Receipt Printing: Thermal Printers, Bluetooth and USB
You can give customers a receipt on paper, on screen or on WhatsApp. This page explains which printing options work on which device, so you know what to buy.
Receipt options
| Option | Works on | Needs |
|---|---|---|
| Browser print | Any phone or computer | Any printer your device can already print to |
| Thermal printer by USB or serial cable | Computers with Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge | A 58mm or 80mm ESC/POS thermal printer |
| Bluetooth Low Energy printer from the browser | Phones and computers with Chrome | A printer that supports Bluetooth Low Energy |
| Classic Bluetooth printer | The HustlePilot Android app | A Bluetooth thermal printer paired in Android settings |
| WhatsApp receipt | Any device | The customer’s phone number |
58mm or 80mm?
58mm printers are smaller and cheaper and suit a shop counter or a market stall. 80mm printers print more characters per line and suit restaurants and supermarkets. Choose the paper width in your POS settings so the receipt fits the roll.
Check these before you buy a printer
- The product description should say ESC/POS. Most low-cost thermal receipt printers use it.
- Check the connection you need: USB for a computer, Bluetooth for a phone.
- If you want the cash drawer to open when you print, the drawer must plug into the printer’s drawer port.
- Bluetooth in a phone browser works only with Bluetooth Low Energy printers. If your printer is classic Bluetooth, use the Android app.
We have not tested every printer model. Test a printer with a small order before you commit, and ask the seller whether you can return it.
Share the receipt instead
Every receipt has a private link. You can send it on WhatsApp, and the customer can open or print it without installing anything.
Related reading: restaurant POS and POS for shops.