If you’ve ever tried to make a payment with your phone only to be thwarted by a card reader that only supports a certain type of phone, or requires you to download a specific app, then you know the pain of trying to make a mobile payment with your phone only to be stymied by the fact that your phone doesn’t support mobile payments or you have to download a separate app to make a mobile payment.
Luckily, there are a variety of phone credit card readers that can make a mobile payment work with your phone’s existing software. Plus, they make it easy to upload your business’s photos to Instagram and Facebook, and they’re compatible with most phones.
Read on for our list of the best mobile credit card readers.
Our Editor’s Best Mobile Credit Card Readers Reviews
- With Square Terminal, you can ring up sales, accept payments, and print receipts, all with one device. Use it at the counter or ring up customers anywhere in your store.
- Accept all major credit and debit cards and pay one low rate with no hidden fees and no long-term contracts.
- Process chip cards in just two seconds.
- Get your money as soon as the next business day.
- Use it cordlessly with the built-in battery, designed to last all day.
- Accept swipe, chip, or contactless (NFC) payments with one card reader. Connects via Bluetooth to your smartphone or tablet
- Only 2.6% +10 per transaction: No contracts or hidden fees
- Stronger processor for even faster payments and up to 500 transactions per charge
- Accepts payments across the United States, Puerto Rico, and Guam
- Payouts to your bank in 1-2 business days
- Accept all major credit and debit cards for one low rate.
- Pay just 2.6% + 10 per swipe for Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express—no hidden fees.
- Track your earnings and view your complete sales history from the free Square Point of Sale app.
- Works with Apple and Android devices.
- Receive $10 in free processing when you activate your Square account. One $10 redemption per Square account. Terms and Conditions apply.*
- Merchant account required through Payarc.
- Dual Pricing Available- Pass all fees to customers
- Now accepting customers' cards is fast and simple
- See who's selling, what's selling, and when
- Customize reports by date, sales person, payment, and item
- Pre-integrated partners provide a range of POS solutions
- Supports multiple locations, inventory management, or reservations
- REQUIRES SHOPIFY ACCOUNT - Seamlessly integrate the Tap & Chip Card Reader with your Shopify account using the Shopify POS app on your tablet or smartphone for a complete selling experience.
- ACCEPTS ALL MAJOR PAYMENTS - Securely process contactless and chip payments with Shopify Payments rates starting from 2.6% + $0.10. Accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay.
- MOBILE OR COUNTERTOP USE - Use the Tap & Chip Card Reader alone for mobile sales, or attach it to the included Dock for countertop transactions. The Dock raises the reader to an ergonomic height and angle for customer convenience.
- SEAMLESS BLUETOOTH CONNECTIVITY - Connect wirelessly to the Shopify POS app on any tablet or smartphone over Bluetooth, ensuring seamless integration and mobility during sales.
- SECURE AND RELIABLE - Protect customer data with PCI DSS compliance. The Tap & Chip Card Reader is EMV certified, ensuring safety for you and your customers.
- 【Broad Compatibility】- Our card reader is designed with a Type-C connector, ensuring compatibility with various phone brands such as Xiaomi, , , and .
- 【Professionally Engineered】- Our credit card reader adopts an RF receiving line design and an embedded microcontroller. These combined with a powerful decoding algorithm, result in an ultra-efficient .
- 【Built In Buzzer】- Equipped with a built in buzzer, Our Mobile Card Reader emits sound up to 20db, effectively providing audible prompts for user convenience.
- 【Hassle Usage】- The Mobile Phone Card Reader is plug and play. Boasting stable performance and high efficiency, it does not require any drivers to be installed, hence making it easy to use.
- 【Robust and Long-lasting】- Constructed with premium ABS material, our Portable Mobile Phone Card Reader is built to last. It is , , and has a long service life, providing you with enduring usability.
- For Square Terminal Case Perfect fit: This storage bag is specially designed for square terminal, which collects credit card machine and all accessories together, ensuring its safety and reliability in any situation. Protective case for square terminal external size: 9.05*7.08*5.11 inches. Note: Case Only! Mobile POS and accessories not included.
- Multi-functional Structural Design for Square Terminal Cover: Travel case for square reader has well-planned internal space with 6 slots in total. Main slot is for square card reader, while 5 small slots are specifically designed for storing receipt paper rolls. This design allows each item to be stored separately, avoiding friction and collision damage, while also making storage and retrieval more convenient.
- For Square Terminal Accessories Storage Premium materials: Made of high-quality material, carrying bag for square terminal credit card is sturdy, shock-resistant and drop-proof, which can protect your POS machine from scratches and dust. For square terminal container also absorbs external impact forces and ensures device safety.
- Large capacity of Hard Case for Square Terminal: With zipper mesh pocket, for square receipt paper holder collects adapter, charging cables, and other accessories in one place. To prevent potential damage to credit card machine from these accessories, partition is designed inside storage bag to effectively separate. For square card reader case not only protects for square terminal, but also keeps accessories organized and easy to carry.
- Portable & Lightweight: For square terminal printer paper pouch size is moderate, suitable for hand-carrying or placing in backpack. Sturdy handle design greatly enhances portability, making it an ideal choice for business professionals during business trips or daily office use. Storage bag for square terminal comprehensive protective design ensures POS machine can work stably and safely in various environments.
- ★★★★★Supports Windows 98/me/2000/xp/vista/Win7(32bit&64bit), Mac OS X, Linux or above system
- ★★★★★Support Smart Card for Windows,Support Power Saving Mode
- ★★★★★Supports I2C memory card, SLE4418, SLE4428, SLE4432, SLE4442, SLE4436, SLE5536, SLE6636, AT88SC1608, AT45D041 card and AT45DB041 card via
- ★★★★★Supports PC smart card industry standard - PC/SC 1.0/2.0. Supports power saving mode
- ★★★★★Supports USB 2.0 full speed. Supports EMV Level 1 specification
Best Mobile Credit Card Readers Buying Guide
Before choosing the best mobile credit card reader you should consider following options:
1. Portable: Nowadays, mobile credit card readers are designed to be portable and easily fits in your pocket or purse. This makes them ideal for small business owners who are always on the go.
2. Battery Life: Battery life is another important factor when choosing a mobile credit card reader. Look for a device that is energy efficient and offers long battery life.
3. Connectivity: Make sure your mobile credit card reader offers the connectivity you need. Some readers connect to your phone’s 3G or 4G network, while others connect via Wi-Fi.
4. Security: Security is always a top concern when processing credit cards and mobile credit card readers are no different. Look for readers that encrypt data, tokenization or use 3D secure.5. Cost: All mobile credit card readers have different features and specs, so it’s important to understand your specific needs and choose a device that meets them.
6. Compatibility: Make sure your mobile credit card reader is compatible with the POS system you use.
7. Ease of Use: Mobile credit card readers are designed to be used anywhere, which means people will be using them in the field. This means your device needs to be easy to use and simple to navigate.8. Optional add-ons: Most mobile credit card readers come with standard features, but some also offer additional features for a small fee. You can choose to add these features or not, depending on your specific needs.
What else you should know about mobile credit card readers
1. What are the best mobile credit card readers?
There is no definitive answer to this question as it largely depends on the specific needs and preferences of the person or business using the reader. However, some of the most popular mobile credit card readers include the Square Reader, the PayPal Here reader, and the Intuit GoPayment reader.
2. How do mobile credit card readers work?
Mobile credit card readers typically work by being plugged into a phone or tablet via the headphone jack or Lightning port. They will also often come with a corresponding app that needs to be downloaded in order to track transactions. When a customer is ready to pay, they will hold their card up to the reader and enter their PIN. The reader will then process the payment and the funds will be transferred to the merchant’s account.
3. What are the fees associated with mobile credit card readers?
The fees associated with mobile credit card readers vary depending on the provider. Some providers charge a monthly fee, while others charge a per-transaction fee.
4. Are mobile credit card readers secure?
Yes, mobile credit card readers are secure. They use the same encryption technology as regular credit card readers, so your information is safe.
5. What are the benefits of using a mobile credit card reader?
The benefits of using a mobile credit card reader include convenience, ease of use, and security. With a mobile credit card reader, you can accept credit card payments anywhere you have a cell phone signal. This means that you can take your business with you wherever you go. Additionally, mobile credit card readers are easy to use. You simply swipe the card and enter the amount you want to charge. Finally, mobile credit card readers are very secure. They use encryption to protect your customers’ credit card information.
Conclusion
On the market, there are numerous best mobile credit card readers. Hopefully, the list of the top ten best mobile credit card readers will save you time researching and deciding on the best one for you.