If you need a mobile and easy-to-handle payment processor for sales on-the-go, many credit card readers work with iPhones and iPads. In some cases, you need to get your own merchant account, but many of the best can also handle credit card, touchless, and, in some cases, digital check payments right from your iPhone.
The best credit card readers for iPhone are:
- Square: Best overall card reader for iOS.
- PayPal Here: Best for businesses that need quick access to funds or do online sales internationally.
- Payanywhere: Best for businesses that do frequent, low-ticket transactions.
- Clover Go: Best for businesses that already have a merchant account that they are satisfied with or are already using the Clover system.
- Payment Depot: Best and most affordable option for merchants doing at least $5,000 a month in credit card transactions.
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How We Evaluated Credit Card Readers for iPhone
The best mobile credit card processing services work with both iOS and Android, so we chose those that had the best ratings in the Apple store or were more popular in iOS. Then, we weighed them according to pricing, the types of payments they provided, what additional features they have both on the phone and that you can get extra, how quickly you can access your earnings, and then how well it compared to the others on the list in our evaluation and the opinion of users.
Square ranks as the best for features and price. With clear-cut pricing and no contracts, a feature-rich POS system and invoice capabilities, and easy access to your funds, it’s a strong choice for businesses of all sizes.
20% of Overall Score
We gave the most points to payment processors that did not require contracts or monthly fees, and did not have cancellation fees or minimum requirements.
20% of Overall Score
All processors should take swipe payments and have the ability to handle NFC (touchless) payments like Apple Pay. We also considered invoice capability, virtual terminals, eChecks, and stored payments for repeat customers.
20% of Overall Score
Does the app itself allow an offline mode in case you lose internet? Does it have POS functions and send receipts?
20% of Overall Score
We gave the most credit to those with 24/7 support, quick deposit times, and mobile card readers that include chip and swipe options.
20% of Overall Score
This combined our overall evaluation of price and ease of use with scores from real-world users on trusted third-party review sites.
Best Credit Card Readers for iPhone Compared
Square | PayPal Here | Payanywhere | Clover Go | Payment Depot/SwipeSimple | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Our Rating | 4.68/5 | 4.51/5 | 4.35/5 | 4.15/5 | 4.08/5 |
Basic Card Reader Cost | $10; First is free | $24.99; First is free | $29.99; First is free | $69 (also does NFC) | $95 |
Swiped Processing Fee | 2.6% + 10¢ | 2.7% | 2.69% | 2.7% + 10¢ | Interchange +5¢–15¢ |
Keyed Processing Fee | 3.5% + 15¢ | 3.5% + 15¢ | 3.49% + 19¢ | 3.5% + 10¢ | 3.5% + 10¢ |
Monthly Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00* | $9.95 | Starts at $49/month |
Chargeback Fee | None | $20 | None | Not specified | Depends on plan |
Phone Support Hours | Depends on plan | 24/7 | 24/7 | 24/7 | Depends on plan |
Don’t have an iPhone? Check out our recommended credit card readers for Android devices.
Square
PROS
- Competitive rates
- No chargeback fees
- Excellent free POS, inventory, and customer management tools
CONS
- Processing fees high for small transactions
- Customer service limited
| 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 offers competitive rates with no monthly fees or upfront costs, yet it also provides reliability, security, and cutting-edge features, making it the best overall credit card reader for the iPhone. While it can be more expensive than other providers for small-ticket sales, Square makes up for this with top-notch chargeback support, a suite of business management tools, and scalable hardware, should you need a full-fledged register in the future.
Square tops the charts with 4.68 out of 5 stars. Its pricing, ease of use, and integration capabilities are top-notch, as is its suite of payment options, which includes a virtual terminal and invoicing. In addition, if you expand and find yourself needing payroll, scheduling, or other software, Square has these as well. However, it charges more for digital checks and lacks 24/7 customer support.
Square Pricing
- Monthly fee: $0
- Swipe, chip, and contactless payments: 2.6% + 10 cents
- Keyed-in payments: 3.5% + 15 cents
Square iPhone/iPad 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
- POS app: Square’s POS app is packed with more features than all the other solutions on our list. With Square, you can record both cash and card payments, add tips to each transaction, split sales between different payment methods, and send customer receipts via text or email. Square works offline, so you can accept card payments even without an internet connection.
- Business management: Square comes with additional features including invoicing, appointment booking, employee management, and customer email marketing. Furthermore, Square integrates with many other business programs, such as accounting and delivery management.
- Payout time: Square deposits funds into your bank account in one day (or two days if the transaction happens after your regular business hours). Instant transfers are available for a 1.5% fee.
- Chargeback policy: Unlike most credit card processing services, Square does not charge extra fees when a chargeback occurs; there is only the fee from the cardholder’s bank should the dispute be unsuccessful. It will notify you of a chargeback via email and dispute it automatically should you forget or miss the deadline. It is highly recommended, however, that you add supporting documents via the Square Dashboard, as this will improve your chances of a successful dispute.
- Customer support and user reviews: Phone, chat, and email support are available Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern time. Users give it 4.8 stars; however, in 2020, there have been more complaints of funds being held and issues with chargebacks.
PayPal Here
PROS
- Very low fees on small transactions
- Same-day payouts available
- Integrations with many other business programs
CONS
- $20 fee for chargebacks
- Payments over $500 may be held 30 days
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing & Contract | 4.38 | 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 | 4.81 | OUT OF | 5 |
PayPal Here is a popular international payment processor that works in over 200 countries and 25 currencies. It recently even added bitcoin to its repertoire. It has a strong reputation for stability and is used by businesses of all sizes. It offers its PayPal Here app for iPad and iPhone, with wireless card readers that can handle chip and even touchless transactions.
We gave PayPal Here 4.51 out of 5 stars. Its POS system is simpler than Square’s and has chargeback fees, but its customer service hours are longer. In addition to the app, you can add PayPal to your website or online store, and it even offers a virtual terminal.
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
- eCheck fee: Same as above; caps on fee ($300 in the US)
- Additional charge for high-risk businesses: 5%
- Chargeback fees: $20
PayPal Here iPhone/iPad Reader Costs
Mobile Card Reader | Chip and Swipe Reader | Chip and Tap Reader |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
First free, additional $19.99 | $24.99 | $59.99 |
Connects via audio jack input, and accepts magstripe (swiped) payments. | 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 Here Features
- POS app: The PayPal Here app provides all the basic payment features that you need to calculate sales tax, email receipts, and create a list of products for faster checkout. The app works offline, so you can process payments without an internet connection. It also offers a virtual terminal.
- Online payments: Like Square, you can use PayPal for ecommerce, combining your online and in-person sales data in one place. Additionally, you can send invoices or set up recurring subscription payments.
- Payout time: Money automatically goes to your PayPal account, where you can use it instantly. You can manually move it to your bank or contact PayPal about scheduling regular transfers. PayPal deposits funds into your bank account in one day. Or, if you apply for a PayPal Business Debit Mastercard, you can receive your funds on the same day. You can also apply to get same-day funding for an additional 1% surcharge. Magstripe payments over $500 per week are subject to a 30-day hold. This can be remedied by using the chip or contactless reader instead.
- Chargeback policy: PayPal notifies you of chargebacks via email and gives you 10 days to respond through the resolution center portal. There is a $20 non-refundable fee, even if you successfully dispute the chargeback.
- Customer support and user reviews: Phone and chat support are available Monday to Friday from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific time. Users on the Apple App store rate it 4.6 out of 5 stars. Some people preferred it to Square; others asked for more versatility.
Payanywhere
PROS
- No added fee for chargebacks
- Very low fees on small transactions
- Next-day funding
CONS
- Opaque and expensive pricing structure for businesses processing over $10,000 monthly
- High fees for keyed-in transactions
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing & Contract | 4.69 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Payment Types | 4.5 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Mobile Features | 5 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Account Features | 3.63 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 3.94 | OUT OF | 5 |
Payanywhere charges a flat rate of 2.69% for credit card transactions, which makes it great for businesses that sell inexpensive items. For example, if your average transaction size is $10, Payanywhere will save you about 25% in processing fees compared to Square, which charges 2.6% + 10¢ per transaction. You need custom pricing for higher monthly sales, however, and this can get expensive.
Payanywhere earned 4.35 out of 5 stars. In addition to the great rates, it does not charge monthly or cancellation fees, although it does have an inactivity fee after 12 months. If you decide it’s not for you, be sure to cancel. It has a great set of features, including invoicing and virtual terminals, reporting, and employee management. Even more, dispute management is free (and no chargeback fees), and it has free next-day funding so you can use your hard-earned profits quickly.
Payanywhere Pricing
- Monthly fee: $0
- Swipe, chip, and contactless payments: 2.69%
- Keyed-in payments, virtual terminal, invoicing: 3.49% + 19 cents
- Inactivity fee: $3.99/month after 12 months
Payanywhere iPhone/iPad Reader Costs
2-in-1 Card Reader | 3-in-1 Card Reader |
|---|---|
 |  |
First free, additional $29.95 | $49.95 |
Connects via Bluetooth and accepts payments via magstripe (swipe) and EMV (chip). | Connects via Bluetooth and accepts magstripe, EMV as well as NFC contactless payments (Apple Pay, Android Pay). |
Payanywhere also has standalone payment terminals, cash drawers, and receipt printers.
Payanywhere Features
- POS app: The Payanywhere app gives you all the main features you expect. Customers can add tips and sign digitally. You can email, text, or print receipts using a compatible printer. The app works offline, so you can swipe credit cards without an internet connection.
- Online payments: Send invoices online or set up recurring payments with autopay. It does not accept digital checks, however.
- Payout time: Payanywhere deposits funds into your bank account in one business day.
- Chargeback policy: It notifies merchants of chargebacks via email. There’s an online portal to dispute the chargeback and attach supporting documents. Unlike most credit card processing services, Payanywhere does not charge any automatic fees, although there is a $25 fee if the dispute is unsuccessful.
- Customer support and user reviews: Phone, chat, and email support are available Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time. Users rated it 3.5 out of 5 stars. However, the 2020 reviews are almost all 4 stars or higher.
Clover Go
PROS
- Work with a wide variety of payment systems
- Sales reports and insights into competitors
- 24/7 customer support
CONS
- Deposits can take as long as 3 days
- Must pay for POS system
- Invoicing with an app
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing & Contract | 4.38 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Payment Types | 4.38 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Mobile Features | 3.5 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Account Features | 3.88 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 4.63 | OUT OF | 5 |
Clover makes popular and versatile POS hardware that works with a wide range of POS software and payment processors. The Clover Go app is similarly versatile. Clover is backed by FirstData so that you can use it as a payment processor as well. It charges monthly fees but offers secure transactions with the stability of a merchant account. However, you can also use it if you have a different merchant account.
We gave Clover Go 4.15 out of 5 stars. It loses points because it has a monthly fee, where others like Square and PayPal only charge per transaction, yet the transactions are similarly priced. Invoices require a different app, however. Clover is used by multiple payment processors, and if you already have a Clover system, then Clover Go will sync with it. If not, the POS system is basic, although it contains Clover Insights, which gives sales reports that include a comparison of your sales activity to your competitors.
Clover Pricing
- Monthly fee: $9.95, waived for the first 30 days
- Swipe, chip, and contactless payments: 2.7% + 10¢
- Keyed-in payments: 3.5% + 10¢
Clover iPhone/iPad Reader Costs
Clover Go |
|---|
 |
$69 each |
Connects via Wi-Fi and accepts payments via magstripe (swipe), EMV (chip), and NFC contactless payments (Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Google Pay). |
Clover also has standalone payment terminals, handheld payment terminals, cash drawers, and receipt printers.
Clover Features
- POS app: Clover’s POS payment processing hardware is highly popular with POS systems and payment processors of many companies. However, the iPhone/iPad app itself does not have a POS system. It does offer the ability to create inventory, including special pricing and some variations, calculate taxes, send receipts, and more. If you have a small inventory, this might be enough.
- Clover’s Web features: Clover has a virtual terminal on the Clover Web Dashboard. You can also purchase the full POS system, customer engagement software, gift cards, and employee management tools like time clocks, tip pooling, and commission tracking. Contact Clover Sales for quotes.
- Payout time: Clover deposits funds into your bank account usually in one to three days. However, they say some businesses can see funds as quickly as the next business day. It depends in part on your bank and your payment provider.
- Chargeback policy: Clover itself does not list chargebacks, but if you use a different merchant provider, you may have chargeback fees.
- Customer support and user reviews: Phone, chat, and email support are available 24/7. Users rate it 4.7 out of 5 stars, although recent reviews show complaints that the latest update is buggy and that the app lacks sufficient item modifiers for their needs.
Payment Depot/SwipeSimple
PROS
- Very competitive pricing for larger businesses
- Free EMV (chip) and NFC (contactless) card reader
- Highly-rated customer support
CONS
- Requires monthly fee
- Can be expensive for small transactions (under $25)
- Minimal chargeback support
| 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 | 4.06 | OUT OF | 5 |
As a traditional merchant account provider, Payment Depot is ideal for mid-sized and larger businesses because it has some of the lowest credit card processing fees available, especially if your average sale is over $25. Although Payment Depot requires an application and a monthly subscription fee, each account also comes with a free SwipeSimple mobile account and account stability, meaning you’re much less likely to deal with frozen or delayed funds.
We give Payment Depot and Swipe Simple 4.08 out of 5 stars. The app itself has excellent user reviews, especially in 2020, and users give Payment Depot 4.7 out of 5 stars. It clicked off everything on our list as far as payment types and mobile features but took a hit on pricing.
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
Unlike the other services we reviewed, Payment Depot does not charge a flat transaction fee but does an interchange-plus fee. For example, for the $79 plan, the processing fee is the interchange rate + 10 cents. The interchange rate is the actual fee the credit card or debit card issuer charges to process the transaction. This fee varies by type of cards, such as Visa or American Express, and for different types of transactions such as swiped payments or keyed-in payments.
Payment Depot iPhone/iPad 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
- POS app: SwipeSimple powers the mobile app and has all the main payment features you expect to see: SMS and email receipts, a basic item catalog and inventory tracking, tax settings, and tips. The mobile app works offline, so you can process transactions without an internet connection. You can also invoice customers, although it does not have ecommerce tools like Square.
- Payment Depot tools: Depending on the plan, Payment Depot provides virtual terminals and physical terminals for use in a brick-and-mortar store.
- Payout time: Payment Depot deposits funds into your bank account in one to two days.
- Chargeback policy: Unlike Square and Payanywhere, Payment Depot does not have a simplified chargeback dispute process. Payment Depot also charges a nonrefundable $15 chargeback fee.
- Customer support and user reviews: Phone and email support are available 24/7. Payment Depot’s support team is highly rated by customers, as was SwipeSimple’s.
Bottom Line
With COVID-19 changing how we do business, it’s important to have a way to accept payments on your mobile phone or iPad. The credit card readers we considered not only provide ways to accept on-the-go payments in multiple ways, but many have virtual terminals and online options to help too.
Overall for versatility and price, Square is our top choice. It can be a little more expensive if you have small transactions, but it’s good for the occasional user or the regular business and can grow with you. Download the Square app and sign up for an account today.
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