Smart Card Readers with PIN Pad
Card and PIN verified at the reader, with a keypad and display built in.
A PIN-pad smart card reader has its own keypad and display, so the cardholder enters the PIN on the reader instead of on the computer keyboard. ACS makes PIN-pad readers for banking, healthcare, government and field applications; BSD Infotech can advise on current models and availability.
Talk to BSD Infotech
Tell us your card type, where the reader will be used and how many you need. We will confirm which PIN-pad reader is available and suits your application.
What Is a Smart Card Reader with PIN Pad?
Secure PIN Entry
With Secure PIN Entry (SPE), the PIN typed on the reader’s keypad is passed to the smart card inside the reader and verified there, instead of travelling through the computer. This reduces the chance of the PIN being captured by software on the PC. It does not replace the security of the card, the application or the wider system; it removes one point where a PIN could be exposed.
PIN-Pad Reader Range
Price on request for all models. Several earlier ACS PIN-pad readers are now end of life, so contact BSD Infotech to confirm current availability.
ACR890 All-in-One Mobile Smart Card Terminal
ACS’s newer PIN-pad terminal that combines contact, contactless and magnetic-stripe card reading, to help systems move from magnetic stripe to smart cards. ACS provides an SDK for it.
Price on request · availability to confirm
eH880 Secure Smart Card Terminal
Secure smart card terminal designed for electronic healthcare (eHealth) and other markets. It supports mutual authentication and can display multi-layered information from one or both cards according to embedded access rights.
Price on request · availability to confirm
Previous-generation PIN-pad readers
| Reader | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|
| ACR89U-A1 / ACR89U-A2 | Handheld contact smart card reader with PIN pad and LCD, dual card slots and SAM slots; the A2 adds contactless. ACS introduced the ACR89 to replace the ACR88. | End of life (ACS) |
| ACR83 PINeasy | USB reader with a 14-key pad and LCD, supporting Secure PIN Entry. | End of life (ACS) |
| ACR88 | Handheld reader with keypad, LCD, bi-colour LED, buzzer and non-volatile memory; SDK available. | End of life (ACS) |
Status is taken from ACS as recorded on our Smart Card and RFID Readers page. Contact BSD Infotech if you need a replacement for one of these readers.
PIN-Pad Reader Comparison
| Reader | Contact | Contactless | Magnetic stripe | PIN pad | Display | Secure PIN Entry | SDK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACR890 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| eH880 | Yes (one or two cards) | — | — | Yes | Yes | — | — |
| ACR89U-A1 / A2 | Yes | A2 only | — | Yes | LCD | — | Yes |
| ACR83 PINeasy | Yes | — | — | 14 keys | LCD | Yes | Yes |
| ACR88 | Yes | — | — | Yes | LCD | — | Yes |
“—” means not stated in the ACS information we have reviewed. Confirm the details for your model.
Contact vs Contactless PIN Readers
Most PIN-pad readers read contact cards inserted into a slot. Some also read contactless cards: the ACR890 reads contact, contactless and magnetic-stripe cards, and the ACR89U-A2 added contactless to the ACR89U. If your cards are contactless-only, see our contactless and NFC readers.
Applications
These are typical uses of PIN-pad readers, not BSD project references.
SDK and Software Integration
ACS provides SDKs for its PIN-pad readers, including the ACR890, ACR89U, ACR83 and ACR88. See our Smart Card Reader SDK and Integration page, or ask BSD Infotech about integrating a PIN-pad reader into your application.
Need a one-time password device instead?
Handheld OTP generators with a PIN pad are covered on our Dynamic Password Generators page.
How to Choose a PIN-Pad Reader
Card types
For contact, contactless and magnetic-stripe cards in one device, ask about the ACR890.
Healthcare
The eH880 is designed for eHealth applications with one or two cards.
Replacing an older reader
If you use an ACR83, ACR88 or ACR89U, contact BSD Infotech about a current alternative.
No PIN needed
If the PIN can be entered on the PC, a standard PC-linked reader is simpler.
Frequently Asked Questions
Need a PIN-Pad Smart Card Reader?
Tell us your cards, your application and the quantity. We will confirm which PIN-pad reader is available and send current pricing.