6 Best Thermal Receipt Printers for 2018

Thermal receipt printers integrate with retail and restaurant point-of-sale (POS) systems to print customer receipts for completed sales. A receipt printer can connect in various ways including USB, Ethernet (LAN), Wi-Fi wireless (WLAN) and even Bluetooth. We look at a range of options for small business in terms of price, functionality and popular POS compatibility.

Thermal Receipt Printer Summary Table

How We Evaluated Thermal Receipt Printers

Thermal receipt printers connect to various retail POS programs to print customer receipts for sales. Choosing the right thermal receipt printer depends on the POS system you use and the type of connection that you need.

The four primary types of printer connections you’ll see when shopping for a thermal receipt printer are:

• USB connection: These thermal receipt printers connect to registers or computers using a USB cable
• LAN connection: LAN connections are used to connect thermal receipt printers to a network router
• WLAN connection: Wi-Fi-enabled thermal receipt printers connect to systems via Wi-Fi for wireless printing
• Bluetooth connection – Bluetooth-enabled thermal receipt printers connect to iPads, iPhones and other mobile devices to print sales receipts

Do some research on what a POS system is and how its setup and hardware will affect which thermal receipt printer you choose as the best for your shop or business. Below, we cover the top-rated POS receipt printers across various hardware, connectivity and sales applications.

Best Overall Thermal Receipt Printer for Square POS Users: Star Micronics TSP143IIIU

We recommend the Star Micronics TSP143IIIU thermal receipt printer for Square POS users running the Square iPad Stand or the new Square Register. The TSP143IIIU thermal receipt printer features a simple plug-and-play USB connection to both Square POS registers, so your setup is completed in just minutes. In fact, it’s so well-integrated with Square that it’s the only thermal receipt printer that Square sells directly to users.

Along with a foolproof setup, the TSP143IIIU is a true workhorse that can handle the demands of a busy retail store or restaurant. It boasts a print speed of 43 receipts per minute, auto-cuts receipts with a clean edge and even has a de-curl function to ensure receipts are flat, not curled for easy handling. With drop-in paper loading, replacing paper rolls takes just seconds too, so your customers aren’t left waiting during checkout.

Star Micronics TSP143IIIU Square Receipt Printer Pricing

Square POS sells the TSP143IIIU thermal receipt printer for $299.

However, you can generally find lower prices for this POS receipt printer on Amazon and through other sellers. If you purchase through another seller, it’s very important that you select the USB version (TSP143IIIU) if you want to use this thermal receipt printer with Square POS. Star Micronics makes several versions of this particular thermal receipt printer, but Square specifically connects its POS stand and register to the “U” version for plug-and-play compatibility.

Star Micronics TSP143IIIU Square Receipt Printer Features

The Star Micronics TSP143IIIU offers a complete set of receipt printing features that meet or exceed what most retailers need. With a simple plug-and-play interface with Square POS, it does everything a Square user needs, including:

• Connect to Square POS iPad Stand or the new Square Register
• Customize receipts with logo, graphics or other sales messages
• Print receipts for any type of transaction: cash, check, credit card or gift card
• Print regular store receipts
• Print restaurant receipts with space for tips
• Use with a cash drawer
• Send digital receipts and provide paper receipts
• Reasonable countertop footprint — about 6 inches wide by 6 inches tall by 8 inches long
• Choose black or white to match your Square POS Stand or Register hardware
• Prints 3-inch wide receipts on standard thermal receipt rolls
• Thermal printing requires no ink or toner refills

But the TSP143IIIU isn’t reserved just for Square POS users. It’s a universal receipt printer that can connect to a number of POS systems along with other sales and terminal software. You’ll need to check your particular system for compatibility. If the TSP143IIIU does connect to your system, here are some added features that you can enjoy:

• Connect to Windows, Android, Linux, MAC-based POS and sales systems
• Connect directly to iPhone and iPad via a lightning cable for apps that support that connection (not Square)
• Print quick response (QR) code Micro Receipts to save paper
• Print store policies, return information, promotions and coupons on the back of each receipt
• Give customers a digital receipt delivery that connects to your promotional store page

Star Micronics Customer Support

Star Micronics offers online customer support via a support form but no direct support phone number. However, it does publish a general contact phone number, so you can reach a person to answer general pre-and post-sales questions. Comprehensive user guides, driver support, video setup tutorials and developer information can be found on the general support hub.

If you use the TSP143IIIU with Square POS, Square has complete setup tutorials. Plus, Square customer service can assist with general connectivity, usage and some troubleshooting since it’s the recommended Square receipt printer for Square Stand and Register.

What’s Missing from Star Micronics TSP143IIIU Square Receipt Printer

This particular thermal receipt printer model doesn’t feature wireless Bluetooth, WLAN or LAN connectivity. However, if you need it to pair with your Square POS system, it’s the USB connectivity that you need. So, this isn’t missing in terms of the intended purpose. Rather, it’s the specific connectivity that you need for a Square iPad Stand or Square Register installation.

Other printers within the TSP100 line offer a range of wireless and network connectivity for compatible POS systems. We’ll cover one of these pairings, the TSP100 and Lightspeed POS, next.

Best Receipt Printer for Most Small-Business POS Systems: Star Micronics TSP100 Series Printer

We recommend the Star Micronics TSP100 series printers for most retail and restaurant POS system needs because these printers cover the full array of POS connectivity needs. Because of the flexible connectivity features, TSP100 series printers work with virtually every small-business POS system on the market, including:

• Lightspeed Retail POS
• Lightspeed Restaurant POS
• QuickBooks POS
• ShopKeep
• PayPal Here
• Shopify POS
• Vend

Like the USB-specific version covered above for Square POS, all TSP100 receipt printers offer reliable performance, fast printing of around 45 receipts per minute, an auto cutter, simple drop-in paper reloading and de-curl feature that produces flat receipts.

The only thing you need to consider when purchasing the TSP100 is the type of connectivity you need for your POS system. The TSP100 family covers it all: WLAN, Bluetooth and direct-connect via USB or LAN.

Star Micronics TSP100 POS Receipt Printer Pricing

Many POS systems sell specific TSP100 series receipt printers as an accessory item either directly or via a partner hardware provider. For example, Lightspeed POS includes the TSP100 in its register bundles, plus you can order it alone once you sign up for Lightspeed POS.

Generally, however, you can find a lower price purchasing one through Amazon, where they run from $200 to $300, depending on the seller and the type of connection you need.

If you purchase your TSP100 series receipt printer through an outside seller, just be sure that you’re buying the correct connectivity to work with your POS system. For example, most Amazon listings for this receipt printer clearly list the connectivity. Here, you can see this listing page is for an Ethernet connection, which you need for a network or router setup:

This TSP100 series printer listing page on Amazon lets you select a range of models with different connectivity, including the new Bluetooth configuration that some mobile POS systems support.

The takeaway on pricing is that you can probably find TSP100 POS receipt printers for less than you’d pay to purchase it through your POS provider. However, be absolutely certain that you buy the right model and connection for your POS system setup. Because all POS systems clearly list the specific model and connectivity required in their hardware specifications, you should be able to figure out what you need.

Star Micronics TSP100 POS Receipt Printer Features

Like the specific model that Square POS uses for its registers, which we covered above, the TSP100 series printers deliver an array of receipt printing features. Specific features depend on the POS system you use but, in general, TSP100 series POS receipt printers offer:

• Plug-and-play connections with POS hardware and network equipment including Windows, Android, Linux, Mac-based POS and sales systems
• Customize receipts with logo, graphics or other sales messages
• Print receipts for any type of transaction: cash, check, credit card or gift card
• Print regular store receipts
• Print restaurant receipts with space for tips
• Communicate with a cash drawer
• Send digital receipts and provide paper receipts
• Moderate countertop footprint, about 6 inches wide by 6 inches tall by 8 inches long
• Most models come in either black or white while an off-white putty color is available in some versions
• Prints 3-inch wide receipts on standard thermal receipt rolls
• Thermal printing requires no ink or toner refills

Depending on your POS system and the specific TSP100 printer version you use, you might also be able to:

• Directly connect to an iPhone or iPad using a lightning cable (USB versions only)
• Print wirelessly from multiple registers or mobile terminals via Wi-Fi (WLAN versions only)
• Print wirelessly via Bluetooth from mobile POS apps on iPhone, iPads and Android devices (Bluetooth versions only)
• Print QR-code Micro Receipts to save paper (most models)
• Print store policies, return information, promotions and coupons on the back of each receipt (most models)
• Give customers a digital receipt delivery that connects to your promotional store page (most models)

Star Micronics POS Receipt Printer Customer Support

You can reach Star Micronics customer support via a support form, but there is no direct support phone number. The general contact phone number sales team can answer general pre-and post-sales questions. For setup, maintenance and troubleshooting, you can find user guides, driver downloads, how-to videos and advanced developer information in the general support hub.

Since the TSP100 series is a standard POS receipt printer for most small-business POS systems, your POS support team should be able to help you with specific setup, connectivity and use questions.

What’s Missing from Star Micronics TSP100 POS Receipt Printer

The TSP100 series of POS receipt printers really covers the spectrum of needs, so there’s nothing that these printers are missing. However, they’re not very compact. It’s not the best choice for a very small counter checkout space or if you intend to use this as a portable receipt printer for markets and shows. Other POS receipt printers, covered below, can be more suitable for these selling needs.

Best Compact Bluetooth Receipt Printer for Square POS: Epson TM-m10

We recommend the Epson TM-m10 receipt printer for Square POS users that need a compact countertop printer with a Bluetooth wireless connection. This Epson receipt printer doesn’t need the Square POS stand or register to print. It connects via Bluetooth to your iPad or iPhone running Square.

Of course, this Epson receipt printer can integrate with other mobile and desktop-based POS systems as well, including ShopKeep. Just check your POS system hardware integrations to see if this POS receipt printer is supported.

At just 4 inches wide by 4 inches long by 4 inches tall, this Epson receipt printer easily fits on — or under — tight countertop spaces. Because it’s wireless, you don’t have to place it adjacent to other hardware. It works wherever you have room and a nearby electrical outlet. Despite its small size, it prints a generous 2-inch wide receipt and can print your logo or other customer messaging if you wish.

Epson TM-m10 Bluetooth Receipt Printer Pricing

The Bluetooth version of the Epson TM-m10 receipt printer runs about $300 on Amazon. It’s more expensive than the standard USB or LAN versions of this Epson receipt printer but, if you want wireless convenience for printing receipts from anywhere in your shop via your iPhone or iPad, then the extra cost is definitely worth it.

Epson TM-m10 Bluetooth Receipt Printer Features

The Epson TM-m10 receipt printer quickly connects via Bluetooth technology to your iPhone and iPad running Square POS and ShopKeep. After pairing the Epson receipt printer to your Square POS or other compatible POS system like ShopKeep, you can:

• Customize receipts with logo, graphics or other sales messages
• Print receipts for any type of transaction: cash, check, credit card or gift card
• Print regular store receipts
• Print restaurant receipts with space for tips
• Use receipt printer together with a cash drawer
• Place in tight spaces on or underneath the counter
• Choose from white or black to match your POS hardware
• Prints 2-inch wide receipts on standard thermal receipt rolls
• Thermal printing requires no ink or toner refills
• Refill paper rolls from the front or top, whichever is easiest for you
• Connect the receipt printer directly to computers using the included USB cable

Epson TM-m10 Bluetooth Receipt Printer Customer Support

Epson has a reputation for excellent customer support. The Customer Support page lists phone numbers plus you can use Epson’s online chat or opt for email support. Customer support hours are Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Pacific time and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific time.

Epson also has an online support portal that offers setup and troubleshooting manuals, FAQs and printer driver downloads.

What’s Missing from the Epson TM-m10 Bluetooth Receipt Printer

If you need a compact wireless POS receipt printer for Square POS and other iPad or Android-based POS systems, there’s nothing missing from the Epson TM-m10. You can even connect it to desktop and laptop computers via USB if you wish.

If you want to be picky, this device doesn’t have an Ethernet port that supports a LAN or WLAN connections. However, if you want that type of setup, the Star Micronics TSP100 series discussed previously has you covered for all types of wired and wireless Wi-Fi network capabilities.

Best Portable Bluetooth Receipt Printer for Square POS & PayPal Here: Star Micronics SM-S230i

We recommend the Star Micronics SM-S230i for Square POS or PayPal Here users who need a fully mobile receipt printer. Battery-operated portable Bluetooth wireless receipt printers are an ideal choice for printing receipts for mobile sales at markets and festivals, in food trucks and for various services. For these needs, the Star Micronics SM-S230i doesn’t disappoint.

Weighing in at around 8 ounces and measuring just 3.25 inches wide, 4.5 inches long and 1.75 inches thick, this portable receipt printer goes anywhere you need it. Its small size is just part of the convenience. The Star Micronics SM-S230i receipt printer auto-detects your iPhone and iPad POS devices to pair with both Square POS and PayPal Here quickly. This makes it a top pick for anyone focusing on mobile selling.

Star Micronics SM-S230i Portable Bluetooth Receipt Printer Pricing

Like the other POS receipt printers in our list, you can shop around for deals. The SM-S230i runs about $275 on Amazon. This receipt printer comes complete with:

• Rechargeable lithium battery pack
• Battery charger
• USB cable
• Belt clip
• Paper roll

Star Micronics SM-S230i Portable Bluetooth Receipt Printer Features

Portability and auto-detect Bluetooth pairing to both Square POS and PayPal Here are the features that set this wireless receipt printer apart from the others in our list. However, it offers other conveniences as well, including:

• Provides 13 hours of print time with a recharge time of about four hours
• Durable casing is drop-tested to a height of 5 feet
• Configurable auto sleep mode can be set to power down after one to five minutes
• Customize receipts with logo, graphics or other sales messages
• Print receipts for any type of transaction: cash, check, credit card or gift card
• Print restaurant receipts with space for tips
• Prints 2-inch wide receipts
• Thermal printing requires no ink or toner refills
• Refill paper rolls drop in from the top
• Connect the receipt printer directly to computers using the included USB cable

The USB plug option lets you direct-connect to Windows or Mac laptop and desktop computers to print from other POS and sales software systems. Like the other POS receipt printers on our list, the SM-S230i can integrate with various systems. If you don’t use Square POS or PayPal Here, simply check your provider’s supported hardware list.

Star Micronics SM-S230i Portable Bluetooth Receipt Printer Customer Support

Star Micronics offers customer support via a support form. There is no dedicated support phone number, but there is a general contact phone number. That means that you can reach a sales team for pre-and post-sales questions. Setup, maintenance, troubleshooting, user guides and driver downloads are accessible in the general support hub. For specific POS system connectivity and use questions, you can also contact your POS system provider.

What’s Missing from the Star Micronics SM-S230i Portable Bluetooth Receipt Printer

The SM-S230i is fairly new on the market, so we’ve only been able to confirm compatibility with a few of the top mobile POS systems, such as Square POS and PayPal Here. It’s not listed on the hardware lists of other POS systems like Shopify POS, ShopKeep or QuickBooks GoPayments yet. However, because it’s made by the industry-leading Star Micronics, it’s likely that it works with other systems but has not been added to the hardware lists. If in doubt, you can call your POS provider to see if it supports this portable receipt printer.

Best Smart Terminal All-in-One Receipt Printer: First Data FD130 Terminal

If you haven’t yet made a move to a POS system, you can use an all-in-one credit card terminal to complete sales and print receipts. Most merchant services providers like Cayan offer a range of credit card terminals that do this. These are called smart terminals because they process all types of credit cards — magstripe, chip and EMV contactless payments — plus paper checks and even electronic benefit transfer (EBT) payments.

Smart terminals can also connect to your cash register or other POS sales software so you can record all your credit, check and cash sales within one integrated system.

FirstData FD130 Smart Terminal Receipt Printer Pricing

Like the other receipt printers on our list, the FD130 can be found on Amazon, where it’s currently listed at around $175. In order to use this all-in-one payment processing and receipt printing terminal, you’ll need a merchant services provider to process your credit and debit card payments. We recommend Cayan, which supports this terminal and offers very competitive interchange-plus credit card processing rates.

First Data FD130 Smart Terminal Receipt Printer Features

Smart terminals like the FD130 are designed to do far more than just print receipts. They also process credit cards, connect to cash registers and integrate with various POS systems. In fact, Lightspeed POS, which lets you use your own payment processor, works with this terminal. POS systems with built-in payment processing like Square, PayPal Here and Shopify POS don’t connect to this terminal.

Of course, if you just use a cash register and need a way to process credit cards and print sales receipts, the FD130 is a great all-in-one solution. With it, you can:

• Securely process magstripe credit cards, chip cards, eWallet payments, checks and EBT payments
• Accept debit cards with PIN entry
• Run checks through TeleCheck Electronic Check Acceptance for approvals
• Review and print daily sales reports
• Print receipts for any type of transaction: cash, check, credit card or gift card
• Print restaurant receipts with space for tips
• Prints 2.5-inch wide receipts on standard thermal receipt rolls
• Thermal printing requires no ink or toner refills
• Easily drop in paper refills from the top
• Select your own merchant processing provider like Cayan

First Data FD130 Smart Terminal Receipt Printer Customer Support

First Data has a reputation for great devices as is shown by this device’s 4.5-star (out of five) average rating on Amazon. However, with the FD130 (and similar terminals), your initial setup and ongoing support are covered by your merchant services provider, not First Data.

Some providers have great customer service, but others can be sorely lacking. We recommend Cayan because it offers outstanding setup and ongoing customer service, along with extremely competitive small-business credit card processing rates.

What’s Missing from the First Data FD130 Smart Terminal Receipt Printer

The receipt printing features of the FD130 are pretty basic. It doesn’t have some of the fancy functions like print-on-back or QR code Micro Receipt printing that the Star Micronics TP100 line offers. However, the FD130 does a good deal more than a basic receipt printer, such as process all of your credit, debit and check payments and print receipts for all of those transactions.

Best Budget Receipt Printer for Loyverse Free POS: MUNBYN 58

Loyverse is free POS app that’s very popular with small cafes and restaurants. If you use Loyverse POS and need to print receipts for both orders and sales, you can do both with this little unit and at a fraction of the cost of the others covered in this guide.

MUNBYN 58 Portable Bluetooth Receipt Printer Pricing

The MUNBYN is sold on Amazon and the price runs between $50 and $60, which is far less expensive than the Star Micronics and Epson receipt printers on our list. That includes:

• MUNBYN 58 receipt printer
• Printer driver CD
• Power adapter
• USB cable
• 1 thermal paper roll (more available on Amazon for about 89 cents each)

MUNBYN 58 Portable Bluetooth Receipt Printer Features

This printer doesn’t have multiplatform POS compatibility. It’s primarily designed to meet the needs of Loyverse POS users and, for that purpose, it’s pretty robust. With the MUNBYN 58, you can:

• Connect via Bluetooth for wireless printing from the Loyverse POS app on Android devices
• Print order slips and order receipts
• Customize receipts with logo,
• Print bar codes for Loyverse POS order identification
• Prints 2.25-inch wide receipts
• Thermal printing requires no ink or toner refills
• Refill paper rolls drop in from the top
• Connect the receipt printer directly to computers using the included USB cable

The USB plug option lets you direct-connect the MUNBYN 58 wireless receipt printer to a Windows desktop or laptop. For the tech-minded, this receipt printer can integrate with various sales systems. However, out of the box, it’s meant to be used with Loyverse POS.

MUNBYN 58 Portable Bluetooth Receipt Printer Customer Support

MUNBYN isn’t a major brand like Epson or Star Micronics. However, the 97 percent positive company rating on Amazon shows it clearly handles customer issues in a timely manner.

Customer service for this printer is primarily handled via Amazon seller questions, which is good because Amazon requires a prompt response. The company also lists YouTube setup videos and setup instructions within its product page on Amazon, so you don’t have to hunt around on a separate site.

What’s Missing from the MUNBYN 58 Portable Bluetooth Receipt Printer

This wireless receipt printer doesn’t support the “name-brand” POS systems like Square POS, ShopKeep and Lightspeed POS. So, it’s not an inexpensive receipt printer option for these POS systems. However, it’s specifically made to work with the free Loyverse POS app, which is quite popular and flexible. So if you’re in the Loyverse POS family, it’s a good value.

The Bottom Line

Choosing the right thermal receipt printer for your business depends on three factors:

• The POS system you use
• The type of connection you want or need
• Where you sell — in-store or in mobile settings

The Star Micronics TSP100 series printers connect to a wide variety of popular POS systems including Square POS, Lightspeed POS, ShopKeep, PayPal Here and many others. These printers also meet all connectivity needs, from Ethernet networking and USB direct connections to wireless Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections.

However, the TSP100 series printers aren’t the most compact options available. For tight spaces or mobile selling needs, other thermal receipt printers on our list can be the better choice. Matching up the right unit with your specific system and needs is the key to making your shop run right.

Do you use a thermal printer with your POS system? Which combination works best for your company? We’d love to hear about your solution in the comments below.