In an more and more cashless society, if you happen to don’t have card fee machines, you danger dropping out on gross sales.
There are numerous card machines for small companies in the marketplace at this time, and most allow you to take chip and PIN, contactless, and cellular funds.
However there are variations in options, charges and upfront prices which is able to make some kind of appropriate for your online business than others.
This text will break down the {hardware} and performance of one of the best fee machines presently in the marketplace that will help you select the one which’s best for you.
You possibly can leap straight to a specific card machine or learn on to search out extra information on the ten (plus one bonus!) greatest card fee machines for small UK companies in 2024.
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Card fee machines
- Square Reader
- SumUp Air
- Zettle Reader 2
- MyPOS Go
- Dojo Go
- Barclaycard Smartpay Anywhere
- TakePayments
- Tyl (by Natwest)
- Shopify
- Tide Card Reader
- Small Business Pro
With Small Enterprise Professional, monitor your invoices in addition to getting in-person and on-line transactions at one of many lowest charges in the marketplace. It should additionally assist with the heavy lifting of managing clients, insurance coverage, finance and HR, plus you’ll get a number of private wellbeing advantages.
You will discover out extra about Small Enterprise Professional here.
How a lot does a typical card fee machine value?
Card fee machine prices are made up of the price of the machine and the price of fee processing charges.
System value
Cellular card readers usually value between £15 and £30, countertop card machines value between £150 and £200.
You possibly can both purchase the machine outright or lease the machine for a month-to-month value. This modifications from supplier to supplier.
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Charges
Transaction charges are taken by your card fee supplier as a share of each fee made by way of your card machine. They’re sometimes between 1.5 per cent and a couple of per cent of the worth of the transaction.
So, if the shopper buys an merchandise costing £25, and your transaction payment is 1.75 per cent, you’ll be charged round 43p by your card fee supplier.
Card fee suppliers will even promote a card not current (CNP) transaction. A CNP transaction happens when neither the cardholder or their card are current for the transaction – in different phrases, a web based or cellphone fee, or a recurring fee.
CNP charges are normally round 2.5 per cent. They’re increased for the easy purpose that there’s a larger danger of fraud throughout these sorts of funds.
Countertop vs transportable vs cellular card readers
There are three varieties of card fee machine: countertop, transportable, and cellular.
Countertop card machines are designed for use at designated until factors in your retailer. Though they don’t supply any portability, they’re normally very dependable when it comes to their connectivity. They’re greatest for companies with a set fee level comparable to a grocery or small retailer.
Transportable bank card machines are battery-powered units that use Wi-Fi to take card funds wherever in your web site. They’re greatest for cafes and eating places.
Cellular card readers are much more compact, battery-powered units that use a GPRS (3G or 4G) sign to take card funds wherever you might be. In addition they normally have Wi-Fi performance as properly. They’re nice for pop up outlets, markets, festivals, avenue meals vans – wherever actually.
This text will predominantly deal with cellular card readers, as they’re essentially the most reasonably priced and supply essentially the most flexibility to rising small companies.
A lot of the suppliers beneath additionally promote different {hardware} comparable to charging docks, receipt printers, countertop techniques and tills.
You solely want the cardboard fee machine to start out taking funds, however these things assist you to improve your POS system as your online business grows.
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Card fee machines – the choices
The ten card fee machines beneath are nice choices for small companies, providing aggressive charges and nice options.
Sq. Reader
| System value | £19 + VAT |
| Transaction payment | 1.75% |
| CNP payment | 2.5% |
| Key options | ● All day battery ● Weighs simply 56g ● Accepts chip and PIN playing cards, contactless, Apple Pay and Google Pay ● Funds deposited the following enterprise day |
The Square Reader is essentially the most smooth, easy and reasonably priced card reader in the marketplace. This appropriately square-shaped machine prices simply £19 + VAT, a lot decrease than opponents.
And weighing in at simply 56g, it’s not simply the value that’s low. All you need to do is sync it to your cellphone through Bluetooth and begin promoting. You possibly can then monitor and handle all of your gross sales from Sq.’s free app. All funds are deposited the following working day.
Nifty options embody specially-designed POS dashboards for eating places, eating places and cellular companies who have to make appointments, comparable to hairdressers or masseurs.
And Sq. additionally has an entire arsenal of different funds package you should purchase to create a full POS setup together with terminals, registers, and different {hardware} and equipment.
And companies that take greater than £200,000 a yr in card gross sales pay a decrease transaction payment.
SumUp Air Card Reader
| System value | £39 (£49 with charging dock) |
| Transaction payment | 1.69% |
| CNP payment | 2.5% |
| Key options | ● 500 transactions per cost ● Contactless & Chip & PIN ● Funds settled in 1 day ● Accepts all main fee varieties together with Google and Apple Pay, Amex and Diners Membership ● E-mail and SMS receipts |
Due to its ease of use and practicality, this trendy and light-weight transportable card reader is presently one of many in style card readers for small companies.
It’s simple to arrange and begin utilizing. All it’s good to do to start out accepting contactless, chip and PIN, and cellular funds from all main suppliers is to pair the machine together with your smartphone, which takes minutes.
You possibly can then begin utilizing the SumUp Air wherever with Wi-Fi or knowledge protection, and it could actually course of 500 transactions on a single cost – at 12 hours, it’s most likely one of the best battery life in the marketplace.
Accessible for a one-off value of simply £39, and with a lowered 1.69 per cent transaction payment, it’s additionally very reasonably priced. And so they have additionally sped up the size of time for funds to look in your account to only someday.
You additionally get entry to a helpful smartphone app, with a dashboard that lets you view your product catalogue, monitor gross sales, and ship digital receipts.
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Zettle Reader 2
| System value | from £29 + VAT (with Zettle Dock 2 £68) |
| Transaction payment | 1.75% |
| CNP payment | 2.5% |
| Key options | ● 8 hour battery life (100 transactions) ● Accepts all main fee varieties together with Google and Apple Pay, Amex and Diners Membership, and contactless ● Funds settled in 1-2 enterprise days ● E-mail and print receipts |
The Zettle Reader 2 is one other light-weight (simply 130g) machine you can pair together with your Apple or Android smartphone and begin utilizing inside minutes utilizing the Zettle app.
It accepts all main debit and bank card fee varieties and has an honest eight-hour battery life – although this solely lasts for round 100 transactions, which is not any match for SumUp’s 500.
The place the Zettle Reader 2 actually seeks to distinguish itself is in its deal with safety. Claiming to be one of many most secure card readers in the marketplace, Zettle’s tamper-proof machine adheres to the best trade requirements, and is totally encrypted by HSMs cryptographic servers.
And if you happen to do spot a suspicious cost, Zettle’s transaction safety covers as much as £250 in chargebacks per 30 days.
As with the SumUp Air, there aren’t any month-to-month charges – you simply pay a flat price per transaction, although at 1.75 per cent, that is barely increased than its rival.
However at £29 + VAT, the Zettle Reader 2 is cheaper than the SumUp Air, except you purchase the in-dock charger will value £68 + VAT for the reader and charger.
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myPOS Go 2
| System value | £19 + VAT |
| Transaction payment | 1.1% + 7p (Amex 2.45% + 7p) |
| CNP payment | 1.3% + 15p (Amex 2.5% + 15p) |
| Key options | ● Digital receipts through electronic mail or SMS; means to pair with the myPOS Go 2 Printing Dock ● Prompt entry to funds at no added charges ● Accepts all main fee varieties together with Google and Apple Pay, Amex and native fee strategies comparable to JCB, UnionPay and Bancontact, plus contactless and Chip & PIN ● Tracks particular person workers efficiency and splits suggestions ● Tactile keyboard |
Weighing 180g, its design isn’t as smooth and classy as rivals, however underneath the hood, myPOS Go 2 is one other extremely useful and compact cellular card reader.
The machine prices £19 + VAT and its transaction payment is 1.59 per cent + 5p and may be a lot decrease (relying on the quantity you’re taking).
The Linux-driven myPOS Go 2 card reader has a number of different options that set it aside from opponents. You get a free e-money service provider account, with a devoted IBAN in 14 currencies, making it simple to take worldwide funds.
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In contrast to the times you may need to attend with different suppliers, card funds are settled in your account in lower than three seconds, and also you get on the spot entry to funds through your free VISA enterprise card.
We additionally just like the multi-operator mode, which lets you monitor particular person workers efficiency and cut up suggestions accordingly.
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Dojo Go
| System value | £20pm + VAT month-to-month rental |
| Transaction payment | 0.75% + 5p on all debit card transactions 1.2% + 5p on all bank card transactions |
| CNP payment | 0.75% + 5p |
| Key options | ● 10-hour battery life ● Accepts all main fee varieties together with Google and Apple Pay, Amex and Diners Membership, and contactless ● Funds settled the following day ● Level-to-point encryption constructed into the Dojo Go |
Dojo Go describes itself because the “final all-rounder”, a small enterprise card machine that’s simply as helpful as a cellular (working on 3G/4G connectivity) and a conveyable (utilizing Wi-Fi) machine.
Dojo Go’s large promoting level is its velocity: the corporate claims its machine can take card funds in round two seconds – over 50 per cent sooner than the trade common. And you may preserve monitor of all these funds in actual time utilizing the Dojo Go app.
Dojo is supremely assured in its product – a lot in order that, if you happen to’re switching from an present supplier, it’ll pay your exit charges as much as a price of £3,000. (You must share your current statements with one other supplier with Dojo earlier than it decides on the switch worth.)
Dojo’s assist and help is obtainable 24 hours a day. And if you happen to can’t get issues mounted over the cellphone, Dojo can take over your machine remotely to analyze.
All funds are transferred in your account the following day, which it claims is quicker than every other supplier as customary.
There are two tiers of charges: 1.4 per cent + 5p per transaction plus £20 per 30 days terminal rental, in case your annual card turnover is beneath £150,000; if you happen to’re above £150,000 then your credit score and debit card price and the month-to-month terminal rental payment are negotiable. In case your card turnover is beneath £150,000, there’ll be a month-to-month £10 platform payment to pay per location.
Since you’re tied right into a six-month contract in case your card turnover is beneath £150,000, Dojo Go is healthier for scaling small companies with persistently excessive month-to-month takings.
And, if your online business wants money rapidly, Dojo provides a service provider money advance powered by YouLend, which is repaid by way of a share of your card takings. Dojo costs a set one-off payment for this money facility.
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Barclaycard Smartpay Wherever
| System value | £29 + VAT |
| Transaction payment | 1.6% on pay as you go, however personalised pricing plans accessible to fulfill larger enterprise wants |
| CNP payment | n/a |
| Key options | ● Contactless and Chip & PIN ● Accepts main fee suppliers together with Visa, Mastercard, Google, Apple Pay, Diners Membership (Uncover), Union Pay, JCB and Amex ● Funds settled the following enterprise day for transactions taken earlier than 7pm ● E-mail receipts ● Free FreshBooks account ● Powered by a characteristic packed app for iOS and Android optimised for each cellular and pill ● Contains entry to an internet portal giving actual time entry to gross sales reviews and dashboards |
Barclaycard Smartpay Anywhere is aimed toward hospitality and retail companies, with the “app” turning it right into a POS answer. It doesn’t join with money drawers, or barcode scanners – however does hook up with wi-fi printers and an app and net portal.
It has next-working-day settlement and, along with the usual Mastercard and Visa, accepts Amex and Diners Membership (Uncover).
The transaction payment is 1.6 per cent, among the many lowest of any main supplier.
It’s additionally powered by a characteristic crammed app in addition to entry to an internet portal offering actual time knowledge and perception into your online business efficiency. When you want help there’s a 24/7 buyer help group, and it’s PCI compliant with out charges or the necessity for attestation.
Nevertheless, not like some rivals, when making use of for Smartpay Wherever, you need to undergo a web based vetting course of checking monetary and borrowing historical past to be accepted for a tool, which Barclays says ensures the machine is appropriate for your online business earlier than you pay for it.
The professionals are that it’s a compact and reasonably priced card reader at £29 + VAT with low transaction charges and funds settled the following day (if transactions are achieved earlier than 7pm).
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TakePayments
| System value | from £7.50 + VAT |
| Transaction payment | Based mostly on enterprise turnover however between 0.3%-2.5% + flat payment |
| CNP payment | Depending on fee service supplier |
| Key options | ● Shorter contract lengths ● No setup or exit charges ● Funds settled subsequent working day ● Customisable dashboard ● Realtime stock monitoring ● Accepts all main fee varieties together with Google and Apple Pay, Amex and Diners Membership, and contactless |
Stockport-based TakePayments has offered card terminals and on-line fee options for over 30 years. It is among the fastest-growing card fee corporations within the UK with over 70,000 clients.
takepaymentsplus card reader
A quick and dependable Android terminal that permits you to take each card and money funds.
Some key options embody:
- Speedy 4G and WiFi connection
- Inventory and pricing administration from the machine
- Skill to separate funds
- Detailed transaction reporting to see how your online business is performing
- Entry to a Administration Portal to deal with your online business remotely
takepaymentsplus pricing: £25 + VAT month-to-month (18-month contract)
Or, if you happen to’re simply trying to take funds rapidly, their A920Pro card machine and DX8000 terminal take solely 4 easy steps to arrange. Keep linked with 4G and WiFi, and settle for Apple and Google Pay as customary.
Terminal rental from £15 + VAT.
The transaction payment primarily based on enterprise turnover and the CNP (card not current) payment depends on fee acquirer.
Personal POS system
TakePayments makes use of its personal EPOS system known as tPOS, which can’t be downloaded onto an iPad or different pill and has its personal pill register.
tPOS is obtainable in two varieties, Counter and Full. Plus, their devoted group will present full coaching and buyer help seven days per week.
tPOS begins from £45 a month.
Some key options embody:
- Product administration and inventory stock
- Skill to separate funds and serve a number of clients directly
- Mounted reductions and provides
- Skill so as to add notes and configure orders
- Enhanced reporting
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Tyl (by NatWest) Clover Flex
| System value | £16.99 + VAT month-to-month |
| Transaction payment | 1.39%-1.99% + 5p depending on gross sales quantity |
| CNP payment | N/A |
| Key options | ● 12-month contract ● 8-hour battery life ● Funds settled inside one enterprise day ● Accepts all main fee varieties together with Google and Apple Pay, Amex and Diners Membership, and contactless |
Weighing in at 453 grams, Tyl’s Clover Flex card reader is on the chunkier finish of the cellular card reader market.
Though it nonetheless utilises Wi-Fi and 4G, permitting you to make use of it wherever, it’s nonetheless considerably heavier than the opposite units, which does have an effect on its portability.
Nevertheless, extra does on this case imply extra. The Clover Flex acts as an all-in-one POS system that lets you each take funds and handle your online business from one machine, together with stock and buyer administration, itemised receipts and extra.
It has an honest eight-hour battery life and a high-res 5’’ touchscreen, which allows you to use quite a lot of the 150 apps on the Clover App Market. Nevertheless, whereas it’s helpful to have this performance in a single place, we’d wager most individuals don’t thoughts switching to their cellphone for these capabilities if it means having a smaller machine.
Additionally, it’s not essentially the most reasonably priced choice for small companies. You’ll pay £16.99 per 30 days for the 4G cellular model earlier than transaction charges are even factored into the equation.
Nevertheless, NatWest is providing to waive rent charges for brand spanking new clients for 3 months, as soon as they decide to a 12-month contract.
Tyl can be waiving its month-to-month charges on its e-commerce gateway for 12 months, up till the top of September 2024. Usually, it costs £14.95 + VAT per 30 days.
4G utilization is charged as much as £9.99 + VAT per 30 days relying on how a lot you employ.
Clover Flex is healthier for bigger small companies with a big, constant gross sales quantity.
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Shopify WisePad 3 Reader
| System value | £49 + VAT |
| Transaction payment | 1.5%-2% on-line + 25p/1.5%-1.7% in individual |
| CNP payment | 2.5% |
| Key options | ● Totally built-in with Shopify POS ● Cost inside 3 working days ● 4-hour full cost for 500-600 transactions ● Accepts all main fee varieties together with Google and Apple Pay, Amex and Diners Membership, and contactless |
Though solely accessible for Shopify clients, we expect it’s price highlighting Shopify’s WisePad 3 Reader.
It’s light-weight (130 grams) and accepts all main fee playing cards and kinds. You must subscribe to Shopify although to have the ability to use it and it solely works with an iPad or by way of your iPhone.
Shopify subscriptions
Shopify has three subscription ranges for its Wisepad 3 card reader: Primary, Shopify and Superior. Primary prices £25 a month, Shopify £65 per 30 days, and Superior £344 a month. All are billed yearly.
Primary (£19pm)
Card charges
- 2% + 25p on-line
- 1.7% + 0p in individual
- 2% third-party suppliers
What’s included in Primary
- Localised world promoting (three markets)
- 10 stock areas
- 24/7 chat help
Shopify (£49pm)
Card charges
- 1.7% +25p on-line
- 1.6% + 0p in individual
- 1% third-party fee suppliers
What’s included in Shopify
- Localised world promoting (three markets)
- 10 stock areas
- 5 further workers accounts
Superior (£259pm)
Card charges
- 1.5% + 25p on-line
- 1.5% + 0p in individual
- 0.6% third-party suppliers
What’s included in Superior
- Customized reviews and evaluation
- 10x checkout capability
- 15 further workers accounts
Nevertheless, there isn’t any contractual obligation you need to signal with Shopify, so you aren’t tied in for months or years. Plus there’s a 14-day free trial interval so that you can check out the Wisepad 3 card reader.
There are additionally slick add-ons to the Shopify Wisepad 3, together with a pill stand (£120), a barcode scanner (£279) and a Bluetooth receipt printer (£259).
Nevertheless, with a £49 buy worth, plus month-to-month subscription charges, Shopify Wisepad 3 works out as one of the crucial costly readers in the marketplace.
That stated, if already use Shopify as your POS system, this may be a no brainer.
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Tide Card Reader
| System value | £89 + VAT |
|---|---|
| Transaction payment | 1.50% |
| CNP payment | TBC |
| Key options | Lifetime free 4G connectivity (price £5 pm)
Settle for Contactless, Chip + Pin, Digital wallets Glossy and compact machine to allow each in-store and cellular funds |
The Tide Card Reader is designed for mobility, so you should utilize it for in-store or on-the-go transactions. It’s your ticket to seamless funds, anytime, wherever.
With Tide Card reader, you may settle for card and cellular funds on the go together with no month-to-month contracts and minimal transaction charges. You even have limitless 4G knowledge, eliminating the necessity for Bluetooth connectivity. With a lifetime of free 4G connectivity and compatibility with Visa, Mastercard, ApplePay, and GooglePay, it’s time to unlock a brand new degree of fee comfort.
The machine has a one-off value of £89 + VAT with a transaction payment of 1.50 per cent. From August to October 2024, you may get £200 cashback whenever you purchase a Tide card reader by utilizing code CARDREADER200 whenever you enroll here. T&Cs apply.
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Small Enterprise Professional
| System value | WisePad 3 Terminal (£49 one off value) OR WisePOS E (£179.00 one off value) + month-to-month membership payment (£39.99 sole merchants and £49.99 for companies) |
| Transaction payment | From 1.25% transaction charges for traditional playing cards, premium playing cards (comparable to company playing cards) are 2.25% |
| CNP payment | n/a |
| Key options | ● No month-to-month fee charges ● No minimal spend quantities ● Constructed-in fraud detection ● PCI compliant ● Built-in with buyer administration instrument to watch transactions ● Financial institution deposits in 3 enterprise days |
And eventually… we are able to’t overlook our very personal fee processor, which varieties a part of our Small Business Pro membership.
How a lot does it value?
WisePad 3 terminal (£49 one off value) OR WisePOS E (£179.00 one off value) + month-to-month membership payment (£39.99 sole merchants and £49.99 for companies)
- All-in-one reader and POS service
- Month-to-month subscription value (£39.99 for sole merchants and £49.99 for companies)
- From 1.25 per cent transaction charges for traditional playing cards, premium playing cards (comparable to company playing cards) are 2.25 per cent
It has:
- No month-to-month fee charges
- No minimal spend quantities
- Constructed-in fraud detection
- PCI compliant
- Built-in with buyer administration instrument to watch transactions
- Financial institution deposits in 3 enterprise days
Professionals: Our transaction payment is the bottom in the marketplace for any fee facilitator ranging from 1.25 per cent.
Cons: It’s not accessible as a standalone funds service, so that you’ll have to buy a month-to-month membership from us.
Greatest for: Food and drinks, retail, well being and sweetness and service-based companies that want to streamline a number of instruments and platforms.
Which is one of the best card fee machine?
By now you’ve both found the cardboard reader that’s proper for your online business, otherwise you’ve left bamboozled by a dizzying vary of various card fee machines, payment constructions and extra options.
If it’s the latter, don’t fear. For many small companies, we’d advocate SumUp. It’s an reasonably priced machine with one of many lowest transaction charges in the marketplace, and because it’s a flat price, it’s predictable and clear. We have been additionally impressed by its lengthy battery life, which might course of greater than 500 funds on a single cost.
MyPOS Go additionally actually stands out to us as one other nice choice for small companies. In addition to very aggressive transaction charges, it has nice added options like multi-operator mode, which make it an awesome alternative for cafes and eating places. It’s additionally nice you can entry funds immediately.
That stated, we’ve chosen all of the above card fee machines for his or her flexibility, simplicity and practicality, and every one can be an awesome choice on your small enterprise. Glad promoting.
Want a card fee machine quote?
Wish to examine costs from all one of the best card fee units we’ve listed above? Why not use our free comparability instrument to be matched with essentially the most appropriate supplier on your wants.
Merely fill in our free quote-finding form, and reply a couple of questions on your online business (it takes lower than a minute). We’ll match you with essentially the most applicable card fee supplier.
Additional studying
Best payment processors for UK small businesses – 11 of the best – What’s one of the best fee system on your small enterprise? 11 of one of the best fee processors for UK SMEs reviewed
