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Zettle is a free, easy-to-use POS tool that helps small and growing businesses handle sales and payments. It’s ideal for new ventures and establishments with minimal POS demands looking to accept credit card payments and optimize sales processes with one app, including inventory management, customer and staff management, safe and various payment systems, and more.
In this Zettle by PayPal review, we discuss its price options, critical features, integrations, and comparisons to competitors. Let’s get right in.
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What is PayPal Zettle?
PayPal is Zettle’s parent business, offering comprehensive payment solutions for in-store and online services. The Zettle app contains a mobile card reader, a free POS app, and peripherals such as cash registers, receipt printers, and barcode scanners to provide small businesses with the productivity tools to compete in the market. The mobile card reader enables businesses to accept credit cards directly, enhancing customer payment options.
PayPal Zettle Pricing & Plans
By choosing PayPal Zettle, you won’t be on a specific price plan. Instead, Zettle only charges for every transaction based on payment type, ensuring no monthly fees and competitive, transparent payment processing fees. There are no long-term commitments.
| Plans | Price | Transaction fee | Recommended for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | No monthly fees | From 2.29% + $0.09 per transaction | Small business owners looking for a solution with standard features and low transaction fees |
Customers can register for Zettle without subscription or recurring fees. The exciting part of this no-cost offer is that businesses can access the PayPal Zettle app on their mobile device to streamline day-to-day operations, manage products and inventory, maintain customer loyalty, monitor real-time sales data, sell across channels via integrations, and track employee performance.
PayPal Zettle’s pricing model is comparable to Square, but Zettle offers a slightly lower transaction fee structure.
While both offer free basic POS apps and mobile card readers, Zettle charges 2.29% + $0.09 per transaction for card payments, undercutting Square’s 2.6% + $0.10 rate. Although Square offers more robust features, Zettle’s lower fees could make it a more cost-effective option for businesses processing a high volume of card transactions.
PayPal Zettle Key Features
The Zettle app provides several features that other POS systems providers offer but at no monthly cost, including accepting payments smoothly to enhance the user experience. Let’s examine its key features to see what sets it apart from competitors and makes it good value for money.
PayPal Zettle’s inventory management is robust and easy to use, allowing hassle-free running of business and accountability. Its inventory interface is easy to customize to suit different business types.
The inventory software tracks and helps reduce overstock, forecast demand, and prevent shortages. With Zettle Go (part of the free offering), you can automatically upload multiple products in bulk, saving you time.
Whether you’re selling online or in-store, Zettle by PayPal updates your inventory and syncs both channels automatically.
PayPal Zettle offers a great checkout experience, allowing staff and customers to complete transactions seamlessly. With Zettle’s order/sales management, your customers will have a quicker and more robust checkout experience, whether they shop online or in-store.
We like Zettle’s checkout feature for its versatility in providing clients with an exciting purchase experience. It enables customers to pay in the way they want through encrypted transactions. As a business, you may enjoy uninterrupted transactions as funds arrive in your PayPal Business account within minutes.
Zettle allows you to record and store client information such as name, phone number, email address, and payment history. With real-time customer data, you can monitor customer purchasing habits and discover loyal ones.
The information obtained through customer management can also guide you in creating a loyalty program that rewards customers with signups and loyalty awards. As Loyalty is a marketing technique, Zettle simplifies this process for your business by eliminating the need for paperwork.
The PayPal Zettle interface makes adding, managing, and configuring permissions for personnel easy. You can discover top performers and areas for development, allowing you to create customized employee training.
While it’s not the most comprehensive staff management we’ve seen in point-of-sale systems, it’s suitable for smaller businesses and easy to learn for both managers and employees.
Among its standout features is the ability to accept payments from a variety of methods, including credit card processing, which is essential for businesses looking to provide flexibility and convenience to their customers. Zettle’s competitive processing fees ensure that businesses can manage their finances effectively while providing value through its payment processing features.
Zettle accepts various payment methods, including VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club, JCB, Discover, and all major debit cards, including Apple Pay, Android Pay, and Google Pay.
Its Tap to Pay enables you to accept contactless card payments on the go without additional hardware, just your mobile device. Likewise, Zettle’s payment by link simplifies the sales process and allows you to offer consumers a high level of convenience in payment.
Sales reports provide essential data that allows you to make informed business decisions. Zettle provides a simple reporting interface that tracks sales data by date, payment type, product or product group, customer, refunds, and employee. The sales reports are easy to configure and let you review best-selling products and low-performing products and quickly enhance business procedures.
Zettle POS Integrations and Add-Ons
Zettle POS integrations are opportunities to get more out of the software. Its integration capabilities cover payment, ecommerce, and accounting. This flexibility allows you to create the ideal setup for your business.
Zettle partners with POS software providers like AirPOS, BaeMingo, Goodtill, Extendago, Lightspeed, and more. With other software like QuickBooks Online, and Xero, you can ensure accurate bookkeeping and accounting processes. Zettle’s e-commerce connectors allow you to sell online while ensuring that all your products and inventory are synced seamlessly.
Zettle POS Security Features
Zettle is an EMV (Europay, MasterCard, and Visa)-approved and PCI-certified company adhering to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. Its HSM’s cryptography servers encrypt all credit card data to ensure clients’ sensitive information is never compromised.
Their card readers’ hardware and software are tamper-proof, complying with PCI PTS 4.1 standards. In the event of any interference with a reader, it will self-destruct to protect data integrity.
Zettle POS Hardware
Zettle’s hardware offerings include the Zettle terminal, an all-in-one device for a standalone solution, and the Zettle Reader 2 for contactless payment. You can use the card reader with your preferred smartphone or tablet, connecting both via Bluetooth to start taking orders.
The cost for the Zettle terminal starts from $199 while the card reader starts from $29.
Zettle also provides shop kits, ideal for businesses that have integrated with partner POS and want a complete counter setup, including a larger screen, a printer, and more.
Additional supporting hardware includes an Epson stationary printer ($299), a cash drawer ($119), a bar code scanner ($229), paper rolls ($35), a Zettle table stand ($159), and more.
PayPal Zettle Alternatives & Competition
We consider PayPal Zettle one of the top POS providers regarding pricing, features, and usability. However, no point-of-sale system can meet every business demand. Before making a financial commitment, use the table below to compare the POS system to its top competitors.
| Best For | Free Version | Monthly Starting Price | Transaction Fee | Hardware Cost | Built-in Payment Processing | Inventory Management | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PayPal Zettle | Startups | ✅ | No monthly fee | From 2.29% + $0.09 per transaction | From £29 for Zettle Reader 2 | ✅ | ✅ |
| Square | Small Businesses | ✅ | From $60/month | From 2.6% + 10 cents | $10 for card reader, terminals start at $299 | ✅ | ✅ |
| Shopify POS | Omnichannel sales | ✅ | $5/month Shopify Starter | The cost varies based on your selected package. | $299 for POS Go, $459 for Counter-top Kit | ✅ | ✅ |
| Toast | Restaurants | ✅ | $69 /month + $9 per employee/month for Growth Package | The cost varies based on the payment model and hardware purchased | Quote-based | ✅ | ✅ |
| Revel | Multi-location stores | ❌ | From $99/month | From 2.49% + 15 cents | Quote-based | ✅ | ✅ |
| Lavu | Food Trucks | ❌ | From $59/month | From 2.6% + 10 cents | Included in the monthly fee | ✅ | ✅ |
| Vend | Retail | ❌ | From $69/month | The cost varies based on your choice of payment processor | From $99 | ❌ It offers integrations instead. | ✅ |
| Clover | Reports and Analytics | ❌ | From $14.95 for professional services | From 2.3% + 10 cents | From $49 | ✅ | ✅ |
| SpotOn | Multi-location restaurants | ✅ | From $99/month +$3 per employee | From 1.99% + 25 cents | Included in the monthly fee | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cake | Customer Experience | ❌ | From $69 per month | From 2.5% + 15 cents | Included in the monthly fee | ✅ | ✅ |
PayPal Zettle vs Square POS
Square and PayPal are popular POS payment solutions that work effectively for most small businesses. Using PayPal Zettle does not require monthly subscriptions and provides more powerful online payment processing options than Square, making it an excellent choice for small enterprises.
In terms of e-commerce and email marketing connections, Square POS has it all because it allows businesses to create an online store that is integrated with Square. Zettle, on the other hand, can only offer this feature through third-party ecommerce integrations.
Learn more in our Square POS review.
PayPal Zettle vs Shopify POS
One notable distinction between Zettle and Shopify POS is that Zettle is less expensive, with no monthly subscription and low transaction costs. Compared to Zettle, Shopify is an excellent choice for organizations that want built-in e-commerce integration.
However, Zettle provides minimal features that make it suitable for small businesses that just need a few functions. In contrast, Shopify is the best option for enterprises requiring a more comprehensive range of features and customization.
Learn more in our Shopify review.
PayPal Zettle vs Toast POS
Toast POS is specifically designed for the food service industry, providing specialized features like menu management, table mapping, and online ordering integration. Toast excels in its robust reporting and analytics capabilities tailored for restaurants, whereas Zettle’s strengths lie in its seamless integration with PayPal’s payment ecosystem and extensive hardware peripherals. Ultimately, the choice depends on whether you prioritize an industry-specific solution like Toast or a more generalized system like Zettle.
Learn more in our Toast POS review.
PayPal Zettle Customer Reviews
Reviewing the functionality of POS Zettle alone wasn’t enough, and we felt it was vital to learn about the experiences of its long-term consumers.
Over half of the reviewers complimented Paypal Zettle for its user-friendliness, flexibility with mobile devices, rapid response time from customer service, and simple setup process. Zettle’s Trustpilot rating of 2.9 out of 5 stars, based on over 4,000 reviews, reflects both positive and negative experiences.
Some consumers expressed dissatisfaction with unexpected account suspension, inadequate technical assistance, transaction limits, difficulty accessing funds on Zettle, and faulty hardware. Others also complained about delayed payment processing and the hefty expense of replacing damaged electronics.
“Positive and quick response from agent who was very helpful in resolving my concerns. Overall great customer service.”
Customer review collected from Trustpilot.
“Easy to use and set up, quick response from customer service when needed.”
Customer review collected from Trustpilot.
Zettle by PayPal offers phone support Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Charges for phone support may apply, depending on the caller’s phone provider’s terms and coverage.
How to Use Zettle by PayPal - Quick Guide
Below is a step-by-step guide on how to use Zettle.
Log in to your PayPal account to access the POS
Go to your web browser, visit the Zettle Paypal website, and log in with the email address and password you used to sign up. To use Zettle, you must first create a Business PayPal account.
Set up Sales Tax
Before you do anything else, select a sales tax rate based on your location from the dashboard. Go to the “Settings” tab and select “Tax Settings.” You can also automatically add tax to the product price or at checkout.
Set up Your Products
To input your products, go to “Products” and select “Products Library”. To simplify things, you can create a spreadsheet with all your items, download it as a.csv file, and import it into your product library. Alternatively, you can add products separately via the product library interface.
Payment Processing & Management
After adding items to your shopping cart, click Charge. Then select Card as the payment option. Allow the customer to use the PayPal Zettle card reader or terminal. Once you’ve confirmed the payment has been approved, you can print, send, or email a receipt or select No Receipt.
If your sales are made online or through social media, you can select Invoice as the payment method and provide the customer’s information, such as name, email address, and phone number. Then, send the invoice to the customer’s email address.
To provide our readers with accurate and well-informed recommendations, we test the most popular POS products on the market to find the best options for you. Our methodology consists of the following criteria:How We Review And Test POS Products
How to Choose the Best POS Software
Here are critical factors to consider when choosing POS software.
Consider your budget and spending capabilities before deciding on a POS system. Select a system with transparent pricing and ensure its features meet your business needs.
Examine various POS system features on the market and ensure that you select a system that includes all of the functions and integrations required to run your business efficiently. Ensure these functions are within your budget, as some POS only offer advanced features for an additional price.
Business growth is continual. When choosing POS software, keep your business’s growth in mind. Understand the cost of scaling and whether the POS system provides the functionality you will need as you scale.
You do not want a system that requires high technical knowledge. Therefore, assess the software’s usability in terms of installation and ongoing usage.
Identify all of the integrations your company needs and compare them to the best POS software available. Some integrations may only be available on higher-tier plans.
Every business needs dependable and responsive customer service to resolve emerging technical issues. Understand the system’s support hours and channels. As we’ve highlighted in Zettle’s review, user reviews are one method for understanding a system.
Our Other POS Guides
Our team of experts has compiled numerous resources on the POS system. Explore them for further reading:
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- Best POS System for Restaurants
- Best POS System for Bars
- Clover POS Review
- Square POS Review
- Best Restaurant Accounting Software
