Card readers
A credit card reader or terminal is a device that you can use to accept credit and debit card payments by tapping, inserting, or swiping cards, or by manually entering card information. Card readers are typically small card-swipe devices that plug into your Shopify POS device. An external reader is usually a separate, standalone piece of hardware.
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Accepted card types
Shopify's supported card readers accept payment from all major types of credit card, as well as Debit Mastercard and Visa Debit cards.
In Canada, the Swipe card readers can't accept payment from debit cards that are Interac only (for example, Interac cards that aren't Debit Mastercard or Visa Debit).
If you use an external card reader, then you need to check with your payment processor which card types your terminal accepts.
Choose a card reader
Supported card readers are integrated with Shopify POS, so you can take a payment from Shopify POS, and then the details for the transaction appears in Shopify in the order's Timeline. To use a supported card reader, your store needs to be in a supported country and use a compatible payment provider.
You can also use an unsupported external card reader. You can find an external terminal provider anywhere in the world, and because the payment is processed outside of Shopify, you don't have to set up a specific payment provider in your Shopify admin.
The disadvantages of an external terminal are that you need an account with your terminal provider, and that Shopify displays the payment status of an order but not any transaction details.
| Card reader | Availability | Payment processor |
|---|---|---|
| Tap & Chip Reader | United States | Shopify Payments |
| WisePad 3 terminal | Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, United Kingdom | Shopify Payments |
| Shopify POS Go | Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom, United States | Shopify Payments |
| External card terminal | Anywhere | Payment is processed by your terminal provider outside of Shopify. |