover's website

Clover Go

Best for Using third-party processors

5.0 
Monthly fee
$0.00

Payments plan; $14.95 Essentials plan.

Learn more

on Clover's website

PayPal Zettle

4.1 

Best for Low card-present processing rates

Monthly fee
$0.00

PayPal Zettle

Best for Low card-present processing rates

4.1 
Monthly fee
$0.00

Our picks for the best mobile credit card readers and processors

Square

Best overall mobile credit card processor
Mobile credit card reader compatibility: Apple iOS and Android devices with Bluetooth.
Our editorial take: Square doesn’t require a contract, provides a free magstripe reader and offers a free point-of-sale software plan and app. You can opt to purchase a chip card and contactless payments reader, and you can also 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. Of the two readers, only the free magstripe reader can handle offline transactions. Phone support is limited to weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific time. Read our full Square review.

Clover Go

Best for using third-party processors
Mobile credit card reader compatibility: Android and Apple iOS devices with Bluetooth.
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

PayPal Zettle

Best for low card-present processing rates
Mobile credit card reader compatibility: Apple iOS and Android devices with Bluetooth.
Our editorial take: PayPal Zettle 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. Pacific time. 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 Zettle review.

QuickBooks GoPayment

Best for QuickBooks loyalists
Mobile credit card reader compatibility: Apple iOS and Android devices with Bluetooth.
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.

Helcim

Best for high-volume sales
Mobile credit card reader compatibility: Android and Apple iOS devices with Bluetooth.
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.

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.

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.
Last updated on June 26, 2024

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.
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