How we rate Card terminals
Our rating is based on a transparent 100-point system. Every card terminal is assessed in 5 categories against objective criteria. Here you can see exactly how our ratings come about.
Points breakdown at a glance
Our 100-point system weights the factors that matter most to merchants and service providers when choosing a card terminal. Costs and fees carry the most weight because they directly affect the margin.
| Category | Max. points | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Costs & fees | 28 | 28% |
| Payment methods & acceptance | 24 | 24% |
| Hardware & ease of use | 20 | 20% |
| Software & integrations | 16 | 16% |
| Support & contract terms | 12 | 12% |
| Total | 100 | 100% |
28 points Costs & fees
The most important factor for merchants – every percentage point counts:
- Transaction fees (10 pts): Percentage per card payment (EC/girocard, Visa, Mastercard, Amex)
- Basic fees (8 pts): Monthly fixed costs, rental vs. purchase price
- Hidden costs (5 pts): Minimum fees, cancellation fees, PCI compliance fees
- Payout terms (5 pts): Payout time (1–3 days), payout fees
24 points Payment methods & acceptance
Which payment methods are supported:
- Card acceptance (8 pts): girocard/EC, Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Diners Club, UnionPay
- Contactless (6 pts): NFC/tap to pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay
- Alternative methods (5 pts): QR codes, Alipay, WeChat Pay, PayPal QR
- E-commerce options (5 pts): Payment links, online payments, virtual terminals
20 points Hardware & ease of use
Quality and handling of the physical device:
- Device quality (6 pts): Build quality, display, battery life, robustness
- Connectivity (5 pts): Wi-Fi, 4G/LTE, Bluetooth, Ethernet
- Ease of use (5 pts): Setup, learning curve, transaction speed
- Mobility (4 pts): Portability, size/weight, outdoor suitability
16 points Software & integrations
The terminal's digital integration:
- Dashboard & analytics (5 pts): Sales overview, transaction history, export functions
- POS system integration (5 pts): POS connection, iZettle/Square compatibility, API
- Accounting (3 pts): DATEV export, lexoffice, sevDesk integration
- Multi-terminal (3 pts): Multiple terminals, branch management, user rights
12 points Support & contract terms
Customer service and contract transparency:
- Support (5 pts): Availability, language, response time, channels (phone/chat/email)
- Contract (4 pts): Minimum term, notice period, trial period
- Security (3 pts): PCI DSS level, data encryption, GDPR compliance
Grading scale
| Points | Grade | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 90–100 | 1,0–1,5 | Very good |
| 80–89 | 1,6–2,5 | Good |
| 70–79 | 2,6–3,5 | Satisfactory |
| 60–69 | 3,6–4,5 | Adequate |
| <60 | 4,6–5,0 | Poor |
