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Accept payments your way

Charge customers with Tap to Pay on your phone, a Stripe card reader, or manual card entry.

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Payment for Stripe lets you choose the method that works best for each transaction.
4.8 App Store rating 245K+ businesses worldwide

Last updated November 2026

Quick answer

Open the app, enter an amount or tap a saved product, then have the customer tap, insert, or swipe. The charge posts to your Stripe account instantly.

Official documentation: Stripe Terminal documentation

From the blog

How to get started

Follow these 4 simple steps to get up and running.

  1. 1

    Choose your payment method

    The app takes cards three ways: Tap to Pay on your phone, a connected Stripe card reader, or a card number typed in. Set up Tap to Pay or connect a reader from the menu (profile icon, top left), under Card Readers. With a reader connected, the keypad icon at the top right switches to manual entry.

  2. 2

    Enter the payment amount

    Type the amount on the keypad, or tap Products and pick items from your catalog to build the total. Any tax rate or coupon you've applied is included automatically. Then tap Next.

  3. 3

    Process the payment

    For Tap to Pay, have the customer hold their card or phone near your device. For card readers, insert or tap the card on the reader. For manual entry, type the card number, expiration, and CVC.

  4. 4

    Send a receipt

    Once the payment is approved, tap Email Receipt and enter the customer's email, and Stripe sends them a receipt. Every payment also appears in your Stripe Dashboard and in the app's Payments list.

FAQ

Common questions

What happens if a card is declined?
If a card is declined, the app will show the reason from Stripe (insufficient funds, expired card, etc.). You can try the same card again or ask the customer for an alternative payment method. No charge is made when a card is declined.
How do I issue a refund?
To refund a charge, open the Stripe Account menu (grid icon, top right) and go to Payments. Swipe the payment, or open it, and tap Refund. You can issue a full or partial refund. The refund typically appears on the customer's statement within 5-10 business days.
Can I charge customers without an internet connection?
Yes, with a supported card reader and Allow offline payments turned on in Settings. The app stores payment details securely and processes them when you're back online. Note that offline payments carry slightly more risk since the card can't be verified in real-time.
What's the difference between Tap to Pay and a card reader?
Tap to Pay uses your phone's NFC chip to accept contactless payments directly. Card readers are separate Stripe hardware devices that can accept chip cards, swipe cards, and contactless payments. Tap to Pay is more convenient; card readers support more card types.

Related guides

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