The 10 Best Card Readers for Small Businesses (2025)

When you’re out shopping and want to pay with your credit card—you insert, swipe, or tap your card on a small device. That piece of hardware is acredit card reader, which transmits your information to a payment processor and bank for approval.

While credit card readers may look similar at first glance, they can vary significantly in terms of functionality and cost. There are several considerations, including fees, features, connectivity, integrations, and compatibility, to consider when deciding.

This article looks at the top 10 best card readers for small businesses, highlights which features credit card readers should have, and helps you pick the right one for your store.

The 10 best card readers for small businesses

1. Shopify POS
2. Square
3. Clover Flex
4. PayPal Zettle
5. Toast
6. Stripe Terminal
7. Lightspeed
8. eHopper
9. Aloha Cloud
10. KORONA POS

Our methodology

We believe Shopify POS is the top choice for retailers due to its unified platform and robust features. But card readers aren't one-size-fits-all, so we created this comparison to help you evaluate your options. 

After reviewing various card readers based on features, pricing, payment methods, fees, integrations, and ease of use, we've compiled a list of the top 10 card readers that offer the most value, functionality, reliability, and versatility for retailers.

1. Shopify POS: Best for a unified retail experience

Shopify POS is more than one of the best small business credit and debit card readers on the market. It’s a fully integrated, customizable, omnichannel point-of-sale system that helps you manage transactions smoothly in your store, online, across mobile devices, and on the go. 

Shopify POS makes everything you need to run your retail business—no matter how big or small—easy to handle from one place. When paired with a tablet, Shopify’s POS terminal lets merchants offer buyers a dedicated customer-facing display for checkouts in-store. A portable tap-and-chip card reader is available for on-the-go selling and supports major payment methods, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.

Shopify POS features:

• Omnichannel selling
• Staff management
• Rich customer profiles
• Customer order history
• Reporting and analytics
• Inventory management
• Shopify Payments
• Fully integrated payments
• Built-in marketing tools
• Intuitive and fast checkout
• Smart inventory management
• Unlimited products and variants
• Varioushardware choices
• Mobile POS hardware (Tap to Pay on iPhone)

Pros:

• Reliable connectivity to support the completion of every transaction
• Variouscard reader devices that accommodate every kind of small business
• Fully integrated with Shopify’s online store for a unified commerce platform
• Streamlined inventory management for every product across all stores
• Strict security and full PCI compliance to protect cardholder data
• 24/7 support from Shopify’s team of dedicated retail specialists

Cons:

• Shopify POS's strong e-commerce integration may be excessive for stores with no online presence

Pricing:

• POS plans start at $5/month + processing fees
• Card reader hardware pricing starts at $49
• Shopify monthly fee required

2. Square

Square is a flexible and user-friendly platform ideal for new entrepreneurs who don't initially require a comprehensive POS system. It provides tailored product suites for restaurants, retail, and beauty. 

It also offers simple solutions for selling anywhere and secure payment options: Square Reader for chip cards and contactless payments on the counter or on the go and a reader for magstripe, which comes in type-C, Lightning, and 3.5mm headset jack versions depending on your device’s connection.

Square POS features:

• Flexible payments
• Third-party integrations
• Customer accounts
• Inventory management
• Offline payments
• Reporting and insights
• Multi-location management
• Commerce tool add-ons (additional price)

Pros:

• Intuitive, user-friendly software
• Multi-card reader for swipe, tap, and insert chip cards
• Compatible with USB-C
• Works with Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android
• Long-term contracts aren’t required
• Quick and secure payment processing
• Offers a free card reader that’s good for individual entrepreneurs (Square Reader)
• Flexible hardware upgrades for when entrepreneurs are ready to scale

Cons:

• Free card reader doesn’t accept contactless payments or chip cards
• Must upgrade from the free reader to new hardware to scale
• Additional commerce services aren’t included in the price

Pricing:

• Processing fees start at 2.6% + 10¢ per transaction
• Hardware prices vary, starting at $10 to $799
• Additional fees for add-on commerce services
• No monthly fees for software

3. Clover Flex

Clover Flex is a handheld and wireless card reader packed with all the features of a full POS system and flexible payment options. It’s a portable, sleek option for a mobile point-of-sale making it a nice choice for tableside transactions. 

This small card reader is also great for entrepreneurs who work in dynamic environments, including pop-up shops, farmers markets, and events. Clover also offers the Flex Pocket reader, which is lighter for portability and uses Type-C charging, but lacks a receipt printer.

Clover Flex POS features:

• 100% wireless
• 6” LCD display
• Flexible payments
• Thermal dot printer
• Built-in receipt printer 
• Digital receipts
• End-to-end encryption
• 1D/2D barcode scanner
• WiFi & LTE connectivity

Pros:

• Small and portable for on-the-go transactions
• Ready to go right out of the box
• Rapid deposit transfers money into your bank account in minutes 
• Accepts Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay

Cons:

• 8-hour battery life
• Only includes basic sales reports
• Can’t create and categorize items on the basic plan

Pricing:

• Processing fees start at 2.6% + 10¢ per transaction
• $35/mo for 36 months or $599 flat fee for hardware
• Upgrades to premium plans available for additional fees
• No monthly fee for the basic plan
• Premium plan upgrades start at $14.99/month

4. PayPal Zettle

Zettle by PayPal offers two mobile card readers: the Zettle Payment Terminal and Zettle Card Reader 2. The payment terminal is ideal for on-the-spot sales and seamless payments while the Zettle Card Reader 2 allows contactless payments by all major credit cards. 

Both are portable and versatile, work for smaller business setups, and are quick and easy to set up so you can make a sale in just seconds. The biggest draws of Zettle are that it doesn’t require a contract and integrates with many POS systems.

Zettle features:

• Mobile card reader
• Contactless payments
• No monthly fee
• Major cards accepted
• Fast setup
• PCI-certified security
• Bluetooth connectivity
• POS app integration
• Secure payment processing
• Multiple color options

Pros:

• No contract needed
• Contactless payments with Tap to Pay
• Schedule transfers to your bank with no extra fee
• Funds arrive within minutes of making a sale to your PayPal balance 

Cons:

• Battery life is only 8 hours
• No age-verification features
• Only compatible with iOS and Android compatible
• Simple card reader that doesn’t work well for larger retail operations

Pricing:

• Processing fees are 2.29% + 9¢
• One-time $29 hardware fee
• One-time $79 hardware fee for additional readers

5. Toast Go 2

Toast Go 2 is a card reader built specifically for restaurants. Its durability and functionality meet the demands of bustling restaurant environments, and it can be used for indoor payments, drive-throughs, and curbside services. 

Toast supports contactless payments, including NFC and digital wallet transactions. It also integrates with other Toast commerce products and several essential restaurant industry tools.

Toast features:

• Mobile handheld POS
• Contactless payments
• Restaurant-grade durability
• Fully integrated system
• Spill, drop, and dustproof
• 24-hour battery
• Lightning-fast processing
• Comfortable for long shifts
• Palm-sized POS
• Multi-payment options
• Unified platform integration

Pros:

• Free starter kit (1-2 terminals)
• Long-lasting 24-hour battery life
• Durable build, spill, dust, and drop-resistant
• Easy-to-view touchscreen suitable for various lighting conditions
• Free Toast Care support in all subscriptions 24/7/365 by phone or web messaging

Cons:

• Higher transaction fees
• Only works for food services
• Must upgrade to a paid plan for tools beyond basic credit card processing

Pricing:

• 2.49% plus 15¢ per in-person transaction. 3.50% plus 15¢ per online transaction
• Monthly fees start at $0

6. Stripe Terminal

Stripe Terminal is a mobile card reader built for Stripe online users who also want to accept payments in person. Stripe Terminal is highly customizable, but it’s also built with developers in mind. 

In other words, to get the full benefit of Stripe Terminal, you either need to know how to code or need to hire a developer. Stripe Terminal is good for enterprises with large operations that are already using Stripe’s ecommerce payments.

Stripe Terminal features:

• Tap to Pay
• Unified commerce
• Customizable checkout
• Customer personalization
• Device-management tools
• Multiple card reader options
• Third-party integrations
• API-integration
• POS partners (including Shopify)
• Stripe Payments and Connect integrations

Pros:

• Unified online and in-person payments for Stripe users
• Supports contactless and NFC payments
• Global scalability for business expansion
• Compatible with multiple devices

Cons:

• Requires developer skills to access full benefits
• Processing fees are higher than many of its competitors

Pricing:

• Processing fees start at 2.9% + 30¢ per successful charge for domestic cards
• No monthly fees for the Standard package
• Additional fees for add-on services

7. Lightspeed

Lightspeed offers full POS hardware for retail, restaurant, and golf pro shops. Lightspeed is more well-known for its complete POS system and inventory management features. It’s a notable option for large enterprises looking to accept card payments and monitor inventory. 

Merchants can choose one of two credit card readers: a smart countertop reader that connects to Lightspeed Payments via the internet and Mobile Tap v2— a small, portable, Bluetooth card reader and one of the most compact on the market at 40 grams. 

Lightspeed features:

• Key-in card payments
• Intelligent inventory management
• Multi-channel inventory
• Marketing programs
• Purchase order management
• Hardware integration
• Loyalty programs
• Flexible hardware
• Ecommerce integrations
• NuORDER integration

Pros:

• Special POS for golf pros
• One-on-one onboarding
• Dedicated account manager
• Detailed inventory management tools
• Battery can last a day of trading and support 800 NFC transactions and 1200 contact transactions on a single charge

Cons:

• Too robust and expensive for small businesses
• Must upgrade to access advanced reporting
• Deposits take two days after a sale
• Hardware prices lack transparency

Pricing:

• Processing fees are 2.6% + 10¢ for card-present transactions
• Processing fees are 2.6% + 30¢ per keyed transaction
• POS plans start at $79 per month and $29 for each additional register
• Hardware prices vary

8. eHopper

eHopper is well-suited for businesses looking to save on costly processing fees. It supports surcharging and cash discounting, which passes processing fees on to shoppers at checkout. 

eHopper also offers a free, fully integrated Pax S300 payment terminal for processing in-store credit card payments and online orders. Grocers and retailers in specialty markets, like fabric stores, can benefit from eHopper as it offers features for managing and selling products by custom measurements and tracking perishable goods. 

eHopper features:

• Large color touch screen and loudspeaker
• USB and LAN connectivity options 
• Omnichannel capabilities
• Surcharge and cash discount programs
• Encryption security 
• Large memory capacity
• EMV & PCI compliant

Pros: 

• User-friendly interface
• Built-in card surcharging 
• Allows selling products by custom weight 
• Can track perishable goods
• Handles contactless, e-signature, magstripe, and EMV Chip card transactions
• Integrated payment processing

Cons:

• Free POS software and processing for US merchants only
• Limited reporting and customization
• Basic customer management functions 
• No iOS software compatibility

Pricing: 

• Card present transactions: 2.5% + 10¢ per swipe, dip, or tap (processing fees should total at least $20 in a month)
• Online transactions: Interchange plus + 1% + 29¢ per transaction
• POS plans start at $14.99 per month per license 
• Hardware prices vary

9. Aloha Cloud

Aloha Cloud by NCR Voyix is an all-in-one cloud- and Android-based POS solution that’s ideal for independent restaurants and emerging retail chains with less complex operations. 

It includes everything you need to accept and process payments securely via digital wallets, EMV cards, and more. It’s available as a monthly subscription that includes all software, hardware, services, and payments. 

Aloha features:

• Fixed and handheld terminals
• 6” screen display
• EMV and NFC technology to prevent fraud
• Chargeback management
• Employee scheduling
• Reports, including deposits, ACH, chargebacks, and more
• Built-in email marketing and loyalty tools 

Pros: 

• Next-day funding 
• Personalized onboarding
• Accepts NFC and digital wallets
• Handheld readers compatible with Verizon and T-Mobile SIM cards
• Point-to-point encryption against data security threats

Cons:

• Key features available as optional add-ons
• 8-10 hour battery life
• Subscription plans lock you into a 3-year contract

Pricing: 

• Free plan at $0 per month comes with a payment processing fee of 2.95% +15¢
• Premium plan costs $170/month with a 2.5% + 15¢ processing fee

10. KORONA POS: Best for payment processing integration

KORONA POS is also a cloud-based solution that helps small business owners streamline their operations. It comes with EMV and contactless payment options and seamlessly integrates with various merchant services without disruption, so you can capture payments efficiently.

It promises a 60-day money-back guarantee, making it ideal for newer stores that want to test different systems before committing to a specific system.

KORONA POS features:

• EMV and mobile payment options
• Split payments 
• Custom payments for large transactions
• Cashier permissions and reports
• Cash control to ensure everything is accounted for
• Loyalty programs
• Ecommerce integrations
• Automatic inventory reordering
• CRM and email marketing capabilities
• Cloud reporting and analytics with data backup for real-time access

Pros: 

• Free trial available 
• Multi-location support
• Accepts modern payment methods, like NFC with Android Pay and Apple Pay
• Integrates with any payment processor of your choice
• 30-day money-back guarantee on hardware and 60-day money-back guarantee on software

Cons:

• No built-in payment processor
• Hardware pricing isn’t transparent
• Integrations offered as premium add-ons

Pricing: 

KORONA POS has no credit card processing agreements or fees, only flat fees. 

• Monthly subscriptions start at $59/month per terminal for the Core plan and $69/month for the Retail plan.
• Add-ons cost $10-$50 per month per terminal
• Hardware prices vary

How to choose a card reader for your small business

As you research your business's credit card processing needs, here is everything to consider.

1. Reliability and uptime

The last thing you want is a customer in line ready to buy your products and for your credit card reader to stop working. 

A piece of hardware with an unreliable network, low battery life, or that’s notorious for breaking can mean the difference in thousands of dollars in monthly sales.

When picking a card reader, choose one with high uptime percentages—ideally above 99%. Also, look for reviews, testimonials, and case studies about the hardware’s reliability. 

2. Check security features

80% of consumers choose a credit card based on its security features. It’s a merchant’s duty to provide the same level of security and protection when reading and processing a credit card.

Opt for a card reader that adheres to the latest PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) requirements. Look for features like EMV compliance for chip cards, contactless payment encryption, and tokenization of payment data.

3. Evaluate pricing

Some card readers are free. Others cost thousands of dollars. 

The first step in evaluating pricing is to examine your monthly revenue, count how many stores and employees will need a card reader, and determine what features you’ll need.

Once you have settled on these numbers, you can compare prices across card readers and providers. Look for:

• Contract requirements. Is there a long-term commitment or a more flexible month-to-month option? What will this cost you in the long run?
• Card reader hardware fees. How many card readers do you need? What kind? Do you need to buy the hardware outright, or is there a rental option?
• Processing fees. Look at the cost per transaction, including the percentage and the additional fee for each transaction. These can vary widely.
• Monthly fees. Is there a recurring charge for using the service or system? What does the monthly fee cover? 
• Hidden fees. Are there any fees that you don’t know about? Will you need to pay additional money for features you thought were included?

4. Review essential features and integrations

When picking a card reader for your small business, the most important questions to answer are:

• What can this card reader do? Does it have the essential features I need?
• Does it integrate well into my full business management tool suite?

To help you out with your research, here are the top features a credit card reader should have:

• Contactless payments. Tap to pay for quick transactions.
• Mobile integration. Syncs with phones and tablets for mobile sales.
• Multi-payment support. Accepts different card types and payment methods.
• User-friendly interface. Easy for all your employees to navigate and use (including returns).
• Uptime. Reliable performance with over 99% uptime.
• Durable hardware. Resistant to wear and damage.
• EMV compliance. Secure chip card processing.
• NFC capability. Enables near-field communication transactions.
• PCI compliance. Adheres to industry data security standards.
• Battery life. Long-lasting power for continuous use.
• Receipts. Provides physical and digital transaction receipts.
• Customizable options. Tailorable features to fit business needs.
• Warranty. To get the most out of your equipment.

And here are the recommended integrations the best card readers should have:

• POS. Compatible with your preferred POS.
• Accounting software. Syncs with your accounting tools.
• Ecommerce platforms. Integrates with your online Shopify store.
• Inventory management. Connects with inventory systems to track sales and stock levels.
• Employee management. Ties in with staff scheduling and management tools.
• CRM systems. Links to customer relationship management software for better customer insights.
• Payment gateways. Compatible with various online payment processing platforms.
• Marketing tools. Integrates with marketing software for targeted promotions and campaigns.
• Data analytics. Connects to data analysis tools for insightful business reporting.
• Security software. Works with security solutions for enhanced transaction protection.
• Operating system. If the card reader needs a mobile device to become functional, check the operating systems it supports. Some card readers may also connect via Bluetooth.

5. Evaluate payment methods

Have you ever abandoned an online transaction because you couldn’t use your favorite one-click payment method? Or have you ever wanted to buy something at a brick-and-mortar location but only had your phone with you?

As a retailer, the best way to account for this is to pick a card reader that accepts all forms of payment. This includes cash, all major credit cards, and digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay.

6. Hardware needs

What it means to be a small business varies widely. At one end of the scale, a small business could be a sole proprietorship run by one person. On the other, it could be a handful of retail stores with several employees in each store.

As such, it makes sense that credit card reader hardware needs would vary widely from one business to another. 

If you’re a large operation with multiple brick-and-mortar stores and a complementary ecommerce store, you’ll need a full POS system and a robust hardware setup. For example, you may look into POS Terminal Countertop Kits for your sales counters. 

But if you only sell your products online and at your local market, a POS plus a small and portable credit card reader (like a pin-and-chip machine) would be a better—and more affordable—fit.

How much does a card reader cost?

We’ve looked at the top 10 card readers for small businesses and discussed what you should consider when picking one, but how much will it set you back?

Again, it depends on how big your business is, your monthly revenues, and what features you need. But here is where you can plan on spending your money when setting up payments at your business:

Hardware

Your hardware costs will depend on the number of stores you have and the number of people at each store who need a card reader. You can plan on spending anywhere from $0 for something like a Tap to Pay on iPhone card reader to hundreds for more robust hardware like an EPOS.

POS software

Card readers aren’t typically stand-alone devices. The best readers integrate with POS software so you can manage your payments across multiple sales channels and stores. For fully integrated POS software, you’ll likely pay a monthly fee. At Shopify, POS fees start at $5.

Payment processing fees

Finally, you’ll want to account for payment processing fees. You'll pay a processing fee every time you complete a transaction with a card reader. These fees vary between credit card reader providers. At Shopify, processing fees start at 2.6% + 10¢ USD in person.

Find the best card reader for your small business

If you’re starting your first retail store, expanding your online store to brick-and-mortar locations, or looking for a better way to accept credit card payments or payments, you’ll need a new credit card reader.

And, no matter how big or small your credit card payment processing system needs are, Shopify has a card reader for you to process payments. The best part? Every Shopify card reader integrates with Shopify’s POS, so you can keep everything from your sales to your inventory organized in one system as you scale.