Square Reader Review: Is It Worth Buying In 2026?

TL;DR: Square Reader is worth buying if you need chip-card payments, want customers to use a separate payment device, or need offline payments as a backup. If you already take most payments through Square Tap to Pay on a compatible phone, you may not need the $59 Reader. From Square reader review, buyer feedback is mostly positive, but Bluetooth pairing is the problem that comes up most often.

Square currently lists its second-generation Reader for contactless and chip at $59. It works with a compatible phone or tablet running Square POS and accepts both inserted chip cards and contactless payments.

The buying decision is less obvious now that Square also offers Tap to Pay. A compatible iPhone or Android phone can take contactless payments without a separate reader, so it is worth looking at what the Reader adds before buying one.

What Does Square Reader Do?

Square Reader handles the card payment while your phone or tablet runs the sale. A customer can insert an EMV chip card or tap a contactless card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or another supported NFC payment.

There is no magstripe slot on this model. Square’s Reader for magstripe is a separate device.

The Reader connects to a compatible phone or tablet and has its own rechargeable battery. Square rates the battery for all-day use and gives the contactless and chip Reader a one-year limited warranty.

Setup is simple for many buyers.

AAA, a verified Target buyer, says, “Simple to set up and use.” (Target, verified purchase, 5/5, June 12, 2024.)

Square’s second-generation model also has Stay Connected. Once the Reader has been paired, it can stay connected to the same device in a low-power state for up to 30 days. You still need the phone or tablet nearby and running a supported Square POS app when it is time to take a payment.

How Much Does Square Reader Cost To Use?

The $59 is Square’s current list price for the hardware. There is no separate monthly subscription just for using the Reader.

If you use Square Free, a standard in-person tap or dip currently costs 2.6% + 15¢. Square’s paid POS plans can have lower in-person processing rates, but they also have monthly software fees.

For most small sellers, that means there are two costs to think about: the Reader is a one-time hardware purchase, while processing fees continue with every card sale. You do not need a paid Square plan just because you buy the Reader.

Square Reader Vs Tap To Pay

Square Tap to Pay lets a compatible iPhone or Android phone accept contactless cards and digital wallets without separate payment hardware.

That may already cover your checkout if customers mostly tap. The Reader becomes more useful when you need something beyond contactless phone payments.

At Checkout	Square Reader	Tap To Pay
Separate hardware	$59 Reader	None
Contactless cards	Yes	Yes
Digital wallets	Yes	Yes
Inserted chip cards	Yes	No
Supported offline payments	Yes	No
Separate device for the customer	Yes	No

Chip cards are one clear reason to keep the Reader. If a customer cannot or does not want to tap, the card can be inserted instead.

A separate Reader can also be useful at an event or counter where you want to keep the phone or tablet on your side of the checkout.

Mary A., a verified Target buyer who used the Reader at an event, says, “Perfect for our event. Bluetooth connected quickly and never gave us a problem.” (Target, verified purchase, 5/5, January 26, 2024.)

If you take only occasional payments and almost everyone taps, adding another device may not improve much. Tap to Pay keeps that setup to the phone you already use. A lighter Square setup for small businesses can start with Tap to Pay, Payment Links, invoices, Virtual Terminal, or a Square website before separate hardware becomes necessary.

Offline Payments Are Useful, With Some Risk

The second-generation Reader can take eligible offline payments when your phone or tablet temporarily loses its internet connection. Square Tap to Pay on iPhone and Android does not support offline payments.

For the second-generation Reader, an offline-payment session can run for up to 24 hours. Pending payments must be uploaded within 72 hours of the start of that session, and Square recommends reconnecting within 24 hours.

An offline payment is not fully approved when you take it. Square processes the payment after the device reconnects, so it can still be declined later.

You are also responsible for offline payments that expire, are declined, or are disputed. If a pending payment reaches the 72-hour limit without being uploaded, Square says it cannot be retrieved or reprocessed.

That makes offline payments useful for a temporary internet problem, especially at markets and events. It is still safer to reconnect as soon as possible rather than treating the full 72 hours as extra time to leave payments pending.

Bluetooth Pairing Is Weak

Buyer feedback on the second-generation Reader is positive overall. Best Buy showed a 4.7/5 rating based on more than 700 reviews, with 96% of buyers recommending it. Ease of use was the most common positive theme, while connectivity was one of the recurring complaints. It is more important when it comes to remote sales.

Ruby, a verified Target buyer who used the Reader at shows and in a storefront, says, “2nd Gen Pairing/re-pairing has been a PAIN.” (Target, verified purchase, 2/5, October 7, 2025.)

A more recent buyer ran into the same problem just before using the Reader for a vendor spot.

Bushra, a verified Target buyer, says, “It was not pairing.” (Target, verified purchase, 1/5, February 24, 2026.)

Bushra said Square support recommended returning the device.

These reviews do not mean pairing problems are common across every Reader. The much larger Best Buy review pool is still heavily positive. They do show why it is worth charging, pairing, and testing the Reader before taking it to a market or event.

Square maintains a device compatibility list as well. Check the exact phone or tablet you plan to use rather than assuming a recent device will automatically work.

Should You Upgrade From An Older Square Reader?

It depends on which Reader you already have.

If you still use Square’s small magstripe Reader, moving to the second-generation contactless and chip Reader adds tap and inserted chip payments. The magstripe Reader only handles swipe payments and is a separate product from the contactless and chip line.

If you already have a first-generation Square Reader for contactless and chip, there is less reason to replace working hardware immediately. Square no longer manufactures or sells the first-generation model, but it still supports it.

The second-generation Reader uses USB-C for charging and can remain connected in its low-power state for up to 30 days. The first-generation contactless and chip Reader stays connected for up to eight hours before powering off completely.

Offline support on the first-generation Reader also depends on the version. Square supports offline payments on first-generation version 3, while versions 1 and 2 do not support them.

If your older contactless and chip Reader still handles the payments you take, there is no need to replace it just because a second generation exists. The upgrade matters more when one of those connection, charging, or offline-payment differences affects how you sell.

When Square Reader Is Too Basic

Square Reader still needs another device to run the POS. It does not have its own full checkout screen or a built-in receipt printer.

That is usually fine when you already sell from a phone or tablet. The Reader also does not connect Square with Shopify by itself. If Shopify holds the online catalog while Square handles in-person checkout, a Square Integration can keep products, inventory, eligible orders, customers, and gift cards aligned between both systems. At a permanent counter, though, you may prefer one device that staff can pick up and use without managing a separate Reader connection.

Square Terminal is one option for that setup. It combines the POS and payment device and includes a built-in receipt printer, but Square currently lists it at $299. That is a much larger hardware purchase than the Reader.

If your phone or tablet already works well as the main POS, spending more on Terminal may not solve a problem you actually have. If your employees often require a single device for the checkout process, the Reader may seem restrictive despite its affordability.

FAQs On Square Reader Review:

Final Thoughts

Square Reader is still a good buy when your checkout needs more than contactless phone payments. Chip card compatibility, offline payment options, and dedicated customer hardware are the three major factors that justify the price tag of $59.

The main thing to watch is the Bluetooth connection, especially if the Reader will be used at events or other mobile locations. If Tap to Pay already handles the way your customers pay, you can skip the extra hardware. If you already own a working first-generation contactless and chip Reader, there’s no need to replace it until the newer model solves a problem your current setup does not.