Stripe connects with two API keys and a currency code on the location. Cards can be keyed or swiped in the browser, or — with a Stripe Terminal smart reader registered to a register — taken as chip and tap at the counter, with tips, saved cards, refunds and online invoice payments.

Stripe is a current, fully supported integration. It needs no local software: two API keys and a currency code on the location get you processing. Card entry works two ways — keyed or swiped in the browser (a MagTek 21040108 USB swipe reader is the recommended swiper), or chip and tap on a Stripe Terminal smart reader registered to a register. If you are still comparing options, start with choosing a payment processor.

Get your API keys from Stripe

1. Create a Stripe account at stripe.com if you do not have one.
2. Sign in to the Stripe Dashboard and open Developers → API keys.
3. Copy the live secret key and the live publishable key. Test-mode keys will not charge real cards, so make sure you are in live mode.

Configure the location

1. Go to Locations and click Edit next to the location that will take cards.
2. In the Integrations section, check Enable Credit Card Processing.
3. Set Credit Card Processor to Stripe.
4. Paste the secret key into Stripe Secret Key and the publishable key into Stripe Publishable Key.
5. Set the Currency Code — the default is usd. Stripe's own documentation lists every supported currency code.
6. Click Submit.

Editing locations requires the Locations module permission on your employee account — see permissions and templates. Integrated processing also requires the POS to be served over HTTPS.

Register a Stripe Terminal reader (optional, for chip and tap)

With a Stripe Terminal smart reader (for example a WisePOS-family reader bought from Stripe), each register can drive its own countertop device:

1. Power the reader and join it to your network following Stripe's instructions. The reader displays a registration code (on most readers: swipe in from the left edge, choose settings, and generate a pairing/registration code).
2. On the location form, find the register's row in the Registers table and click Register Stripe Reader.
3. When prompted "Enter the registration code shown on the Stripe Reader", type the code and confirm. The reader's ID is stored on that register.
4. To swap or remove a reader later, click Unregister Stripe Reader on the same row.

Once a register has a reader, choosing the Credit Card payment type sends the exact amount to the reader for chip, tap or swipe. A register without a reader falls back to keyed/swiped entry in the browser. Because the reader is stored per register, each register can have its own device — and tips on the reader follow the register's Enable Tips setting in the same table.

What the integration supports

• Payments — keyed, swiped, or chip/tap via Stripe Terminal.
• Tips — prompted where the register has Enable Tips checked; tips can also be added to a completed sale.
• Cards on file — save a card to a customer as a secure Stripe token and charge it later; the basis for series, packages and recurring charges.
• Voids and refunds — run from the original sale, the reversal goes back to the same card. See taking card payments.
• Online invoice payments — customers can pay emailed invoices and payment links by card without logging in; see invoices and billing.

Settings reference

• Enable Credit Card Processing — master switch, off by default.
• Credit Card Processor — set to Stripe.
• Stripe Secret Key — the live secret key; treat it like a password.
• Stripe Publishable Key — the live publishable key.
• Currency Code — default usd; must be a currency Stripe supports.
• Per register in the Registers table: Register Stripe Reader / Unregister Stripe Reader, and Enable Tips.

Common questions

Does Stripe support a chip and tap terminal, or only swiping? Both. Keyed and swiped entry work in any browser with no extra hardware; registering a Stripe Terminal smart reader to a register adds chip and contactless at the counter.

My charges are not appearing in Stripe. Check that you pasted live keys, not test keys — test keys accept the card form but the money never moves. Both keys must come from the same Stripe account.

What currency will customers be charged in? Whatever the location's Currency Code says — usd by default. Set it before the first live sale if you trade in another currency.

The reader says it is registered but sales do not reach it. Confirm the reader shows as online in the Stripe Dashboard and is on the same account as your keys, then unregister and re-register it from the register's row. If the reader is offline (network change, power cycle), the register reports it rather than charging.

Can I save a customer's card for later billing? Yes — cards on file are stored as Stripe tokens against the customer, and can be charged for invoices, recurring charges and repeat sales. See taking card payments.

Can each location use its own Stripe account? Yes. The keys live per location, so a multi-store business can run separate Stripe accounts — see setting up credit card processing.