Accepting credit cards as the method of payment

Depending on the hardware that you are using and the payment methods that you accept, a customer can pay for a purchase using a credit card.

Swipe credit payment

You can accept a credit payment with a supported swipe card reader.

Steps:

1. From the Cart screen, tap Checkout.If your card reader is not connected, then follow the instructions on the Shopify POS screen to connect. You can also enter the credit card information manually.
2. Swipe the customer’s credit card as shown on the Shopify POS screen.
3. The customer authorizes the payment with their signature or PIN, depending on the card type and which card reader you’re using.
4. Optional: Tap Print receipt.
5. Tap Done to return to the Shopify POS products screen.

Tap and chip credit payments

If you’re using the Tap & Chip Reader or the Tap, Chip, and Swipe card reader, then you can accept contactless payments, which include tapped credit cards, Android Pay, and Apple Pay.

Steps:

1. From the Cart screen, tap Checkout.If your card reader is not connected, then follow the instructions on the Shopify POS screen to connect. You can also enter the credit card information manually.
2. Allow the customer to insert or tap their card.
   • If the customer is using a tap payment method, then they need to hold their contactless credit card or contactless device within 2.5 cm of the card reader until the four green lights have lit.
   • If the customer is using a chip credit card, then they need to insert the card into the card reader and follow its instructions.When Shopify POS displays a payment approved message, the transaction is complete.
3. Optional: Tap Print receipt.
4. Tap Done to return to the Shopify POS products screen.

External card reader

An external payment provider processes payments for you. You might use an external payment provider if you choose not to use Shopify Payments or, if you are in a region that does not support Shopify payments.

To use an external card terminal, you need to set up an account with a payment processor, then buy or rent a terminal from them, and create a custom payment type in the POS app. When you use the terminal to accept a payment, Shopify POS marks the order as paid while the actual payment is processed by your terminal provider, not Shopify.

Steps:

1. From the Cart screen, tap Checkout.
2. From the Select payment option screen, tap your custom payment type.
3. Tap the credit card type that’s being processed.
4. Make sure that you have successfully processed the payment with your external terminal, and then tap Mark as paid.
5. Email or text the customer a receipt, and then tap Done to return to the products screen.

Manual credit payment

If you don’t have a card reader, or if you are having trouble using your card reader, then you can enter credit card details manually to take payment.

Note

If you enter a customer’s credit card information manually, then the transaction is a card-not-present transaction, similar to an online sale. Card-not-present transactions all use the online credit card rate.

Steps:

1. From the Cart screen, tap Checkout.
2. Tap the Enter credit card details amount field.
3. Enter the credit card details.
4. Tap Charge to process the payment.
5. Optional: Tap Print receipt.
6. Tap Done to return to the Shopify POS products screen.