Android Smartphones are quickly becoming as popular as the iPhone and offer many of the same apps.  Now your Android phone can help you manage your business by offering the same mobile credit card processing options that iPhone users enjoy. The concept of processing credit card transactions with your mobile phone is not a new one, but the technology is continually improving which.  Additionally, these low cost apps also make for excellent backup processing options in the event that a merchant’s main processing option fails.  Below are the best rated Android credit card applications and card readers.

Top Android Credit Card Processing Options

#1 – Intuit GoPayment

GoPayment Logo

GoPayment comes in as a first choice because it offers most of the same features of its competitors, plus a few that are particularly useful to mid-to-high volume merchants.  Like the runner up in this list (Square), GoPayment offers a free merchant account, free card reader and and no cancellation fee, which is ideal for new and low volume businesses as well as individuals.  However, unlike Square, GoPayment offers another account type that is specifically tailored to businesses that regularly accept card payments.  For $12.95 per month, this second account type lowers the swipe fee for certain card types and raises the merchant’s processing limits.

Additionally, both of GoPayment’s account types include the ability to process credit cards online through a virtual terminal and to add additional users in the event a merchant has multiple sales employees.  GoPayment is also considered as more secure option because the company encrypts the credit card data at the moment that it is entered, whereas some competitors do not.   Merchants will need a separate American Express merchant account, but it can be easily obtained by checking one box during GoPayment’s sign up process.

You can learn more in our GoPayment review, or by visiting the GoPayment website.

#2 – ProPay Jak

ProPay Logo

ProPay Jak comes in second because of its card reader cost ($39.95) and annual fee ($59.95 or $79.95 depending on account type), which makes it less than ideal for new and low volume merchants.  However, the additional features that ProPay offers over the third pick in this article make it a great solution for many businesses.  These features include being able to accept and store encrypted payments for later charging when a phone is not getting service, storage of customer information for future billing or refunds, and use of ProPay’s virtual terminal which comes with host of it’s own features including various tracking and sales reports.  Additionally, ProPay has month-to-month service agreements, no minimum processing requirements, and lower swipe rates than Square and GoPayment (except for GoPayment’s advanced account).

You can learn more in our full Propay review, or visit the ProPay website.

#3 – Square

Square Logo

Square is another great credit card processing app, but didn’t make our top pick for a few reasons.  First, Square seems to be primarily targeting its services to individuals who do not have a frequent need for accepting credit cards.  This is apparent because Square relies on placing holds on merchants sales instead notifying them what their processing limits are.  Many merchant complaints indicate that Square does a poor job of disclosing why certain transactions were put on hold, or when the hold will be released.  Additionally, merchants who process more than $1000 in card-not-present sales during any rolling seven day period will automatically have the the additional funds over $1000 held for 30 days.

Aside from the problem with funding holds, Square does not have a dedicated support phone number and prefers to handle merchant problems through email.  This is obviously a concern for merchants that regularly accept credit cards and are accustomed to get problems resolved quickly and over the phone.  Additionally, Square does not encrypt the card data during collection or transmittal which raises security concerns with many.

On the positive side, Square’s application is stylish, easy to use and easy to set up.  Like GoPayment, the company offers a free card reader, no monthly fees and no cancellation fees.  Undoubtedly, Square will remain a big player in the mobile credit card processing arena.

You can learn more in this Square review.

Additional Android Credit Card Processing Apps

Wireless ePay

This is a free credit card application, however there will be costs for your merchant account and payment gateway depending on your merchant account provider. While there are no monthly minimum costs, and no cancellations fee, there is a yearly security fee of $49.95.

Merchant One

This credit card processing app is well priced with a monthly fee of $17.90.  The quoted “Qualified” transaction rate is 1.59% + $0.19 for swiped transactions and  2.05% + $0.19 for keyed transactions.  However, it would be advisable to ask for a quote of the “Mid-Qualified” and “Non-Qualified” rates.  This app is compatible with an credit card swiper attachment that allows you to swipe your transactions and print out receipts.

MerchantWare Mobile

This is an inexpensive card processing option that has no contract and no termination fees and a low monthly service fee. The cost per “Qualified” transaction is quoted as 1.69% + $0.21 per swiped transaction with a card reader. The “Qualified” rate goes up to 2.19% + $0.21 without a card reader.

Charge Anywhere Direct

This option is a bit more costly than those previously listed. There app is free but there is a $7.99 monthly charge as well as an 18 month contract and a cancellation fee. In addition you will also have to pay merchant service fees. This option does not charge per transaction but instead uses a monthly payment structure based on how many transactions are made each month. The more transactions that are processed the lower the rates.

Merchant Anywhere

This is a great credit card processing option for those businesses that will not process mobile transactions all of the time. There are no start up fees or cancellation fees, just a monthly fee that also gives you access to your merchant account. This fee is only charged in the months that you actually use it, so if you do not process transactions then you are charged nothing.

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