8 Best Credit Card Readers for iPhone

Using a credit card reader for iPhone and iPad lets businesses accept credit cards anywhere. Card readers connect to an iPhone via Bluetooth or wired plug and then process card payments via a mobile point-of-sale (mPOS) app. We compare top card readers for iPhones and iPads based on processing features, processing options, and costs.

Top 8 Credit Card Readers for iPhone 2020

Which Payments Provider is Right for You?

How We Evaluated Credit Card Readers for iPhone & iPad

In evaluating mobile credit card processors, we found that most deliver a similar set of basic features. Nearly all offer credit card readers for iPhone and iPad that process magstripe, chip cards, and contactless eWallet payments. All provide a free mPOS app to process credit card payments and track sales. The biggest differences among mobile processors are costs like transaction fees, device compatibility, and POS app features.

We evaluated each credit card reader for iPhone based on:

• Credit card processing fees: Payment processors offer a variety of fee structures to suit different types of sellers
• iPhone and iPad card reader choice and cost: All offer magstripe and Europay, Mastercard and Visa (EMV) chip card readers, most offer contactless eWallet card readers, and the costs vary
• Account fees: Some mobile processing accounts are free while others attach monthly fees
• iPhone and iPad compatibility: Credit card readers for iPhone and iPad are compatible with various iOS releases, jacks and ports
• Payment deposits: Mobile credit card processing services take one to three days to deposit your funds, but a few make funds available the same day
• Offline payment mode: Certain providers allow you to accept credit card payments without a cellular or Wi-Fi connection
• Business management features: Some services’ mPOS apps are incredibly robust and include inventory, employee and marketing management features; others track basic sales data
• Integrations: Most providers integrate with various online platforms, retail POS systems, and bookkeeping software

Based on the above criteria, Square is our top pick for credit card reader for iPhone and iPad. Square gives users a free account, free magstripe credit card reader for iPhone and iPad, and a free mPOS app that delivers far more processing, sales, and business management features than the competition.

Square: Best Credit Card Reader for iPhone & iPad

Square is a payment processing and POS app that anyone can use to accept payments for a low transaction fee. Square’s free, easy-to-use POS app includes reporting, inventory management, and customer management tools plus a free card reader all in a user-friendly interface. Square’s tremendous value makes it the best credit card reader for the iPhone.

Square Pricing

Square charges a competitive flat-rate 2.6% + 10 cents credit card processing fee each time you accept a credit card with your card reader. This rate is competitive with other combined card reader and payment processing services on our list. With Square, that’s your only cost, unlike those with monthly fees like Shopify POS and QuickBooks Online.

Square has no startup, account, or cancellation fees, and you even get a free magstripe card reader upon signup. Plus, its more advanced Bluetooth contactless EMV chip card and eWallet reader is only $49, making it the best contactless card reader value on our list as well.

Specific Square costs include:

• Startup, monthly, & cancellation fees: $0
• Swipe, chip & contactless payments: 2.6% + 10 cents
• Keyed-in payments: 3.5% + 15 cents per transaction

Square hardware costs include:

• Magstripe reader: First free, additional $10*
• Chip & contactless reader: $49 or $17/month for three months

*Square’s free magstripe reader is available with a headphone jack connection for Android devices and older Apple devices. You can also choose a magstripe reader with a lightning connection that’s compatible with newer iPhone models.

The best part about Square is its robust mPOS sales app, which is also free and delivers more business management features than the others on our list. Combined, its $0 account fees, low processing fees, free and best-value card readers, and exceptional mobile app software make Square our top pick for a credit card reader for iPhone and iPad.

Square’s free magstripe reader comes in two models to accommodate old iPhone models, new iPhones, iPads, and Android devices

Square Features

The free, user-friendly Square mPOS app tracks your sales, inventory details, and employees wherever you sell, plus lets you key-in transactions, work in offline mode, bill clients via online invoices, and much more. For all of this functionality, your only cost is credit card processing fees, which run 2.6% + 10 cents of each credit card sale you make using your Square card reader.

Square’s fees are competitive with our other contenders and beat those that have monthly fees like Shopify POS and QuickBooks. Overall, most card reader services simply don’t equal Square’s level of sales and management features and fees-only price point.

Square iPhone and iPad Compatibility

Like with most of the options on our list, you don’t need to have the newest iPhone or iPad or be running the latest version of iOS to process credit cards with Square. Square iPhone and iPad credit card readers and mPOS app work with the following:

• iPhone, iPad, iPad Mini, and iPod Touch running iOS 9.0 or later, meaning Square works on iPhone 4S, iPad 2, and newer models
• Apple devices using a 3.5mm headphone jack for the magstripe card reader
• Apple devices with a Lightning port for the magstripe card reader, which requires a $15 adapter
• Apple devices running Bluetooth for the contactless card reader

Square Payment Deposits

Square typically deposits your revenues, minus its processing fee, the following business day, same as PayPal. You can get instant deposits, but for an additional quoted fee that can be found in your individual Square account. Square has also launched the Square Card, which is a business checking account and debit card. Businesses that use Square Card can receive funds from payments instantly.

Square provides businesses with lots of control over their deposit schedules

Square Offline Payment Mode

Square, Payment Depot’s SwipeSimple, and Fattmerchant are the only iPhone credit card readers on our list that have an offline mode. Even if you lose your cellular or Wi-Fi connection, you can complete credit card sales. Square’s mPOS app retains the encrypted card data until your connection is reestablished, then processes the payment as usual.

Offline mode is a big plus if you sell in remote locations or within facilities that have limited connectivity. However, it’s important to note that in offline mode, you won’t know if a credit card payment is declined. If the charge is declined when the connection is reestablished, you’ll need to follow up with your customer for an alternate payment method.

Square is one of the few card readers on our list with an offline payment mode

Square Business Management Features

Square’s POS app is a full-featured business management system packed with more features than all the other solutions on our list except for Shopify, which comes with a monthly fee. With Square, you can accept all major credit, debit, and eWallet payments and record cash payments. You can also add tips to each transaction, split sales between different payment methods, and send customer receipts via text or email.

Businesses can also create and manage inventory items and product catalogs. Square’s mPOS app has reporting tools to track total sales, sales by item, and details on customers. Square’s dashboard, which can be accessed by any browser, provides more reporting tools, inventory management features, and tools to build a website, all for free.

Square Integrations

Square integrates with an array of services that can help you grow your business and serve your customers better. For example, you can:

• Launch a free online store quickly with the integrated Square Online Store feature
• Connect Square to other ecommerce platforms, such as WooCommerce, Weebly, or Shopify, for an expanded online presence
• Integrate Square POS sales data with bookkeeping systems like QuickBooks and Xero to organize your finances
• Add a countertop register to your operation using an economical Square Stand or the more advanced Square Register
• Use Square’s built-in loyalty and email marketing features to keep customers coming back
• Use the free Square Appointments, invoicing and recurring payments features to extend your service offerings

These ready integrations are another reason that Square tops the other providers on our list. Even if you just need a credit card reader for iPhone or iPad now, it’s a good idea to be forward-thinking. Using Square, you also get a complete, well-connected sales management system that’s designed to grow in whatever direction your business takes you.

What Square Is Missing

Square does not have the lowest processing fees on our list: PayPal and EMSplus are lower for small businesses, and Payment Depot and Fattmerchant are lower for businesses processing more than $10,000 and $20,000 per month, respectively. If you’re on a strict budget and don’t need any features other than strictly processing credit cards, one of those options may be a better fit.

Square User Reviews

Square reviews are generally positive. Most Square users are happy with Square’s credit card readers for iPhone and iPad, especially its ease of use and the vast range of services that the Square POS app provides. Negative comments tend to center on Square’s lack of phone service and withholding of funds.

PayPal Here: iPhone Card Reader for Accepting PayPal

PayPal Here is PayPal’s free mobile POS app with built-in credit card and PayPal payment processing. PayPal offers some of the most competitive transaction fees on the market and frequently runs specials offering free or discounted iPhone card readers. This free app also lets customers pay with their PayPal accounts.

PayPal Here Pricing

Like many providers on our list, PayPal Here offers low flat-rate processing fees with no startup, monthly or cancellation fees, so credit card processing is your only ongoing cost. PayPal Here’s flat-rate in-person processing fee is just 2.7 percent. Other processors like Square only charge 2.6% but have a 10-cent fee with every charge. For businesses like market vendors and coffee shops, that 10 cents makes Square a more expensive option than PayPal.

Specific PayPal here costs include:

• Swiped, chip & contactless payments: 2.7%
• Keyed-in payments: 3.5% + 15 cents
• Invoice payments: 2.9% + 30 cents
• Additional fee for international payments: 1.5%

PayPal Here hardware costs include:

• Swipe magstripe card reader: $19.99*
• Chip & swipe reader: $24.99*
• Chip & contactless reader, plus charging stand: $79.99

*PayPal occasionally has promotions where you can receive a free swipe or chip card reader when you sign up for a free PayPal Here account.

PayPal Here has several card reader options from which to choose

PayPal Here Features

Like our other top picks, PayPal Here provides a free mPOS app to process and track sales, plus it conveniently ties your in-person and online sales within one account. Its solution isn’t as feature-filled as Square’s POS app, however. It doesn’t have an offline mode, and functions like keyed-in payments are limited. It does, however, provide same-day deposits, which is a nice perk.

PayPal Here iPhone and iPad Compatibility

PayPal Here credit card readers for iPhone and iPad work with iOS version 10 and later. So, like Square and others on our list, you don’t need to have the newest iPhone or iPad to use PayPal Here’s credit card readers. They are compatible with:

• iPhone, iPad, iPad Mini, and iPod Touch running iOS 10.0 or later
• Apple devices using a 3.5mm headphone jack for the magstripe card reader
• Apple devices running Bluetooth 4.0 and above for chip and contactless card readers
• Android devices running on software versions 5.0 and newer

PayPal Here Payment Deposits

PayPal Here provides same-day deposits of funds into your PayPal account, similar to how Square has the instant deposits for Square Card holders. However, If you use the PayPal Here magstripe reader, you’re limited to transactions totaling $500 within a seven-day period. If you process more than $500 per week using the magstripe reader, your funds are subject to a 30-day hold. That’s why PayPal Here recommends the more secure chip or contactless readers for most sellers. This limit also applies to keyed-in payments, which PayPal Here discourages. Square is much more amenable to keyed-in payments.

PayPal Here Offline Payment Mode

Unlike Square, Payment Depot, and Fattmerchant, PayPal Here has no offline mode. Without a connection, you cannot accept credit cards, period. However, you can still record cash and check sales in your PayPal Here POS app.

PayPal Here Business Management Features

With PayPal Here, you can accept all major credit, debit, contactless, and PayPal payments, process refunds, and record cash and check payments. PayPal Here has features to add tips to transactions, send email receipts, and track sales within the mPOS app. You can also set up specific products with images, pricing, and stock levels. PayPal also lets you create employee IDs with individual logins and permission levels.

PayPal Here has detailed sales reports

PayPal Here Integrations

PayPal is a leader in online integrations and works with virtually every ecommerce platform on the market. It also connects to eBay, other online marketplaces, and various accounting programs. So, sales made using a PayPal Here credit card reader for iPhone and iPad tie neatly into your other PayPal revenues and can be tracked in your accounting software.

What PayPal Here Is Missing

Lack of an offline mode is a real drawback for mobile sellers. If you’re selling in an area with spotty connectivity, you can’t accept credit cards with PayPal Here, unlike Square, which accepts credit cards offline. The $500 per week sales limit on the magstripe reader is also very inconvenient but remedied easily by purchasing a chip card or contactless reader.

PayPal Here User Reviews

In PayPal Here reviews, the $500 weekly limit on magstripe card sales is a significant complaint. Its practice of holding funds when this limit is exceeded takes users by surprise. However, overall users love PayPal because its solutions are super easy to use, it integrates with a ton of other programs, and processing rates are very competitive.

Shopify: Best Ecommerce Credit Card Reader for iPhone

Shopify is a leading ecommerce platform that includes a free mobile POS system with each account. Shopify also offers affordable mobile card readers and competitive transaction fees. All online and in-person sales sync to your Shopify dashboard, making Shopify the best credit card reader for iPhone for ecommerce businesses.

Shopify Pricing

Unlike others on our list, Shopify has a monthly fee. This is because you need a Shopify ecommerce store account to access the Shopify POS card reader feature. However, adding the mPOS feature to any Shopify store account is free, plus you get a free magstripe and chip card reader.

If you just need a credit card reader for iPhone mobile sales, the no-monthly-fee options like Square or PayPal Here are more economical. However, for pairing an online store with in-person sales, Shopify is a good value. Like the others on our list, you also pay a flat-rate credit card processing fee, and that rate is based on your Shopify plan.

Shopify POS Pricing Tiers

• Chip & swipe reader: First free, additional $29
• Chip & contactless reader: $49

Shopify Features

Shopify features include a full ecommerce platform. Many of its powerful online selling features, such as sales tracking, customer data, items, and inventory counts all sync to the mPOS app. So, if you plan to sell online and in-person via a mobile device, Shopify’s solution is very streamlined. It also gives you a simple entry into multichannel sales. Even the $9 Shopify Lite plan gives you a way to list products on a blog and a Facebook shop. The higher plans integrate with Amazon, Pinterest, and other sales channels.

Shopify mPOS has features to collect and manage detailed customer information

Shopify iPhone and iPad Compatibility

Both Shopify POS credit card readers for iPhone and iPad work with Apple devices running iOS 10.0 and higher, according to the Apple app store. Shopify mPOS also works with Android devices, and card reader can pair to both Apple and Android via Bluetooth.

Shopify Payment Deposits

Shopify typically deposits funds from transactions within one to three business days. This timeframe is pretty standard. However, Shopify does not have features that allow you to apply for or pay for faster funding.

Shopify Offline Payment Mode

Shopify has a very limited offline mode. If you lose an internet connection, you can use Shopify to accept cash and custom payment methods. However, you cannot process card payments, save new products, or sync transactions with your Shopify Back Office.

Shopify Business Management Features

Shopify POS is the only service on our list that truly competes with Square in terms of sales and business management features. Shopify’s powerful ecommerce platform drives the mPOS app, so sellers can access every multichannel sales and marketing feature that Shopify offers. Plus, like Square, key data cleanly syncs between the POS app and Shopify online store dashboard.

With Shopify POS, you can accept all major magstripe and chip credit and debit cards, plus eWallet payments. Businesses can add and track taxes for each transaction, send customers email receipts, track customer data, and process total or partial refunds. Shopify also has one of the most sophisticated inventory management systems out of all the mPOS systems on our list.

Shopify has detailed sales analytics on its iPhone and iPad app

Shopify Integrations

Shopify integrates with a vast array of business, marketing, shipping, supplier, and sales management tools. In short, you can connect Shopify to virtually any system you choose, from QuickBooks and print-on-demand vendors to drop-ship suppliers and a WordPress blog. Shopify, Square, and PayPal are the card readers with the most integration options on our list.

What Shopify Is Missing

Shopify falls short of Square, our top pick, in two key areas. Shopify does not have an offline payment mode, which is crucial if you plan to sell at markets or events. Shopify also does not have a feature to collect tips with each transaction, so it’s not well-suited for service providers.

Shopify User Reviews

In Shopify user reviews, the software hits a home run. Users love Shopify’s powerful online sales platforms, and that love extends to Shopify’s mPOS app and credit card readers. Ease of use, sync with Shopify’s back-end tools, and competitive rates are boxes that Shopify POS checks. Monthly account fees and limited scalability are issues that users mention as negatives but, overall, Shopify POS delivers on expectations.

EMSplus: Best Budget Credit Card Reader for iPhone

EMSplus is a budget-friendly mobile payment processor that offers the lowest rates out of all the iPhone credit card readers on our list at just 2.25%. EMSplus also offers invoicing and client tracking tools, but not POS features, making it the best no-frills iPhone credit card reader for those prioritizing budget over features.

EMSplus Pricing

EMSplus has flat-rate transaction fees like PayPal Here. However, EMSplus offers much lower pricing. So, businesses are deducted a percentage of each transaction they process. Also like Square and PayPal, EMSplus has no monthly or startup fees.

Specific EMSplus fees include:

• Monthly & startup fees: $0
• Swipe & chip payments: 2.25% for Visa, Mastercard, and Discover
• Swipe & chip payments: 2.95% for American Express
• Keyed-in payments: 3.5% + 15 cents

EMSplus hardware fees include:

• Magstripe card reader: One free, additional $10 each
• All-in-one Bluetooth reader for chip, tap & swipe payments: $149 ($49 after rebate)
• Lightning magstripe card reader: $79.95

EMSplus offers one free magstripe card reader, just like Square does, with one key difference, however. Square lets users pick if they want their free magstripe reader to connect to their phone via a headphone jack or lightning port like the newer iPhone models have. With EMSplus, only the headphone jack model is free. The magstripe reader with a lighting connector costs $79.95.

EMSplus Features

EMSplus has the basic features needed to accept credit card payments via mobile and tablet. The POS app has features for itemized orders, adding tips, sending email receipts, and sending invoices. Like other apps on our list, including Square, EMSplus has features to create product categories and items with pricing so that you can ring up sales by specific products.

EMSplus POS app can be downloaded for free on iOS and Android phones and tablets

EMSplus iPhone and iPad Compatibility

EMSplus is compatible with iPhones, iPads, and Android devices. The POS app can be downloaded for free on all iOS and Android devices. The free magstripe reader is compatible with Android devices and older Apple devices that have a headphone jack. People with newer Apple devices that don’t have the headphone jack will need to purchase the Lightning magstripe reader for $79.95.

EMSplus Payment Deposits

EMSplus generally deposits funds from transactions into the merchant’s bank account within two business days, which is pretty average. Merchants can apply for faster funding, in which case, their application will be reviewed manually. As with most third-party payment processors, there are customer reviews and reports of funds taking a long time to deposit or being withheld for various reasons.

EMSplus Offline Payment Mode

EMSplus does not have an offline payment mode. You need to be connected to the Internet or have cellphone service to process transactions. This can be problematic if you are using iPhone credit card readers to accept payments outdoors or at events where the internet connection may be limited. If you need a credit card reader for iPhone with offline payments, Square or Payment Depot are your best choice.

EMSplus Business Management Features

Like Square and Shopify, EMSplus has features to manage inventory in the POS app. Users can create product categories, items, and assign pricing. However, users report that inventory settings do not always transfer between devices. EMSplus also has settings to create customer records, store data like contact information, and run reports. Users can also create and send customized email invoices from the EMSplus app.

EMSplus app has features to manage individual products and product categories

EMSplus Integrations

EMSplus app does not have any integrations or other apps that it connects with. EMSplus does offer an Apple Watch app for monitoring sales and viewing reports, which is a rare feature. EMSplus is operated by the larger EMS Payments, which has a specific payment processing solution for QuickBooks users, but that is the extent of its integrations. If you need a solution that easily connects with other tools like marketing or accounting software, Square or Shopify are good choices.

What EMSplus Is Missing

Unlike Square and PayPal, which anyone can sign up for and start using right away, EMSplus is only for businesses, not individuals. You must fill out an application to get an EMS payment processing account. So, if you are looking for a solution to accept payments one day at a tag sale, EMSplus is not for you. EMSplus also does not have an offline mode, so it’s a better fit for businesses that operate in a set location with a good internet connection.

EMSplus User Reviews

EMSplus has fairly positive user reviews. Users like that the transaction fee for most swiped payments is very low. It’s the lowest flat-rate transaction fee we’ve seen from a payment processor. However, some users report compatibility issues with the EMSplus card readers, forcing them to key in payments manually, which have a much higher processing fee. So, EMSplus is not as user-friendly as solutions like Square and PayPal.

Payment Depot: Best Card Reader for Growing Businesses

Payment Depot is a membership-model credit card processor that offers extremely competitive pricing for growing and established businesses. Each Payment Depot account includes a free SwipeSimple account for mobile processing, making Payment Depot the most affordable credit card reader for growing businesses processing at least $10,000 monthly.

Payment Depot Pricing

Payment Depot uses a membership or subscription model, similar to Fattmerchant, but with much lower monthly fees. One Payment Depot membership also includes access to processing mobile, in-store, and online payments, whereas a Fattmerchant account only includes access to one sales channel.

With Payment Depot, businesses pay a $49, $79, $99, or $199 flat monthly fee depending on business size. Businesses then pay the direct interchange fees with no percentage markup and a flat transaction fee ranging from 5 cents to 15 cents depending on the plan. Payment Depot does not have any kind of percentage markup on top of interchange fees, which makes it competitively priced.

Payment Depot Monthly Plans

Payment Depot Features

All Payment Depot plans include affordable payment processing, a SwipeSimple account for mobile payments, and options to sell online and in-store for no additional cost. The Popular, Value, and Premier plans also come with free card readers.

Payment Depot iPhone and iPad Compatibility

Payment Depot uses SwipeSimple for mobile payments. SwipeSimple is an intuitive mobile app that even comes with a demo mode so that you can test different features. You’ll need SwipeSimple version 4.0 or higher running on an iPhone or iPad on iOS 9.0 or newer. You can accept credit cards using Payment Depot and SwipeSimple on Android devices running version 5.0 or later.

Most of the Payment Depot plans come with a free magstripe mobile card reader. You can also purchase additional readers, including chip and contactless, for a quoted fee. One of the differentiating features of Payment Depot is that they work with almost any payment processing hardware and will reprogram existing equipment for free.

Payment Depot Payment Deposits

As with most of the credit card readers for iPhones on this list, Payment Depot offers speedy deposit times. Funds are directly deposited into your account within 24 to 48 hours. Unlike Square and PayPal, Payment Depot does not have options for instant funding. However, like Chase and QuickBooks, Payment Depot is a merchant account, so there are fewer issues with frozen and delayed funds.

Payment Depot Offline Mode

SwipeSimple is one of the few mobile payment apps that does have an offline mode. Similar to Square, SwipeSimple allows businesses to accept card payments offline. The transaction is simply stored and saved for when internet or cellular data connection is restored.

SwipeSimple allows businesses to accept credit card payments offline that process automatically when internet or cellular connection is restored

Payment Depot Business Management Features

SwipeSimple is similar to Square in terms of appearance and simplicity. The app is extremely easy to use and offers a demo mode, which is something none of the other mobile POS apps on this list have. SwipeSimple also has some of the same features as Square like short message service (SMS) text and email receipts, a basic item catalog and inventory tracking, tax settings, and tips.

SwipeSimple also lets businesses save payment and credit card information in customer profiles for future purchases. There is a basic reporting tool to view sales reports in the app, though it is not as detailed as Square’s.

Payment Depot Integrations

SimpliSafe is the biggest software integration for Payment Depot when it comes to processing mobile payments. Payment Depot integrates with POS systems, including ShopKeep and Revel Systems for in-store payments. Online, Payment Depot integrates with ecommerce platforms, including BigCommerce, WooCommerce, and Magento. Payment Depot also integrates with Authorize.net as an online payment gateway.

What Payment Depot Is Missing

Payment Depot comes with a monthly subscription fee, making it a good fit only for businesses that are processing payments consistently and reach at least $10,000 in monthly sales. Payment Depot also requires an application, similar to QuickBooks and Fattmerchant, whereas Square is instantly available.

Also, Payment Depot is strictly a payment processing provider, unlike Square and Shopify, which are all-in-one platforms with payments and software. That means even though Payment Depot has very low processing fees, it doesn’t offer the same level of business management features, even with the SwipeSimple app.

Payment Depot User Reviews

Payment Depot user reviews are very positive. Customers say that Payment Depot has exceptional customer support and very transparent pricing. Payment Depot has 24/7 in-house customer support, which is very rare. Some reviewers say that Payment Depot does not integrate with their POS and wish there was an easier way to connect Payment Depot to different software and online systems through an application programming interface (API), so it is not as easy to use as solutions like Square and PayPal.

Chase Merchant Services: Best Merchant Account Card Reader

Chase Merchant Services provides a solid iPhone credit card reader for established businesses that want the security of a traditional merchant account provider, instead of an aggregator like PayPal or Square. Chase is a good option because it has no monthly minimums and offers competitive payment processing rates, similar to others on our list.

Chase Merchant Services Pricing

Even though Chase offers a traditional merchant account, it’s pricing structure is similar to payment processing apps like Square and PayPal. Chase offers flat-rate transaction fees with no startup fees or monthly minimums. Many traditional merchant accounts only work with businesses that regularly process at least $10,000 or $20,000 per month, so the fact that Chase does not have such a requirement is pretty rare.

Chase does not publish pricing on their website, so you will need to contact them directly for a specific quote. However, these are the rates we were quoted when we called:

• Account startup, monthly and cancellation fees: $0
• Swipe, chip & contactless payments: 2.89% with $49 card reader
• Swipe, chip & contactless payments: 1.99%+ 15 cents per debit transaction 2.99% + 15 cents for credit transactions with $95 card reader.

Chase is the only option on our list that has different processing rates depending on the hardware you purchase. Businesses that opt for the basic $49 card reader pay a flat 2.89% processing fee. Businesses that opt for the $95 card reader can choose transaction fees that have a lower rate for debit transactions and a higher rate for credit transactions.

Chase Merchant Services hardware pricing is not as transparent as other solutions. For mobile processing, there is an option to purchase a $49 reader or a $95 reader. If you are selling in-store, there are options to purchase a card terminal for $220 or pay a one-time equipment fee of $125 to rent the terminal. These prices, as well as the processing fees, are not listed on Chase’s website, you need to call the sales office.

Chase Mobile Checkout app is very easy to navigate

Chase Merchant Services Features

As a whole, Chase Merchant Services offers a lot of payment processing features. It has a mobile app called Chase Mobile Checkout for processing sales, issuing refunds, viewing the status of transactions, and adding discounts or promotions to transactions manually. You can also manage gift cards through the app, view sales reports and overviews, examine transaction summaries, see chargeback reports, and more.

Chase Merchant Services iPhone and iPad Compatibility

The Chase Mobile Checkout app can be downloaded on Apple and Google Play app stores. It works on iPhones, iPads, and Android devices. For the app to work on Apple devices, you must have iOS 10.0 or newer. If you want to accept chip payments, instead of just swipe or keyed-in, your device must also be at least Bluetooth 4.0 compatible.

Chase Merchant Services Payment Deposits

Next-day funding is available for free for businesses that use Chase Business Checking. You have to be approved for this feature, but it’s a nice bonus as most processors don’t offer free next-day deposits. Otherwise, if you’re not using a Chase bank account, your funds will be available in a few business days. Unlike Square and PayPal, Chase does not currently have an option for same-day or instant deposits.

Chase Merchant Services Offline Payment Mode

Like many of the other solutions on our list, Chase does not have an offline payment option for mobile payments. Your device must be connected to cellular data or Wi-Fi. Additionally, your device’s location services must be enabled for the mobile device to process transactions. If you need a solution that can accept payments offline, Square or Payment Depot may be a better fit.

Chase Merchant Services Business Management Features

The Chase mobile app has POS features to process sales, voids, and refunds and manage gift cards. Businesses can also create image-based product catalogs, send email or text receipts, create reports, and add tips to transactions by a flat amount or percentage.

One unique feature about Chase is the transparency with chargebacks. Because you are dealing directly with the bank, there is no middleman when a chargeback occurs. Theoretically, this means they can be resolved faster. There is also a feature to view and manage chargebacks right within the Chase Mobile Checkout app.

The Chase Mobile Checkout app is one of the few card reader apps on our list that has a demo or test mode

Chase Merchant Services Integrations

Chase Merchant Services integrates with a few software programs and business management solutions, including BigCommerce for ecommerce sellers, FreshBooks for accounting, and Agree.com for online contracts. Chase doesn’t have proprietary add-on features like Square and Shopify do with loyalty programs, marketing tools, and so on.

What Chase Merchant Services Is Missing

Chase’s payment processing rates are not the lowest or even the second-lowest on our list. Plus, you will need to purchase a card reader. So, it’s pricier than other solutions like Square, PayPal, and EMSplus.

Chase Merchant Services User Reviews

On the Apple app store, the biggest complaint from users is the app interface. Reviews say that the app is clunky and outdated, which makes it hard to use, especially when compared to Chase’s other banking and consumer-facing apps. Otherwise, Chase Merchant Services reviews are positive, and users are very happy with Chase’s processing rates.

QuickBooks GoPayment: iPhone Card Reader for QuickBooks Users

QuickBooks GoPayment is the mobile POS and credit card processor offered by QuickBooks. The payment processor is affordable, easy to use, and syncs with QuickBooks accounting software. However, core features like sales reports and invoicing are missing without a QuickBooks account, so it is only a good fit for QuickBooks Online or Desktop users.

QuickBooks GoPayment Pricing

Like others on our list, GoPayments provides a free magstripe and chip card reader when you open an account, and card processing fees are your only ongoing cost. At 2.4% for in-person payments, GoPayments rate is lower than other flat-rate providers on our list. But you must also include the per-transaction fee of 25 cents, which the other flat-rate services don’t charge when comparing overall costs.

QuickBooks GoPayment processing fees include:

• Startup, monthly & cancellation fees: $0*
• Swipe, chip & contactless payments: 2.4% + 25 cents per transaction
• Keyed-in payments: 3.4% + 25 cents per transaction

QuickBooks GoPayment hardware fees include:

• Magstripe & chip reader: Free with signup; additional, $19 each
• Magstripe, chip & contactless reader: $49

*There are no monthly fees for QuickBooks GoPayment. However, to get features like invoicing or sales reports, you need a QuickBooks Online account, which starts at $25 per month.

QuickBooks GoPayment offers a free magstripe & chip reader

QuickBooks GoPayment Features

The most important feature of GoPayments is its integration with QuickBooks. You process payments using the GoPayment POS app on your iPhone or iPad like others on our list. The GoPayments mobile app features a suite of payment processing and sales tracking tools, and it all syncs with your QuickBooks Online or Desktop data.

Unlike Square, PayPal, and most of the other mobile processors on this list, when you open a QuickBooks GoPayment account, it’s a traditional merchant account. In theory, this should reduce the number of freezes and holds, and offer stable processing similar to Chase Merchant Services.

QuickBooks GoPayment iPhone and iPad Compatibility

Both QuickBooks GoPayments credit card readers connect via Bluetooth to iPhones and iPads, so plug compatibility is not an issue. The GoPayments mPOS and card readers work with Apple devices on iOS 9.3.5 or newer. The card readers and GoPayment app also work on Android devices with software version 4.1 and newer.

QuickBooks GoPayment Payment Deposits

QuickBooks Payment is a traditional merchant account like Chase Merchant Services and Fattmerchant. So, funds are typically deposited within two to four business days. So, with GoPayment, Visa and MasterCard funds are deposited within two to three days and American Express payments within three to four days.

QuickBooks GoPayment Offline Payment Mode

Like most of the card readers for iPhone and iPad on our list, QuickBooks GoPayments does not have an offline mode to process credit cards without a connection. You can record check and cash payments when offline, but not credit card payments.

QuickBooks GoPayment Business Management Features

QuickBooks GoPayments provides a sleek mPOS app with some handy sales features, including the ability to process all major magstripe and chip credit and debit cards, most popular eWallet payments, and process transactions by taking a picture of the card.

QuickBooks GoPayments has features to track inventory items, and even lets you add specific inventory items to a sale after it’s completed for accurate tracking. You can send email receipts, add tips, track sales tax, and create up to 50 user logins. Of course, you can also import transactions from GoPayment into QuickBooks for accounting and reporting.

QuickBooks GoPayment Integrations

The main integration for GoPayments is QuickBooks, and QuickBooks itself has a huge index of integrated ecommerce, order management, and retail POS system solutions. Popular apps include Gusto for human resources (HR) tools, Square, PayPal, Expensify, and more.

What QuickBooks GoPayment Is Missing

QuickBooks GoPayment does not have an offline mode, like many of the other programs on our list. However, the biggest issue is that data from GoPayments doesn’t always sync to QuickBooks as seamlessly as it should. QuickBooks is updating the app constantly, but there are issues with inventory counts not syncing correctly and customer profiles that are creating in GoPayments not syncing automatically with QuickBooks and needing to be added manually.

Also, if you are using QuickBooks GoPayments as a standalone service and not syncing to a QuickBooks account, many core features are missing, including invoicing and basic sales reports. Since QuickBooks GoPayment is a traditional merchant account, there is an approval process that might prove difficult for new or microbusinesses.

QuickBooks GoPayment User Reviews

In QuickBooks GoPayment reviews, users seem unhappy with the lack of item, inventory, and customer sync between the GoPayments mPOS app and their QuickBooks file. This makes the system difficult to use if you want to connect with QuickBooks accounting, which is the main advantage of using QuickBooks GoPayment. However, its simple flat-rate fees are competitive, and users also report getting lower processing fees through QuickBooks Payments as sales volumes increase.

Fattmerchant: Best High-volume Credit Card Reader for iPhone

Fattmerchant is a merchant account provider for businesses that uses a direct interchange model with membership pricing. This means Fattmerchant has high monthly fees, but very low transaction fees, making it a cost-saving option for businesses with monthly mobile sales volumes of $20,000 or higher.

Fattmerchant Pricing

Fattmerchant and Payment Depot have the lowest per-sale credit card processing rates out of all the credit card reader solutions on our list. This is because Fattmerchant passes the actual card issuers’ interchange and assessment fees, which can average about 1.54% + 12 cents and are non-negotiable, on to you with no percentage markup at all. However, Fattmechant has high monthly fees.

Specific Fattmerchant pricing and fees include:

• Startup & cancellation fees: $0
• Monthly fees: $99/month for less than $500,000 in annual sales, $199/month with more than $500,000 in annual sales
• Transaction fees: direct interchange plus 15 cents for $99/month plan, 12 cents for $199/month plan

The $99 and $199 monthly fees are charged regardless of if you process any sales or not. So, this pricing model is best suited for large businesses. The $99 and $199 monthly fees are also charged per sales channel. So, for example, if you need to sell via mobile and your website, you will pay the $99 or $199 twice. So, this model is best if you are only selling via one channel, or you are processing at least $20,000 per month per channel. If you process at least $10,000 monthly but need several sales channels, Payment Depot is a better fit.

Fattmerchant sells BBPOS card readers for mobile. There are two different types from which to choose: one that accepts swipe and chip payments and one that accepts those plus contactless payments. However, the prices are undisclosed. Fattmerchant also has various accessories such as phone cases for attaching the card reader, iPad stands, and more.

Fattmerchant Features

Fattmerchant has an mPOS app for processing sales and refunds. Businesses can also create and save specific products with prices and stock levels and set specific discounts. Fattmerchant’s mobile app also has features to send email receipts and view and search for specific transactions. The in-app reporting tools are limited, but there are more reports and analytics available through your account when you log in through Fattmerchant’s website.

Fattmerchant mPOS app has tools to create and manage inventory items

Fattmerchant iPhone and iPad Compatibility

Fattmerchant mobile processing app can be downloaded on the Apple app store and Google Play. Apple iPhone and iPads need iOS 9.3 or later. Android devices need software version 5.1 and later.

Fattmerchant Payment Deposits

Fattmerchant offers free next-day funding. Most processors deposit funds within a few business days and some, like Square and PayPal, offer instant funding with a 1% fee. Chase offers next-day funding, but only for businesses that use Chase checking accounts as their connected bank account. So, Fattmerchant’s free next-day funding is a nice feature. Fattmerchant does offer same-day funding, but for an undisclosed additional fee.

Fattmerchant Offline Payment Mode

Fattmerchant is one of the few processors on our list that has an offline payment mode. There is a setting in the mPOS app that enables offline payments. Offline payments can only by keyed-in, not swiped. They are then stored in the app and automatically process once the device is back online.

Fattmerchant has an offline payment mode

Fattmerchant Business Management Features

On the Fattmerchant POS app, you can process payments on any newer Apple or Android device easily. You can also view transaction history, create customer profiles, and manage inventory from the software. Fattmerchant also has tools for creating and managing product catalogs, scanning bar codes, and viewing reports.

Fattmerchant Integrations

Like Chase, Fattmerchant’s mobile payment processing doesn’t have too many integrations. Fattmerchant does have a QuickBooks integration included with all mobile plans for easy accounting. Otherwise, the mPOS does not connect to other software programs.

What Fattmerchant Is Missing

Fattmerchant has a unique pricing structure that is not right for every business. It’s a good value if you’re a large seller processing more than $20,000 per month. However, if you’re an occasional seller or a smaller business, the flat $99 per month fee may be too high for you.

Fattmerchant User Reviews

Users who leave Fattmerchant reviews are generally happy with the credit card processing. They like that the fee structure is transparent and affordable, and the app has a sleek, user-friendly interface. The most common complaints are funds being withheld, which is common for any card processor, and issues with the mobile card reader not working. However, Fattmerchant updates the mobile app regularly to fix any bugs.

Bottom Line

Credit card readers for iPhone and iPad all generally come with similar features: a free mPOS app, tools to track sales and inventory, the ability to send customer digital receipts, and create customer profiles. The best mobile credit card reader for your business depends on your business size, where you sell, and other specific needs.

Square is a simple and economical choice for most independent sellers and small businesses. It’s one of the only credit card readers for iPhone that has an offline mode for accepting payments, has an instant deposit option, and has some of the best free business management tools. Visit Square to create your free account.

Visit Square