Accept Contactless Payments

How Contactless Payments Work

Contactless payments use near-field communication (NFC) or radio-frequency identification (RFID) to transmit payment data wirelessly between the customer's card or device and your terminal. The transaction range is limited to 1 to 2 inches, making interception virtually impossible.

Contactless transactions use the same tokenization as mobile wallets. Each tap generates a unique, one-time-use token instead of transmitting the actual card number. This makes contactless payments more secure than traditional chip or swipe transactions.

Speed and Customer Experience

A contactless transaction completes in under 2 seconds, compared to 5 to 10 seconds for chip insertion. For businesses with high transaction volume like coffee shops, quick-service restaurants, and convenience stores, this speed translates directly to shorter lines and higher throughput.

Post-pandemic, customer preference for contactless payments has surged. Over 70% of consumers now prefer tap-to-pay over inserting a chip or swiping. Businesses that do not offer contactless checkout risk losing customers to competitors who do.

Contactless Card Limits

In the United States, contactless transactions under $250 do not require a PIN or signature. Above that threshold, the terminal may prompt for additional verification. This limit is set by the card networks and may vary by card issuer.

There is no transaction count limit per day for contactless payments in the US, unlike some European markets that require periodic chip insertion for security verification.

Getting Started

Any NFC-enabled terminal accepts contactless payments, including contactless cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. Most terminals from our partner network include NFC by default. Get a free quote with terminal options included.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are contactless payments safe?

Yes. Contactless payments use tokenization, transmitting a one-time-use code instead of your actual card number. The NFC range is limited to 1-2 inches, making wireless interception virtually impossible.

Do contactless payments cost more to process?

No. Contactless transactions have the same interchange rates as chip transactions. In some cases, mobile wallet contactless payments qualify for lower interchange rates due to tokenization.

What is the contactless payment limit?

In the US, contactless transactions under $250 do not require a PIN or signature. Transactions above $250 may require additional verification depending on the card issuer.

Do I need a new terminal for contactless payments?

If your current terminal has an NFC reader (look for the contactless symbol), it already supports tap-to-pay. If not, upgrading to an NFC-enabled terminal is required.

What percentage of cards are contactless?

Over 80% of new cards issued in the US include contactless technology. Adoption is effectively universal for cards issued after 2022.