Best Credit Card Readers for iPhone in 2021

The world’s credit card industry is estimated to be worth a whopping $21.9 trillion in 2021, according to research from Euromonitor International.

Many credit card readers work with iPhones and iPads if you require a mobile and easy-to-use payment processor for on-the-go purchases. Although you may need your merchant account in certain circumstances, several of the best credit card readers for iPhone can accept credit card, touchless, and, in some cases, digital check payments directly from your phone.

The best credit card readers for iPhones, according to our review of over a dozen alternatives, are:

• Square: The best credit card reader for iPhone (and it’s free).
• Clover Go: The most convenient way to link an existing merchant account.
• Payment Depot: The best option for B2B and high-volume transactions.
• Zettle (PayPal): The best for freelancers and PayPal users.

Square

4.63 OUT OF 5

Pros

• Simple to use
• A powerful point-of-sale system that evolves with your company
• Additional programs and resources to help your company expand.

Cons

• Customer service hours are limited.
• Payments must be processed via Square.
• Many complaints concerning unclaimed payments have been filed in the app store.

Pricing

• 2.6 percent + 10% if a card is present
• 3.5 percent + 15 percent keyed-in
• There is no chargeback cost.
• Free POS system
• Chip and tap card reader: $49 (one free swipe reader)
• Hardware for the POS: $299+

Square is the best overall credit card reader for the iPhone because it offers cheap rates with no monthly fees or upfront expenditures, as well as dependability, security, and cutting-edge features. While Square is more costly for small-ticket purchases than other providers, it compensates with excellent chargeback assistance, a suite of company management tools, and expandable hardware in case you require a full-fledged register in the future. Square often appears at the top of our rankings of the best credit card applications, best credit card payment apps for Android, best credit card readers, and best mobile credit card processors.

Features

• Square’s POS app has more functionality than all of the other options on our list combined. You may use Square to track cash and card payments, add tips to each transaction, divide sales across multiple payment methods, and text or email customer receipts. Square functions offline, so you can take credit card payments even if you don’t have access to the internet. Pay anywhere comes close in terms of functionality, but Square is the clear winner.
• Square’s business administration capabilities include invoicing, appointment booking, personnel management, and customer email marketing. Square also connects with other company applications, such as accounting and delivery management.
• Square’s chargeback policy differs from typical credit card processing businesses. If you get a chargeback, it will send you an email and automatically challenge it if you forget or miss the deadline. It does not impose additional costs when a chargeback happens; the cardholder’s bank is responsible for any expenses incurred if the dispute is unsuccessful. However, adding supporting documents through the Square Dashboard is strongly encouraged, as it will boost your chances of a successful challenge.

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Pay anywhere

4.35 OUT OF 5

Pros

• There are no additional charges for chargebacks.
• For low-ticket sales, a flat percentage is ideal.
• Funding on the same day

Cons

• Expensive pricing if you process >$10,000 per month

Pricing

• 2.69 percent of people have a card.
• 3.49 percent + 19% = 3.49 percent + 19% = 3.49 percent + 19% = 3.49 percent + 19% = 3.49 percent
• There is no chargeback cost.
• Fee for inactivity: $3.99 per month after 12 months’ idleness
• Free POS system
• Card readers range in price from $29.95 to $49.95, with the first 2-in-1 reader being free.
• The monthly cost of POS hardware: $9.95+

Features

Pay anywhere has a 4.35 out of 5-star rating. It topped the rankings regarding mobile features and received good marks in terms of pricing and payment processing. It received more minor points than other card reader services on our list, such as PayPal, for not having Customer service is available 24 hours a day, seven days. It also has fewer integrations than Square.

• Restaurant features: Payanywhere’s app lets you split payments, have open tabs, and request tips. It also integrates with delivery systems.
• Employee management: Pay anywhere is the only tool on our list that tracks time and schedules employees. In addition, Pay anywhere provides free recruiting tools via Homebase. If you operate a high-turnover firm, this is a fantastic feature.

Clover Go: The most convenient way to link an existing merchant account

Clover Go

4.23 OUT OF 5

Pros

• Works with several different payment methods.
• Reports on sales and competition information
• Customer service is available 24 hours a day, seven days

Cons

• Deposits might take up to three days to process.
• The POS system must be paid for.
• An app is required for invoicing.

Pricing

• Present card: 2.7 percent + 10%
• 3.5 percent plus ten percent (keyed-in)
• Fees for chargebacks vary.
• $99+ for a card reader
• Renting a POS system costs $9.95-$39.95 per month for the first device ($69.95 per month for Table Service).
• POS terminals cost $499 and above.

Features

• Choice of merchant services: This is a double-edged sword. Clover’s deals with resellers mean you can shop around for a merchant service that best meets your needs. Some even supply free POS software; free Clover Hardware is a company that specializes in hardware., free virtual terminals, and more. If you work in a high-risk industry, you may find a Clover dealer that can accommodate you. (None of the products on this list support high-risk industries.) However, you must choose carefully because once you program Clover POS hardware to merchant service, you cannot reprogram it.
• Customer service and customer feedback are accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week by phone, chat, and email. Users rated the POS system 4.7 out of 5 stars, yet recent evaluations indicate that the most recent upgrade is unstable.

Cons

• The iPhone/iPad app does not have a point-of-sale mechanism. It does, however, allow you to establish inventory, which includes specific pricing and certain variants, as well as compute taxes, send receipts, and other functions. If you just have a modest list, this may be sufficient.
• Clover does not monitor its resellers, so be careful about whatever merchant account you use, or you risk incurring hidden costs and penalties for terminating your contract early. Clover Go is free, but you’ll need Clover to use it, which sometimes comes with monthly subscriptions or contracts.
• Clover’s microbusiness capabilities might be more costly and complicated than a solopreneur, hobbyist, or microbusiness desires or requires. Consider Square, Zettle, or Pay anywhere for a basic app.

Payment Depot is the best option for B2B and high-volume transactions.

Payment Depot

4.54 OUT OF 5

Pros

• A lot of positive feedback
• Customer service is outstanding.

Cons

• Monthly fees are charged.
• The chargeback procedure has become more complicated.
• Only merchants based in the United States are eligible.

Pricing

• Monthly prices range from $79 to $299.
• Interchange + 7 to 15 percent, depending on the plan
• Fee for a chargeback: $15
• System of point-of-sale (point-of-sale):
• $99 for a card reader
• POS hardware costs between $499 and $1,699

Features

Payment Depot earned 4.14 out of 5 stars overall in our evaluation. It got full marks for payment types and mobile features and was a strong competitor for pricing. Its lowest score was in account features, particularly its support hours and options.

• Level 2 and 3 processing: If you do B2B or government sales, you can benefit from Level 2 and 3 payment processing, which lowers the interchange rates. Payment Depot works with PayTrace, getting Level 2 and Level 3 rates on business cards. PayTrace automatically fills the data fields required to process Level 2 and Level 3 transactions, so you can enjoy the lower rates that come with these data levels. Clover may also have Level 2 processing, depending on the merchant account you choose.
• Invoicing: While not part of SwipeSimple, Payment Depot allows you to email invoices to customers and receive payments. This is typical of most payment processors but makes Payment Depot even more suited for B2B.
• Mobile app: As of this writing, SwipeSimple ties with Square for the highest rated app, with 4.8 out of 5 stars. After an update, the highest ratings came in 2019/2020, but ratings fell in 2021. This seems typical for this kind of software. Like Clover, SwipeSimple is used by many merchant services, and there are complaints about some of them. However, most people said it worked well and was simple to use.
• Additional business services: Your Payment Depot subscription does more than getting you payment processing through the app. You also have access to business funding, free POS equipment, chargeback risk monitoring (with specific plans), and a free payment gateway for online transactions. The other services on our list offer some, but not all. Square and PayPal, for example, also have business funding but not free POS equipment.
• Customer support and user reviews: Phone and email support are available 24/7, putting it ahead of Square. Payment Depot support team is highly rated by customers, as is SwipeSimple’s. Other apps like PayPal have numerous complaints about customer service.

Zettle (PayPal) is ideal for one-person businesses, hobbyists, and crafters.

Zettle (PayPal)

Overall Score: 4.08 OUT OF 5

Pros

• The user interface is straightforward.
• Pays into PayPal right away

Cons

• No Mode for use when you’re not connected to the internet
• Restaurants have limited features.
• PayPal has a history of freezing users’ accounts.

Pricing

• 2.29 percent + 9 percent = 2.29 percent + 9 percent = 2.29 percent + 9 percent = 2.29 percent Plus
• 3.49 percent + 9 percent (keyed-in)
• Fee for a chargeback: $20
• Free POS system
• The card reader costs $79 (the first one is $29).
• Hardware for POS systems ranges from $249 to $699.

Don’t get us wrong: Zettle is great for small businesses with minimal inventory requirements. It’s on our top credit card applications, the best credit card payment app for Android, and the best mobile credit card processor lists, just like Square. We recommend Zettle for the solopreneur or artisan who sells their items at conferences, craft fairs, and other part-time venues for this particular list. (Square is another excellent option.) The Zettle POS software is simple yet effective, and PayPal is a widely used payment system that accepts various payment methods, including credit cards, bitcoin, and cross-border transactions. It’s also an excellent alternative for individuals who undertake multichannel sales with the odd in-person marketing combined with PayPal’s other payment choices.

Features

• Ideal for sales on a small scale or infrequently: If your inventory is minimal, Zettle is easy to understand and set up in a matter of minutes. There are no monthly costs, no monthly use requirements, and commitments. You may store it for months and then utilize it as if it were just a day. The fees are lower than other flat-rate processors and are not based on your sales number.
• Same-day PayPal deposits: If you use PayPal, Zettle can deliver your money immediately since it deposits straight into your account every day. The other credit card readers on our list may be able to give you your money as soon as the following day, but some, such as Square, demand a fee for expedited deposits.
• Mobile app: As I write this, Zettle has 3.5 out of 5 stars on the Apple App store with about 35 reviews. One of the most recent complaints is data from PayPal. Users also had problems with setup, including changing the app from Spanish to English. Customer support also received complaints.

How We Picked the Best Credit Card Readers for iPhone

Because the top mobile credit card processing services operate with iOS and Android, we picked those with the highest reviews or were more prevalent on iOS. Then we compared them to the others on the list in terms of pricing, types of payments accepted, additional features available on the phone and that can be purchased separately, how quickly you can access your earnings, and how well it compared to the others on the list in terms of our evaluation and user feedback.

In terms of functionality and pricing, Square comes out on top. It’s a solid option for people and companies of all sizes, with straightforward pricing and no commitments, a feature-rich POS system and invoicing capabilities, and fast access to your cash.

20% of the overall score

Payment processors that did not need contracts or monthly fees and no cancellation fees or minimum criteria received the highest points. Square blasted the competition out of the water with a perfect score of 5 out of 5.

20% of the 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, e-checks, and stored payments for repeat customers. Square and Depot for Payments got perfect scores, followed closely by Zettle.

20% of the overall score

Does the app allow a mode for use when you’re not connected to the internet if you lose the internet? Does it have POS functions and send receipts? Pay anywhere, and Payment Depot/SwipeSimple earned perfect scores here.

20% of the overall score

We gave the most credit to those with 24/7 support, quick deposit times, and mobile card readers, including chip and swipe options. Clover Go had the highest score, with 4.25 out of 5, while Depot for Payments was far last with 2.25 out of 5.

20% of the overall score

This took into account our overall assessment of pricing and convenience of use, as well as ratings from real-world customers on reputable third-party review sites. Although Square received a perfect score, all of the card readers on our list performed well.

Conclusion

With COVID-19 transforming the way we conduct business, having the means to collect payments on your phone or iPad is critical for optimal flexibility. Many of the credit card readers we looked at provided virtual terminals and internet choices in addition to numerous methods to take on-the-go payments.

Overall, Square is our favorite because of its flexibility and low pricing. It’s a bit more costly if you have minor transactions, but it’s OK for the occasional user or small company and you can scale as you grow.