Square Reader,usb for magstripe (with headset jack)

Square Reader for Magstripe (With Headset Jack)

$10.00

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9.2/10 (Expert Score)

Product is rated as #2 in category Credit Card Machines

Square Reader for Magstripe (Headset Jack) Review

Updated January 2026 • Verified Q1 2026

The Square Reader for Magstripe (Headset Jack) is Square’s card reader for older devices with a 3.5mm audio jack. It plugs into your phone or tablet’s headphone port and accepts swiped payments only — no chip cards, no tap-to-pay, no mobile wallets.

At $10 (or free with a new Square account), it’s a low-cost way to accept credit cards on legacy Android devices. However, most modern phones have dropped the headset jack entirely, making this reader useful mainly for older hardware. For newer devices, consider the Square Reader for Contactless and Chip, which connects via Bluetooth and works with any smartphone.

Pros & Cons

PROS:

Free with new Square account ($10 otherwise)
No monthly fees or contracts
No battery — powers from device
Compact and portable
Next-day deposits (free)

CONS:

Swipe only — no chip or tap
Most modern phones lack headset jacks
No iPhone support since 2016
EMV liability risk
Best as backup, not primary

Square Magstripe Reader Pricing

Item	Price	Notes
Square Reader for Magstripe (Headset Jack)	$10 (or free)	First reader free with new Square account
Transaction Fee	2.6% + 15¢	Per swipe, all major cards
Monthly Fee	$0	No monthly fees, no contracts
Instant Deposit (optional)	1.75% per transfer	Get funds in seconds instead of next day

Compare Square to other card readers

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The Headset Jack Problem

The 3.5mm headphone jack has largely disappeared from smartphones:

iPhones: Removed starting with iPhone 7 (September 2016)
Samsung Galaxy: Removed from flagship S and Note lines starting 2020
Google Pixel: Removed starting with Pixel 2 (2017)

If you have a newer phone, this reader simply won’t plug in. Square offers three magstripe connector options:

3.5mm Headset Jack — Older Android phones, some budget phones, older iPads
Lightning — iPhone 14 and earlier, older iPads
USB-C — iPhone 15+, newer Android phones, newer iPads

For maximum compatibility, the Square Reader for Contactless and Chip connects via Bluetooth and works with virtually any modern smartphone.

Who This Reader Is For

✅ Good Use Cases

Older Android devices — Budget phones and tablets that still have headset jacks
Backup reader — Keep one in case your main reader fails
Swipe-only cards — Some gift cards and older cards without chips
Testing Square — Free way to try Square on a spare device
Dedicated payment tablet — Older tablet stationed at a counter

❌ Not Recommended For

Any iPhone (no headset jack since iPhone 7)
Most flagship Android phones from 2020+
Primary payment device for any business
High-volume sellers
Businesses wanting Apple Pay or Google Pay

Better Alternative: Square Reader for Contactless and Chip

For most businesses, the Square Reader for Contactless and Chip (2nd Generation) is a better investment:

Feature	Magstripe (Headset Jack)	Contactless + Chip Reader
Price	$10 (or free)	$59
Chip cards (EMV)	❌ No	✅ Yes
Tap / Contactless	❌ No	✅ Yes
Apple Pay / Google Pay	❌ No	✅ Yes
Magstripe swipe	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
EMV liability protection	❌ No	✅ Yes
Connection	3.5mm audio jack	Bluetooth
Works with modern phones	❌ Most lack headset jack	✅ Any phone with Bluetooth
Battery	No battery needed	Built-in (all-day)

The chip reader costs $49 more but works with any phone and accepts every payment type.

👉 Recommended: See our Square Reader for Contactless and Chip review

Features

Accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express via magnetic stripe
Plugs into 3.5mm headphone jack (no battery, no charging)
Works with Square Point of Sale, Square for Restaurants, Square for Retail, Square Appointments
Free deposits to your bank (1-2 business days) or instant for 1.75%
Encrypted transactions at swipe
Compact design — fits in pocket
One-year limited warranty

Compatibility

Works With:

Android phones and tablets with 3.5mm headphone jack
Older iPads with headphone jack
Some budget Android phones (many still include the jack)

Does NOT Work With:

Any iPhone (iPhone 7 and later removed headset jack)
Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer
Google Pixel 2 and newer
Most flagship Android phones from 2020+
iPads with USB-C

Understanding EMV Liability

If you’re using a swipe-only reader, be aware that card networks shifted fraud liability in October 2015. The party with lesser technology pays for fraud.

Scenario	Who Pays for Fraud?
Customer has chip card, you swipe it	You (the merchant)
Customer has chip card, you dip it (chip reader)	Card issuer
Customer has swipe-only card, you swipe it	Card issuer
Chip reader malfunctions, fallback to swipe	Card issuer (if properly flagged)

Most cards now have chips. If you’re processing many transactions, a chip-enabled reader offers better protection. For occasional or backup use, the magstripe reader remains a practical option.

Square Magstripe Reader (Headset Jack) FAQs

Is the first Square magstripe reader really free?

Yes. When you create a new Square account, Square sends you one free magstripe reader. Additional readers cost $10 each.

Will this work with my iPhone?

No. Apple removed the headphone jack starting with iPhone 7 in 2016. For iPhones, you’ll need either the Lightning version (iPhone 14 and earlier), USB-C version (iPhone 15+), or the Bluetooth chip reader.

Which Android phones still have headphone jacks?

Most budget and mid-range Android phones still include headphone jacks. Flagship phones from Samsung, Google, and OnePlus have largely removed them. Check your phone’s specs before ordering.

Can I accept chip cards with this reader?

No. This reader only accepts swiped payments from the magnetic stripe. For chip cards (EMV), you need the Square Reader for Contactless and Chip.

Can I accept Apple Pay or Google Pay?

No. This reader does not support contactless payments. You need a contactless-enabled reader for mobile wallets.

What happens if I swipe a chip card?

The transaction may process, but you assume liability for fraud. Under EMV rules, if a chip card is swiped instead of dipped and turns out to be fraudulent, you — not the card issuer — are responsible.

Does this reader need to be charged?

No. It draws power from your device through the headphone jack connection.

Is the Square Reader secure?

Yes. The device encrypts card data at the moment of swipe, protecting sensitive information during transmission. However, chip transactions are inherently more secure than swipe transactions.

Verdict

The Square Reader for Magstripe (Headset Jack) is designed for older devices that still have 3.5mm audio jacks — mostly budget Android phones and older tablets. If you have compatible hardware, it’s a free way to start accepting card payments with Square.

That said, with most phones dropping the headset jack, this reader’s usefulness is limited. The Square Reader for Contactless and Chip connects via Bluetooth (works with any phone), accepts chip cards and mobile wallets, and protects you from EMV liability. At $59, it’s worth the upgrade for any business processing regular transactions.

If you have an older device and just want to test Square, grab the free magstripe reader. When you’re ready to accept every payment type on any phone, move to the chip reader.

Works with any phone via Bluetooth

Get Square Chip Reader

About the Author

Jason Feemster
POS systems expert and founder of POSUSA.com, a trusted industry resource since 2011. With over a decade of hands-on experience testing and reviewing point-of-sale systems, he helps business owners choose solutions that actually fit their needs.