Have a national ID card living in countries like Italy, Germany and France and need a GREAT DEAL on a smart card reader? I mean why spend an arm and a leg on something that you are only going to be using a handful of times.

Then, look here at the five best deals under $50 on smart card readers. You will have your national ID working for you in no time!

This portable and handy smart card reader is designed to not only be compact but to have a unique flair with its transparent case. Thanks to its USB 2.0 Type-A cable , it will be compatible with most Windows-based PCs through the Plug-and-Play interface. However, it does not leave out support for macOS and Linux operating systems. With wide driver support, it will allow you the convenience of not only installing it on major OSs but have the support of most major smart card types.

A wide compliance set allows you to have the trust that this product is secure when transferring your most crucial personal information such as your name, address and even ID photo to your government’s portal.

This smart card reader will last you kilometers thanks to the MINIMUM number of insertions of 100,000 smart card insertions meaning that if you did it once per day, it would take decades before even dying. Thanks to features such as an automatic shut-off and short circuit/thermal protection, you are covered when transporting this smart card reader in your laptop bag.

If you want your smart card reader to blend in with your Apple products then this is the reader for you. With the classic grey and white of the iMac and the mac mini, you will hardly realize that this is from Identiv. Plus, the form size is a lot smaller than it looks on our website.

This smart card reader is ready to go with a wide support of major operating systems such as Windows, macOS and Linux distros. It has a USB 2.0 Type-A meaning that you should have no trouble finding a USB connection for your device. Thanks to its transmission speed of 600 kpbs , it means that you will not have to wait a long time to complete an account login-in when searching for important documents such as birth certificates or social security numbers. With a wide support of smart card types, your national ID will not have any trouble reading in your smart card reader. The best part is that with a Device UID or Unique Identifier Number, your data is even more secure from potential interlopers as your device and application will be matched to it.

This smart card reader will fit in with your desktop especially if you enjoy black peripherals to match with your PC. Thanks to the black finish, fingerprints and other oils will be hardly noticeable on the body.

Its compact size will make it hardly noticeable on your desktop and its weight is ONLY 65 grams. However, if you do not want it front and center, it has a 1.5 m cable meaning that you can hide it under your desk or have it all the way on the other side. No need to try and yank it out of the backing!

4.8 MHz

Its wide support of smart cards means that you will be able to use your national ID with this reader. It supports major operating systems such as Windows, macOS, Linux and even Solaris (if you even heard of that one). If you feel really bold, you can also use this with your Android-powered smart phone on 3.1 (Honey Comb and higher).

Similar to the first two options, it has a USB Type-A 2.0 cable that reads and writes up to 600 kpbs , so if you feel like programming your own smart cards then you can do so with the proper software of course.

Thanks to its ruggedness and its long life of 500,000 average hours before failure with a MINIMUM of 100,000 smart card insertions. This smart card reader may even outlast you!

The Gemalto IDBridge CT40 is an ideal choice for using with e-ID thanks to its support of all major smart card types. It has a USB 2.0 Full Speed cable meaning that it has data transfer speeds up to 500 Kbps .

It supports major Windows operating systems from Windows 2000 up to Windows 10 thanks to drivers supported by Thales which acquired Gemalto in 2019.

With a sleek and smooth, curvy design , it stands out from many other smart card readers purely for its aesthetics. It also has the ability to track if any tampering has taken place which is crucial for using a national-ID with access to all of your vital documents.

The Gemalto IDBridge CT30 Smart Card Reader stands out thanks to its transparent design and the amazing price compared with the previous mentioned readers. With a price of * *$22** for a brand new smart card reader, it is a STEAL!

It has the same support of major smart card types which include national IDs and has also support of major operating systems such as Windows, macOS and Linux distros.

With USB 2.0 Full Speed support and features that allow for the AUTOMATIC detection of smart card insertion and removal, it allows you to be certain that you can keep track of when your ID card is in the reader and when it is not. That might help you when you decide to walk away from your desk. The green LED status light will also give you reminders for when it is reading your smart card and when it is not.

Thanks to its lightweight size, Gemalto thought it would be wise to also include the ability to include stands for vertical insertion so that it could hold up the card when using it in that direction. When ordering, do make sure to mention this for your convenience.

This is the fastest of all data transmission speeds with up to 826 Kpbs which is a great reason to save this for last. As they say, you should save the best for last!

So, the next time you need to use your national ID to access your birth certificates, social security numbers, tax information and other vital documents. You can count on these five smart card readers to provide not only the convenience of being right at your desk but the reliability of a long-lasting experience.

Trust Tx Systems for your smart card needs! You can order all of these fantastic readers through our Tx Systems’ store!