Hardware

Recommended Card Reader Hardware

Every AppKatz Commercial app integrates Stripe Terminal for in-person card-present payments. These are the readers Stripe officially supports and that our apps will discover automatically once you connect your Stripe account. Order from any authorized Stripe Terminal reseller (or directly from stripe.com/terminal).

Before you buy: you may not need a reader at all

If you already have an iPhone XS or newer, or an Android phone with NFC (basically any Android phone from 2020+), you can use Tap to Pay in the free Stripe Dashboard mobile app and skip the hardware entirely. Your phone becomes the reader. Generate a payment link from any AppKatz app, scan the QR with your phone, tap the customer's card on your phone, done. Pick a physical reader only if you need a dedicated countertop terminal, a separate device for staff use, or your phone is not eligible.

Mobile readers (Bluetooth, battery-powered)

Stripe Reader M2

Manufacturer: Stripe, Inc.

Model: M2

Approx. $59 USD

Stripe's flagship mobile reader. Pocket-sized, pairs over Bluetooth with a phone or tablet running the Stripe Dashboard app. Accepts contactless (tap-to-pay), EMV chip, and magnetic stripe. Battery good for a full shift.

Best for: mobile / pop-up / house calls

WisePad 3

Manufacturer: BBPOS

Model: WisePad 3

Approx. $59 USD

Older sibling to the Stripe M2, still actively supported by Stripe Terminal. Same form factor and capabilities, with a small built-in PIN pad for debit-PIN-enabled cards (where region requires it).

Best for: international / PIN debit

Smart readers (countertop, touchscreen, Wi-Fi)

WisePOS E

Manufacturer: BBPOS

Model: WisePOS E

Approx. $349 USD

The workhorse Stripe Terminal smart reader. 5-inch touchscreen, Wi-Fi + Ethernet, runs on its own (no paired phone needed), all-day battery, contactless + chip + swipe. Most common pick for fixed-counter setups in salons, studios, and small retail.

Best for: salon / studio / counter POS

Stripe Reader S700

Manufacturer: Stripe, Inc.

Model: S700

Approx. $349 USD

Stripe's newer in-house smart reader, designed to replace the WisePOS E in regions where it's available. Android-based, larger 5.5-inch screen, faster processor, dual SIM for cellular backup. Same Terminal SDK so AppKatz works identically with either model.

Best for: new installs / cellular backup

Verifone V660p

Manufacturer: Verifone

Model: V660p

Premium tier — see stripe.com for current pricing

Handheld countertop terminal with a built-in receipt printer — the only reader in the current Stripe Terminal lineup that prints on the spot. 5.5″ color touchscreen, runs standalone over Wi-Fi or Ethernet, weighs about a pound so it lifts off the counter when you need it tableside. Replaces the discontinued Verifone P400.

Best for: customers who expect a printed receipt

How to order

Order directly from Stripe at stripe.com/terminal for the cleanest setup. Readers ship pre-provisioned and pair with your Stripe account on first power-up.
Authorized resellers (POSPaper, Card Fellow, Amazon Stripe-listed sellers) carry the same hardware. Verify the seller is on Stripe's authorized list before ordering, otherwise the reader may not register against your Connect account.
Prices above are USD list prices at the time this page was written. Stripe occasionally runs promotions (free M2 with first activation, etc.). Always check stripe.com for the current price.
Reader availability varies by country. The full list above is US-supported. The WisePOS E, WisePad 3, and S700 cover most of the EU and UK. Check Stripe's regional support page if you're outside North America.
Stripe charges a one-time activation fee on some readers in some regions; this is collected by Stripe, not AppKatz, and goes to certifying the hardware against your account.

After the reader arrives

Power it up and let it claim itself against your Stripe account (Wi-Fi setup, 2-3 minutes).
In any AppKatz Commercial app, open Settings → Stripe Payments → Connect with Stripe if you have not already.
In the checkout dialog, pick "Card Reader". The app discovers your reader automatically over the network.
Tap "Charge Card Reader." The reader prompts the customer to tap, insert, or swipe.

Notes on choosing

Solo operator, one fixed location? WisePOS E or S700.
Mobile, on-site work, low volume? Skip the reader and use Tap to Pay on your phone.
Mobile, on-site, but customer prefers a dedicated device? Stripe Reader M2.
Customers expect a printed receipt in hand? Verifone V660p (only reader with a built-in printer).
Need PIN-debit support (often required outside the US)? WisePad 3.

AppKatz Software does not sell, distribute, or resell Stripe Terminal hardware. We have no commercial relationship with BBPOS, Verifone, or any reader manufacturer. Product names and photos are trademarks of their respective owners and are used here for product identification only. Pricing and availability come directly from Stripe; verify on stripe.com/terminal before ordering.