Magnetic Card Readers

Magnetic Card Reader - For reading all kinds of payment cards, ID cards, and much more

A magnetic card reader is used to read cards such as your bank cards, health insurance cards, membership cards, and similar.

You often see magnetic card readers being used in public places such as stores and libraries.

Typically, magnetic card readers are very compact in size and therefore do not take up much space on a table or at the checkout in a store.

Most magnetic card readers get power via USB connection when they are connected to computers.

If you need a new magnetic card reader for your workplace, be sure to check out our selection of different magnetic card readers that we have in various price ranges.

7 Things You Should Know Before Buying a Magnetic Card Reader

Below we will discuss the various types of magnetic card readers and provide useful information about their technical characteristics.

We will also cover other important things related to magnetic card readers, such as the types of cards that support them and the different cable lengths available.

#1 - Magnetic Card Reader with Tracks 1, 2, and 3

If you need a new magnetic card reader that is both small and compact while being easy to use and having a long lifespan, you can find it in our selection.

Besides being able to read important cards such as bank cards, the magnetic card reader can also read cards you may have made with a magnetic card writer.

The setup of this type of magnetic card reader occurs through its corresponding software, and upon startup, it performs a self-diagnostic.

It indicates a beep when reading a magnetic card and can read both ways in the reader regardless of how you position the card.

The magnetic card reader can support 1, 2, and 3 track reading of magnetic cards while also supporting ISO and JIS-II standards.

In terms of its lifespan, it can perform several hundred thousand reads before it needs to be replaced.

#2 - Magnetic Card Reader for Health Cards and Similar

If you work in public institutions such as libraries and citizen services, you need to get a magnetic card reader that can be used to read ID cards, health cards, and other important cards.

This type of magnetic card reader comes with USB 2.0 connection and also has a plug-and-play feature, as it does not require any software installation to get started.

The magnetic card reader is compatible with operating systems such as Microsoft Windows, Linux, and Apple MacOS.

It is very small, light, and mobile in size, making it easy to set up at your computer.

#3 - Card Reader for Electronic Signature

If you regularly deal with confidential electronic documents at places like the Tax Authority or in a bank that sometimes requires obtaining an electronic signature, it is wise to acquire a card reader for such work.

The card reader can be used to sign electronic documents with a legally binding electronic signature.

The card reader, also known as a smart card reader, is compatible with many different cards, and it can be used for quick online identification simply by inserting your card.

This means that personal information can appear on your computer screen without you needing to spend time entering it manually.

You can use the card reader for online tax reporting and online banking, and you can even use it to impose restrictions on your children's internet use.

#4 - Card Types that Support Magnetic Card Readers

As you may have noticed in our selection of magnetic card readers, they vary significantly in what types of cards they can support.

Most magnetic card readers here support a standard card type such as ISO, which accepts transactions from Visa, Mastercard, and many others.

Here are examples of other card types that magnetic card readers support:

• ABA
• F2F
• IATA
• JIS
• Smart Card ID-1
• THRIFT

#5 - Cable Length in Magnetic Card Readers

There is a difference in cable length among the various magnetic card readers available on the market.

If you have a larger computer setup such as a desktop computer at your workplace, it is recommended that you go for a magnetic card reader that, for example, has a cable length of around 1 meter.

This way, you can ensure that your future magnetic card reader can reach your work area.

If you work with a laptop, you can settle for a magnetic card reader that has a short cable.

#6 - Compatibility with Operating Systems

Many magnetic card readers are compatible with the various operating systems found in computers.

If your computer has an operating system such as Windows 10, it is important to look for a magnetic card reader that is compatible with this.

On the magnetic card readers on our site, you can see which operating systems they are compatible with.

Here are examples of the operating systems that various magnetic card readers are compatible with:

• Windows 98
• Windows ME
• Windows 2000
• Windows XP (32bit)
• Windows Server 2003
• Windows CE 5.0
• Windows Vista
• Windows 7
• Windows 8
• Windows 10
• Linux
• MacOS

#7 - Magnetic Card Reader with or without Software

There are magnetic card readers that differ from each other based on whether they come with accompanying software or not.

If you are looking for a magnetic card reader with software, there is typically a user manual included that you can follow step-by-step to ensure a complete installation.

If you do not wish to deal with software installation, you can simply look for a magnetic card reader with a plug-and-play feature, and it will work immediately upon connection via USB to your computer.