Best Card Reader For Small Business

When you’re a United States-based customer with eHopper, get free card processing―using credit surcharge/cash discount―a free point-of-sale (POS) software, an ecommerce website and a free payment terminal (credit card reader). The terminal that comes with this is the Pax S300, which usually costs $399. This offer is available to both new and existing customers. If you decide you don’t want to cancel, return your equipment in good condition.

Learn more: Read our full eHopper review.

Pricing:

The eHopper paid plans start at $10 per month if billed annually. However, you can get free processing, a free e-commerce site, free POS software and a PAX S300 using its cash discount/surcharge plan. Its OmniChannel plan and higher comes with EBT processing, a menu builder, exchanges and phone, email and chat support.

If you want to buy a card reader from eHopper, choose from the following:

• Pax a35 Payment Terminal ($350)
• Dejavoo Z11 Payment Terminal ($179)
• Pax A920 Credit Card Payment Terminal ($360)
• Dejavoo Z1 Payment Terminal ($223)

Who should use it:

eHopper is best for businesses on a budget that want features such as robust inventory management, customer relationship management (CRM) and the ability to split payments, no matter the plan they choose.

For a 1% fee, eligible customers using Clover can get immediate access to deposits. Make as many transfer requests as you want per day, but the transfer amount must not exceed $10,000 for a single request. To use it, link an eligible Visa or MasterCard business debit card that can accept deposits, request the transfer and access funds within minutes. This doesn’t matter if it’s the middle of the night, a holiday or a weekend—it’s available 24/7.

Learn more: Read our full Clover review.

Pricing: 

With Clover Go, pay $49 for your reader and access to plans. Its Starter plan is free, while its Standard plan is $14.95 per month. With Flex, you’ve got three plan options. Flex costs $599, and its Starter plan is free, Standard is $14.95 per month and Advanced is $49.95 per month. If you prefer to not have a large upfront investment, you can simply pay monthly. Starter is $35 per month, Standard is $50 per month and Advanced is $85 per month.

Choose from two Clover credit card readers:

• Clover Go ($49)
• Clover Flex ($599 or as low as $35 per month)

Each card reader has the option to add a monthly plan to it. Clover Go has one paid plan option while Clover Flex offers two paid plans.

Payments plan is free while the Standard plan costs $14.95 per month. The Standard plan is the only paid plan available for Clover Go. Clover Flex offers the same plan. Otherwise, you can choose the Advanced plan for $44.95 per month.

Who should use it:

Clover is best for businesses that want the ability to make rapid deposits, as well as access to features such as 24/7 live support and free overnight shipping.

Toast offers a customizable platform that’s built specifically for restaurants. With Toast, you can manage your front of house and back of house operations from one system. This includes features, such as online ordering, gift card management, employee productivity tracking and tableside ordering. The card reader is ideal for restaurants because it’s spillproof, drop proof and dustproof, has a 24-hour battery and fits in a back pocket or apron with ease. Compared to its competition, this 24-hour battery lasts significantly longer than the Clover Flex or an iPad.

Pricing:

Toast offers one card reader option, called Toast Go 2. This costs $627 if you pay upfront. Software is $69 per month and processing fees for this option are 2.49% plus 15 cents per transaction. You can also pay as you go, so there’s no upfront cost and no monthly subscription fee. Toast compensates for this by charging higher processing fees of 2.99% plus 15 cents per transaction.

Learn more: Read our full Toast review.

Who should use it:

Toast is best for restaurants that want a mobile card reader that is durable and fits in a back pocket or apron.

PayPal’s Zettle card reader is one of the few mobile card readers on our list that doesn’t require a contract. There are no monthly or hidden fees—you only pay when you make a sale. Plus, there’s no limit to the number of transactions you can process. Pair your tablet or smartphone with the card reader and accept contactless payments in 5 seconds and chip card payments in less than 10 seconds.

Pricing:

PayPal Zettle has one card reader, which costs $29 for your first reader and $79 for each additional card reader. You’ll pay 2.29% plus 9 cents per transaction. There are no monthly fees or contracts.

Learn more: Read our full PayPal Zettle review.

Who should use it:

This is best for businesses that want a mobile card reader with no monthly fees and no contract.

Lightspeed offers one of the easiest-to-use card readers. It’s designed for businesses of all sizes, from small businesses to enterprise-level operations. With ShopKeep, you can process payments, track inventory, manage customers and run reports—all from your iPad or iPhone. It also specializes in golf businesses, but that division doesn’t offer card readers (just full POS setups).

Learn more: Read our full Lightspeed review.

Pricing:

The starting price is $89 per month (billed annually). You’ll need to purchase hardware, which starts at $79.

Who should use it:

Lightspeed is best for businesses that want an easy-to-use card reader.

Stripe is best known for its online payment processing, but it also has a mobile card reader. With Stripe Terminal, you can process payments offline, which is ideal for businesses that lose power or have spotty internet connections. Plus, if you’re already using Stripe for your online payments, it’ll be easy to add the Stripe card reader to your existing account.

Learn more: Read our full Stripe Terminal review.

Pricing:

Unlike most of its competition, you won’t pay any monthly or annual fees, only your hardware cost and processing fees.

Choose from two card reader options:

• Stripe Reader M2 ($59)
• BBPOS WisePOS E ($249)
• Stripe Reader S700 ($349)

Learn more: Stripe Pricing Guide

Who should use it:

If you’re already using Stripe for your online payments and want a card reader for your brick-and-mortar store, Stripe Terminal is a good option.

Square is best known for its small, white magstripe credit card reader that plugs into your smartphone’s headphone jack. But the company also offers a full POS system as well as a contactless and chip reader where customers can insert their card or tap it to make a payment. With the Square POS app, you can accept payments, track inventory and sales, manage customers and employees and run reports—all from your iPad or iPhone.

Learn more: Read our full Square POS review.

Pricing:

Your first magstripe reader is free and $10 for each additional one. Square Reader for contactless and chip costs $49. The Square software is free, although you can buy add-ons, such as loyalty ($45 per month), email marketing ($15 per month) and gift cards (starting at 80 cents). Depending on your industry, there are other plans available, too. Paid plans start at $29 per location per month.

Who should use it:

If you have a pop-up shop or other temporary retail business, Square is a good option because you only pay as you make transactions, unless you’ve got an add-on.

Aloha Cloud, formerly known as NCR Silver, is an all-in-one cloud-based POS system that is perfect for busy restaurants. It stands out as the best option for restaurants due to its comprehensive features and ease of use. The system offers an intuitive interface that remains consistent across all screens, ensuring a smooth user experience for restaurant staff.

One of the key features of Aloha Cloud is its fully integrated Kitchen Display System, which effectively manages high order volumes and improves communication in the back of the house. This feature reduces errors and waste, optimizing kitchen operations and enhancing overall efficiency.

It has robust data and insights reporting, empowering restaurant owners to make informed decisions. The system turns complex business data into easily understandable reports, helping identify areas of improvement, uncover hidden costs and maximize profitability.

Learn more: Read our full Aloha Cloud review.

Pricing:

Aloha Cloud offers different pricing plans to accommodate various restaurant needs. The Starter plan starts at $0 per month, while the Premium plan is available from $175 per month. Hardware pricing details can be obtained by contacting the sales team. It’s worth noting that the Premium plan offers lower payment processing fees, providing cost savings in the long run.

Who should use it:

Aloha Cloud is the ideal POS system for restaurants, offering an all-in-one cloud-based solution with a user-friendly interface, integrated kitchen management and comprehensive reporting capabilities. With its ability to cater to restaurants of all sizes and stages, Aloha Cloud provides the necessary tools to optimize operations, enhance customer engagement and drive business growth.

One of the key advantages of Shopify POS is its flexibility and scalability. It offers two subscription options: Shopify POS Lite, which is included with all Shopify plans, and Shopify POS Pro, which can be added for an additional $89 USD per month per location. The Lite version provides essential features such as in-person credit card processing, order and product management, and customer profiles. On the other hand, the Pro version expands the capabilities with unlimited staff, advanced inventory management, omnichannel selling features and more.

Shopify POS seamlessly integrates with the Shopify ecosystem, allowing businesses to streamline their online and off-line operations. Retailers can manage their inventory, track sales and customer data, and synchronize their online and in-store channels all within a single platform. This integration offers convenience, efficiency and a unified view of the business.

Learn more: Read our full Shopify POS review.

Pricing:

The POS Lite plan is included with all Shopify plans, providing businesses with the basic features necessary to sell in person. For businesses that require advanced capabilities such as scalability, unlimited staff and smart inventory management, the POS Pro plan is available for an additional $89 USD per month, per location.

Hardware includes:

• Shopify Tap & Chip Card Reader ($49)
• Shopify POS Go ($299)
• Shopify Countertop Kit ($459)

Who should use it:

Shopify POS is an excellent choice for small businesses in the retail industry. With its comprehensive features and seamless integration with the Shopify platform, it provides a powerful and reliable point-of-sale solution.

KORONA POS stands out as the top choice for high-risk merchants, particularly businesses in industries such as CBD and vape shops that often face restrictions and limitations when it comes to payment processing solutions. KORONA POS allows these businesses to accept payments seamlessly, enabling them to operate more efficiently and effectively.

We chose KORONA POS for its exceptional features and its ability to cater to high-risk industries that typically struggle to find suitable POS systems. With KORONA POS, businesses in these industries can overcome the challenges associated with payment processing and focus on growing their operations.

Learn more: Read our full KORONA POS review.

Pricing:

KORONA POS offers flexible pricing plans to accommodate businesses of all sizes. The Core plan starts at $59 per month and provides essential checkout functionality and reporting features. The Retail plan, priced at $69 per month, includes inventory management and real-time tracking capabilities. The Plus plan, available for $89 per month, offers additional features such as order-level optimization and multi-store reporting. For larger enterprises with specific requirements, KORONA POS provides customized pricing through a quote-based Enterprise plan. Hardware pricing isn’t transparent, so you’ll need to contact a sales team member for a custom quote.

Who should use it:

KORONA POS is best suited for businesses in high-risk industries that require a reliable and flexible POS system to overcome payment processing challenges. It provides seamless payment acceptance, inventory management and customizable features to meet the unique needs of these businesses. With its dedicated support and extensive feature set, KORONA POS empowers high-risk merchants to focus on growth and success without the limitations imposed by traditional payment solutions.