Compare Stripe card readers

Barclaycard Payments Smartpay Touch

£29 a month + VAT

• Card reader & online portal
• Low transaction fees
• Free Accounting plan

Designed to help simplify business admin

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The Stripe range

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Name	Product	Initial cost	Monthly cost	Transaction cost	Contract	Networks	Key benefits	Link
Stripe terminal (BBPOS WisePOS E) Stripe terminal (BBPOS WisePOS E)		£179	Subject to status	1.4% + 20p	No contract			Read review View details		loading Fetching your data...
Stripe mobile (BBPOS WisePad 3) Stripe mobile (BBPOS WisePad 3)		£49	Subject to status	1.4% + 20p	No contract			Read review View details		loading Fetching your data...

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What is Stripe?

Stripe describes itself as a “payment processing platform for the internet”, so, as you’d expect, its main focus is on online payment solutions.

However, for businesses that have a physical point of sale as well (maybe your cupcake delivery service is going so well that you’ve finally opened that bakery you’ve been dreaming about) and need a way to accept in-person payments, it also offers Stripe Terminal, a choice of 2 physical card readers that work with Stripe’s payment software.

Could either or both of them be right for you?

More about Stripe card readers

Below are the key features of both Stripe card readers.

Stripe mobile card machine (BBPOS WisePad 3)

• Upfront cost of £49 plus VAT (custom quotes available for companies with large payments volume or “unique business models”)
• Mobile card reader
• Accepts chip and contactless payments, including Apple Pay and Google Pay
• Battery needs to be charged approximately daily, and can accept 600 contact and 800 contactless sales on a full charge

Stripe touchscreen terminal (BBPOS WisePOS E)

• Upfront cost of £179 plus VAT (custom quotes available for companies with large payments volume or “unique business models”)
• Countertop/mobile card reader
• Accepts chip, contactless and magnetic swipe payments, including Apple Pay and Google Pay
• With a full charge, you can expect the battery to last about 8 hours (depending on use)

Transaction costs for Stripe card machines

Card present:

• UK cards: 1.4% + 20p
• EEA cards: 2.5% + 20p
• International cards: 2.9% + 20p (an additional 2% fee will apply if currency conversion is required)

Card not present (e.g. payment link):

• UK cards: 1.2% + 20p
• EEA cards: 2.5% + 20p
• International cards: 2.9% + 20p (an additional 2% fee will apply if currency conversion is required)

How to order a Stripe card machine

The card readers are available directly from Stripe. If you feel one of the Stripe products is best for your business once you’ve compared all your card reader options, visit the Stripe website. There you can either set up an account or complete the contact form to reach Stripe’s sales team.

Pros and cons

Our verdict

Unlike some card reader brands that offer a wide range of products, Stripe keeps it simple. This is partly because it isn’t primarily a card reader brand at all, but an online payments platform. In the UK, Stripe offers one option best suited to a stationary countertop and one that works on the go.

We reckon you’re more likely to find Stripe Terminal the best option for you if you’re already a Stripe customer needing to accept both online and in-person payments. If not, you’re likely to find more cost-effective alternatives elsewhere.

Stripe’s transaction costs are around average for the market, and there are no monthly costs; the upfront price of the BBPOS WisePOS E is higher than for many competitors, although the BBPOS WisePad 3 is very competitively priced. What’s more, the 7-day delay in receiving payouts may be a deal breaker for some customers.

Ultimately, whether you go with Stripe or a different brand depends on the needs of your business. Compare a wide range of card machines with our guide.

Stripe reader customer reviews

Stripe has had more than 10,000 reviews on Trustpilot (updated December 2022). Overall, it’s rated “average”, with an average of 3.3 out of 5 stars but reviews are very divided between 5-star reviews (51%) and 1-star reviews (38%).

The positive reviews cite ease of set-up, “awesome” customer service and value for money. Most negative reviews appear to be from customers unhappy about closed accounts or disputed payments. Stripe appears to be very zealous when it comes to prohibited business classes and not necessarily the best at communicating with customers when things go wrong.

Frequently asked questions

• How do I use my Stripe card reader?

  • Set up a Stripe account if you don’t already have one.
  • Input the payment amount in the card payment machine.
  • Ask your customer to insert or (with the BBPOS WisePOS E) swipe their card or tap their card or mobile device.
  • Your device will read the card information.
  • If there are sufficient funds in the customer’s account, the reader will accept the payment and transfer it to your free merchant account.

• How do I activate my Stripe card reader?

  Follow those steps to get your card reader ready to use:

  1. Charge the machine and switch it on.
  2. Connect to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
  3. Change the reader language if necessary.
  4. Follow the instructions on the website to integrate your Stripe Terminal card reader with the Stripe software.

• Do Stripe card readers accept Amex?

  Yes: Stripe Terminals accept American Express as well as all other major credit cards and payment methods, including Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Diners Club, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay.