Square Tap to Pay

iPhone Android

Turns an iPhone or Android phone into a contactless card reader for free, with a full POS, invoicing and reporting behind it.

Platforms
iPhone & Android
Company
Block, Inc.
Monthly fee
None to start
Best for
Most small businesses wanting an all-in-one free POS

About Square Tap to Pay

Square Point of Sale is the most widely used Tap to Pay app in the US and several other markets. The free app accepts tap cards and digital wallets directly on the phone with no extra hardware, and sits on top of Square's broader ecosystem: inventory, invoicing, an online store, payroll add-ons and detailed sales reporting. Next-business-day payouts are standard, with instant transfers available for a fee.

Pricing

2.6% + 15¢ contactless on the free plan (2.5% + 15¢ Plus, 2.4% + 15¢ Premium). No monthly fee on the free plan.

Key features

  • Free POS app
  • Invoicing
  • Inventory management
  • Online store
  • Next-business-day payouts
  • Sales reporting & analytics
  • Team management

Where it's available

Square is available in: US, UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland, France, Spain, Japan.

Similar tap to pay apps

Stripe Tap to Pay

Stripe, Inc.

Developer-first Tap to Pay via the Stripe Terminal SDK — embed contactless acceptance into your own iOS or Android app.

iPhone & Android No monthly fee North America UK Europe
Pricing: Typically 2.7% + 5¢ for in-person card payments in the US (varies by country and negotiated rates). No mandatory monthly fee.

PayPal Tap to Pay

PayPal (formerly Zettle)

Accept contactless cards and wallets in the PayPal/Zettle app and get funds in your PayPal balance fast.

iPhone & Android No monthly fee North America UK Europe
Pricing: Around 2.29% + 9¢ per contactless transaction in the US. No monthly fee.

No-monthly-fee contactless acceptance with a bundled business account, strong across Europe and beyond.

iPhone & Android No monthly fee UK Europe LATAM
Pricing: No monthly fee; roughly 1.69% (UK) up to ~2.1% in some markets per contactless transaction.

Tap to Pay inside Shopify POS, syncing in-person sales with your Shopify online store and inventory.

iPhone & Android North America UK Europe
Pricing: In-person rates from ~2.6% + 0¢ depending on Shopify plan; requires a Shopify subscription (plans from ~$29/mo).