A common question from studios evaluating Tattoo Studio Pro is “what hardware do I need, and what works with it?” The short answer: very little. Tattoo Studio Pro runs in a browser and on the mobile app, so the only optional hardware is a card reader if you want to take chip and tap payments in person. This page is the full compatibility list.
Devices
Tattoo Studio Pro is a web app plus native mobile apps, so it runs on hardware you almost certainly already own.
- Web: any modern tablet, phone, or computer with an up-to-date browser (Chrome, Safari, Edge, or Firefox). iPad, Android tablet, Windows PC, or Mac all work.
- Mobile app: the Tattoo Studio Pro app is on the App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android).
There is no proprietary terminal to buy and nothing to install beyond the mobile app. Most studios run the web app on a front-desk tablet or laptop and the mobile app on their phone.
Card Readers (Stripe Terminal)
In-person card payments run through Stripe Terminal, so Tattoo Studio Pro works with Stripe’s certified readers. You buy the reader directly from Stripe — Tattoo Studio Pro does not sell or ship hardware — and the prices below are Stripe’s published MSRP.
Counter readers (work with the web app)
Wi-Fi readers that pair to the web app for checkout at a fixed counter.
| Reader | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stripe Reader S710 | $299 | Full touchscreen, Wi-Fi plus built-in cellular. Best if you travel to conventions, guest spots, or pop-ups where venue Wi-Fi is unreliable. |
| Stripe Reader S700 | $299 | Full touchscreen, Wi-Fi. Best for a dedicated checkout spot where your studio Wi-Fi is solid. |
| BBPOS WisePOS E | $249 | Compact touchscreen, Wi-Fi. Smaller footprint if counter space is tight. |
Mobile readers (work with the mobile app)
Pair to a phone or tablet running the Tattoo Studio Pro mobile app.
| Reader | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stripe Reader M2 | $59 | Tiny Bluetooth reader that pairs with your phone or tablet. The most affordable way to take in-person cards. |
| Apple Tap to Pay | Coming soon | Accept contactless payments on a compatible iPhone with no extra hardware at all. |
For setup steps, see Card Reader. For the full checkout flow and payment methods, see Payments and Checkout.
What You Do Not Need
A lot of traditional POS hardware simply isn’t part of how Tattoo Studio Pro works, so you can skip it.
- Receipt printers — not needed. Tattoo Studio Pro emails a digital receipt at checkout. There is no thermal-printer setup, no paper rolls, and no ESC/POS configuration.
- Cash drawers — not needed. Cash is a payment method you tap at checkout and it’s recorded in your reports. There’s no integrated drawer to wire up.
- Barcode scanners — not needed. Client check-in is QR-based: you print a QR code from Settings > Sharing, and clients scan it with their own phone to fill out the intake form. No studio-side scanner is involved.
Using Other POS Hardware
If you already run a Square or Clover terminal, that hardware won’t connect to Tattoo Studio Pro — card payments here go through Stripe Terminal. You can still keep using your existing terminal on the side and record the sale in Tattoo Studio Pro as a Card (External) payment so it lands in your reports. You can even rename that label (for example to “Square”) so the books read cleanly. The hardware doesn’t integrate, but the sale is still captured against the client and the artist.
Related Docs
- Card Reader: pair a reader and take in-person payments
- Payments and Checkout: the full checkout flow and payment methods
- Devices: manage which devices are signed in to your account
- Sharing: print your studio’s QR code for walk-in check-in