With the ever-growing cashless society, card readers are now a must-have for any business. We compare PayPal’s Zettle Card Reader and Payment Terminal.
Table: sorted by transaction cost, promoted deals first
In the ever-growing cashless society, card readers are a must-have for any business. With the insights that the pandemic brought, it is clear that card readers are a vital part of keeping business payments running. From small market-stand merchants to full-service restaurants, there are now card readers to suit your every business’s needs.
The Zettle Reader 2 (launched as the iZettle in 2011) is an award-winning card reader that allows small-medium businesses to take payments on the go or docked into a professional set-up. In 2018 PayPal bought the Zettle Reader and after its success, it launched the Zettle Payment Terminal in 2021.
The card machines allow businesses to take payments in a user-friendly and dynamic way with and without the additional pairing of the Zettle Go app. Find out more about the Zettle card readers below:
More about Zettle card readers
Zettle Reader 2
Initial cost of £29 plus VAT, thereafter £59 for each additional reader
No fixed contract
Makes up to 100 sales a day on a full charge
Light and travel-friendly
1.75% transaction fee (2.5% if card is not present)
Needs to connect to a phone or tablet
Zettle Payment Terminal
Initial cost of £149 plus VAT
No fixed contract
Small and compact, perfect for small businesses
1.75% transaction fee (2.5% if card is not present)
Up to £250 chargeback protection per month
Works independently from a device
Battery lasts between 4 and 12 hours (depending on usage)
You can purchase a receipt printer and a dock separately or as part of a bundle
How to order a Zettle card machine
After you have researched and chosen the best card reader for you or your business, you can start the application process.
To apply for a Zettle card reader, head over to Zettle's online application, which takes 10-15 minutes to complete. Once your application is accepted, your card reader will be couriered to you.
Pros and cons of Zettle card readers
Pros
Accepts a wide range of networks
Machines can be docked or used on the go
Zettle Terminal has the option to add a receipt printer, for an additional cost
Works in conjunction with the free Zettle Go app
No fixed contracts
Payments settled in 1–2 working days
12-month warranty period
Cons
Transaction fees apply
The Zettle Reader 2 needs to be connected to a tablet or phone
The battery life on the Zettle Terminal varies largely depending on the usage
Neither card reader offers a magnetic swipe option due to a safety issue
Our verdict
If you’re looking for an ergonomic and fairly priced card reader, Zettle by PayPal has 2 great options depending on your business’s needs. The light and compact Zettle Reader 2 is a good option for small businesses that need to take payments on-the-go. In comparison, the sleek, all-in-one Zettle Payment Terminal could be more suited for businesses that have a professional set-up, for example a small-medium food or shop service. Both Zettle card readers are fairly priced and take payments from a variety of card networks (including American Express).
However, many reviewing customers have complained that their accounts had been frozen after being flagged for suspicious activity, impacting transactions taking place. If you are at the research stage or are ready to order a card reader, make an informed decision with our comparison table.
Zettle customer reviews
Zettle has received mixed reviews from customers, according to customer review sites like TrustPilot and the Apple App Store.
It currently has an “Average” TrustPilot rating of 3.1 out of 5 stars, based on 3,175 reviews (updated 25 March 2022). Those who rated the product and service as “Excellent” commented on the straightforwardness of the product and the quick settlement period of payments. However, those reviewing customers who rated Zettle card readers 1 out of 5 stars or “Bad”, commented on the poor customer service after running into account issues on the device that impacted successful transactions. One customer complained of “refund issues and poor support”.
In comparison, on the Apple App Store, Zettle Go currently has a rating of 4.7 out of 5, based on 9.8K ratings (updated 25 March 2022). Many customers praised the “simplicity” and “layout” of the app and the “compactness” and “battery life” of the card readers. But, similar to TrustPilot, those customers who came into trouble with the Zettle card readers complained about their accounts being frozen unexpectedly and being met with poor customer service.
Frequently asked questions
Once you have set up your Zettle card reader, ask your customer to insert or tap their payment card on the machine.
Both Zettle card readers accept Apple Pay and Google Pay; for this use, customers will need to tap their mobile phone on the card machine.
Yes, the Zettle card readers accept Amex. Zettle card readers also accept:
Mastercard
Maestro
Visa
Visa Electron
JCB
UnionPay
Discover
Diners Club
V Pay
Apple Pay
Google Pay
Samsung Pay
Contactless
Chip and PIN
We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables has the source: Moneyfacts Group PLC. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.
Emily Herring is a Publisher at Finder specialising in credit-based products including credit cards and business and personal loans. Emily has recently joined the Investments team. She has a Masters in Creative Writing & Publishing and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication & Media. See full bio
Emily's expertise
Emily has written 147 Finder guides across topics including:
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