iZettle has been up and running since 2010 and remains a market leader within the mobile card payment processing market. It was the first company to develop a chip-card reader and app which meets international security requirements. Operating in 12 countries and accepting a wide range of payments, it was bought by PayPal for the mighty sum of $2.2 billion in 2018.
The system operates a pay-as-you-go model, which explains iZettle’s popularity in the UK. You simply purchase the card reader, then use it as much or as little as needed. A one-stop shop for small businesses, iZettle provides all the essential tools and more. So let’s take a further look below.
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How does the iZettle payment process work?
The iZettle 2 card reader has to be paired with a Bluetooth-enable mobile device in order to start accepting payments. This can be done quickly via the app but you may have to repeat the Bluetooth pairing throughout the day if you’re not actively using the app. Simply enter a payment amount in the app and tap ‘charge’. The customer then either inserts their card into the reader for a chip and PIN payment or makes a contactless payment by tapping the reader.
All your inventory items can be preprogrammed to include names, product descriptions, prices, and images. This means if you tap on a product image on the app, it gets added straight to the checkout bill. Gone are the days of the clunky old cash register! The app, along with the mobile device, acts as a POS system in its own right. iZettle also has a handy repeat payments feature, allowing you to accept multiple payments of the same amount quickly.
Funds are cleared in the designated bank account within 1-2 working days of each transaction, minus the transaction fee. And, to top it all off, you can use your PayPal details to sign up and link your accounts in minutes, so your earnings can be deposited directly into your PayPal account.
iZettle
Pricing & Fees: none
Monthly fees: None
Card reader cost: £29 + VAT
Transaction fee: 1.75%
Remote transaction fee: 2.5%
Refunds: Free
Chargeback fee: Up to £250 chargebacks/month covered for free
iZettle fees are one of the lowest around compared with similar payment solutions. The transaction fee is set at a flat rate of 1.75% for all card reader transactions, and there are no monthly fees or hidden costs. Refunds are free to process and you also get the transaction fee refunded. Chargeback protection is included for up to £250 per month as long as you follow best practice for taking card payments.
The card reader itself is brilliant value for the budget conscious at just £29 + VAT. And, since there’s no contractual obligations, ‘early termination fees’ do not apply. iZettle does have transaction limits, but that’s unlikely to affect most business accounts where the daily limit is £200,000. The lowest transaction amount possible is £1. If your business takes over £10,000 in card payments each month, iZettle recommends you take a look at their custom rate plans.
For those in the hospitality industry, iZettle also offers the iZettle Pro for £39 per month per iPad. The card reader remains at the same price of £29 + VAT, with a lower card transaction fee of 1.25%.
Cardreader: The iZettle Reader 2
The reader has a minimalist, compact design and you can choose between white or black depending on the colours in your environment. Most notably, it is said to be able to work 25% faster than any other available card reader on the market. It takes 2 seconds for the iZettle to power up and just 5 seconds for Contactless payments to be processed. Battery life is also excellent – 30% longer than other mobile credit card readers. A micro USB cable is included free of charge. There’s also the option to purchase the iZettle Dock 2 for 8 hours active use.
The iZettle Reader 2 takes chip and PIN as well as contactless payments from all major credit and debit cards. It also takes payments through, Apply Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay, making it superior over competitors such as SumUp.
And if it’s security you’re worried about, iZettle have you covered. By removing the magstripe and providing transaction protection, data encryption and a tamper-proof design, it’s one of the most well-protected payment machines out there. You’re even covered with a 12-month warranty, starting from the date of delivery/collection.
Product Features
iZettle has a great product offering which include; the card reader, stands for your tablet/card reader, cash drawer, receipt printer and a store kit that functions as a full POS system. In particular, the free POS app; iZettle Go, has plenty of features to work as a self-sufficient till system. These include a full product library/inventory, as well as the ability to add VAT and discounts, and process refunds. There’s a tipping option which is ideal for the hospitality industry, barcode scanning, and you can also invoice customers by email through the app.
If it’s extensive reporting you’re after, iZettle is a great choice. As the information processed is cloud-based, you can view and use sales data in real time from any browser logged into you iZettle account. All transactions are recorded and you can access full sales reports at any time which can be exported to Excel and CSV files. iZettle even connects with any existing accounting software you use such as Xero and Quickbooks.
Customer Service & User Reviews
If there’s one area of improvement, that would be iZettle’s availability in terms of customer service. They are contactable between 9am and 5pm on weekdays and you will only get a response during those opening hours. For the quickest response, it’s best to call rather than email. SumUp is a great alternative if customer service is at the top of your list.
iZettle ranks well in terms of user reviews, currently scoring 4.1 out of 5 on Trust Pilot. Most recent reviews complain about bad customer service, as well as product issues in terms of having to pair the card reader and the mobile app several times a day. This might be something to consider when choosing which company to go with, but shouldn’t be a deciding factor.
The Verdict?
Taking everything into account, iZettle is hard to beat. Its free app features, ability to accept a wide range of payment methods, and the low price, make it very difficult to compete with. It’s ideal for small business owners wanting a fast and simple POS system that does exactly what you need it to do.
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