- Highs: Excellent mobile app. No contractual obligation. Accepts many cards including Amex. Competitive rates.
- Lows: No inbuilt receipt printer. Phone support only on weekdays between 9am-5pm.
- Buy if: You want an easy solution for taking payments that comes with a ton of extras to grow your business.
Get the iZettle Reader 2 for only £19* (regular price £59) or with the Dock for £58. No monthly fees or contract.
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iZettle Reader 2
iZettle launched iZettle Reader 2 in November 2018. With the main distinguishable difference being the green button instead of a blue one, we consider it a minor upgrade from the first iZettle Reader.
While the previous reader is still portrayed in some pictures, this review has been updated to reflect changes with Reader 2.
The system operates a pay-as-you-go model, which has been the main driver of iZettle’s popularity in the UK. You simply purchase the card reader, then use it however frequently or sporadically that is.
Pay only a fixed transaction rate for card payments accepted – no monthly fee.
In addition to the app, merchants get invoicing, reporting and sales analytics tools. iZettle customers can also get access to small business financing based on sales history. Retailers can also add iZettle E-commerce, an all-in-one ecommerce platform with a monthly subscription.
iZettle accepts one of the broadest ranges of credit and debit cards among card reader in the UK. Visa, Mastercard, Visa Electron, V Pay, Maestro, American Express, JCB, Diners Club, UnionPay and Discover are all accepted, as are the mobile wallets Apple Pay, Google Pay (formerly Android Pay) and Samsung Pay.
iZettle Reader 2 accepts contactless and chip and PIN (or signature for some cards) payments.
Cards accepted
Costs and fees
As well as being transparent with no hidden costs, iZettle fees are on the low side compared with similar payment solutions.
The transaction fee is a fixed 1.75% for all card reader transactions regardless of card type, brand, country of issue and sales volume, e.g. foreign and premium cards cost the same to process as domestic Visa Debit cards.
Email invoices and payment links are included as complimentary tools, costing 2.5% per card payment.
| Charges | |
|---|---|
| iZettle Reader 2 | |
| iZettle Dock 2 | £39 (or £58 incl. Reader 2 through link) + VAT |
| Ocean Reader & Dock | £98 + VAT |
| Shipping | Free |
| Contract | No contractual lock-in |
| Monthly fee | None |
| Chip & contactless payments | 1.75% per transaction |
| Ecommerce payments | 2.5% per transaction |
| Invoice and payment links | 2.5% per transaction |
| Payouts in bank account | Free |
| Refunds | Free |
| Chargebacks | Up to £250 chargebacks/month covered for free |
| Charges | |
|---|---|
| iZettle Reader 2 | |
| iZettle Dock 2 | £39 (or £58 incl. Reader 2 through link) + VAT |
| Ocean Reader & Dock | £98 + VAT |
| Shipping | Free |
| Contract | No contractual lock-in |
| Monthly fee | None |
| Chip & contactless payments | 1.75% per transaction |
| Ecommerce payments | 2.5% per transaction |
| Invoice and payment links | 2.5% per transaction |
| Payouts in bank account | Free |
| Refunds | Free |
| Chargebacks | Up to £250 chargebacks/month covered for free |
The card reader itself is excellent value at £59 excl. VAT (exclusive offer: £19 excl. VAT through this link). The new limited-edition Ocean Reader, made of recycled plastic with the same tech specs as iZettle Reader 2, can be purchased with the Ocean Dock for £98 + VAT.
IZETTLE
The special-edition Ocean Reader is made of 75% recycled plastic sourced from the ocean.
There are no monthly fees, rental charges, monthly minimums or other fixed costs that traditional payment providers normally charge. Since there’s no contractual commitment, “early terminal fees” do not apply either. Refunds are free to process, and you also get the transaction fee refunded.
Funds are cleared in your bank account within 1-2 working days of each transaction, minus the transaction fee. Whether it’s the following weekday or two weekdays after depends on your bank’s processing times.
The iZettle E-commerce plan costs £29 + VAT monthly which gives you a self-sufficient ecommerce platform, online payments costing 2.5% per transaction. This does not come with more POS features than what you already have in the free iZettle Go app.
iZettle gives you chargeback protection for up to £250 per month if you follow best practice for taking card payments. So if, for example, a customer signs for a payment, you should compare the signature with the one on the card and ask for a valid ID.
iZettle does have transaction limits, but that’s unlikely to affect most business accounts where the daily limit is £200,000. The lowest transaction amount possible is £1.
Mobile Transaction
iZettle Reader connects to a tablet or mobile phone via Bluetooth pairing.
Technology and accessories
In contrast to conventional POS terminals using landlines or a GPRS SIM card, iZettle’s card reader utilises the processing power of your mobile device and internet, eliminating the need for expensive equipment.
iZettle’s newest card reader, iZettle Reader 2, looks very similar to the old one but has some important improvements.
Emmanuel Charpentier (EC), Mobile Transaction
It’s pretty straightforward to insert a chip card at the bottom.
The current model is slightly prettier, more energy-efficient and with a coating that makes it more resistant to dirt. Beneath it, you have two rubber “sausages” to keep it firmly on a countertop. You get the sense that you can just throw it on the ground without inflicting damage (of course we do not recommend trying this – we have seen examples of broken displays!).
We love the minimalist design and the fact it comes in white or black, giving you the freedom to pick one that blends in with either light or dark environments.
EC, Mobile Transaction
The power button at the top is hard to press by accident.
Internet connection: To process a payment, the iZettle app connects to its servers using your mobile device’s WiFi or 3G/4G connection. In the past, we’ve seen reports from users indicating they’ve had no problems using slower connections such as EDGE, so it appears the system is robust enough to work even with weak connections.
Mobile devices: In addition to the card reader and payment app, you’ll need a compatible iPhone, Android smartphone, iPad or Android tablet. We have noticed that iZettle tends to release new features in the iOS app for Apple devices first. For example, it took some time before the Android app began supporting contactless payments, but new features seem to find their way to both apps eventually.
Battery: The card reader is charged with a micro USB cable. It will automatically go into sleep mode when not in use, and the battery therefore lasts longer than older models that received complaints about short battery life. Battery life is on average 8 hours with a transaction every 5 minutes, or 250+ transactions from one charge.
Businesses selling from a fixed location would want to use the card reader with a Dock (for iZettle Reader) or Dock 2 (for iZettle Reader 2) – a small stand with an inbuilt charger. Placed in the dock, the card reader is automatically charged. The Dock 2 for iZettle Reader 2 is more stable than the old one, which some users say is a bit flimsy.
iZettle Reader 2 with iZettle Dock 2. The dock not only looks great, but keeps the terminal in place and always charged.
Receipt printers: Unlike chunky, traditional chip and PIN machines, iZettle Reader doesn’t have an inbuilt printer, so you have to buy that separately if you want to offer paper receipts. Fortunately, iZettle is compatible with a ra