- Highs: Competitive, flat rate on all cards. Best free app features. Virtual terminal and invoicing included.
- Lows: PIN entry on mobile screen could be a hassle. Customer support could be more responsive. Only accepts most popular card brands.
- Buy if: You want the smallest card reader and/or the most POS features for free.
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Lowdown
Square – or Squareup as it is sometimes called – was one of the first companies to release a card reader used in conjunction with a mobile device. In 2017, Square Reader for chip and contactless cards arrived in the UK.
Square Reader connects with a phone or tablet via Bluetooth, processing payments through an accompanying app. It works with most iOS and Android tablets and phones today.
Accepted cards
Contactless payments just require a tap near the white, square-shaped terminal, but PINs are entered on the phone’s or tablet’s touchscreen since there is no PIN pad on the card reader.
The mobile app works as a complete POS system with functions helping you run any type of business from just your tablet or phone.
The card reader accepts the most popular debit and credit cards including Visa, Visa Electron, V Pay, Mastercard, Maestro and American Express. It also accepts the mobile wallets Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay.
Charges are simple and transparent
Square card reader fees is just a fixed-rate 1.75% per chip and PIN and contactless payment regardless of card brand or whether it is premium or from abroad. Cash payments are free to process through the app. No additional or monthly fees are charged on top of that for the core payment features.