Free Mobile Credit Card Reader | Square Reader (2024)

FAQs

How long does it take to get a free Square reader? ›

Download the Square POS app and sign in to open your account. Start accepting payments by entering card numbers without a reader. We'll ship you a reader, which should arrive within 10 business days, or you can pick one up at a participating retail store.

You just log into the Square Point of sale app with the Troop login information. The reader has nothing to do with the account and can be used by anyone with a square account.

It's free to get started with Square Point of Sale. There are no setup or monthly fees. Only pay when you take a payment.

Can I keep using my Square Reader for Magstripe Cards after October 13, 2022? Yes. Square Readers for magstripe cards that were purchased before October 13, 2022 will still be able to take payments without disruption, however, as of October 1, 2023, additional fees may apply to transactions processed on them.

Yes. If the card isn't present, or you're unable to swipe it, you can manually key in card payments without Square Reader. Other available options are sending your customer a Square Invoice or processing the payment using Virtual Terminal.

Ultimately, the choice between Stripe and Square depends on the specific needs and priorities of your business. Stripe excels in online payment processing, while Square provides a seamless experience for in-person transactions, making each platform ideal for different contexts and business models.

Enable Service Charges

Go to Account & Settings > Business information > service charges on your online Square Dashboard. Click Create service charge. Name your service charge. Note: This name will be displayed on customer receipts and order summaries.

Free to access offline payments — payments are still subject to the standard processing fee of 2.6% + 10¢ for contactless payments. Take payments over the phone with Virtual Terminal on your computer, or through Square Point of Sale, our free POS software. Learn more about Virtual Terminal.

To make your phone work as a card reader, you will have to install an online billing app. There are quite a few in the market that you can use. Apple Pay for iPhone, Google Pay for Android phones, or the new and popular ScanPay are great apps for safe mobile payments.

The Bottom Line

Square is an affordable and easy tool for accepting credit card payments on lots of mobile devices, and the experience is excellent for buyers and sellers alike. PCMag editors select and review products independently.

Does Square give you a free reader? ›

Your first Square Reader for magstripe is free. Additional readers are $10. Sign up for an account to receive your free Square Reader for magstripe.

Compatible Android devices. Square Reader works with most Android devices on the market, so long as you're running Google Android 5.0 or higher, have location services enabled and have access to your Google Play account.

Square requires a transactional bank account (an account that allows for both transfers and withdrawals) to support refunds or chargebacks. Prepaid cards or online-only accounts (such as PayPal) aren't supported.

When you invite friends to join Square, you both benefit from rewards - including credits on processing fees up to $1,000 in sales over the next 180 days (6 months) or $20 off the purchase of a Square Reader for contactless and chip from Square Shop.

If your Square Reader was purchased at a local retailer, please refer to the retailer's return policy for details. If your reader isn't working properly and you've tried the troubleshooting tips, you can submit a warranty claim to receive a replacement.

Before you download the app, make sure you have the information needed to get started with Square and your device's software is up to date. Note: All Square apps are free to download, but you may be required to set up billing info with Apple or Google in order to download apps from their app stores.