Table: sorted by transaction cost, promoted deals first
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
Pros
Mobile option with BBPOS WisePad 3
24/7 customer support
End-to-end encryption
Pre-certified to help protect against liability for counterfeit fraud
Work smoothly with Stripe payment systems
Cons
Transaction fees apply
The BBPOS WisePOS E has a higher upfront cost than that of many competitors
There aren’t a lot of Stripe readers to choose from, at least in the UK
Integrating Stripe Terminal with third-party payment apps may require some coding and/or additional fees
Instantly if you pay an additional 1% of the transaction total, if not, 7 working days
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 March 2024). Overall, it’s rated “poor”, with an average of 2.6 out of 5 stars but reviews are very divided between 5-star reviews (46%) and 1-star reviews (43%).
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
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.
Follow those steps to get your card reader ready to use:
Charge the machine and switch it on.
Connect to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
Change the reader language if necessary.
Follow the instructions on the website to integrate your Stripe Terminal card reader with the Stripe software.
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.
We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables has the source: Moneyfacts Group PLC. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.
Grace was a Finder writer specialising in credit and loans. She's been writing about personal finance for several years and enjoys helping consumers sort the facts from the fluff. See full bio
In this guide, we compare the most popular card reader products from SumUp and Barclaycard.
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