Credit card readers for Android phones and tablets make it easy for merchants to make sales and accept credit cards anywhere, from food trucks to trade shows. With the advanced POS technology provided by several services and robust card readers, you can even use them in your brick-and-mortar store.
The best credit card readers for Android are:
- Square: Best overall, especially for those needing a robust POS
- PayPal: Best for crafters who sell at fairs, and businesses that accept PayPal or bitcoin
- QuickBooks GoPayment: Best for QuickBooks users or businesses that need accounting software
- Shopify: Best for ecommerce sites that also do in-person sales
- Payment Depot (SwipeSimple): Best for mid-sized businesses that make over $10,000 in sales each month
Sometimes the best credit card reader for your specific needs will not be the top one on the list. Take this 3-question quiz to see which products best meet your specific needs:
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How We Evaluated Credit Card Readers for Android
Most people think of iPads when they think of mobile POS systems, but many payment processors offer great options for Android as well. Some also have their own merchant accounts. We chose reputable payment processors that also have apps that rank highly in the Google Play store. 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 as well. It has great rates and a fantastic POS system for mobile, tablets, and the web that can grow with you.
20% of Overall Score
We favored payment processors that did not require contracts or have monthly or cancellation fees or require a monthly minimum charge.
20% of Overall Score
All processors should take swipe payments and have the ability to handle NFC (touchless) payments, even if you needed to purchase a different reader. We also considered invoice capability, virtual terminals, eChecks, and stored payments for repeat customers.
20% of Overall Score
We gave points to readers with an offline mode and the ability to save credit card data and send invoices.
20% of Overall Score
We looked for 24/7 support, quick deposit times, and mobile card readers that included chip as well as swipe options.
20% 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.
Best Credit Card Readers for Android Compared
Square | PayPal | QuickBooks GoPayment | Shopify | Payment Depot/SwipeSimple | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Our Rating | 4.68/5 | 4.61/5 | 3.90/5 | 3.80/5 | 3.79/5 |
Basic Card Reader Cost | $10, First is free | $24.99, First is free | $19, First is free | $29, First is free | $95 |
Swiped Processing Fee | 2.6% + 10¢ | 2.7% | 2.4% + 25¢ | 2.4% to 2.9%, depending on the plan | Interchange +5¢ to 15¢, depending on the plan |
Keyed Processing Fee | 3.5% + 15¢ | 3.5% + 15¢ | 3.4% + 25¢ | 2.4% + 30¢ to 2.9% + 30¢, depending on plan | 3.5% + 10¢ |
Monthly Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | Starts at $25/month for QuickBooks | Starts at $29/month for Shopify POS | Starts at $49/month |
Chargeback Fee | None | $20 | $25 | $15 Refundable | Depends on plan |
Phone Support Hours | Depends on plan | 24/7 | Online contact form | 24/7 | Depends on plan |
Square
PROS
- No chargeback fee
- Free POS software
- Easy-to-use, versatile
- Free dispute management, active fraud monitoring, and notifications
CONS
- Live support during business hours only
- EMV (chip) card reader costs extra
- Customer service is only available during the weekdays
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing & Contract | 5 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Payment Types | 4.75 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Mobile Features | 5 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Account Features | 3.63 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 5 | OUT OF | 5 |
Square works with phones running Google Android 4.0 and higher. It’s a terrific card reader for the Android phone, but also includes a POS system and other options that can work not only for the casual user but the complete retail store, service business, or restaurant.
With 4.68 out of 5 stars, Square ranked as our No. 1 credit card reader for Android. The price is excellent, as it does not charge monthly fees and has no minimums, making it good for the casual user. Even more, it also has an excellent chargeback policy and a full-featured POS program suitable for full-time businesses as well. You can send invoices, handle offline transactions, and more. Users rate it highly for ease-of-use and features.
In addition to being our recommended credit card reader for Android, Square is also our top overall choice for mobile credit card processing.
Square Pricing
- Card-present transaction: 2.6% + 10 cents
- Invoices and online payments: 2.9% + 30 cents
- Manual key-in: 3.5% + 15 cents
- Instant transfer of funds: +1.5%
- Chargeback: $0
- Hardware: The first reader is free; additional start at $49; Terminals start at $299
Square Android Reader Costs
Magstripe Reader | Chip + Contactless Reader | iPad stand + Chip + Contactless Reader |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
First free, additional $10 | $49 | $169 (iPad not included) |
Available with lightning or audio jack input. Accepts payments via magstripe (swiped). | Connects via Bluetooth. Accepts payments via EMV (chip), or NFC (Apple Pay, Google Pay). | Connects via Bluetooth and accepts EMV and NFC payments. Optional receipt printer, cash drawer, and bar code scanner. |
Square also has standalone payment terminals, cash drawers, and receipt printers.
Square Features
- Best feature: Square’s free online POS system is great for the crafter who does the occasional weekend fair but is powerful enough for restaurants or brick-and-mortar stores. If you need scheduling, appointment booking, and customer management, you can get these features at an additional price.
- mPOS app: 4.3 stars on Google Play, with over 125,000 users. In addition to taking payments, you can manage your inventory, issue and track invoices, and analyze trends. Users especially praise its reliability and convenience. The few one-star reviews were mostly about customer service issues or closed accounts.
- Payment types: Credit cards, touchless, online, gift cards, international cards but not cross-border (i.e., you must be in the country where you activated your Square account). Digital checks are possible with an extra charge.
- Business management tools: You can make customer lists with contact information and notes, and message customers through the app. The POS system is robust enough for restaurants and service industries, with categories, photos, and appointment tools.
- Fraud protection: Square offers free dispute management, active fraud prevention, and notification of suspicious activity. You can add risk management for 6 cents per transaction.
PayPal Here
PROS
- Stored payment information for recurring payments, subscriptions
- Accepts cryptocurrency
- Easy to use
- Offers business credit card and loans
CONS
- Chargeback fees
- EMV (chip) card reader costs extra
- Accounts are periodically reviewed and sometimes frozen
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing & Contract | 4.38 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Payment Types | 4.75 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Mobile Features | 5 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Account Features | 4.13 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 4.81 | OUT OF | 5 |
PayPal is among the most popular solutions for taking payments online because it works equally well for small businesses or hobbyists who sell their wares. The mobile card reader is easy to use, syncs to your PayPal account, and even accepts cross-border payments, a big help if you attend trade shows outside your home nation. With no monthly fees, it’s great for occasional sales, but large businesses use it as well.
PayPal Here accepts PayPal payments, offering your customers an additional convenient payment option, which can lead to more sales. PayPal recently started accepting bitcoin, so this may be added to the app as well. It requires Android 5.0 and higher to run smoothly.
PayPal was a close second to Square with 4.61 out of 5 stars. It ranked equally well for features and ease-of-use and is extremely popular and well-loved by users. It lost points for its chargeback fees.
PayPal Here Pricing
These prices apply to US-based businesses only. Check PayPal for prices if you are in another country. See PayPal’s merchant fees page for more information.
- Swipe, chip, or contactless transactions: 2.7%
- Keyed-in payments: 3.5% + 15 cents
- Digital check fee: Same as above; caps on fee ($300 in the US)
- Additional charge for high-risk businesses: 5%
- Chargeback fees: $20
PayPal Here Android Reader Costs
Chip and Swipe Reader | Chip and Tap Reader |
|---|---|
 |  |
$24.99 | $59.99 |
Connects via Bluetooth and accepts magstripe (swipe), and EMV (chip) payments. | Connects via Bluetooth and accepts EMV (chip) and NFC contactless payments (Apple Pay, Android Pay). |
PayPal Features
- Best feature: The cross-border capability makes it perfect for individuals who do trade shows in other countries. It costs a little extra but is worth the convenience.
- mPOS app: 4.4 stars on Google Play. The swipe card is simple, and there is a basic POS system. Users praise its convenience and versatility. Those that complained usually had issues swiping cards or problems with funds being withheld or frozen.
- Payment types: Credit cards, touchless, online, international, cross-border. As of Nov 2020, it can process bitcoin, though the app may not be updated yet.
- Business management tools: In addition to the POS system, you can create custom invoices or project bids. You can set up deals and notices to people who abandoned a cart. You can also get instant funds transfers for a 1% fee. PayPal also offers working capital loans, business loans, and a business credit card.
- Fraud protection: In addition to standard fraud protection, PayPal has advanced machine learning and analytics to detect fraud. Dispute management and chargeback protection included. It charges $20 for chargebacks.
QuickBooks GoPayment
PROS
- Invoicing and recurring billing
- ACH and digital check processing
- Discount for high-volume sales
CONS
- Not great for small payments
- Must have a QuickBooks Online account
- The POS system is separate and has a monthly fee
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing & Contract | 3.13 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Payment Types | 4.5 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Mobile Features | 5 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Account Features | 2.25 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 4.63 | OUT OF | 5 |
QuickBooks GoPayment works on Android 4.1 JellyBean and higher. It is a great choice for QuickBooks users, especially those who process large payments and want ACH transfer capabilities as well. The magnetic stripe and chip reader are free, and the chip-and-touchless reader is among the least expensive of those we reviewed. While it promises quick deposits, many customers said it took several days for payments to go into their accounts.
QuickBooks Go earned 3.9 out of 5 stars. It lost some points because you need to have QuickBooks to use the payment processor, which means a monthly fee of at least $25. However, with that, you get QuickBooks accounting software, a virtual terminal, ACH processing, and more. The customer service is online-only, and many users complain that it’s difficult to get specific answers.
QuickBooks GoPayment Pricing
You need a QuickBooks Online account, which runs $25 or $40 per month.
- ACH transfers: 1% (max $10)
- Swiped-card transactions: 2.4% + 25 cents
- Invoices: 2.9% + 25 cents
- Keyed-in transactions: 3.4% + 25 cents
QuickBooks GoPayment Android Reader Costs
Magstripe Reader | Chip + Contactless Reader |
|---|---|
 |  |
First free, additional $19 | $49 |
Accepts EMV chip and magstripe credit or debit. Connects wirelessly. | Connects via Bluetooth. Accepts payments via magstripe, EMV (chip), or NFC (Apple Pay, Google Pay). |
QuickBooks GoPayment Features
- Best feature: Because it’s a QuickBooks product, GoPayment data syncs naturally with QuickBooks and works with other Intuit products including QuickBooks’ POS system (extra purchase).
- mPOS app: 4.2 stars on Google Play. You can take payments and have them sync automatically with your QuickBooks account. Users praised the ease of use and the card reader but many have had problems after the most recent update (Nov 2020).
- Payment types: Credit cards, touchless, online, ACH transfers, and checks, including invoice payments and partial payments.
- Business management tools: Create your inventory lists, manage invoices, or connect to QuickBooks’ POS system (extra charge). Also has card photo capability (for accepting payments without a reader) and works with TurboTax and Mint.
- Fraud protection: FDIC insured, active fraud protection. Fraud protection is built into the card reader.
Shopify
PROS
- Automatically sync data between the app and Shopify online store
- Can take cash payments
- All the advantages of Shopify, from Facebook stores to shipping management
CONS
- Need a Shopify store to use the app
- No offline mode for credit card transactions
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing & Contract | 3.13 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Payment Types | 4.88 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Mobile Features | 2.5 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Account Features | 3.5 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 5 | OUT OF | 5 |
Shopify is a leading ecommerce platform that includes a free mobile POS system with each account. Its credit card processing fees are competitive, but what truly makes Shopify stand out is the convenience. All online and in-person sales sync to your Shopify dashboard so your revenue, inventory, and customer data are always up-to-date—perfect for brick and mortar retailers that also sell online. It’s best with Android 5.0 and higher.
Shopify made our list with 3.8 out of 5 stars. As with QuickBooks, it lost points for requiring a monthly fee, although you get the benefit of Shopify’s excellent ecommerce/POS system. (If you want to avoid a monthly charge, check out Square.) The card-present transactions are straight percentage and inexpensive compared to most card readers. Deposit speed is slower than most of those on our list. However, users praise its ease-of-use.
Shopify Pricing
- Monthly fee: $29 to $299 for Shopify ecommerce (required)
- Card-present transaction fees: 2.4% to 2.7% per transaction depending on ecommerce plan
- Card-not-present transaction fees: 2.4% + 30 cents to 2.7% + 30 cents per transaction depending on plan
- Chargeback fee: $15, refundable if you win
Shopify Android Reader Costs
Chip and Swipe Reader | Tap and Chip Card Reader |
|---|---|
 |  |
1 free, additional $29 | $49 |
Connects via Bluetooth and accepts magstripe (swipe) and EMV (chip) payments. | Connects via Bluetooth. Accepts EMV (chip), or NFC payments (Apple Pay, Android Pay). |
Shopify also has full payment terminal kits, cash drawers, and receipt printers.
Shopify Features
- Best feature: Shopify is among the best for ecommerce. In addition to a fully-featured POS system, it offers other sales avenues and processes payments from cash to bitcoin. Even though Shopify is best known for ecommerce, it has a robust POS platform for mobile and in-store sales, making it an ideal solution for multichannel sellers. Shopify integrates with over 2,000 different apps and programs.
- mPOS app: 3.8 stars on Google Play. In addition to running your online store (some limitations), it lets you take payments including cards or cash. Users loved the convenience, but some complained it looked more dated on Android than on iPhone, and that they had connection issues.
- Payment types: Credit cards, contactless, online, gift card, international, bitcoin, and more. Shopify deposits funds into your bank account in one to three days. Shopify cannot accept card payments without an internet connection.
- Business management tools: Shipping management, inventory management, sync with Shopify POS, Facebook store, analytics, and reporting.
- Fraud protection: EMV- and PCI-certified readers, fraud analysis, and fraud prevention recommendations (Shopify Plan and higher).
Payment Depot/SwipeSimple
PROS
- Greater account stability and low transaction fees
- App highly rated by users
- Excellent customer service
CONS
- The monthly plan makes it more expensive if you have low sales volume
- Requires an application process
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing & Contract | 4.06 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Payment Types | 5 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Mobile Features | 5 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Account Features | 2.25 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 2.63 | OUT OF | 5 |
Payment Depot uses the SwipeSimple mobile app by CardFlight for processing cards. SwipeSimple is a highly-rated app used by several payment processors. Payment Depot charges a monthly fee in exchange for lower, interchange-plus transaction charges. If you’re processing over $10,000 monthly, you may find this credit card processor more cost-effective, even with the monthly fee. Traditional merchant accounts like Payment Depot’s provide greater account stability as well.
Payment Depot scored 3.79 out of 5 stars, making it a near tie to Shopify, but it’s good for different reasons. It had stronger mobile features and also handles ACH/digital check transactions at no extra charge, but was not considered as user-friendly. SwipeSimple’s POS app handles the most important features and has offline modes as well. It’s best with Android 5.0 and up.
Payment Depot Pricing
- Monthly fee: Plans range from $49 to $199 per month, with $79 being the most popular plan
- Transaction fees: Interchange + 5-15 cents depending on your plan
Payment Depot is unique on this list in that it uses an interchange-plus pricing model instead of a flat-rate fee. So, instead of paying the same exact rate for every transaction, Payment Depot passes along the direct interchange rate. This is the fee credit and debit card issuers charge. Then, Payment Depot adds on a small 5-15 cent fee to each transaction. This model typically offers very competitive rates.
If you have questions on how interchange fees work, read our guide to credit card processing fees.
Android Reader Costs
Authorize.net BBPOS Chipper 2x | SwipeSimple B250 |
|---|---|
 |  |
$99 | First free, additional $99 |
Connects via Bluetooth and accepts payments via magstripe (swipe), EMV (chip), and NFC contactless payments (Apple Pay, Android Pay). It can also be used with a Windows computer using Authorize.Net’s vPOS solution. | Connects via Bluetooth and accepts payments via magstripe (swipe), EMV (chip), and NFC contactless payments (Apple Pay, Android Pay). |
Payment Depot also has standalone payment terminals, cash drawers, and receipt printers.
Payment Depot Features
- Best feature: We rarely find customers raving about a payment company’s customer service, but Payment Depot reviews on Trustpilot consistently praise Customer Service people for responding quickly and taking time to answer questions and resolve issues.
- mPOS app (SwipeSimple): 3.9 stars on Google Play. Record cash and credit card sales, prompt for tips, track inventory, and support multiple merchant accounts. The mobile app works offline, so you can process transactions without an internet connection.
- Payment types: Credit cards, touchless, online, international, and cross-border.
- Business management tools: The SwipeSimple app has inventory and cash register functions. Payment Depot also offers business loans.
- Fraud protection: Rate protection, chargeback monitoring, and risk monitoring, plus data breach protection (Popular plan and up).
Bottom Line
To find a great mobile credit card reader, first look at the best payment processors such as Square Payments, PayPal Here, and Payment Depot. Each has strengths and pricing structures that make it better for specific business types and sizes. Because there is such a wide variety of Android devices, check that the credit card reader you prefer is compatible with your device.
Square, our top pick, works for Google Android 4.0 and higher. It’s a cost-effective payment processor with terrific features for sales using the phone app as well as in-store, online, and more. Get started with Square today.
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