Zettle by PayPal review 2026
How good is Zettle by PayPal really?
82/100 points
kosten.org editorial team
Last updated: 2026-10-30
82/100
Points
Based on published terms and features
Zettle by PayPal (now PayPal POS) combines a low-cost card reader with a free POS system and a uniform fee of 1.39% for all cards. However, girocard is missing from the list of accepted cards – a drawback for merchants with many girocard customers.
Highlights of our Zettle by PayPal review
- 1.39% for all cards
- Card reader from €29 plus VAT
- Free POS system
- No contract
Table of contents
1 Costs & fees
24/28
Points
PayPal charges a uniform 1.39% per transaction for all card payments including American Express, and the same for invoices via PayPal POS. Payments via PayPal QR code cost 0.9%, but according to PayPal this rate only applies to merchants who signed up before 18 February 2025. There are no monthly fixed costs or hardware rental. The first PayPal Reader costs €29 plus VAT, each additional one €79, and the PayPal Terminal €199 plus VAT. Payouts go to the PayPal account.
2 Payment methods & acceptance
19/24
Points
According to PayPal, the reader accepts American Express, Mastercard, Maestro, Visa, Visa Electron, JCB, UnionPay, Discover, Diners Club and V PAY, plus contactless Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay. girocard – the most widely used card in Germany – is not on the list, which costs points for card acceptance. In addition, there are PayPal QR codes as well as invoices and payment links via PayPal.
3 Hardware & usability
17/20
Points
The PayPal Reader (formerly Zettle Reader 2) is compact and well made and connects to a smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth. In power-saving mode, PayPal says the battery lasts more than 9 hours or more than 250 transactions. The standalone PayPal Terminal has a built-in display. Set-up takes just minutes.
4 Software & integrations
13/16
Points
Zettle Go is a fully fledged free POS system with inventory, staff management and reporting. Integration with PayPal Commerce, WooCommerce and Shopify. API available. CSV/Excel export for accounting.
5 Support & contract terms
9/12
Points
No contract, no minimum term. Support via PayPal channels (phone, email). PCI DSS certified. PayPal buyer protection applies in disputes.
Pros & cons at a glance
Pros
- Uniform 1.39% for all cards
- Low-cost card reader (€29 plus VAT)
- Free POS system
- No fixed costs and no contract
Cons
- No girocard acceptance listed
- Dependence on PayPal
- Lower QR rate (0.9%) only for existing merchants
Conclusion: Zettle by PayPal review
82/100
Very good (1.9)
Zettle scores 82 out of 100 points. A low-cost card reader, a free POS system and a simple flat fee of 1.39% with no contract make getting started easy. The decisive drawback is that girocard is missing from the list of accepted cards: merchants with many girocard customers are better served by a provider such as SumUp.
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Read Zettle by PayPal experiences