Payanywhere Smart Terminal Review 

About Payanywhere 

Payanywhere is a payments network that enables companies located in the United States to take credit card transactions in-store, online, and while they are mobile.

It is an excellent choice for business owners who want a portable point-of-sale system that offers transparent pricing. It distinguishes itself from competitors by providing simple pricing and free financing on the next business day.

The platform, which was introduced in 2011 by its parent firm, North American Bancard Holdings, is intended for a diverse range of businesses, some of which include retail establishments, professional services, food trucks, and charitable organizations.

In addition to processing payments, it also provides capabilities for inventory management, reporting, and invoicing, as well as administration of employees. Nevertheless, it only supports a limited number of integrations and may, on occasion, impose early termination costs.

The Payanywhere Smart Terminal reader in detail

Payanywhere Smart Terminal is the perfect portable credit card reader for a number of businesses, including salons, pay-at-the-table restaurants, coffee roasting companies, and delivery businesses.

Similar to a conventional payment card reader, this mini-terminal allows businesses to: 

• Read and accept bank card payments
• Accept contactless payments
• Accept NFC payments by digital wallet (Samsung Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay) 

The PayAnywhere Start Terminal is designed to work on your WIFI network; however, it also has a SIM card to enable cellular GPRS or 4G payment processing so you can take it anywhere. 

You can easily use this card machine for retail stores, salons and spas or restaurants, pay at the table and food trucks. It does have an optional tip prompt and comes with next day funding.  It can be integrated with a cash drawer and printer / kitchen printer.

In terms of ergonomics, you will appreciate its small size compared to traditional payment terminals, which can be rather large and heavy. 

With dimensions of 6.9 inches length x 3.1 inches wide x 2.2 inches in height and a weight of 16 ounces, the Payanywhere Smart Terminal terminal fits in your hand It is more ergonomic than other handheld POS terminals and cards can be inserted into the bottom of the device, or swiped or tapped using the contactless functionality.

The Payanywhere Smart Terminal 5-inch screen comes with 720 x 1280 Pixel Capacitive Touch Screen and white LED backlights. This means that it is enough to touch the surface of the device to enter its pin code and the screen is still very readable, regardless of the level of brightness.

Cards accepted by Payanywhere Smart Terminal

Card type	Accepted?
Debit cards	Yes
Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover etc)	Yes
Digital wallets (Apple Pay/Google Pay, Samsung Pay)	Yes

Payanywhere makes it possible to accept almost all cards, including international cards and this is one of its many advantages. 

Mastercard and Visa typically allow tap limits of up to $250, introduced post pandemic ensuring fewer consumers need to touch payment machines. This can vary depending on the card provider. The practice, which saves time for each transaction, has seen its use soar since the pandemic. 

For your customers who require it, Payanywhere Smart Terminal also allows you to accept mobile payments (Google Pay, Samsung Pay and Apple Pay). Payanywhere Smart Terminal also includes a virtual terminal and other tools at no extra monthly fees. 

Payanywhere Smart Terminal: Pricing and Commissions

Payanywhere provides users with two different pricing models:

• Pay per use:
  • 2.69% of the total for transactions made in person that involve swiping, dipping, or tapping a credit or debit card.
  • 3.49 percent + $0.19 cents for every payment made using a virtual terminal (keyed), invoices, and recurring payments.
  • In the event that you do not complete a sale for a full year, you will be subject to a cost of $3.99 per month for inactivity.
• Other: You may get a price estimate by getting in touch with the sales staff and asking for one.

Hardware pricing

The first POS reader is complimentary, but each subsequent one will set you back $29.95. Other expenses include the following:

• Tablet computer and card reader bundle available for $949.95
• $99.95 set-up charge
• The software that runs the gadget costs $39.95 per month, plus other fees.

All devices allow chip-based EMV transactions and magstripe sales also. The most costly gadgets are equipped with built-in barcode scanning and printing capabilities, as well as displays that are directed at the client.

Some devices are eligible for free placement, which implies that customers may use them without paying for the service; however, they are required to be returned if they are no longer using the service.

Software pricing

The Payanywhere app itself is free with no monthly fee to use the software. However, there are monthly software fees ranging from $9.95 to $39.95 to run devices. 

The app is compatible with most smartphones and tablets. Apple devices require iOS of 13.0 or higher and Android devices require 5.1.1 or higher.

Payanywhere Smart Terminal allows small businesses, freelancers and retailers to escape the old pricing of payment readers with its simple model: Terminal purchase with software and transaction fees.

Finally, note that the Invoicing is offered in addition for a fee. The fees for invoice payments are 3.49% plus 19 cents per transaction.

From inside Payanywhere’s app or the payments hub, it is simple to send invoices by email. You have the option of creating one invoice or establishing invoices at the interval of your choosing.

You have the option of adding your corporate logo and contact details on the invoices that you send out. In addition, consumers who have regular bills from you may sign up for autopay if you provide that option to them.

Who is the Payanywhere Smart Terminal for?

The Payanywhere Smart Terminal can work with a variety of business types, from restaurants to retail and is a  good solution for many small businesses that are starting up, or have limited credit card transaction volumes or who work on the move.

Payanywhere Smart Terminal can be particularly useful for:

• Retail stores
• Quick service dining
• Farmer’s markets and fairs.
• Curbside checkouts
• Deliveries
• Cafes, restaurants, boutiques, convenience stores, shops, clothing stores and merchants
• Home & field services
• Personal services
• Professional services
• Hairdressers and beauty salons
• Couriers, drivers and taxis

Most of Payanywhere Smart Terminal’s target audience are smaller businesses, as noted above. Some activities are not accepted however by Payanywhere. These mainly include industries that are restricted including gambling or unlicensed professions. 

Payanywhere Smart Terminal order process

Registration for the service can be completed online on the official Payanywhere website. Customers can select their requirements including pay options (free placement or purchase for $349.95) and the $9.95 per month per device software fee.

Customers can then enter their signup details and connect with a Payanywhere consultant to arrange a call to discuss the product and service per your requirements. 

The Payanywhere services include the POS power adapter, access to Payments Hub for easy business management, data-driven reporting, a Virtual Terminal and 24/7 customer service and technical support.

Sending the terminal is free and can take up to 5 days after validation of the opening of the account.

We recommend that you plan to purchase your Payanywhere Smart Terminal payment terminal at least 7 working days before you need it.

Payanywhere Smart Terminal setup

From the Payanywhere website, you can start your application by creating an account, selecting your plan and hardware and providing your personal, business and banking information. Within 24 hours, you can expect an email notification about your application.

You will use the same password you created for your online account to log in to the Payanywhere app and the payments hub. 

The payments hub is the control center for your account where you can accept payments, pull reports, view your accounts, add users and manage funding and closing settings.

Once you are approved and set up, you can accept credit cards, debit cards and contactless payments in-person and online. A virtual terminal, located in the payments hub, lets you enter payments from your computer for online orders or ones placed over the phone.

After fully charging, the device should last for up to 8 hours for the average SMB.

How to receive funds from your Payanywhere Smart Terminal transactions

Next business day funding to your business bank account is free for sales processed by 10 p.m. Eastern. Free same-day funding option for businesses operating past the processing deadline of 10 p.m. Eastern, such as bars.

How to take payment from customers with the Payanywhere Smart Terminal

Simply enter the amount, and the customer will do the rest as on a conventional card reader: Insert their card, type their pin code and validate.

A green tick confirms the success of the transaction and it is also possible to print the credit card receipt with compatible printers.

To charge the terminal, use the included cable and plug it into a computer or electrical outlet. Plug it into a computer or electrical outlet. It can be put to charge on or off or whilst in use which is convenient. Once charged, you’ll be able to enjoy up to 500 transactions on a single charge. 

Finally, you will be notified if the payment terminal software is updated. Updates are quite simple to perform and an update check is even performed by default when your device is connected to the application. 

Payanywhere Smart Terminal features

Payanywhere Smart Terminal is similar to a mobile OS, but one which replaces phone calls with payment processing. The Payanywhere Smart Terminal runs the full Payanywhere POS systems and is compatible with QuickBooks for direct accounting software integration.

Contactless payment

Like any good mobile payment reader, Payanywhere Smart Terminal allows you to accept:

• Contactless payments
• Payments by digital wallet (Google Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay)

This feature is highly appreciated by small traders because it saves a lot of time and avoids lines.

Payment processing

Whenever a swipe, chip dip, or contactless payment is made, businesses that take less than $10,000 per month are automatically enrolled in a pay-as-you-go plan and charged a transaction fee of 2.69% of the total amount. There is a fee of 3.49% in addition to $0.19 for each keyed-in payment.

Payanywhere – Pay as you go	Fees
Starting fees	$0
Monthly fee	$0
Payment methods include contactless, EMV, and swipes.	2.69% per transaction
Card processing limit	Under $10k a month
Keyed card transactions	3.49% + 19¢ per transaction
Inactivity fee (after 12 months of no payments)	$3.99 per month

Even though there are no lock-in contracts or continuous monthly costs associated with the Pay As You Go plan, Payanywhere will begin charging a monthly “Inactivity Fee” of $3.99 when the account has been inactive for a period of one year and has not accepted cards.

After you have resumed using your card to make payments, the fee for inactivity will no longer be assessed. To release yourself from any need to pay this amount, the contract will need to be terminated first.

People management tools

Payanywhere provides you with no charge for the use of tools that will assist you in the hiring, scheduling, and payment of your workers. According on the jobs they play, your workers may be granted varying degrees of access.

You are able to make reports on an individual’s or a group’s productivity by determining the number of transactions performed, the sales volume, tips, and the mode of payment. Additionally, your workers are able to provide feedback on their shift as well as check into and out of via the app.

Reporting and analysis of data

Free analytics and reports tools are offered for you to use so that you may examine the sales volume, payment type, and consumer purchases. This will assist you in recognizing patterns. You will be able to monitor the progress of your dispute, add evidence in support of your position, and get notifications when further action is required.

Flash reports may be used to see a variety of data, including net sales, discounts, taxes, tips, and voids. Launch the Payanywhere app on your mobile device to get a snapshot of your recent sales activity.

Integrations

Payanywhere makes reference to two different integrations. You may combine your data with the scheduling software Homebase in addition to exporting it to your QuickBooks Online account so that you can synchronize transactions.

Toolkit for developing software

The software development kit (SDK) offered by Payanywhere would be appealing to software developers who want their applications to be able to take payments. The software development kit provides you access to a comprehensive payment system, enabling you to take a variety of common payment options and transaction kinds.

You will have the ability to examine transactions, export sales data, handle disputes, and design a hosted payment form. You will be responsible for paying the regular Payanywhere fees for each transaction, but the download will not cost you anything.

Refund management

Refunds are possible within the Payanywhere Smart Terminal and are relatively straight forward to execute.

Receipt management

It is simple to print a receipt for the client using the Payanywhere POS card reader since the terminal comes equipped with a receipt printer and, as a result, does not need the use of an additional receipt printer.

In order to process sales made via the internet, the software, which would be installed on the console, makes use of a 5G or WiFi internet connection.

Help with bookkeeping

No need to put off chores like bookkeeping and accounting. Payanywhere integrates directly with Quickbooks for all of your accounting needs.

Merchant hub

The smartphone app (or the on-screen software for smart devices) as well as the main merchant hub known as “Payanywhere Inside” are the two components that make up the software that is used by Payanywhere.

On the merchant portal, you will find the following options:

• Generate comprehensive sales reports
• Examine the patterns of sales, as well as the activities of employees and consumers.
• Take responsibility for the product inventories.
• Payments for cards may be processed manually using a virtual terminal.
• Monitor and oversee the resolution of complaints and chargebacks.

The primary account holder will be granted complete access to Payanywhere Inside; however, it is possible to provide another user that you have established in your account with administrative privileges as well.

Security

Payanywhere devices are PCI compliant, which means that they adhere to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS). PCI-DSS is a set of security standards designed to ensure that all corporate companies that organize, store, or transmit credit card processing information always maintain a secure environment. Payanywhere devices are PCI compliant.

Payanywhere has taken measures to make the process of PCI compliance easier for you, so that you can concentrate on what you are most skilled at doing, which is operating your company.

Support and Customer Service

For most common operations or basic troubleshooting, Payanywhere offers complete customer support. 

On its website, the firm provides assistance in the form of a phone number, an email address, and a live chat feature; however, the company does not publish its support hours.

You also have the option of contacting them via social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, as well as searching the digital knowledge base or the video channel on YouTube for answers.

Payanywhere Smart Terminal: Customer Reviews

Pay Anywhere currently holds an “A+” grade with the BBB however is not accredited. There are various negative user reviews of Payanywhere Smart Terminal to be found online with common complaints including unexpected charges and customer support.  

Positive reviews focus on the swipe reader, free payment tools and Simple pricing for low-volume merchants.

Payanywhere Smart Terminal: Overall verdict

Overall, the Payanywhere Smart Terminal is a decent choice for SMB’s in terms of its functionality and flexibility. 

The customer service department clearly needs some improvement however and the company has been called out in review for automatically converting processing accounts into full-service merchant accounts once your processing volume exceeds $100,000 in a twelve-month period, unbeknownst to some customers. 

Nonetheless, Payanywhere is a one-stop payments solution that can save merchants time and effort. It accept in-person, online, mobile, invoiced and keyed payments and also allows for offline payments, a very useful feature for many SMBs.