Small businesses have more options than ever for accepting credit card payments, with a growing market of card readers offering varying features and fees. According to a recent analysis by NerdWallet, as of February 2026, eight key players dominate the landscape: Square, Helcim, Clover, SumUp, PayPal, Verifone, MagTek, and Toast.
Square Reader currently leads the market as an overall card reader, offering in-person processing fees of 2.6% plus $0.15 per transaction and online fees of 3.3% plus $0.30. Square provides multiple plan options, including a free plan, a $49 Plus plan, and a $149 Premium plan. Clover too offers a range of options, including the Clover Move, which utilizes third-party payment processors, and the Clover Flex, designed for a variety of industries. Clover’s in-person fees are 2.6% plus $0.10, with online fees at 3.5% plus $0.10.
For businesses prioritizing low processing costs, Helcim stands out with interchange-plus pricing, charging 0.4% plus $0.08 for in-person transactions and 0.5% plus $0.25 online, with a plus interchange fee. SumUp Plus offers a compact card reader with a screen, with in-person fees of 2.6% plus $0.10 and online fees of 3.5% plus $0.15. SumUp also offers Connect plans ranging from $99 to $289.
PayPal’s POS Terminal provides a solution for businesses already integrated with the PayPal and Venmo ecosystems, with in-person fees of 2.29% plus $0.09 and online fees of 3.49% plus $0.09. Square also offers the Square Terminal, a handheld option with similar pricing to the Square Reader. Toast Go 2 is specifically tailored for restaurants, with fees of 2.49% plus $0.15 if hardware is purchased upfront, or 3.09% plus $0.15 for a pay-as-you-go option.
The selection of a credit card reader often depends on the payment processor a business chooses, as noted in a 2021 report by ROI Advisers. That report highlighted Square, Payanywhere, Shopify, and Dharma as leading payment processors with diverse card reader options. For businesses seeking traditional credit card terminals, Verifone was identified as a top supplier, even as MagTek was recommended for magstripe add-ons for Android and iOS POS systems.
According to Merchant Maverick, assessing credit card readers involves considering payment processing costs, hardware options and pricing, transaction fee simplicity, user-friendliness, payment type possibilities, and user feedback. The market includes a variety of devices, from countertop terminals to transportable options and smartphone/tablet-connected readers. Amazon.com currently lists a variety of card readers, including the Mini Msr100 Swipe Magnetic Credit Card Reader.
