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
Best Mobile Payment Apps for Small Businesses
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Monthly fee
$0.00
Starts at $0/month for unlimited devices and locations.
Learn more
on Square's website
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.
Square
Best for Overall mobile payment app
Monthly fee
$0.00
Starts at $0/month for unlimited devices and locations.
Learn more
on Square's website
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Monthly fee
$39.00
Basic plan; $105 Shopify plan; $399 Advanced plan.
Learn more
on Shopify's website
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.
Shopify Payments
Best for Online-first businesses
Monthly fee
$39.00
Basic plan; $105 Shopify plan; $399 Advanced plan.
Learn more
on Shopify's website
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.
Payment processing fees
1.9% + $0.10
Between Venmo accounts.
Monthly fee
$0.00
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.
Venmo Business Account
Best for Accepting payments with a QR code
Payment processing fees
1.9% + $0.10
Between Venmo accounts.
Monthly fee
$0.00
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 15 cents for in-person transactions with all free plans.
- 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions with paid restaurant plans.
- 2.5% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions with paid retail and appointments plans.
- 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