Build your own kiosk.
Pushko is the software — the kiosk itself is three things you buy yourself. Here's the whole shopping list. It's easier than it looks.
This is only what we'd buy, not a requirement. Any Android tablet, any stand and any Stripe reader will work, so if you already have something or find a better deal, use it.
What to buy
-
TabletSamsung Galaxy Tab A9+, 11-inch, Wi-Fi~$120 open box
-
StandBosstab Elite Evo + the card reader bracket~$200 or ~$400
-
Card readerStripe Reader M2, from your Stripe account$59
-
Power & cablesTwo-port USB-C charger and a few short cables~$30
- On a counter
- about $450
- On a floor stand
- about $650
- Setup
- an afternoon
01 · The tabletAlmost any Android tablet will do.
It's what Pushko is built and tested on. Don't buy it new — open box or refurbished is perfect for a tablet that lives in a stand. Amazon, eBay, Best Buy and Back Market all have them.
- 10 inches at the very least. Anything smaller and the buttons get cramped. 11" is the sweet spot.
- Wi-Fi, not LTE. Cheaper, and one less thing to manage.
- Check your stand's list first. Stands hold the tablet in a holder shaped for one specific model, so pick a tablet your stand actually offers.
- Skipping the reader? Only rugged tablets like Samsung's Galaxy Tab Active have the built-in NFC that Stripe Tap to Pay needs, and they cost far more than a cheap tablet plus a $59 reader. Ask us before you go that way.
Galaxy Tab A11+ 11" — the newer model, same stand holder. Lenovo Tab M11 11" — cheap and fine, if your stand offers a Lenovo holder.
02 · The standWhere most of the money goes.
Locks, hides the cables, and Bosstab makes a holder for the Tab A9+. Tabletop sits by the entrance; the floor stand stands on its own.
- Pick the right holder in the dropdown — "Galaxy Tab A9+ A11+ 11-inch." Not the plain Tab A9 8.7", that's a different tablet.
- Don't forget the reader bracket. The Elite Card Reader Bracket is a separate item at checkout. It's the arm that holds the reader next to the screen, and it's the thing everyone forgets.
Bouncepad — similar money, reader mount included rather than added on, and the Tab A9+ is in the dropdown despite the iPad-sounding link.
03 · The card readerOne reader, $59.
Order it inside your own Stripe account, not on Amazon, and give it a few days to arrive. Add the little M2 dock or mount to the same order while you're there.
- Leave it plugged in. It has a battery, but a flat reader is the number one reason a kiosk stops taking donations. Give it its own cable.
- Keep the top and bottom clear. Cards tap on top and insert along the bottom edge — don't let the bracket cover either, or the USB-C port.
04 · Power and cablesAbout $30 of odds and ends.
- A charger with two USB-C ports — one for the tablet, one for the reader.
- A right-angle USB-C cable for the tablet, so the plug lies flat inside the stand instead of pressing against it.
- Two short 6-inch cables for the run inside the stand.
- An L-shaped wall plug and a few cable clips, if the outlet is awkward.
Any of this is a normal Amazon order — Anker and UGREEN are safe bets.
Putting it together.
- 01
Order the reader from Stripe first — it's the longest wait.
- 02
Order the stand with the right holder and the card reader bracket.
- 03
Order the tablet and cables, and charge the tablet when it arrives.
- 04
Join your Wi-Fi, set the screen to never sleep, and turn on Protect battery.
- 05
Install the app from pushko.org/downloads and enter your license key.
- 06
Pair the reader, mount everything, tuck the cables away, and lock it.
Stuck? We'll help.
Send us a photo of the spot it's going and we'll tell you exactly what to order and where to put the reader. We've done this a few times. Prices here are ballpark — treat them as a budget, not a quote.