Zettle Review

Zettle is a mobile credit card processing app and card reader compatible with the iPhone, iPad, and Android devices. As of 2023, it appears they also offer full-sized POS systems as well. Zettle’s service is similar to the popular U.S. equivalents GoPayment, Square, and Pay Anywhere, but with the exception that it is designed to accept chip-and-PIN (EMV) cards. Like its U.S. counterparts, Zettle opens up credit card acceptance to the individual and breaks down the typical barriers to entry seen with traditional merchant accounts.

Acquired by PayPal

In September of 2018 PayPal announced the acquisition of iZettle for a sum of $2.2 billion. In June of 2019, the United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority approved the purchase of the company, allowing PayPal to begin utilizing the platform’s infrastructure to better support in-store transactions. As of 2021, iZettle has rebranded simply as Zettle.

Card Reader Solutions

Zettle, formerly known as iZettle, is prominently recognized for its card reader solutions. These compact devices allow businesses to accept card payments, including chip, pin, and contactless transactions, wherever they are, making it efficient for both stationary and mobile businesses.

Go Mobile App

The Zettle Go mobile app functions in tandem with their card readers. It facilitates payment processing and provides businesses with an intuitive interface to manage sales, track payment history, and monitor real-time analytics.

Point of Sale (POS) Systems

Zettle extends a range of POS systems tailored to various business sizes and types. These systems integrate hardware and software to support in-store transactions, product inventory management, and sales analytics.

Online Sales Platform

To cater to the e-commerce segment, Zettle offers an online sales platform allowing businesses to create web shops. This platform is designed for simplicity and enables businesses to list products, manage orders, and process online payments securely.

Invoice Creation and Management

Beyond standard payment processing, Zettle provides a feature that enables businesses to create and send professional invoices directly from their app.

Integration with Third-Party Software

Zettle showcases compatibility with various third-party software solutions, which can be integrated to enhance business operations. This includes but isn’t limited to accounting software, inventory management tools, and advanced POS systems.

Financial Insights and Reporting

One of the value-added services Zettle offers is comprehensive financial reporting. Through the app or web interface, users can gain insights into their sales trends, track revenue, and manage cash flow more effectively.

Limited Complaints Found

As of this update, we’ve identified over 150 negative Zettle reviews across various consumer protection websites. However, only a handful of these complaints suggest the possibility of Zettle being a scam or engaging in unethical practices. The predominant issue seems to be challenges in contacting the company’s customer support for resolving billing discrepancies. Many customers express frustration over delayed or missing payments without a prompt resolution process. Additionally, some users report sudden and unexplained account cancellations. If you have your own experience with Zettle, we encourage you to share it in the comments section below.

Zettle Legal Standing and Penalties

As of now, there are no ongoing class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints against Zettle. Dissatisfied customers seeking recourse against the company can consider reporting their concerns to relevant regulatory authorities.

Zettle Customer Support Channels

While complaints about customer support are common among mobile payments aggregators like Square and Zettle, Zettle stands out by offering phone support during business hours. However, given the increasing number of complaints, we assign Zettle an average rating of “C” in this category. Despite this, its support options fall slightly short of those offered by top-rated payment processors for customer service.

PaymentPop Rating for Zettle

Positive Feedback

There are no positive reviews published about Zettle on the PaymentPop website.

No BBB Profile

There is no Better Business Bureau profile available for Zettle, and we will not factor the BBB into the company’s overall rating.

Trustpilot Rating for Zettle

Zettle has a 3 out of 5 star rating based on 5,033 user reviews on Trustpilot.

UK Zettle Pricing

Zettle’s recent restructuring of its rate system aligns with that of other flat-rate processors. While we’ll concentrate on the UK pricing in this evaluation, it’s essential to note that its pricing models in other nations are very much alike. Zettle applies a 1.75% charge per transaction via its card reader and a 2.5% charge for email invoices. Their card reader can be acquired for a one-time fee of £29 plus VAT. The “Go” plan is their basic package with no monthly charges, while the “Go Plus” plan requires £29 per month and offers sales reports, premium support, and a lifetime warranty for the card reader. Finally, the Pro For Hospitality plan, catering to iPad-based payment processing through Zettle Pro, costs £39 monthly per iPad and charges 1.25% per transaction, deviating from the standard flat rate of 1.75% for other plans.

There are no additional Zettle fees for services, though there may be some one-time supplementary costs if businesses opt for additional hardware. Zettle’s service doesn’t necessitate setup fees, monthly charges, PCI Compliance fees, or minimum service durations.

Previous Zettle Price Structure

It’s noteworthy to mention Zettle’s prior pricing structure in case readers encounter outdated promotional materials. Before the pricing revision, merchants processing £2,000 or less monthly incurred a flat rate of 2.75% on all transactions via the Zettle card reader. For businesses exceeding £2,000 monthly, the transaction rate decreased on a sliding scale, hitting a flat 1.00% for merchants processing £40,000 or more monthly. Initially, Zettle processed all transactions at 2.75%, later reimbursing the difference to eligible businesses via end-of-month cashback deposits. Manual entry of card data was not permitted, and the card reader was available for a one-time fee of £59 plus VAT.

Variations in Terms Across Countries

It’s noteworthy that Zettle briefly lacked support for Visa cards in 2012 but has since reinstated acceptance of all card types. However, there are stricter transaction limits for Visa cards. Additionally, it seems that the company’s contract terms may vary depending on the country of operation. It’s advisable for readers to meticulously review their agreements with Zettle and compare them with inexpensive merchant account providers.

We also encourage readers to explore our compilation of the best merchant accounts available.

Transparent Advertising and Pricing

Zettle appears to market itself primarily through its website and through traditional advertising. The company’s website provides most of the necessary information about the app in an easily navigated layout, and the pricing structure itself is clearly listed on the website’s pricing page. Businesses that are concerned about daily or weekly transaction limits can find them listed here. Zettle does not appear to have a vaguely defined fraud prevention/fund withholding policy like those of Square or WePay, but it nevertheless has started to accumulate merchant complaints related to fund-holds. As of this update, however, we are unable to locate any Zettle reviews that mention an issue with the company’s advertising strategies.

This compares favorably to our list of best credit card processors.

Signing Up For Service

The signup process is quick and simple and includes a card reader and free app for approved accounts. Zettle has a $29 fee for the first card reader, no monthly fees, no PCI compliance fees, and no service length requirement. Users only pay transaction fees on successful sales, which vary by method of transacting, business volume, and the country in which the user is registered.

Zettle stands out as a reliable credit card processing service, earning favorable marks within our rating system. The company offers a transparent rate structure and straightforward contract terms, positioning it as a competitive option against its more established counterparts. However, some online complaints suggest that Zettle’s customer support may not consistently provide the level of responsiveness and assistance expected by its users.

The company’s overall score will likely fluctuate depending on whether these customer support concerns persist. If they continue to be reported consistently, this could affect its standing. Nevertheless, given its overall transparent and competitive approach to pricing, Zettle remains a worthy contender for businesses seeking reliable processing services. Readers should weigh their specific needs and assess the trade-off between affordability and customer support responsiveness when considering Zettle as their provider.