Zettle: Our Complete Review of the Card Reader

Author: Mat 17 December 2024

Zettle by PayPal is one of the best options for small businesses to accept credit cards. Zettle perfectly adapts its offer to the needs of small businesses.

No subscription, no commitment
Inexpensive mobile terminal: £19
Flat commission: 1.75% on each transaction with the reader
POS solution included (simplified checkout software)
Payment link functionality

Our tests show that the Zettle Reader 2 terminal works well. The Zettle app is also well-designed and complete.

The essentials

Zettle is one of the pioneering companies in mobile payments for small businesses. The American giant PayPal acquired it in 2018 after its founding in 2010 in Sweden.

The Zettle mobile reader allows you to accept credit card payments using an app on your smartphone or tablet. The device works in conjunction with a smartphone and an app. You can use the system to accept payments in-store or outdoors. The commission charged on each transaction is 1.75%, and there is no monthly subscription.

Zettle is simple to activate. You can start collecting payments as soon as you get the reader. Most payment methods are accepted.

How the Zettle Reader works

Upon receiving the reader, you must download the Zettle app to your smartphone. To use the device, you must connect it via Bluetooth to a smartphone or tablet. This allows the card reader to transmit data to the client’s bank.

They apply fees to each payment, but they do not require a subscription. You transfer the amounts received to the bank account you selected.

The associated app is compatible with mobile devices running Android and iOS. You have to connect the smartphone or tablet to a network, either 3G/4G or WiFi.

Zettle transforms how people use electronic payment terminals. No more need to rent a traditional terminal from your bank and subscribe to long-term contracts. With the Zettle Reader, a simple online registration is enough to access the service.

Once you connect a WiFi/3G/4G smartphone or tablet, you can use the device in a store or on the go.

Zettle: For whom?

Zettle is for all professionals who want to accept credit cards in a simple and affordable way.

Beyond £5000/month in payments, the 1.75% commission is no longer competitive. If you expect higher volumes, we recommend using our comparator developed for this purpose.

Note: Zettle cannot be used abroad. In contrast, SumUp will allow you to process payments abroad under certain conditions. See our article: review of SumUp

Zoom on the Zettle Reader 2

The second version of the reader is more compact than traditional terminal. Its format is comparable to the SumUp Solo Lite.

The reader can recharge through the USB port or by placing it on a docking station. You can fix this station visibly on the counter. It has a rotating base, making it easy to orient towards the customer for more convenient use.

The very functional and well-designed dock is highly recommended if you have a sedentary business.

The Zettle Reader 2 is EMV certified. It complies with security standards for card payments.

Data transmission is end-to-end encrypted. For optimal security, the reader and the mobile device do not store any banking information. This action protects your clients’ credit card information if someone loses or steals the terminal.

The Zettle software is cloud-hosted. This means it automatically performs updates, including those related to system security.

With Zettle, you can accept payments with the most common chip cards, without additional contracts.

Zettle accepts 10 types of payment cards. These are Visa, VPay, Visa Electron, Mastercard, Maestro, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Union Pay, and American Express.

If your clients want to pay with Alipay, WeChat, or the Carte Vitale, we recommend requesting a quote from your bank.

Zettle is also compatible with mobile payment systems Apple Pay, Google Pay, Paylib, and Samsung Pay.

The Swedish specialist’s solution offers many payment methods. In addition, it provides rates and contracts already negotiated by Zettle.

The Zettle Reader 2 is available for a public sale price of £29 excl. VAT.

The Zettle solution is therefore inexpensive to implement. Once you have the reader, you can start using the payment service with a smartphone or tablet. Even better, you have no long-term commitment or fixed charges to bear.

Unlike traditional small businesses, Zettle does not charge a subscription fee. They deduct a flat commission of 1.75% for each card payment transaction made in person (or proximity).

With the Zettle Reader:

Commission on each transaction: 1.75%
Commission for sending payment links: 2.5%
No fees for daily transfers to your bank account
No monthly subscription

The services offered by Zettle do not incur additional billing. The reader transfers your payments to the account you registered during sign-up. With Zettle, you can easily change accounts at any time, provided the account belongs to the registered business.

You can transfer your funds every weekday. The processing time for transfers varies between 1 and 2 business days.

Zettle is a low-cost solution, remarkably similar to what its main competitor SumUp offers. Well-suited for entrepreneurs processing less than £5000 per month in payments, this solution offers simplicity.

If you process larger volumes, we recommend turning to a more traditional banking payment offer or Yavin.

Zettle User Guide

Your Zettle reader is controlled via the Zettle GO application. You can use the app in cash register mode or simplified mode by simply entering the amount to be collected.

Zettle GO: A certified POS software

Zettle provides you with a complete and certified POS (Point-of-Sale) software.

The Zettle Go cash register software is certified. In case of an audit, your business will be compliant, and you will be able to provide the requested archives.

The Zettle mobile application operates your reader. To collect payments, start by launching the Zettle Go app on your smartphone or tablet. Then, enter the price and the VAT percentage on the app screen displayed on your phone.

Using the catalog or product list feature, you can directly select one or several registered products.

You can then choose to collect payment from your client:

With the Zettle Reader
In cash
By sending a payment link

If you choose “Card,” the app will connect to the Zettle Reader and prompt you to proceed with the payment. Two options are available:

Contactless payment
Classic payment by entering the code.

The product list feature speeds up operations. It allows you to generate detailed receipts and statistics to track your activity.

You can send the receipt to the client via email or SMS. You can also print it on paper using a fixed or mobile printer, which you can choose as an option.

Zettle has equipped its product with various practical features. Here are a few examples:

A real management and accounting tool

In addition to processing card payments, the Zettle application provides you with a quick overview of your activity. Indeed, it generates histories and statistical reports.

Partial access is available from the app, or you can visit my.zettle.com for a full view. The web interface also allows you to export all data in Excel format.

Zettle Go generates two types of reports:

Sales report
Activity report

The sales report is split into two sections: receipts and account statements.

Clicking on a specific transaction displays another screen showing the last four digits of the card number. You can perform several actions with this receipt: request a refund, resend it via email or SMS, or print it on paper.

The activity report provides an overview of the following three elements:

Sales
Refunds
Fees

It is recommended to monitor this on the web interface (my.zettle.com), which is better suited for displaying such data. Depending on your needs, you can export the report in Excel, PDF, or print it directly.

The my.zettle.com site also allows you to manage personnel from your account.

You can add new employees to your account. You can let them accept payments for you. You can also limit their access to data.

A well-thought-out remote payment feature

Zettle was acquired by PayPal in 2018, and this influence is evident. You can use the Zettle Reader 2 to accept in-person payments. Additionally, you can send payment links to clients via the Zettle application. This is ideal for collecting an invoice or deposit.

This process is done directly from the app. After adding products or an amount, the app will ask how you wish to collect payment: cash, credit card, or payment link.

When you choose “payment link,” the system will redirect your client to an e-commerce page. This page will display the merchant’s name, logo, the amount to pay, and the payment reason.

Read our article on remote payment with Zettle.

This feature charges 2.5% instead of 1.75%, which applies to payments made via the reader.

The Zettle Registration Process

Registration is simple and quick. Make sure you have the necessary documents (business registration certificate and bank details) ready during the registration process.

The first step is to provide an email address and a password to use as your login credentials. Then, you must fill in various fields about your business (company name, full address, activity, legal status, etc.).

The third step is to enter your IBAN before ordering your reader (alone or with the docking station). You can make the payment by credit card or PayPal.

Our opinion on Zettle

Zettle is perfectly suited for small businesses. Its setup is simple, and the initial cost is affordable. Even businesses needing mobility can use it.

The main strengths of this solution lie in its ease of installation and use. Traditional procedures are simplified:

No need to schedule a bank appointment.
No need to negotiate contracts.
You can complete everything online in just a few clicks.

Its affordable acquisition cost makes Zettle an attractive option for small businesses, artisans, and startups. Additionally, the absence of subscriptions or fixed charges is ideal for seasonal activities.

The main advantages of this solution include:

Attractive acquisition cost
No subscription, no fixed fees
Accepts almost all cards
Free certified cash register software
Payment link feature

Zettle is a simple and effective solution for accepting card payments. It is ideal for small businesses.

However, the solution is not suitable for larger businesses:

The 1.75% commission fees are very expensive compared to what banks offer (commissions below 1%). If your payment volumes exceed £5000 per month, we recommend switching to a traditional bank payment solution. The fixed costs of a subscription and/or terminal rental will be more than offset by a lower commission than 1.75%.

Example: Monthly cost calculation for £15,000 in monthly card payments

► Zettle (1.75% commission)

£15,000 * 1.75% = £262.50

► Traditional Bank or Yavin (0.75% commission)

£15,000 * 0.75% = £112.50

Savings: £150 per month

(You must add fixed fees of £30 to £50 per month per terminal)

In all cases, the support and banking apps offered by banks and their partners will likely suit established merchants better.

User reviews of Zettle

We reviewed the feedback and ratings left by clients on Trustpilot and the Apple Store.

Zettle reviews on Trustpilot

The average rating is 3.4 out of 5.

The reviews mainly focus on the reader’s reliability and the simplicity of the app’s use.

Positive reviews (3–5 stars) highlight:

The absence of a subscription or rental fees for the reader
The simplicity of the reader and app usage
The reader’s reliability

“I 100% recommend Zettle as a self-employed entrepreneur. You can take it with you on trips or use it on-site. The sales overview is very well-designed. If tomorrow we could have an integrated CRM, it would be the perfect app 🙌🏼” – Elody

Negative reviews (1–2 stars) highlight:

The 1.75% commission compared to traditional banks
The slow response time from customer support

“High fees and slow transfer to the account.” – Institute Nymphea

Zettle reviews on Apple Store

The average rating is 4.5 out of 5.

The reviews also emphasize the reliable reader and the highly user-friendly app.