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Accepting payment cards as the method of payment

Accepting payment cards using Shopify POS lets you offer flexible and secure payment options for your customers in person. Depending on your hardware, location, and the payment service that you use, you can accept a wide range of card types and payment methods, including chip, contactless, and swipe transactions. Learn how to accept card payments using integrated Shopify card readers or external card terminals, and understand the steps for processing payments through Shopify POS.

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Supported card brands

If you're using Shopify Payments to process in-person card transactions, then the following card brands are supported:

  • Visa and Visa Debit
  • Mastercard and Debit Mastercard
  • American Express
  • Discover (only for locations in United States, Canada, and United Kingdom)
  • Diners Club (only for locations in United States, Canada, and United Kingdom)
  • JCB (only for locations in United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand)
  • Union Pay (only for locations in United States and Canada)
  • eftpos (Australia only)
  • Interac (Canada only)

Most national debit cards such as Interac, girocard, or eftpos cards that are co-badged with Visa or Mastercard can process payments outside the card issuer's country using Visa and Mastercard. Some co-badged debit cards that don't process payments through Mastercard or Visa might not work outside the card issuer's country.

On hardware that supports contactless payments, customers might also present any supported card brand that they've loaded on a digital wallet such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.

Delayed payment capture

Card payments processed through Shopify Payments are authorized at the point of sale and captured after a delay of up to 15 minutes. Authorization confirms that the payment card is valid and has enough funds, and capture charges the customer. This delay gives staff time to correct a mistake, such as the wrong item or amount, by canceling the order instead of issuing a refund. Transaction fees don't apply to canceled orders.

During the 15-minute window, the order's payment status is Authorized, and staff can cancel the order. After 15 minutes, the payment is captured and the customer is charged. Changing the items or the amount charged then requires a refund, but you can still update other order details, such as order notes and customer information.

Considerations for delayed payment capture

Review the following considerations for delayed payment capture:

  • Delayed capture applies automatically to card payments for locations on the POS Pro plan.
  • When a payment is authorized, a pending charge is displayed on the customer's card statement, in the Shopify POS app, and in your Shopify admin. The pending charge is the authorization, and the captured charge is the final payment. They represent the same transaction in two states, not two separate charges. The customer's bank releases the authorization hold after the payment is captured, but the hold might be displayed on the customer's statement for up to 30 days. The timing depends on the customer's bank and card issuer. Learn more about authorization holds on customer bank statements.
  • Delayed capture isn't available in Germany or Italy, where card payments are captured immediately and orders can't be canceled.
  • Some payments and orders can't be canceled during the 15-minute window, including gift card, cash, Interac, EFTPOS, and manual credit payments, and split payment orders. Review the restrictions on canceling orders.

Accepting card payments with Shopify card readers

You can accept payment cards using a supported Shopify card reader such as the POS Terminal, WisePad 3, or Tap & Chip card reader. The card readers available to you depend on your store's country and region. Review Shopify POS supported hardware for details.

All supported Shopify card readers accept a range of payment methods, including chip cards, contactless (tap) cards, and mobile wallets such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.

Steps:

  1. From Shopify POS, add items to the cart, and then tap Checkout.
  1. Tap Card, or if you have multiple card readers connected, then tap the card reader you want to process the card payment with.
  2. Allow the customer to present one of the following payment methods:
    • For contactless: The customer needs to hold their contactless payment card or mobile device within 2.5 cm of the reader.
    • For chip: The customer inserts their chip card into the card reader and follows the prompts on the screen.
    • For swipe (if available on your reader): The customer swipes their card as prompted in the Shopify POS app. Swipe should only be used for payment cards without a chip or if a chip card fails to process.
  3. The customer might need to authorize the payment with their payment card PIN. If an error occurs during checkout or if the customer cancels checkout, then the staff member needs to re-enter their Shopify POS PIN to ensure checkout security.
  4. Optional: To print a receipt, tap Print.
  5. Tap Done to return to the Shopify POS products screen.

If you're on the POS Pro plan, then card payments are captured after a delay of up to 15 minutes. If an order can be canceled, then the Cancel order button is displayed during that window, and you can cancel the order instead of issuing a refund. Learn more about delayed payment capture.

External card reader

An external payment provider processes payments for you. You might use an external payment provider when you choose not to use Shopify Payments or when you're in a region that doesn't 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. Because the payment is processed externally, you have to mark the order as paid in the Shopify POS app.

Steps:

  1. From Shopify POS, add items to the cart, and then tap Checkout.

  2. From the Select payment option screen, tap your custom payment type.

  3. Tap the payment 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 POS home screen.

Manually enter card information

If you don't have a card reader, or if you're having trouble using your card reader, then you can enter payment card details manually to take payment. The credit cards accepted for online payments are also supported. You can manage the credit cards your store accepts.

Steps:

  1. From Shopify POS, add items to the cart, and then tap Checkout.

  2. Tap Manual card entry.

  3. Enter the payment card details. If an error occurs during checkout or if the customer cancels checkout, then the staff member needs to re-enter their Shopify POS PIN to ensure checkout security.

  4. Tap Charge to process the payment.

  5. Optional: To print a receipt, tap Print

  6. Tap Done to return to Shopify POS home screen.

POS checkout security

To prevent customers from checking out without paying, the Shopify POS has built-in security features. A staff member needs to re-enter their Shopify POS PIN during a transaction in the following situations:

  • when a checkout error occurs
  • when the checkout is canceled
  • when a tip is canceled.