Find Out Which Credit Card Payment App for Android Works Best for You

What is the best credit card payment app for Android?

Many of the best credit card processors and the best mobile credit card processing solutions provide Android apps and accompanying card readers with varying features and functionalities. 

Your business’s needs and budget will determine the right solution for you. To help you weigh your options, here’s an at-a-glance comparison of excellent services with Android credit card payment apps and compatible card readers. We’ll follow up below with more details on each solution. 

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PayPal Zettle for Android

PayPal Zettle is a popular application for small businesses that want to accept payments with their Android devices. It offers competitive rates with no monthly account maintenance fees or monthly minimums. 

When you sign up for PayPal’s merchant processing services, you can purchase a card reader for your Android device for $29; additional readers cost $79. However, you don’t necessarily need a card reader ― the PayPal Zettle app for Android lets you accept contactless payments via mobile wallets or by tapping a customer’s card on the back of your phone. 

PayPal’s rates and fees range from 1.75% to 2.5%. QR code transactions are 1.75%, while payment links and Zettle Invoices are 2.5%. Our detailed PayPal credit card processing review explains more about its Android app, which includes the same features as the iOS version.

Square Point of Sale for Android

Square is another popular option for merchants with Android devices. Its rates are low, with no fees or contracts. Square charges the same rates for all types of cards, so you don’t have to worry about whether your customers primarily use debit, credit, rewards or corporate cards.

When you sign up with Square, you also receive its free point-of-sale (POS) app for Android ― Square Point of Sale ― and a plug-in magstripe mobile reader for your Android device. You can purchase additional hardware options, including a Square contactless and chip reader for  Near-field communication (NFC) mobile payments and EMV chip cards for $59. Note that you don’t necessarily have to purchase a card reader ― Square’s POS app is equipped with Tap to Pay functionality for customers with NFC-enabled cards or devices.

Square’s rates run 2.6% plus 10 cents on card-present transactions. For card-not-present transactions, rates range from 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction to 3.5% plus 15 cents per transaction. Visit our comprehensive Square review to learn about features like a virtual terminal and inventory management. 

SumUp for Android

SumUp provides services on a pay-as-you-go basis ― you can close your account anytime with no cancellation fees. There are also no setup fees or additional hidden fees.

When you sign up for SumUp, you’ll download the free SumUp payment app for Android to start accepting payments. You’ll purchase a $39 credit card reader for your Android device that accepts magstripe, chip and contactless credit and debit cards. You can also use the SumUp app without a card reader to accept contactless payments using Tap to Pay.

SumUp’s rates are straightforward, starting at 2.75% for in-person transactions using the card reader. Payments accepted through the virtual terminal cost 3.25% plus 15 cents per transaction. There are no maintenance fees, statement fees, Payment Card Industry compliance fees or payment gateway fees. 

QuickBooks Payments

If you’re a QuickBooks user, you’ll find QuickBooks Payments helpful for syncing payment data with your accounting software. The company charges flat processing rates and has a pay-as-you-go plan for small businesses. No long-term contracts are required.

QuickBooks Payments includes free access to the GoPayment mobile application for Android devices. The app includes core POS features, invoice-generation options and recurring payment functionality. QuickBooks Chip and Magstripe Card Readers cost $49 each.

When you opt for the QuickBooks Payments pay-as-you-go plan, you’ll pay transaction fees ranging from 2.5% to 3.5%. The company offers a $20-per-month plan with lower rates for businesses that process more than $7,500 monthly. 

Shopify Payments

Shopify Payments is another great option for businesses that want to use an Android device to process in-person payments. It offers month-to-month terms and simple flat rates. There are no long-term contracts, but you must pay a monthly subscription fee for Shopify’s e-commerce software to use its mobile payment processing app.

When you sign up for Shopify Payments, you receive access to the company’s Android POS app, allowing you to accept credit cards and debit cards. Processing hardware, like the mobile Shopify Tap & Chip Reader, is available at an additional cost (in this case, $49).

Shopify Payments charges flat rates from 5% to 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction, depending on the plan you sign up for and whether a card is present during the transaction. Two plans, ranging from $5 to $89 per month, are available. There’s also a custom plan for high-volume merchants. The company offers discounts for long-term commitments. Our Shopify review explains more about the platform’s features.

What to consider when choosing an Android credit card payment app

As you weigh your Android credit card payment app options, evaluate their credit card processing fees and the following additional considerations:

• Pricing model: Mobile credit card processors generally charge a flat, percentage-based rate and a per-transaction fee (in some cases). Rates generally cost 2% to 4% of each transaction. Other processors may offer an interchange-plus or tiered pricing model, which can reduce your per-transaction rates. However, these pricing models typically come with monthly and yearly account maintenance fees, making it expensive for merchants who process less than $3,000 monthly.
• Additional fees: Most mobile credit card processors with flat-rate pricing don’t charge many fees beyond their per-transaction rates (except for chargeback fees). However, note that vendors that use the interchange-plus or tiered pricing model will also charge account maintenance fees, such as monthly statement fees, gateway fees and monthly minimum fees. 
• Contract terms and services: Many mobile credit card processors operate on a pay-as-you-go basis, so you only pay for the processing you use. Others use a month-to-month subscription model or require a long-term contract. Understand the terms and conditions and the required contractual obligations before deciding on a credit card processor.
• EMV-compliant card readers: EMV-compliant credit card readers read the chips that most new cards contain. EMV chips generate a unique number during every transaction, making it impossible to replicate a transaction fraudulently. The transition to EMV chips was difficult and costly for many retailers, so using an EMV-compliant mobile credit card reader is a cost-effective way for small businesses to stay current with modern credit card security standards and help mitigate credit card fraud.
• NFC-enabled card readers: NFC technology supports contactless payment solutions. NFC readers allow customers to tap their cards quickly ― or their phones if they’re using a mobile wallet like Google Pay ― to make a payment instead of swiping the card or waiting for the reader to scan the card’s EMV chip. This technology allows businesses to keep things moving at the checkout counter.
• Third-party integrations: Consider your potential processor’s available third-party software integrations. Integrations can improve your business’s workflows by streamlining how sales data interacts with other software systems. For example, some credit card processors offer integrations from their POS software to some of the best accounting software, updating sales numbers automatically so you don’t have to enter the same data you already collected at the point of sale manually.
• Reporting: Ensure your processor supports transparent and detailed reports, including standard and customizable options.

How mobile credit card processors are changing portable payments

In the past, businesses that traveled were limited to accepting credit card payments over the phone or accepting cash or checks, inviting risks and logistical challenges. Today’s mobile credit card processors have solved that problem. Whether your business is inherently mobile or you’re visiting a trade show or convention, a mobile credit card processor allows you to conduct business anywhere. Keep in mind the criteria above and compare the details of each service to make the best decisions about your business’s Android-based mobile payment collections.

Jennifer Dublino contributed to this article.