Mobile payment apps let small businesses accept contactless payments, like digital wallets, with just their smartphones. Businesses with a brick-and-mortar location will likely need a more complete point-of-sale (POS) system, including hardware, in addition to a payment app. But the apps alone can be sufficient for very small businesses with no physical storefront.
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Best Mobile Payment Apps for Small Businesses
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Input your business’s monthly transaction details and we’ll help you sort from the best valueProduct | Cost Estimate | Payment processing fees | Cost Estimate | Learn more | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Square Learn more on Square's secure website | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | 5.0/5 Best for Overall mobile payment app | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0.00 Starts at $0/month for unlimited devices and locations. | Get an estimated monthly cost for your business. | Learn more on Square's secure website |
Stripe Learn more on Stripe Payments' secure website | 5.0/5 Best for International businesses | In-person: 2.7% + $0.05 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0.00 | Learn more on Stripe Payments' secure website | ||
Helcim Learn more on Helcim's secure website | 5.0/5 Best for High-volume businesses | In-person: 0.4% + $0.08 Online: 0.5% + $0.25 Plus interchange | $0.00 | Learn more on Helcim's secure website | ||
Shopify Payments Learn more on Shopify Payments' secure website | 4.5/5 Best for Online-first businesses | In-person: 2.6% + $0.10 Online: 2.9% + $0.30 | $39.00 Basic plan; $105 Shopify plan; $399 Advanced plan. | Learn more on Shopify Payments' secure website | ||
Venmo Business Account | 4.0/5 Best for Accepting payments with a QR code | 1.9% + $0.10 Between Venmo accounts. | $0.00 | |||
Clover Learn more on Clover's secure website | 4.5/5 Best for Built-in loyalty program | In-person: 2.3% + $0.10 Online: 3.5% + $0.10 | $0.00 and up. | Learn more on Clover's secure website | ||
QuickBooks GoPayment | 4.5/5 Best for Invoicing | In-person: 2.5% + $0.00 Online: 2.99% + $0.00 | $0.00 | |||
PayPal Zettle | 4.0/5 Best for Variety of payment options | In-person: 2.29% + $0.09 Online: 3.49% + $0.09 | $0.00 |
Our pick for
Overall mobile payment app
Square
Learn more
on Square's secure website
Monthly fee
$0.00
Starts at $0/month for unlimited devices and locations.
Square is among our top POS system picks because of its versatility — and that goes for both its POS system and the accompanying mobile app. Entrepreneurs selling across a variety of venues can opt for a free magstripe card reader, purchase a chip reader or accept contactless payments via Tap to Pay on iPhone or Android devices with just the Square app. Square also carries a variety of low-cost POS system options for service-based businesses, restaurants and retailers with brick-and-mortar locations.
Pros
- Offers a free mobile card reader and free POS software plan.
- Can subscribe to related services, such as payroll, that integrate with its POS system.
- No termination fees or long-term contracts.
- No chargeback or PCI compliance fees.
Cons
- Complex businesses might prefer a processor that integrates with more specialized POS systems.
Our pick for
International businesses
Stripe
Learn more
on Stripe Payments' secure website
Monthly fee
$0.00
Stripe can be a good solution for small businesses that sell internationally online, but occasionally need to complete an in-person transaction. The Stripe Dashboard mobile app lets you accept contactless payments in person with an iPhone or Android smartphone using Tap to Pay. Stripe also supports more than 135 different currencies and more than 30 languages.
Pros
- Highly customizable online checkout options.
- No termination fees or long-term contracts.
- 24/7 chat support.
- Can process transactions in more than 135 currencies.
- No PCI compliance fees.
Cons
- Doesn’t sell full countertop POS setups; hardware is limited to handheld terminals and card readers.
- Deposits can take up to two business days.
- No phone or email support.
Our pick for
High-volume businesses
Helcim
Learn more
on Helcim's secure website
Monthly fee
$0.00
Helcim stands out for its volume discounts and interchange-plus pricing, which both can help high-volume businesses save money. Businesses receive a volume discount when their monthly credit card volume exceeds $50,000 per month. In addition to selling hardware for in-person payments and providing online checkout tools, Helcim has a mobile app that lets you accept contactless payments via Tap to Pay on iPhone. (Android devices require a card reader for physical card payments.)
Pros
- Businesses save when customers use cards with low interchange rates.
- Offers free POS software.
- Offers volume-based discounts automatically.
- No termination fees, long-term contracts or PCI compliance fees.
Cons
- Deposits are available within two business days; same-day deposit option is not available.
- Interchange-plus costs can be difficult to predict.
Our pick for
Online-first businesses
Shopify Payments
Learn more
on Shopify Payments' secure website
Monthly fee
$39.00
Basic plan; $105 Shopify plan; $399 Advanced plan.
If you want a clean and modern online storefront, but haven’t ever created a website yourself, Shopify is a great place to start. It has more than 200 pre-built website themes to choose from and supports both online and in-person transactions. Regardless of which plan you choose, you’ll be able to accept contactless payments via Tap to Pay on iPhone or Android within the Shopify mobile app — no extra hardware required.
Pros
- Hundreds of e-commerce website templates available.
- Can customize checkout page.
- Higher-tier plans offer less expensive online processing rates (as low as 2.5% plus 30 cents).
- No long-term contracts.
Cons
- E-commerce plan with monthly fee is required to use Shopify Payments.
- Monthly POS subscription costs can be expensive.
Our pick for
Accepting payments with a QR code
Venmo Business Account
Payment processing fees
1.9% + $0.10
Between Venmo accounts.
Monthly fee
$0.00
Venmo is a payments app that both merchants and consumers can use to send and receive funds. With a Venmo business account, you can display a QR code at pop-up events, allowing customers to scan and pay for their purchase on the spot. The funds come out of the customer’s Venmo balance or another linked account and get transferred to the business’s Venmo account. That way, you don’t have to worry about POS hardware.
Venmo previously offered a free QR kit to businesses. (You could buy extras.) However, these kits have been listed as out of stock on Venmo's website since at least the end of 2023. There's no indication if or when they might be available again.
Pros
- Low per-transaction fees between Venmo accounts.
- No monthly costs or setup fees.
- Ability to accept payments via QR code.
- Venmo sends tax forms to your business if you meet certain income thresholds.
Cons
- Instant bank transfers cost extra.
- Not available outside of the U.S.
Our pick for
Built-in loyalty program
Clover
4.5
NerdWallet rating Learn more
on Clover's secure website
Monthly fee
$0.00
and up.
Similar to Square, Clover offers specialized POS system solutions for a range of industries including service-based businesses, retail shops and restaurants. Unlike many of its competitors, though, Clover’s POS software plans come with a customer loyalty program that allows you to send out promotions and communicate directly with customers. The POS system’s accompanying Clover Go app for Android and iPhone smartphones can be paired with a card reader. Or, if you have an iPhone, you can use the app alone to accept contactless payments with Tap to Pay.
Pros
- Free POS software plan available if you’re only using a mobile card reader.
- Offers POS software plans tailored to a variety of industries.
- 24/7 phone support.
Cons
- Online payment processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
- Promotions require a three-year contract.
- Charges PCI compliance fees and, in some cases, termination fees.
Our pick for
Invoicing
QuickBooks GoPayment
Monthly fee
$0.00
QuickBooks GoPayment is a convenient payment app for merchants that use QuickBooks Online for their accounting needs. While it works best with the paired card reader, you can also use the app to manually key in your customer’s card info and accept invoice payments in person. Just know that keyed-in processing rates are higher than those for accepting invoice payments online or with the card reader.
Pros
- Convenient for existing QuickBooks clients.
- Free app that works on Android and iOS devices.
Cons
- Limited to businesses using QuickBooks accounting.
- Pricing structure can be difficult to navigate.
Our pick for
Variety of payment options
PayPal Zettle
Monthly fee
$0.00
Small businesses use PayPal Zettle to accept a wide range of payment options, including credit cards, Venmo, PayPal, Google Pay, Samsung Pay and Apple Pay. You can use the free payment app’s Tap to Pay feature to accept contactless payments with just a smartphone or pair the app with a card reader or portable POS terminal.
Pros
- No long-term contract or termination fees.
- Accepts a variety of payment types, including Venmo and PayPal payments.
- Inexpensive card reader with a keypad, plus built-in payment processing and a free mobile app lets you quickly accept in-person payments on the go.
- Low in-person processing fees for a flat-rate processor.
Cons
- Accepting online transactions involves additional monthly fees, depending on your gateway.
- No offline mode.
Our picks for the best mobile payment apps for small businesses
Square
Best overall mobile payment app
Why we like it: Square is a good fit for a variety of business types, whether you’re self-employed and mostly work on the go or operate a brick-and-mortar location that requires a more built-out POS system. Customers can pay using their mobile wallets, and merchants can accept contactless payments through the app — no hardware (besides a smartphone) needed. Square’s basic POS app is free to use, meaning you only pay transaction fees. For more details, read our full Square POS review.
- $0 for Square POS, Restaurant, Retail and Appointments Free plans.
- $29 for Square Appointments Plus plan.
- $69 for Square Appointments Premium and Square Restaurants Plus plans.
- $89 for Square Retail Plus plan.
- $165 for Square Restaurant Premium plan.
- Custom pricing for Square Retail plan.
- 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions.
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions.
- 3.5% plus 15 cents for manually keyed transactions.
- 3.3% plus 30 cents for invoices.
Stripe
Best for international businesses
Why we like it: First and foremost, Stripe is a customizable online payment platform for businesses selling internationally. However, it also allows merchants to accept contactless in-person payments through the mobile app. If you need a slightly more robust in-person POS device, card readers are available. For more details, read our full Stripe Payments review.
- $0 for standard services.
- $10 for custom domain.
- 2.7% plus 5 cents for in-person transactions.
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions.
- 3.4% plus 30 cents for manually keyed transactions.
- 4.4% plus 30 cents for international card transactions.
Helcim
Best for high-volume businesses
Why we like it: Helcim’s free mobile POS app includes a Tap to Pay on iPhone feature that lets you accept contactless payments with just your smartphone. And unlike most of the options listed here, the provider uses interchange-plus as opposed to flat-rate pricing for payment processing, which can be advantageous for higher-volume businesses. For more details, read our full Helcim review.
$0.
- Interchange plus 0.4% and 8 cents per in-person transaction (if $50,000 or less in monthly card transactions).
- Interchange plus 0.5% and 25 cents per online or manually keyed transaction (if $50,000 or less in monthly card transactions).
- 0.5% plus 25 cents for ACH payments (capped at $6).
Shopify
Best for online-first businesses
Why we like it: Online retailers will appreciate Shopify’s variety of website template options and integrated approach to both online and in-person transactions. In addition to selling hardware for brick-and-mortar shops that also have an online presence, its mobile app lets you accept contactless payments with just your phone. For more details, read our full Shopify review.
Shopify e-commerce plans:
- $29 for Shopify Basic when billed annually (or $39 when paid monthly).
- $79 for regular Shopify when billed annually (or $105 when paid monthly).
- $299 for Shopify Advanced when billed annually (or $399 when paid monthly).
- Custom pricing for Shopify Plus.
- All e-commerce plans come with POS Lite for selling in-person. Upgrading to POS Pro for brick-and-mortar businesses costs an extra $89 per location.
Shopify’s alternative solutions for mainly selling in-person:
- $5 for Starter plan, which includes one POS Lite location.
- $79 (when billed annually) for Retail plan, or $89 when paid monthly; includes one POS Pro location.
- 2.5%, 2.7% or 2.9% plus 30 cents for online payments for Advanced, Shopify or Basic plan, respectively.
- 2.4%, 2.5% or 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person payments for Advanced, Shopify or Basic plan, respectively.
Clover
Best built-in loyalty program
Why we like it: Clover’s built-in loyalty program and customer engagement tools give businesses the opportunity to boost brand loyalty and build a strong customer base. Plus, the program comes with an app for customers so they can track their rewards. Most competitors only offer this functionality as an add-on. Clover sells a variety of POS hardware, but you can also use its mobile app to accept payments without it on iPhones. For more details, read our full Clover review.
- $0 for Clover Go Payments, Retail Starter and Personal Services Starter plans.
- $14.95 for Clover Go Essentials, Professional Services Starter, and Standard and Home & Field Services Starter and Standard plans.
- $59.95 for Quick-Service Dining Starter and Standard plans.
- $79.90 for Quick-Service Dining Advanced plan.
- $84.95 for Retail Standard and Professional, Personal Services Standard and Advanced, and Home & Field Services Advanced plans.
- $89.95 for Full-Service Dining Starter plan.
- $104.90 for Retail Advanced plan.
- $109.90 for Full-Service Dining Standard plan.
- $129.85 for Full-Service Dining Advanced plan.
- 2.3% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions on Full-Service and Quick-Service Restaurant plans.
- 2.5% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions on Retail Standard and Advanced plans, Professional and Personal Services Standard and Advanced plans, and the Home and Field Services Advanced plan.
- 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions on the Retail and Personal Services Starter plans and the Home and Field Services Standard plan.
- 3.5% plus 10 cents for online or keyed-in transactions.
QuickBooks GoPayment
Best for invoicing
Why we like it: The QuickBooks GoPayment app lets QuickBooks Online users accept invoice payments in person. And since QuickBooks Online and the payment app sync with each other, the payment gets transferred right into your books. For more details, read our full QuickBooks GoPayment review.
- $0 if you already have a QuickBooks Online plan.
- $30 ($15 for first three months) for Simple Start plan for new QuickBooks users.
- $60 ($30 for first three months) for Essentials plan for new QuickBooks users.
- $90 ($45 for first three months) for Plus plan for new QuickBooks users.
- $200 ($100 for first three months) for Advanced plan for new QuickBooks users.
- QuickBooks Desktop users pay an annual subscription fee for the accounting software.
For QuickBooks Online users
- 2.5% for in-person payments.
- 2.99% for online and invoiced payments.
- 3.5% for manually keyed payments.
- 1% for ACH transactions.
For QuickBooks Desktop users
Pay as you go plan (no monthly fee):
- 2.4% plus 30 cents per in-person transaction.
- 3.5% plus 30 cents per keyed-in or invoiced transaction.
- $3 per ACH transfer.
Pay monthly plan ($20 monthly fee):
- 1.6% plus 30 cents per in-person transaction.
- 3.3% plus 30 cents per keyed-in or invoiced transaction.
- $3 per ACH transfer.
Venmo
Best for accepting payments with a QR code
Why we like it: Venmo isn’t an all-in-one payments platform and POS solution like Square, but its QR codes make it easy for customers to pay small businesses at pop-up events, festivals and farmers markets. Customers can transfer money from their Venmo balance or from a separate linked account. Rates are lowest for Venmo balance transfers, but merchants can also use Tap to Pay to accept contactless payments. For more details, read our full Venmo business account review.
$0.
- 1.9% plus 10 cents per transaction between Venmo accounts.
- 2.29% plus 9 cents per contactless “Tap to Pay” payment.
- 1.75% fee for instant transfers.
PayPal Zettle
Best for variety of payment options
Why we like it: The PayPal Zettle app can be a great choice for mobile businesses that want to let customers make payments with Venmo, PayPal or their mobile wallets. Card-present transaction rates are more competitive, but you can also manually enter card information. For more details, read our full PayPal Zettle review.
$0.
- 2.29% plus 9 cents for in-person and QR code transactions.
- 3.49% plus 9 cents for manual-entry card transactions.
- 2.99% plus 49 cents for invoicing (payment made with card).
- 3.49% plus 49 cents for invoicing (payment made with PayPal).
Need to pair your payment app with a card reader?
Portable card readers coupled with a mobile app can give your customers even more payment options.
What is a mobile payment app?
Mobile payment apps turn smartphones into their own POS devices. While it's common for credit card processing companies to offer mobile apps, these may require add-ons to accept payments. NerdWallet’s list of best payment apps for small businesses let you complete at least one type of transaction without any POS hardware.
Transaction types fall into at least one of the following categories:
- Contactless payments via Tap to Pay.
- QR code payments.
- In-person invoice payments.
- Manually keyed-in payments.
- Money transfers.
Does my business need to accept mobile payment apps?
It’s increasingly important for businesses to accept mobile payments. Apps are not only a convenient way for customers to pay quickly, but they also continue to grow in popularity. In fact, digital wallets (like Apple Pay) are the fastest growing payment method in the United States, according to research from J.D. Power.
Typically, mobile payments fall into two categories: money transfers and digital wallets. Taking digital wallet payments can be straightforward. Mobile apps from POS providers and payment processors often enable such payments via methods like Tap to Pay, QR code or synchronization with a card reader or other hardware. Your business won’t necessarily use a digital wallet itself.
That’s not always the case with money transfer services, like Venmo or Cash App for Business. You’ll need an account to use those, and in some instances, to download a separate app. Still, these can be budget-friendly options for very small businesses — transactions via Zelle for Business are free, for instance — or make sense if they’re popular among your customer base.
Last updated on November 22, 2024
