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In an more and more cashless society, when you don’t have card fee machines, you threat shedding out on gross sales.
There are numerous card machines for small companies available on the market in the present day, and most allow you to take chip and PIN, contactless, and cell funds.
However there are variations in options, charges and upfront prices which is able to make some kind of appropriate for your enterprise than others.
This text will break down the hardware and performance of one of the best fee machines at present available on the market that will help you select the one which’s best for you.
You possibly can bounce straight to a selected card machine or learn on to search out extra information on the ten (plus one bonus!) finest 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 available on the market. It can additionally assist with the heavy lifting of managing clients, insurance coverage, finance and HR, plus you’ll get a bunch of non-public 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 gadget and the price of fee processing charges.
Machine value
Cellular card readers typically value between £15 and £30, countertop card machines value between £150 and £200.
You possibly can both purchase the gadget outright or hire the gadget for a month-to-month value. This adjustments 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 usually between 1.5 per cent and a pair of per cent of the worth of the transaction.
So, if the client 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 may also 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, an internet 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 better threat of fraud throughout these sorts of funds.
Countertop vs transportable vs cell card readers
There are three varieties of card fee machine: countertop, transportable, and cell.
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 finest for companies with a set fee level equivalent to a grocery or small retailer.
Moveable bank card machines are battery-powered units that use Wi-Fi to take card funds wherever in your web site. They’re finest 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. Additionally they normally have Wi-Fi performance as nicely. They’re nice for pop up retailers, markets, festivals, road meals vans – wherever actually.
This text will predominantly concentrate on cell card readers, as they’re probably the most reasonably priced and supply probably the most flexibility to rising small companies.
A lot of the suppliers under additionally promote different hardware equivalent to charging docks, receipt printers, countertop techniques and tills.
You solely want the cardboard fee gadget to start out taking funds, however this stuff help you improve your POS system as your enterprise grows.
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Card fee machines – the choices
The ten card fee machines under are nice choices for small companies, providing aggressive charges and nice options.
Sq. Reader
| Machine 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 subsequent enterprise day |
The Square Reader is probably the most smooth, easy and reasonably priced card reader available on the market. This appropriately square-shaped gadget 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 it's a must 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 subsequent working day.
Nifty options embody specially-designed POS dashboards for eating places, eating places and cell companies who have to make appointments, equivalent to hairdressers or masseurs.
And Sq. additionally has a complete arsenal of different funds equipment you should buy to create a full POS setup together with terminals, registers, and different hardware and equipment.
And companies that take greater than £200,000 a 12 months in card gross sales pay a decrease transaction payment.
Get started with Square
SumUp Air Card Reader
| Machine 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 1-3 enterprise days ● Accepts all main fee varieties together with Google and Apple Pay, Amex and Diners Membership, and contactless ● E-mail and SMS receipts |
Because of its ease of use and practicality, this fashionable and light-weight transportable card reader is at present one of many fashionable card readers for small companies.
It’s straightforward to arrange and begin utilizing. All it's good to do to start out accepting contactless, chip and PIN, and cell funds from all main suppliers is to pair the gadget together with your smartphone, which takes minutes.
You possibly can then begin utilizing the SumUp Air wherever with Wi-Fi or information protection, and it could actually course of 500 transactions on a single cost – at 12 hours, it’s in all probability one of the best battery life available on the market.
Accessible for a one-off value of simply £39, and with a decreased 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 simply someday.
You additionally get entry to a useful smartphone app, with a dashboard that lets you view your product catalogue, monitor gross sales, and ship digital receipts.
Zettle Reader 2
| Machine 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 SMS receipts |
The Zettle Reader 2 is one other light-weight (simply 130g) gadget that you would be able to 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 concentrate on safety. Claiming to be one of many most secure card readers available on the market, Zettle’s tamper-proof gadget adheres to the very best business requirements, and is absolutely encrypted by HSMs cryptographic servers.
And when you do spot a suspicious cost, Zettle’s transaction safety covers as much as £250 in chargebacks monthly.
As with the SumUp Air, there are not any month-to-month charges – you simply pay a flat charge 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.
myPOS Go 2
| Machine value | £39 + VAT |
| Transaction payment | 1.1% + 7p (Amex 2.45% + 7p) |
| CNP payment | 1.3% + 15p (Amex 2.5% + 15p) |
| Key options | ● Digital receipts through e-mail or SMS; skill to pair with the myPOS Go 2 Printing Dock ● Immediate entry to funds at no added charges ● Accepts all main fee varieties together with Google and Apple Pay, Amex and native fee strategies equivalent to JCB, UnionPay and Bancontact, plus contactless and Chip & PIN ● Tracks particular person workers efficiency and splits ideas ● Tactile keyboard |
Weighing 180g, its design isn’t as smooth and trendy as rivals, however beneath the hood, myPOS Go 2 is one other extremely purposeful and compact cell card reader.
The gadget prices £39 + VAT and its transaction payment is simply 1.10 per cent + 7p and will 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 straightforward to take worldwide funds.
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In contrast to the times you might need to attend with different suppliers, card funds are settled in your account in lower than three seconds, and also you get instantaneous 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 ideas accordingly.
Dojo Go
| Machine value | £20pm + VAT month-to-month rental |
| Transaction payment | 1.4% + 5p on all transactions |
| CNP payment | 1.9% + 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 subsequent working day ● Level-to-point encryption constructed into the Dojo Go |
Dojo Go describes itself because the “ultimate all-rounder”, a small enterprise card machine that’s simply as useful as a cell (working on 3G/4G connectivity) and a transportable (utilizing Wi-Fi) gadget.
Dojo Go’s huge promoting level is its velocity: the corporate claims its gadget can take card funds in round two seconds – almost 60 per cent sooner than the business common. And you may hold 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, when you’re switching from an present supplier, it would pay your exit charges as much as a price of £3,000. (It's important to share your latest statements with one other supplier with Dojo earlier than it decides on the switch worth.)
We additionally charge Dojo’s assist and help, which is accessible 24 hours a day. And when you can’t get issues fastened over the cellphone, Dojo can take over your gadget remotely to analyze.
All funds are transferred in your account the subsequent working day, which it claims is quicker than another supplier as commonplace.
There are two tiers of transaction charges: 1.4 per cent + 5p per transaction plus £20 monthly terminal rental, in case your annual card turnover is under £150,000; when you’re above £150,000 then your credit score and debit card charge and the month-to-month terminal rental payment are negotiable. In case your card turnover is under £150,000, there’ll be a month-to-month £10 platform payment to pay per location.
Minimal month-to-month fee cost: You’ll be charged £24.95 in case your complete transaction charges for the month are beneath £24.95. It applies even if in case you have zero takings. That is on high of the month-to-month £20 terminal rental. After six months, the contract flips to month-to-month rolling.
Since you’re tied right into a six-month contract in case your card turnover is under £150,000, Dojo Go is best for scaling small companies with constantly excessive month-to-month takings.
And, if your enterprise wants money shortly, Dojo gives a service provider money advance powered by YouLend, which is repaid by way of a share of your card takings. Dojo fees a set one-off payment for this money facility.
Barclaycard Smartpay Wherever
| Machine value | £29 + VAT |
| Transaction payment | 1.6% on pay as you go, however personalised pricing plans accessible to satisfy greater 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 subsequent 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 cell and pill ● Contains entry to an internet portal giving actual time entry to gross sales reviews and dashboards |
Barclaycard Smartpay Anywhere is geared 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 connect with wi-fi printers and an app and internet 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 information and perception into your enterprise efficiency. If you happen to want help there's a 24/7 buyer help crew, and it's PCI compliant with out charges or the necessity for attestation.
Nonetheless, not like some rivals, when making use of for Smartpay Wherever, it's a must to undergo an internet vetting course of checking monetary and borrowing historical past to be authorized for a tool, which Barclays says ensures the gadget is appropriate for your enterprise 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 subsequent enterprise day.
TakePayments
| Machine value | from £7.50 + VAT |
| Transaction payment | Primarily based 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 likely one of the fastest-growing card fee firms within the UK with over 70,000 clients.
takepaymentsplus card reader
A quick and dependable Android terminal that allows you to take each card and money funds.
Some key options embody:
- Speedy 4G and WiFi connection
- Inventory and pricing administration from the gadget
- Potential to separate funds
- Detailed transaction reporting to see how your enterprise is performing
- Entry to a Administration Portal to deal with your enterprise remotely
takepaymentsplus pricing: £25 + VAT month-to-month (18-month contract)
Or, when you’re simply trying to take funds shortly, 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 commonplace.
Terminal rental from £15 + VAT.
The transaction payment based mostly 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 referred to as tPOS, which can't be downloaded onto an iPad or different pill and has its personal pill register.
tPOS is accessible in two kinds, Counter and Full. Plus, their devoted crew 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
- Potential to separate funds and serve a number of clients without delay
- Fastened reductions and gives
- Potential so as to add notes and configure orders
- Enhanced reporting
Tyl (by NatWest) Clover Flex
| Machine value | £16.99 + VAT month-to-month |
| Transaction payment | 0.2%-3.5% + 20p-40p 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 cell 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.
Nonetheless, 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 enterprise from one gadget, 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 lets you use quite a lot of the 150 apps on the Clover App Market. Nonetheless, whereas it’s useful 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 gadget.
Additionally, it’s not probably the most reasonably priced choice for small companies. You’ll pay £16.99 monthly for the 4G cell model earlier than transaction charges are even factored into the equation. The transaction payment is a flat 1.5 per cent on all playing cards, excluding American Specific.
Nonetheless, NatWest is providing to waive rent charges for brand 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 tip of June 2024. Usually, it fees £14.95 + VAT monthly.
4G utilization is charged as much as £9.99 + VAT monthly relying on how a lot you employ.
Clover Flex is best for bigger small companies with a big, constant gross sales quantity.
Shopify WisePad 3 Reader
| Machine value | £49 + VAT |
| Transaction payment | 1.5%-2% on-line + 25p/1.5%-1.7% in individual |
| CNP payment | 2.5% |
| Key options | ● Absolutely built-in with Shopify POS ● Cost inside 6 working days ● 4-hour full cost for 500 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 value highlighting Shopify’s WisePad 3 Reader.
It’s light-weight (130 grams) and accepts all main fee playing cards and kinds. It's important to 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 monthly, and Superior £344 a month. All are billed yearly.
Primary (£19pm)
Bank card charges
- 2% + 25p on-line
- 1.7% + 0p in individual
What’s included in Primary
- Localised international promoting (three markets)
- 10 stock places
- 24/7 chat help
Shopify (£49pm)
Bank card charges
- 1.7% +25p on-line
- 1.6% + 0p in individual
- 1% third-party fee suppliers
What’s included in Shopify
- Localised international promoting (three markets)
- 10 stock places
- 5 further workers accounts
Superior (£259pm)
Bank 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
Nonetheless, there is no such thing as a contractual obligation it's a must 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).
Nonetheless, with a £49 buy worth, plus month-to-month subscription charges, Shopify Wisepad 3 works out as one of the vital costly readers available on the market.
That stated, if already use Shopify as your POS system, this could be a no brainer.
Tide Card Reader
| Machine value | £89 + VAT |
|---|---|
| Transaction payment | 1.50% |
| CNP payment | TBC |
| Key options | Lifetime free 4G connectivity (value £5 pm) Settle for Contactless, Chip + Pin, Digital wallets Smooth and compact gadget to allow each in-store and cell funds |
The Tide Card Reader is designed for mobility, so you should use it for in-store or on-the-go transactions. It's your ticket to seamless funds, anytime, wherever.
With Tide Card reader, you'll be able to settle for card and cell funds on the go along with no month-to-month contracts and minimal transaction charges. You even have limitless 4G information, 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 gadget has a one-off value of £89 + VAT with a transaction payment of 1.50 per cent. If you happen to purchase a Tide card reader between 1-31 Could 2024, you’ll get £200 cashback. Discover out extra and join here.
Small Enterprise Professional
| Machine 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 normal playing cards, premium playing cards (equivalent 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 software to observe transactions ● Financial institution deposits in 3 enterprise days |
And at last… we will’t overlook our very personal fee processor, which kinds 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 normal playing cards, premium playing cards (equivalent 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 software to observe transactions
- Financial institution deposits in 3 enterprise days
Execs: Our transaction payment is the bottom available on the market 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.
Finest for: Foods 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 gadget?
By now you’ve both found the cardboard reader that’s proper for your enterprise, otherwise you’ve left bamboozled by a dizzying vary of various card fee machines, payment buildings and extra options.
If it’s the latter, don’t fear. For many small companies, we’d suggest SumUp. It’s an reasonably priced gadget with one of many lowest transaction charges available on the market, and because it’s a flat charge, it’s predictable and clear. We had been additionally impressed by its lengthy battery life, which may 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 important alternative for cafes and eating places. It’s additionally nice that you would be able to entry funds immediately.
That stated, we’ve chosen all of the above card fee machines for his or her flexibility, simplicity and practicality, and each can be an important choice in your small enterprise. Glad promoting.
Want a card fee gadget quote?
Wish to evaluate costs from all one of the best card fee units we’ve listed above? Why not use our free comparability software to be matched with probably the most appropriate supplier in your wants.
Merely fill in our free quote-finding form, and reply a number of questions on your enterprise (it takes lower than a minute). We’ll match you with probably the most acceptable card fee supplier.
Additional studying
Best payment processors for UK small businesses – 11 of the best – What’s one of the best fee system in your small enterprise? 11 of one of the best fee processors for UK SMEs reviewed
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