Zettle by PayPal
Restaurant POS systems
Retail POS systems
POS software
Hospitality software
Restaurant software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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$29 one-time
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What is Zettle by PayPal
Zettle by PayPal is a point-of-sale (POS) system that combines a mobile POS app with card readers and optional POS hardware for in-person payments. It is used by small retailers, cafes, and service businesses to take card and contactless payments, manage a basic product catalog, and track sales. The product is closely integrated with PayPal’s payment services and settlement workflows, which can simplify payment acceptance for businesses already using PayPal.
Tight PayPal payments integration
Zettle is built around PayPal’s payment processing, which streamlines onboarding and settlement for merchants that already use PayPal. It supports common in-person payment types such as chip-and-PIN and contactless, depending on region and hardware. The PayPal connection can reduce the need to manage separate payment and POS vendor relationships.
Mobile-first POS deployment
The POS app runs on mobile devices and pairs with compact card readers, which supports quick setup for small locations and pop-up selling. This approach can lower upfront hardware complexity compared with more fixed, terminal-centric setups. It also suits businesses that need to take payments away from a traditional checkout counter.
Core sales and catalog tools
Zettle includes essential POS functions such as item management, pricing, tax configuration, and sales reporting. These capabilities cover common needs for small retail and simple food service operations. The feature set is generally sufficient for single-location merchants with straightforward workflows.
Limited restaurant-specific workflows
For full-service restaurants, Zettle typically lacks deeper capabilities such as advanced table management, coursing, kitchen display routing, and complex modifier logic found in restaurant-focused systems. Businesses with high order complexity may need additional tools or a different POS. This can increase operational workarounds during peak service.
Ecosystem varies by region
Availability of features, hardware options, and supported payment methods can differ by country. Merchants operating across multiple regions may encounter inconsistent capabilities and support coverage. This can complicate standardization for multi-country operations.
Less suited for complex operations
As businesses add multiple locations, advanced inventory requirements, or specialized integrations, Zettle may not provide the same depth as more extensible POS platforms. Integration options and back-office controls can be more limited for complex retail or hospitality environments. Growing merchants may need to plan for migration if requirements outpace the platform.
Plan & Pricing
Pricing model: Pay-as-you-go (pay per transaction; hardware sold separately)
Free tier/trial:
- Free plan: No monthly or setup fees for the POS app (available).
- Free trial: No time-limited trial stated on official site (unavailable).
Transaction fees (U.S., per official PayPal/Zettle pages):
- In-person / Tap to Pay & POS (card-present): 2.29% + $0.09 per transaction.
- Manual (card keyed-in): 3.49% + $0.09 per transaction.
- PayPal & Venmo online payments: 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction.
- Invoicing (cards & alt. payment methods): 2.99% + $0.49 per transaction. (Fees vary by product/flow; see vendor pages for full fee tables and specific flows.)
Hardware pricing (U.S., official):
- First Card Reader: $29 (promotional for first reader). Additional Card Readers: $79 each.
- Terminal (device only): $199. Terminal with built-in barcode scanner: $239.
- Accessories: Reader Dock $29; Printer & Dock $99; Stationary Printer $299; Cash drawer $119; Thermal rolls $19 (official accessory prices listed on site).
Notes & caveats:
- Official site states "No monthly or setup fees" for the POS system.
- Transaction fees depend on the payment method and product (POS app, virtual terminal, invoicing, PayPal checkout). Consult PayPal/Zettle official fee pages for exact flow-specific rates.
Seller details
PayPal Holdings, Inc.
San Jose, California, USA
1998
Public
https://www.paypal.com/
https://x.com/PayPal
https://www.linkedin.com/company/paypal/
