Written by Martin Nikolaev: Point of Sale Expert 
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PayPal POS (PayPal Point of Sale) is PayPal’s in-person payments and point of sale app, formerly called Zettle (PayPal Zettle, and iZettle before that). PayPal says the system “is no longer called Zettle, but it still operates the same way,” so existing Zettle accounts keep working. This review covers what PayPal POS costs in 2026, the hardware, how to connect it to QuickBooks, and how it compares with Square. All fees and prices below were checked on PayPal’s and Square’s official websites as of October 2026; confirm current pricing before you sign up.
Quick verdict: PayPal POS is a good fit for low-volume retailers, market and pop-up sellers, and businesses that already run on PayPal or want to accept Venmo and PayPal QR codes. There’s no monthly fee. It is not built for full-service restaurants that need table management or kitchen display systems, and it only works with PayPal payment processing.
What Is PayPal POS (Formerly Zettle)?
PayPal POS is a free app for iOS and Android plus optional hardware. According to PayPal, you can use it to:
- Take payments: major credit and debit cards, contactless cards and mobile wallets, and PayPal and Venmo QR codes. Funds settle into your PayPal business account.
- Manage inventory and sales: build a product library, apply discounts, get low-stock alerts and run sales reports.
- Manage staff and integrations: set up staff accounts, track performance, and sync with tools like QuickBooks, Xero and Shopify.
To get started you need a PayPal business account; then you download the PayPal POS app and choose how you want to accept payments (Tap to Pay on your phone, the Card Reader or the Terminal). The app runs on smartphones and tablets with iOS 12 or Android 8 and higher. PayPal POS only works with PayPal’s payment processing, so you can’t bring your own merchant account.
PayPal POS Fees (as of Oct 2026)
PayPal POS has no monthly fees, startup fees or long-term commitments. You pay a fee per transaction:
| Payment type | PayPal POS fee |
|---|---|
| Card present (tap, dip, swipe) | 2.29% + $0.09 |
| Manual card entry | 3.49% + $0.09 |
| PayPal / Venmo QR code | 2.29% + $0.09 |
| Payment links: PayPal Checkout, Venmo, Pay Later, Guest Checkout | 3.49% + $0.49 |
| Payment links: cards, Apple Pay, other wallets | 2.99% + $0.49 |
| Chargeback fee (US) | $20.00 |
Source: PayPal US merchant fees page, “PayPal Point of Sale Rates” (last updated Oct 1, 2026).
Example: a $50 in-person card sale costs 2.29% × $50 + $0.09 = $1.24 in fees, so you receive $48.76.
PayPal POS Hardware and Prices
You can start without hardware by using Tap to Pay on a compatible phone (Android 8.0+ with NFC and Google Play Services, or iPhone XS and later). When you need dedicated hardware, PayPal sells:
| Hardware | Price (PayPal US, as of Oct 2026) | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| PayPal Card Reader | $29 for your first reader (new business users), then $79 each | Connects to the PayPal POS app on your phone or tablet via Bluetooth |
| PayPal Terminal | $199 | All-in-one device with the POS app built in; no separate phone or tablet needed |
| Store kits and accessories | Varies; see PayPal’s POS shop | Counter setups with stands, printers and more |
Prices exclude tax; delivery fees and terms apply. PayPal notes that the $29 reader offer can change at any time.
How to Connect PayPal POS (Zettle) to QuickBooks
PayPal POS integrates with QuickBooks Online and imports your sales, fees, refunds and deposits automatically. PayPal supports QuickBooks Essentials and QuickBooks Plus; QuickBooks Self-Employed and Simple Start are not supported. Here’s how to link your PayPal POS (Zettle) account to QuickBooks, according to PayPal’s help center:
- Log in to your PayPal Point of Sale account online.
- Go to the Integrations page and find the QuickBooks integration.
- Click Connect and read the information about customers and suppliers.
- Enter your QuickBooks login details, select the QuickBooks company PayPal POS can access, and click Authorize. (One PayPal POS account connects to one QuickBooks company.)
- Map your PayPal POS accounts (sales, refunds, fees, card payments, deposits) to your QuickBooks accounts.
- Choose a start date to import past data, up to one year back. You can’t change it later.
- Click Save.
What to expect: PayPal POS syncs to QuickBooks once every night, so your first data appears the next day. Each day it pushes one sales invoice, one refund receipt and one bill for that day’s fees.
Tips:
– Avoid double counting: use only one source to sync to QuickBooks. If another POS already sends your sales to QuickBooks, switch off “Synchronize sales data” and sync only your PayPal POS fees.
– If the sync stops: check under Integrations that the QuickBooks connection is still active. A password or permission change can disconnect it, and then you need to reconnect.
– Talk with your accountant if you’re unsure how to map accounts.
Key Features
- Checkout: quick product selection, discounts, tips, and digital or printed receipts.
- Inventory: product library low-stock alerts, and stock tracking. (Need deeper inventory control? See our inFlow Inventory review.)
- Reporting: daily sales, best sellers, payment types and staff performance.
- Staff accounts: see who processed each sale.
- Integrations: QuickBooks, Xero and Shopify, among others.
- Gift cards and invoices from the same account.
PayPal POS Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| No monthly fee or contract | Works only with PayPal payment processing |
| Accepts PayPal and Venmo QR codes as well as cards | Manual card entry costs 3.49% + $0.09 |
| Low-cost entry hardware ($29 first reader, or Tap to Pay with no hardware) | Not designed for table-service restaurants (no floor plans or kitchen display) |
| QuickBooks, Xero and Shopify integrations | QuickBooks Simple Start and Self-Employed not supported |
| Funds settle into your PayPal business account | Fewer advanced retail and multi-location tools than full POS suites |
PayPal POS vs Square
Square is PayPal POS’s most direct competitor. Here’s how they compare on list pricing (as of Oct 2026):
| PayPal POS | Square | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly software fee | $0 | Free plan $0; Plus $49/mo per location; Premium $149/mo per location |
| In-person card fee | 2.29% + $0.09 | 2.6% + 15¢ (Free), 2.5% + 15¢ (Plus), 2.4% + 15¢ (Premium) |
| Manual entry fee | 3.49% + $0.09 | 3.5% + 15¢ |
| QR code payments | PayPal and Venmo QR, 2.29% + $0.09 | Cash App Pay |
| Entry hardware | Card Reader $29 first / $79; Terminal $199 | Hardware from $59 |
| Best for | PayPal/Venmo sellers, pop-ups, simple retail | Businesses that want restaurant, appointment or advanced retail features |
Sources: PayPal US fees and hardware pages; squareup.com/us/en/pricing.
On a $50 card-present sale, PayPal POS costs $1.24 and Square’s Free plan costs $1.45. Square’s paid plans add industry features such as restaurant floor plans and kitchen display apps. Read our Square pricing guide for details.
Alternatives to PayPal POS
- Square: the closest like-for-like option (Square pricing).
- Full-featured terminals: see our PAX A920 Pro review and Nova POS review.
- Running more than one store? Read how to manage a multi-location retail business.
- Selling on the go? See our guide to running a mobile business.
Bottom Line
PayPal POS (formerly Zettle) is a simple, no-monthly-fee POS with a competitive 2.29% + $0.09 in-person rate, cheap entry hardware and a solid QuickBooks integration. It’s a strong pick if your customers already pay with PayPal or Venmo. If you need restaurant tools, advanced inventory or a choice of payment processors, compare quotes from several POS providers first. Running payroll as well? See our best payroll software comparison.
FAQ
Does PayPal have a POS system?
Yes. PayPal Point of Sale (PayPal POS), formerly Zettle, is a free app for iOS and Android. You can pair it with a PayPal Card Reader, use the all-in-one PayPal Terminal, or use Tap to Pay on your phone.
Is Zettle still available?
Yes, under a new name. PayPal renamed Zettle to PayPal Point of Sale. PayPal says it operates the same way and existing accounts don’t change.
How much does PayPal POS cost?
The app has no monthly fee. In-person card and QR code payments cost 2.29% + $0.09, and manually entered cards cost 3.49% + $0.09 (as of Oct 2026). The Card Reader is $29 for your first one ($79 after that), and the Terminal is $199.
Does PayPal POS work with QuickBooks?
Yes. Connect it from your PayPal POS account under Integrations > QuickBooks. It supports QuickBooks Online Essentials and Plus and syncs nightly.
Can I use PayPal POS outside the US?
PayPal POS is offered in several countries, including the UK, but fees and hardware prices differ by country. Check PayPal’s website for your country; the prices on this page are for the US.