Pinpad: what it is and how to connect it to your POS
A pinpad is a payment device connected to the register. How it differs from a regular terminal, what it must support in Israel, what it costs and what to check before you buy.
Written with AI help and fact-checked.
A pinpad is a payment device connected to the register. The customer taps a card or phone on it, or inserts a card and enters a PIN. The register sends it the amount, and it sends back the payment approval. No typing the amount twice, and fewer mistakes.
Pinpad or regular terminal?
| Regular card terminal | Pinpad connected to the POS | |
|---|---|---|
| How the amount is entered | Manually on the terminal | The register sends it |
| Connected to the register | No | Yes |
| Best for | A business with few transactions | A business with a queue and a fixed checkout |
| End-of-day reconciliation | Compare manually | Automatic |
According to Apple's site, as of November 2026, taking payments on the business's own iPhone (Tap to Pay on iPhone) isn't available in Israel yet.
How a pinpad works, step by step
- The cashier finishes the sale in the register and taps "Card".
- The amount appears on the pinpad.
- The customer taps a card or phone, or inserts a card and enters a PIN.
- The transaction goes for approval through Shva (שב״א).
- The approval comes back to the register, and the receipt goes out with the payment details.
What a pinpad must support in Israel
- EMV: since the end of 2024, only EMV transactions (chip or tap) are processed in Israel.
- Tap: a new terminal connected to an acquirer must support tap payments (Bank of Israel Directive 472).
- Security certification (PCI): one of the conditions for connecting a new terminal.
- Apple Pay and Google Pay: work through tap.
Shva publishes a list of approved terminal models. Before you buy, ask the supplier for the model name and check it's on the list.
What a pinpad costs
- The device: buy or rent. Under Bank of Israel Directive 472, an acquirer that sells or rents a pinpad must price it separately, and can't make it conditional on staying with them.
- Processing fee: as with any terminal, per your agreement with the acquirer. → What card processing costs
- Connection to the software: check whether the POS provider charges for it.
5 questions before you buy a pinpad
- Which POS does it work with? Not every pinpad works with every POS.
- Which acquirer? Can you stay with your current one?
- How does it connect? USB cable, network cable or Wi-Fi.
- What happens without internet? Some transactions need online approval. → Cards without internet
- Who services it when it breaks? The POS provider, the acquirer or the importer?
How it works in KupaLi
KupaLi gives you two options:
- A pinpad connected to the register (₪1,500 + VAT): finish a sale, say ₪300, and the amount goes to the pinpad automatically. The customer taps a card or enters a PIN, and the receipt goes out with the payment details.
- The terminal you already have: take the card on it and mark the payment as card in the register. → Try 14 days free · The POS system guide
More questions
Can I use an iPhone instead of a pinpad?
Not right now. Tap to Pay on iPhone isn't available in Israel (November 2026).
What else do people ask?
What's the difference between a pinpad and a card terminal?
A pinpad is connected to the register and gets the amount from it. A regular terminal works on its own, and you type the amount in manually.
Does a pinpad accept Apple Pay?
Yes, if it supports tap. Every new terminal in Israel must support tap.
What's the limit for tapping without a PIN?
Up to ₪300 by card (as of November 2026). Above that, insert the card and enter the PIN. On a phone, approval happens on the customer's device.
Does a pinpad work without internet?
Partly. Phone payments and transactions above the processing company's limit need online approval.
Do I need a pinpad to accept cards?
No. You can use a separate terminal and mark the payment as card in the register. A pinpad saves typing the amount twice.