Tap to Pay on Android: How to Accept Cards at 1.99%

Tap to pay on Android turns your NFC phone into a card reader. See what your phone needs, set it up in 5 steps and find out what a $2,000 month costs.

Payments

Nov 5, 2026

See article summary

Tap to pay on Android needs a phone with NFC, up-to-date Android, a screen lock and no root access. No reader or tablet.
JIM charges 1.99% per Tap to Pay sale with no fixed or monthly fee, so a $50 tap costs $1.00.
On a $2,000 month of $25 taps, JIM fees total $40.00 and $1,960.00 stays in your Jim balance.
Sales land in seconds; the free Jim Card spends them through Google Wallet, and Same Day ACH costs 1.99% + $0.99.
Tap failing? Turn on NFC and Location, close split screen and hold the card still on the phone's NFC spot.

Tap to pay on Android lets you accept contactless cards and phone wallets on an Android phone with NFC, and JIM charges 1.99% per sale, with no fixed fee, no monthly fee and no card reader. A $50 tap costs you $1.00.

Your customers already pay this way: U.S. consumers used a phone for 11% of in-person, non-bill payments in 2024, according to the Federal Reserve's 2025 Diary of Consumer Payment Choice.

This guide is updated every year with JIM's current fees and device rules. Last reviewed: November 2026.

What do you need for tap to pay on Android?

You need an Android phone with NFC, up-to-date software and an approved JIM seller profile. You do not need a card reader, a tablet or a bank account.

Phone: An Android phone with a built-in NFC chip, the part that reads contactless cards. JIM runs on phones only, not tablets.
Software: A compatible, up-to-date version of Android and the latest JIM app. JIM does not run on rooted phones or with developer mode on.
Screen lock: A PIN, password or fingerprint on the phone.
Settings: NFC and Location turned on, plus the permissions JIM asks for: Location, Nearby devices, Camera and Microphone.
Seller profile: You are 18 or older, sell in one of the 50 U.S. states and run a sole proprietorship or a single-owner LLC. See JIM's seller requirements.
Starter limit: Some new sellers start with a $500 limit on total sales. Verifying your identity in the app removes it for good (sales limit).

Checklist for Tap to Pay on Android: NFC chip, up-to-date Android, not rooted, screen lock, then a $1 test sale

Not sure your phone has NFC? Open Settings, then Connected devices and Connection preferences. If you see an NFC switch, the chip is there; menu names vary by phone brand. If your phone cannot tap, you can still sell with a JIM Payment Link. Full details in JIM's device requirements.

How do you set up tap to pay on Android with JIM?

Set it all up in one session, then charge your own card $1 before your first customer arrives. New sellers may see a Try a $1 test button that walks through it.

1. Download JIM: Get the JIM app on Google Play and tap Get Started.
2. Create your seller profile: Enter your business and personal details as they appear on your ID, create your Jim Card PIN and wait for the approval email.
3. Turn on NFC and Location: Allow the permissions JIM asks for. When the tutorial appears, tap Find it now and hold a card on the back of the phone to find its NFC spot.
4. Ring up the sale: Tap Sell, enter the amount (at least $1), tap Sell now, choose Tap to Pay and tap Charge.
5. Let the customer tap: The customer holds a card, phone or smartwatch on the NFC spot. When you see Approved, share the receipt if they want one.

The first charge can take up to 1 minute while JIM sets up Tap to Pay, so keep the app open and in full screen. Want tips? Turn on Enable tips on Tap to Pay under Preferences; JIM adds no fee for tips beyond the 1.99% on the total. For the technology behind each tap, read how tap to pay works and how NFC payments work.

How much does tap to pay on Android cost?

JIM charges 1.99% per Tap to Pay sale on Android and nothing per month. You pay only when you sell or move money to a bank.

What you pay for	JIM fee
Tap to Pay sale	1.99%
Fixed fee per sale	$0
Monthly, setup or hardware fee	$0
Tips	No extra fee; 1.99% applies to the total
Spending with the Jim Card	Free
Same Day ACH to your bank	1.99% + $0.99, $15 minimum

Source: jim.com/pricing and the JIM Help Center fee table, accessed November 2026.

How does JIM's rate compare on a $25 tap?

A flat 1.99% with no fixed fee costs less on every in-person sale than the published card-present rates below, and the gap widens on small tickets. Suppose a coffee cart makes 80 Tap to Pay sales of $25 in a month, $2,000 in total.

App	In-person rate	One $25 tap	80 taps of $25
JIM	1.99%	$0.50	$40.00
PayPal Point of Sale	2.29% + 9¢	$0.66	$52.80
SumUp	2.6% + 10¢	$0.75	$60.00
Square (Free plan)	2.6% + 15¢	$0.80	$64.00

Source: PayPal's official pricing page, accessed November 2026. Source: SumUp's official pricing page, accessed November 2026. Source: Square's official pricing page, accessed November 2026. Example math: each sale's fee rounded to the cent, times 80 sales.

Fee flow for 80 Tap to Pay sales of $25: $0.50 per sale, $40.00 in fees and $1,960.00 kept on a $2,000 month

In practice, that cart keeps $1,960.00 of its $2,000 with JIM, ready to spend the same day. Read how card processing fees work to see what goes into each card fee.

When do you get the money from an Android tap to pay sale?

Each sale lands in your Jim balance in seconds, and the free virtual Jim Card spends it right away. Lead Bank, Member FDIC, holds your balance, with Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) coverage up to $250,000 when insurance requirements are met.

Spend now: In the app, tap Cash out, then Add to Google Wallet. Pay in stores with your phone, or use the card details online anywhere Visa is accepted.
Send to your bank: Same Day ACH (Automated Clearing House, the network banks use for transfers) costs 1.99% + $0.99, with a $15 minimum. Sent before 2:00 PM Central Time on a business day, it arrives by 5:00 PM (JIM Help Center).
After hours: Transfers sent after 2:00 PM CT, on weekends or on holidays arrive the next business day.
Cash: The Jim Card is virtual and does not work at ATMs. For cash, send the money to your bank by ACH and withdraw it there.

How do you pay with tap to pay on Android?

To pay in a store, add a card to Google Wallet, make it your default payment app and hold the back of your unlocked phone near the reader. Google Wallet needs Android 9 or higher.

1. Turn on NFC: Open Settings, tap Connected devices, then Connection preferences, then NFC, and switch it on.
2. Set the default app: In the same menu, tap Contactless payments and select Google Wallet.
3. Add a card: In Google Wallet, tap Add to Wallet, then Payment card, and verify the card with your bank if asked.
4. Set a screen lock: Use a PIN, pattern, password or a strong fingerprint or face unlock. Google Wallet asks you to confirm it is you before each payment.
5. Tap to pay: Unlock the phone and rest its back on the reader for a few seconds until the check mark appears.

Steps from Google Wallet Help. Selling with JIM too? Your Jim Card sits in the same Google Wallet, so you can spend the day's sales at the next store. To take wallet payments from your own customers, see accepting Google Pay from customers.

Why is tap to pay not working on my Android phone?

Check the settings first: NFC and Location on, every permission allowed and JIM open in full screen. JIM's help center lists these as the first checks, so start there and then work down the table.

Problem	Fix
JIM says Tap to Pay is unavailable	Turn on NFC and Location, allow JIM's permissions, then update Android and the JIM app.
Tap to Pay will not start	Close split screen and apps that show over your screen, turn off developer mode and set date and time to automatic.
The card is not read	Hold the card still on the NFC spot you found with Find it now, and use that same spot every time.
The sale is declined	Ask for another card or for the customer to call their bank, or send a Payment Link.
Your phone shows try again at a store	Rest the phone on the reader a few seconds longer; a thick case can break the NFC signal.
Google Wallet says the phone is not certified	Google Wallet does not run on rooted phones or custom software. Restore the original Android system.

Sources: JIM's troubleshooting guide and Google Wallet Help, accessed November 2026.

Is tap to pay on Android safe?

Yes. JIM encrypts each payment the moment the customer taps and swaps the card number for a one-time code that cannot pay for anything else. JIM never stores card numbers or PINs on your phone or its servers, and you never see the full card number.

JIM holds PCI DSS 4.0.1 certification (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, the card networks' security rulebook), which means a full security assessment every year. Lost your phone? Block your Jim Card under Preferences, then contact JIM support. More in how JIM protects payment data.

Should you use JIM for tap to pay on Android?

Use JIM if you sell in person, alone, on an Android phone: you saw a $2,000 month of $25 taps cost $40.00 in fees, with $1,960.00 in your balance in seconds.

Profile	Deciding criterion	JIM when...	Consider an alternative if...
Mobile seller, small tickets	Fee per sale	You take taps on your phone and spend from the Jim Card	You need chip-insert or swipe hardware
Seller without a bank account	Where the money goes	You want to sell and spend without opening a bank account	You need to withdraw cash at an ATM
Business structure	Who can sign up	You are a sole proprietor or single-owner LLC	Your business is a corporation

JIM does not run on tablets or accept typed-in card numbers, so a counter with staff and tablets needs a broader point-of-sale setup. If you work from your phone, JIM Tap to Pay covers Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB and Diners Club, plus Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay, at 1.99% with no reader. Start with a $1 test sale on your own card. Selling on an iPhone instead? See Tap to Pay on iPhone, or read more on taking card payments on your phone and taking card payments as a sole proprietor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is tap to pay on Android?

Tap to pay on Android lets an Android phone with NFC take contactless cards and phone wallets, or pay at a store reader. With JIM, sellers pay 1.99% per sale and need no card reader.

Which Android phones support tap to pay?

To sell with JIM, any Android phone with a built-in NFC chip, up-to-date software, a screen lock and no root access works. To pay in stores with Google Wallet, Google requires Android 9 or higher.

How much does tap to pay on Android cost?

With JIM, 1.99% per sale, with no fixed fee, monthly fee or hardware. A $25 tap costs $0.50, so 80 of them cost $40.00.

How do I accept tap to pay on my Android phone?

Download JIM, get your seller profile approved and turn on NFC and Location. Then tap Sell, enter the amount, choose Tap to Pay and tap Charge while the customer taps on your phone.

Do I need a card reader for tap to pay on Android?

No. The NFC chip inside your phone reads contactless cards, phones and smartwatches, so JIM needs no extra hardware.

How fast do I get paid with tap to pay on Android?

With JIM, each sale reaches your Jim balance in seconds, ready to spend with the free Jim Card in Google Wallet. Moving it to a bank by Same Day ACH costs 1.99% + $0.99.

Is tap to pay on Android safe?

Yes. JIM encrypts each tap and replaces the card number with a one-time code, never stores card numbers or PINs, and holds PCI DSS 4.0.1 certification.