When a merchant wants to process a credit card in person, a credit card machine linked with a merchant account is required. The credit card machine itself is what physically extracts the information from the customers credit card and send this information via phone line or internet to the acquiring bank to be approved or declined.

 Credit card machines come in many different forms. Some are as simple as a black box in which you swipe you card through at the store and can be as complex as a gas station terminal which is networked with up to 20 gas pumps and holds multiple merchant accounts as well as giftcard and gascard accounts in them.

 For most business, The simple credit card terminals will do just fine. These machines are some what expensive, costing between $400 to $2,000. However, for those of you who are looking for a free machine, Be sure to checkout our retail merchant account providers page with a list of merchant services companie who offer free credit card machines with the opening of a new merchant account.

  Their are thousands of different machines on the market to process credit card today, Below we list and give detailed information on some of the best and most reliable terminals.