A bank card processing app is cell software program that gives companies or people with the instruments to just accept bank card funds on a pill or smartphone. Bank card fee apps work with a fee processor and are sometimes free to obtain and use.
Primarily based on our analysis, one of the best bank card fee apps for 2024 are:
- SwipeSimple: Finest general bank card fee app
- Stax: Finest for large-volume companies
- Square: Finest for brand spanking new and small companies
- Helcim: Finest for rising companies
- Shopify: Finest for e-commerce
- Paysley: Finest for integrations
- CDGcommerce: Finest for eating places
- Stripe: Finest for superior customizations
Finest bank card fee apps in contrast
Depends upon fee processor
SwipeSimple 2-in-1/ 3-in-1 card readers
CardFlight or combine with fee processors
Stax
SwipeSimple 3-in-1 card reader
Sq.
Sq. magstripe and contactless $0-$59
Helcim
Helcim 2-in-1 card reader $99
Shopify
Shopify 2-in1 card reader $49
Paysley
SwipeSimple 2-in-1/ 3-in-1 card readers
Combine with fee processors
CDGcommerce
AnywhereCommerce Walker 3-in-1 $99
Stripe
Stripe Reader M2 3-in-1 $59
Unique in-house or third-party design
Be aware that some apps on our record work with a number of fee processors, whereas others solely work with their namesake processors. For those who’re simply beginning out, selecting an all-in-one resolution is best. Nevertheless, if you have already got a service provider account or are having bother getting accepted for one, a fee app that works with a number of processors presents extra flexibility.
Assist & reliability
4.06/5
Common consumer assessment scores
4.75/5
Execs
- Works with standard fee processors
- Can course of offline funds
- Extremely rated fee app
Cons
- Costly cell card readers
- Restricted app branding/customization
- No price data for standalone possibility
Why I selected SwipeSimple
SwipeSimple is our best choice for bank card fee apps. It presents a variety of in-person fee strategies, together with QR codes, digital wallets, and faucet to pay, to call just a few. The app additionally options invoicing, stock and buyer administration, superior tipping, and a card vault. SwipeSimple acquired the very best rankings from each iOS and Android customers.
SwipeSimple’s greatest asset is its flexibility. It’s utilized by main service provider acquirers and fee processors like World Funds, TSYS, Fiserv, Worldpay, Nationwide Processing, Stax, and Fee Depot. A number of fee processors imply retailers can select a supplier with one of the best charges. As of September 2023, companies can use SwipeSimple immediately through a CardFlight service provider account.
Assist & reliability
4.69/5
Common consumer assessment scores
2.5/5
Execs
- Wholesale fee processing charges
- Big selection of enterprise-level customizations
- Strong reporting and analytics
Cons
- Poor cell app consumer rankings
- Restricted cell card reader choices
- Stories of crashes and connectivity issues
Why I selected Stax
Stax is a conventional service provider account that provides wholesale subscription-based pricing excellent for mid-sized and large-volume companies. It presents a cell app model of Stax Pay via superior SwipeSimple customization. Be aware that whereas Stax additionally makes use of SwipeSimple, I made a decision to incorporate it individually on our record due to Stax’s versatility and customization capabilities.
Stax is a standout for the system’s potential to scale its options together with any enterprise. This implies it could possibly present easy fee processing options, however as a enterprise grows, customers can improve to any of Stax’s extra superior merchandise akin to high-level subscription administration with Stax Invoice and white label customizations with Stax Processing. The functionalities throughout the Stax cell app can even improve together with the enterprise wants.
Assist & reliability
4.38/5
Common consumer assessment scores
4.75/5
Execs
- All-in-one POS and fee system
- Extremely rated cell pos app
- Waived chargeback charges
- Giant-business options
Cons
- Restricted buyer help hours
- Stories of frozen funds
- Account stability points
Why I selected Sq.
Sq. is an all-in-one POS system with a built-in fee processing service. It additionally offers a free cell POS app that’s built-in with Sq.’s e-commerce and in-store POS platforms. Sq. doesn’t require retailers to use for a service provider account. Its pricing construction is good for brand spanking new and small companies, however it additionally presents options for bigger firms.
Sq.’s standout characteristic is its feature-rich forever-free plan that features the cell POS app. It’s designed in order that any budget-restrained enterprise can begin promoting and accepting funds with little or no (even zero) upfront value. Each Sq. service provider account receives a free magstripe reader, which can be utilized together with the cell app. Nevertheless, customers can even manually course of funds and not using a card reader.
Assist & reliability
3.75/5
Common consumer assessment scores
3.55/5
Execs
- Automated quantity reductions
- No further approval for surcharging
- Interchange-plus charges
Cons
- Low cell app ranking for Android customers
- Further value for Amex transactions
- Costly cell card reader
Why I selected Helcim
Helcim is a conventional service provider account providers supplier that comes with its personal fee software program. It makes use of a volume-based pricing mannequin with no month-to-month charges and full entry to all of its fee processing options at no additional value. Helcim additionally presents free native e-commerce, cell app, and POS platforms.
Automation is Helcim’s biggest asset. Helcim presents automated quantity reductions that remove the trouble of making use of for higher charges for companies with fast-growing gross sales. Surcharging is routinely obtainable for Helcim customers who additionally course of ACH funds and use Helcim’s sensible terminal. Helcim’s cell POS app is seamlessly built-in with the service provider account’s stock catalog, CRM, and safe card vault.
Assist & reliability
4.38/5
Common consumer assessment scores
3.8/5
Execs
- Full-suite e-commerce resolution
- Omnichannel options
- Accepts PayPal funds
Cons
- Requires e-commerce subscription
- Stories of frozen funds
- Low app rankings from Android customers
Why I selected Shopify
Shopify is the main e-commerce platform within the {industry}. It has expanded its options through the years with fee processing and point-of-sale and even constructed in-house enterprise instruments for advertising and achievement. Immediately, Shopify is the usual for e-commerce platforms in multichannel and omnichannel options.
Shopify joins our record of greatest bank card fee apps as one of the best suggestion for e-commerce companies increasing into in-person gross sales. Its POS software program is app-based, so it’s suitable with sensible units akin to tablets for in-store setup and smartphones for promoting on the go. Shopify’s pricing plans are designed to incorporate options for companies of all sizes.
Assist & reliability
4.69/5
Common consumer assessment scores
4.25/5
Execs
- Appropriate with standard fee processors
- Two-way QuickBooks On-line integration
- Helps surcharging and stage 2 and three knowledge processing
Cons
- Restricted cell card reader choices
- Service provider account providers not included
- Restricted help hours
Why I selected Paysley
Paysley is a mobile-first fee processing platform that, like SwipeSimple, works with a number of service provider account service suppliers. It presents feature-based plans to suit small, mid-sized, and huge companies. Paysley’s options are designed primarily for contactless and distant funds, however it does help cell card readers and fee terminals.
The standout characteristic of Paysley is its potential to scale with any enterprise through integrations. It helps a two-way reference to QuickBooks On-line and a direct integration with Planning Heart, probably the most standard CRM software program for nonprofits, notably spiritual organizations. Paysley is usually utilized by mid- to high-risk companies akin to property administration firms, training, and session providers. Main fee processors like PaymentCloud and Nationwide Processing combine with Paysley to offer cell fee options.
Assist & reliability
4.06/5
Common consumer assessment scores
4.25/5
Execs
- Versatile volume-based pricing
- Offline fee processing
- 24/7 buyer help
Cons
- Add-on price for Amex transactions
- Product catalog solely by integration
- Non-refundable chargeback price
Why I selected CDGcommerce
CDGcommerce is a conventional service provider account providers supplier that provides bank card fee processing, together with cell funds. Its pricing construction is volume-based and caters to retail, eating places, B2Bs, and nonprofits of all sizes.
Of all its compatibilities, CDGcommerce is good for rising eating places—from kiosks to concession stands, meals vans, and different meals companies. It helps a variety of restaurant POS techniques, akin to TouchBistro, Lightspeed, and HarborTouch, that may seamlessly combine with CDGcommerce’s cell fee app. The versatile pricing plans make it straightforward for companies to improve their techniques with no need emigrate to a special processor.
Assist & reliability
4.69/5
Common consumer assessment scores
4.45/5
Execs
- Integrates with different fee platforms
- Superior customization options
- Customized pricing for giant companies
- Trade-leading API and developer documentation
Cons
- Add-on charges for invoicing and recurring billing
- Restricted in-person funds for native cell app
- Requires third-party or {custom} developer for card-reader funds
Why I selected Stripe
Stripe is a fee providers platform that additionally comes with a service provider account. It’s developer-friendly fee software program recognized for its superior customization options. Stripe’s fee processing service additionally powers Lightspeed, Shopify, WooCommerce, and different standard enterprise instruments.
It wasn’t till not too long ago that Stripe launched its native cell app, Stripe Dashboard. The app is extremely rated by each iOS and Android customers, regardless of its restricted in-person fee capabilities. That mentioned, third-party Stripe apps can be found for use together with Stripe’s cell card reader. For bigger companies, Stripe presents well-documented APIs and developer instruments to create a cell app personalized to their wants.
What to search for in a bank card fee app
To get essentially the most out of a bank card fee app, companies want to contemplate the cost-effectiveness of every possibility. This helps be sure that customers select a supplier that may maximize financial savings whereas additionally offering options they want and with room to develop.
Versatile pricing construction
As companies develop, the precedence in pricing shifts from minimal upfront prices to quantity reductions. The perfect bank card fee app ought to help versatile pricing that can enable companies to improve their providers with out interrupting enterprise operations.
Number of fee strategies
One of the best bank card fee app ought to present a full suite of in-person fee strategies. This implies it ought to have the ability to work with a card reader that helps swipe, EMV, and contactless funds. {Hardware}-free fee strategies also needs to be obtainable for companies that want to not spend money on a bank card reader for one motive or one other.
Degree of customization
Bank card fee apps ought to be outfitted with quite a lot of customization choices. This contains further fee processing providers akin to invoicing, fee hyperlinks, card vault, and surcharging instruments. It also needs to present customizations that help enterprise development, akin to developer instruments to create industry-specific options and numerous integrations with enterprise techniques.
Safety measures
Each fee processing service ought to be stage 1 PCI DSS compliant. Customers also needs to search for obtainable tokenization and encryption instruments. Ideally, fee processors also needs to supply chargeback administration and customizable fraud safety options.
App and card reader reliability
It’s vital {that a} bank card fee app and a card reader are dependable. The most suitable choice mustn’t disrupt enterprise operations with bugs ensuing from app updates or card readers that usually get disconnected. It’s additionally excellent for the app to have the ability to course of bank card funds even with out an web connection. Customers also needs to test real-life consumer critiques for any complaints about frozen funds or failed transactions.
Discover the fitting bank card fee app
One of the best bank card fee app will rely on a service provider’s enterprise wants. And since not all companies are the identical, choosing the proper fee app differs as gross sales quantity measurement and {industry} change.
We advocate:
- SwipeSimple for companies that require flexibility and desire a dependable model. It really works with standard fee processors and is extremely rated by real-life customers.
- Stax is the most suitable choice for large-volume companies. It offers strong fee providers with native customization options and developer instruments that enable the system to develop together with the enterprise.
- New companies will discover Sq.’s bank card fee app one of the best worth for cash, particularly for these engaged on a finances. Its forever-free options, which embody the cell POS app, make Sq. the best alternative if you’re constructing a enterprise from the bottom up.
- Select Helcim you probably have a fast-growing enterprise. Its automation instruments enable customers uninterrupted entry to fee providers in addition to fee-saving options akin to quantity reductions, surcharging, and stage 2 and three knowledge processing.
- For ecommerce companies, Shopify is the most suitable choice. Not solely is it the main ecommerce platform within the {industry}, Shopify additionally offers a POS resolution (together with a cell POS app) and strong omnichannel instruments.
- We additionally advocate Paysley for companies that worth integrations. Paysley is a well-liked bank card fee app utilized by fee processors like PaymentCloud and Nationwide Processing.
- CDGcommerce is one of the best bank card fee app for eating places of all sizes. Apart from versatile pricing plans, CDGcommerce integrates with quite a lot of restaurant POS and works alongside the cell app excellent for kiosks, concessionaire stands, and sit-down eating places.
- Final however not least, Stripe is our alternative for companies that search for extremely personalized fee options. This features a alternative of primary, custom-designed, and third-party Stripe cell POS app.
Regularly requested questions (FAQs)
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