6 Best Credit Card Readers for Android in 2023
This article is part of a larger series on Payments.
Credit card readers for Android phones and tablets make it easy for merchants to process sales and accept credit cards anywhere, from food trucks to trade shows. With advanced point-of-sale (POS) technology and smartphone apps, you can even use Android card readers in your brick-and-mortar store.
Based on our evaluation of over a dozen options, the best credit card readers for Android are:
- Best overall: Square
- Best if you have a preferred payment processor: Clover
- Best for occasional sales: PayPal Zettle
- Best if you need free and fast access to funds: Chase Payment Solutions
- Cheapest 3-in-1 mobile credit card reader: SumUp
- Best for starting an online business: Shopify
Best Credit Card Readers for Android Compared
Mobile Card Reader Cost | Monthly Fee | Card-present Rate | Payment Method | Offline Mode | Payment User App review | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$49; First magstripe reader free | $0 | 2.6% + 10 cents | 2-in-1 (Tap, Dip) | ✓ | ||
$49 | $0–$14.95 | 2.6% + 10 cents* | 3-in-1 (Tap, Dip, Swipe) | ✓ | ||
$79; First reader discounted to $29 | $0 | 2.29% + 9 cents | 2-in-1 (Tap, Dip) | ✕ | ||
$49.95 | $0–$15 | 2.6% + 10 cents | 3-in-1 (Tap, Dip, Swipe) | ✕ | ||
$39–$129 | $0 | 2.75% | 3-in-1 (Tap, Dip, Swipe) | ✓ | ||
$49 | $0–$89 | 2.4%–2.7% | 2-in-1 (Tap, Dip) | Limited | ||
*Based on Fiserv rates, fee will depend on your preferred payment processor
If you prefer a hardware-free mobile payment processing solution, check out our list of top credit card payment apps. On top of a credit card reader option, these apps also allow you to process payments using QR codes, card scanners, and even cryptocurrencies straight from your smartphone.
Get a Personalized Card Reader Recommendation
Square: Best Overall Credit Card Reader for Android
Clover: Best for Merchants With a Preferred Payment Processor
PayPal Zettle: Best for Occasional Sellers & PayPal Users
Chase Payment Solutions: Best for Free & Fast Access to Funds
SumUp: Cheapest 3-in-1 Mobile Credit Card Reader
Shopify: Best When Starting an Online Businesses
Compare Your Fees
Enter your monthly card-present sales information and your total monthly sales (card-present and card-not-present) to get an estimate of your credit card processing fees for accepting in-person payments with our recommended Android credit card readers.
Don’t have an Android? Check out our recommended credit card readers for iPhones.
How We Evaluated Credit Card Readers for Android
For this update we considered more reputable payment processors with mobile payment apps that rank highly in the Google Play store. We also added transaction rates, card reader reliability and additional security measures to consideration. Then, we looked at pricing, features, and how quickly you could get your payments to determine the best options.
As with the best card readers for iOS, Square ranked as our No. 1 for Android systems. Square’s credit and debit card reader performed well on all the criteria we set, providing the best overall value-for-money features.
Click through the box below for our full evaluation criteria:
25% of Overall Score
We favored payment processors that don’t require contracts, have monthly or cancellation fees, or require a monthly fee. We also gave premium points to those that offer the most competitive transaction rates and free or discounted mobile credit card readers.
20% of Overall Score
All processors should take swipe payments and have the ability to handle NFC (touchless) payments, even if you need to purchase a different reader. We also considered invoice capability, virtual terminals, e-checks, and stored payments for repeat customers.
25% of Overall Score
We gave points to readers with an offline mode and the ability to save credit card data and send invoices. Premium points were awarded for providers that have minimal user complaints of failed payments, and those that include a PIN pad security feature on their credit card readers. Also, we wanted to highlight providers that offer the most affordable and easiest access to a complete range of card reader payment processing methods (Swipe, chip, and NFC).
20% of Overall Score
We updated this criteria to heavily consider reviews from actual Android POS app users. We also looked for 24/7 support, quick deposit times, as well as range and flexibility of omnichannel features.
10% of Overall Score
This score combines our overall judgment of price and ease-of-use with ratings from real-world users on trusted third-party review sites.
Credit Card Readers for Android Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Popular payment service providers often support both iOS and Android credit card readers. Square, for example, can work for both and offers the most reliable payment processing—meaning you don’t have to worry too much about failed transactions while accepting payments with your mobile device. Read our Square POS review.
There are a number of options available for an affordable magstripe credit card reader:
- Square: Offers a free card swipe/magstripe reader for every Square account. Additional magstripe readers cost $10 each.
- PayPal Zettle: Offers the first purchase of its pin pad-enabled 3-in-1 credit card reader discounted at $29. Additional readers cost $79 each.
- SumUp: Also offers a pin pad-enabled 3-in-1 card reader at $35 each.
Browse our list of top mobile card readers for more card swipe/magstripe card reader options.
Square, PayPal Zettle, and SumUp are the most affordable hardware for merchants with low-volume sales. For larger, more established businesses, Payment Depot offers the cheapest card reader at $49. To help you decide, you also need to consider reliable mobile payment apps and the most affordable transaction fees.
Mobile credit card readers are generally secure. It employs encryption features such as EMV (chip) and PIN pad security, which means hackers will only get random letters and numbers instead of your customer’s actual credit card information.
Bottom Line
Most people think of iPads when they think of mobile POS systems, but many payment processors offer great options for Android too. Some also have their own merchant accounts.
Each provider in our list has features and pricing structures that make it better for specific business types and sizes. However, with the wide variety of Android devices, it’s also important to make sure that the credit card reader you prefer is compatible with your smartphone.
Lastly, consider user reviews to get a concrete idea from merchants with actual experience running their businesses with the mobile app.
All things considered, Square topped our evaluation as the best credit card reader for Android, earning the best scores for pricing and features, including outstanding user reviews. Sign up for a free Square POS account.