Payment terminals for small business
Every account we open comes with the right payment terminal at no cost. We carry eight models from Valor, PAX, Dejavoo and Ingenico. Which one fits depends on where you take the card: a counter unit stays plugged in, a wireless handheld goes to the table, and a handheld with 4G works away from Wi-Fi, like a food truck. We match one to your counter and fee program.
Get my free statement reviewHow we set this up
A terminal is more than a card reader. The device decides how dual pricing shows and how a receipt prints, so we pick the device to match your fee program. Dejavoo ships its terminals already set for the pricing program you sign up for. Read how dual pricing works or how a surcharge works before you choose.
Not sure where to start? Compare all eight below, from the Valor VL100 counter unit to the Ingenico AXIUM series, or pick by where you take the card.
What we carry
Valor
Pricing-logic leaderAndroid terminals with the best pricing controls we carry. Cash, card and debit pricing all run on the device.
- Dual pricing and surcharge math, built into the device
- Tokenization and recurring billing
- Tap, chip, swipe and contactless
- A virtual terminal and phone app to match
Best for: Shops on our pricing programs that want the device to do the math.
Dejavoo
Wireless workhorseThe P and Z series. New Android handhelds and proven counter units. Both ship set up for your program.
- 4G and WiFi models for patios, drop-offs and field jobs
- Ships already set for the pricing program you sign up for
- Live activity sync to a web portal
- Compact units for tight counters
Best for: Dining rooms that take payment at the table. Also any shop that needs a terminal that travels.
PAX
The all-in-one handheldThe A920 family. A touchscreen, a receipt printer, a camera and a barcode scanner, all in one handheld.
- Built-in thermal printer, no second device
- 4G, WiFi and Bluetooth
- Barcode scanning via the camera
- Runs the pricing program through our processor app
Best for: Counter-plus-floor shops that want one nice device doing it all.
Ingenico
Enterprise gradeThe terminals you see at big chain stores. Tough security, every way to connect, and they just keep running.
- Top-tier security and anti-skimming hardware
- Ethernet, WiFi and 4G options
- Countertop and portable models
- Built for very high transaction volume
Best for: High-volume merchants who want the most proven hardware on the market.
Types of credit card terminal, compared
Which credit card payment terminal fits comes down to where you take the card. The four hardware types, plus the browser option when the card is never in the room.
| Terminal type | What it is | Best for | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Countertop terminal | A fixed unit for the register, with a built-in printer. Ethernet or WiFi, chip, swipe and tap. | Retail counters and front desks that take payment in one spot. | Valor VL100 → |
| Wireless handheld | A battery terminal on 4G and WiFi that leaves the counter. Take the card to the table or the truck. | Restaurants, patios, mobile trades and field service. | Dejavoo P8 → |
| Smart terminal (all-in-one) | An Android touchscreen with a printer, camera and apps in one handheld. A terminal and a mini-POS. | Shops that want one device doing checkout, receipts and more. | PAX A920 Pro → |
| PIN pad / compact | A small reader that pairs with a POS or a phone for chip, tap and PIN debit. | Businesses that already run a POS and just need the card side. | Tell us your POS → |
| Virtual terminal (no hardware) | A web page where you key a card in from any browser: phone orders, invoices and cards on file. | Offices billing by phone or invoice with no counter at all. | Virtual terminal → |
Which terminal for a food truck, a counter or a table
Pick by where the card is taken. The first thing to check is the connection. A wired counter unit needs a cable or Wi-Fi at the register. A wireless unit needs Wi-Fi, 4G, or both. These picks come from the spec and best-for lines on our model pages.
A food truck or any spot away from Wi-Fi
You need 4G. Three models list it: the Valor VL500, the Dejavoo P8 and the PAX A920 Pro. The VL500 page lists mobile and field businesses. The A920 Pro page lists field service and deliveries. The VL110 page says a 5 GHz-only network will not connect, and tells truck and market sellers to ask about a handheld with LTE.
A counter
The Valor VL100, PAX A80 and Dejavoo Z8 all list Ethernet plus Wi-Fi. The A80 page adds a physical keypad for PIN debit. The Z8 page lists simple counter acceptance. The VL100 page lists counter businesses running dual pricing.
A table
The Valor VL110 page lists restaurants that take payment at the table, within Wi-Fi range. The VL500 and Dejavoo P8 pages both list tableside or patio use. The A920 Pro page lists counter-plus-floor businesses.
Very busy lanes
The Ingenico AXIUM page lists high-volume lanes and says it comes as counter and mobile models. We pick the exact model in the consult.
Already run a POS? A PIN pad pairs with it. See our POS systems. No counter at all? A virtual terminal takes a card in a web browser.
The devices, spec'd straight
Every device below is placed free on accounts we open. Each one arrives set up for your fee program.
| Device | Type | Connectivity | Printer | Dual pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valor VL100 | Countertop | Ethernet + WiFi | Built-in | On-device |
| Valor VL110 | Wireless handheld | 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi | Built-in | On-device |
| Valor VL500 | Wireless handheld | WiFi + 4G LTE | Built-in | On-device |
| PAX A920 Pro | Smart terminal | WiFi + 4G LTE + Bluetooth | Built-in | Via processor app |
| PAX A80 | Countertop | Ethernet + WiFi | Built-in | Via processor app |
| Dejavoo P8 | Wireless handheld | WiFi (2.4/5GHz) + 4G | Built-in | Set for your program |
| Dejavoo Z8 | Countertop | Ethernet + WiFi (dual-comm) | Built-in | Set for your program |
| Ingenico AXIUM series | Smart terminal | Ethernet, WiFi, 4G by model | Not listed | Via processor app |
Never buy a terminal. The hardware is a commodity; the rate behind it is the product.
Buy a terminal online and you save $300 once. Then you lose it back every month on processing that was never bid. Our terminals are free. They come set up for your fee program, and we install them locally. The money talk belongs on the rate. That is where it matters.
No counter to place a terminal on? See the virtual terminal →Frequently Asked Questions
Is the free terminal really free?
Yes. The device is placed at no cost on accounts we open. No lease, no rental line on your statement. Terminal leases are one of the classic statement fees we exist to kill.
What is a payment terminal?
It is the device that reads a customer's card, by chip, swipe or tap, and sends the sale to the processor. All eight of our models take EMV chip, swipe and NFC tap.
Which payment terminal should I get?
Start with where you take the card. A counter points to the VL100, A80 or Z8. A table points to a wireless handheld. A food truck points to a model with 4G. We match the exact model to your counter and fee program.
Which terminals work away from Wi-Fi?
Three models list 4G: the Valor VL500, the Dejavoo P8 and the PAX A920 Pro. The Ingenico AXIUM lists 4G on some models. The Valor VL110 is Wi-Fi only.
Which terminals suit a counter?
The Valor VL100, PAX A80 and Dejavoo Z8 all list Ethernet plus Wi-Fi. The A80 adds a physical keypad for PIN debit.
Do the wireless terminals print receipts?
The Valor VL110, Valor VL500 and Dejavoo P8 each list a built-in printer, so a receipt can print at the table.
Can a payment terminal run dual pricing by itself?
Valor calculates it on the device. PAX runs it through the processor application we load. Either way, both prices show correctly and the receipt is right.
What if my terminal breaks?
Call us, not a 1-800 number. We're in Federal Way, and swaps are usually same-day or next-day.
Do these work with my POS?
Usually yes. It can tie in, or sit next to it. We check the fit before anything ships.
I already own a terminal. Can you use it?
Often, if it's a current model. We'll reprogram what works. We'll swap out what doesn't, free.