8 best card machines for small UK businesses compared

There’s a much wider choice of card machines today than just a few years ago. While before, you had to do with a chunky chip and PIN machine stationed at a counter, small businesses can now take advantage of mobile card readers that work just as well.

In this shortlist, we look at contactless payment machines suitable for businesses with card transactions of less than £40k per month.

Three of the options are more traditional card machines for a till, table-side payments or mobile use. They are rented on a monthly basis with contractual lock-in, but then you get fees tailored for your business.

The others are mobile card readers that work with or without an app. These are no-contract, affordable and without complicated fees – making it much easier for new or small businesses to start accepting cards. They have no monthly fees, just a fixed rate per transaction after purchasing the card machine.

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Square Reader is the smallest, most lightweight card machine on this list, but it does need a Bluetooth connection to the free Point of Sale app on your phone or tablet. It is literally a square-shaped, plastic card machine that’s white all over, but the technology makes it just as reliable as push-button PIN pad machines.

When a transaction is entered in the iOS/Android app, your mobile device communicates with the card reader to accept the tap or chip card. Lacking a keypad, PIN codes are entered on your mobile screen in the POS app, which we didn’t have any trouble with.

The app makes it simple to add items from your product library to the shopping cart or enter a custom amount at checkout, before choosing a payment method.

Frankly, Square Point of Sale has the most POS features out of all the free card machine apps. Specialised till apps for retail, restaurants and professional services are also offered by Square, including add-on subscriptions for customer loyalty, email marketing and team management.

If you prefer a standalone credit card machine, Square Terminal connects directly with a WiFi network. It has a touchscreen with Square Point of Sale features built in – perfect as a portable checkout on your premises.

You can also send e-invoices, accept phone payments and enter card details in the app for 2.5% per transaction. Transactions through Square’s online store, payment links and QR codes cost 1.4% + 25p for UK-issued cards and 2.5% + 25p for all non-UK cards.

Accepted cards

Square accepts contactless cards and mobile wallets, chip and PIN, and chip and signature cards. This includes Visa, V Pay, Mastercard, Maestro and American Express as well as Google Pay, Apple Pay and Samsung Pay. You can also add Clearpay (buy now, pay later solution) as an option in store and online.

Payments are usually deposited in your bank account the working day after each transaction. Immediate payouts are also possible for an added 1% fee per transaction.

To get started, you complete an online sign-up form, then order the chosen card machine. It takes a few days to get your bank account verified, but you can start taking payments before that.

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The new standalone terminal SumUp Solo and Printer is the cheapest card machine with a receipt printer in the UK. It features a black and white touchscreen that’s visible in bright daylight, with basic software for accepting tips, chip and contactless cards. It doesn’t have a product library or much to impress, but we find it effective for simple transactions nonetheless.

The printing cradle doubles as a power bank, ideal for both countertops and on the go. It works with WiFi or 4G, since it has a SIM card built in free of charge.

You can also buy SumUp Solo with just a desktop charging stand. Either way, Solo can be taken out of its cradle or printer and put in your pocket for the most compact setup.

Credit: Mobile Transaction

Alternatively, the cheap card reader called SumUp Air has been a trusted option for years in the UK. It works with a user-friendly app that has a wide range of features including a product library and cash acceptance.

The app also gives access to payment links, email invoices and a basic online store creator at no monthly cost, just a 2.5% transaction fee. SumUp Virtual Terminal is available for eligible merchants for 2.95% + 25p per transaction.

SumUp accepts mobile wallets and most card brands.

Accepted cards

It normally takes 2-3 working days for payments to reach your bank account, minus the transaction fee, or the new SumUp One subscription transfers funds the next day. You can also receive payouts in the complimentary SumUp Business Account the following day, even on weekends, and spend it with the free Mastercard.

It’s quick to sign up on SumUp’s website, after which you can order a card machine. Shipping takes up to a week, which is a bit longer than the other options on this list.

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The most popular plan, Takepaymentsplus, includes the smart POS terminal PAX A920Pro with a large touchscreen, tactile sticker (for the visually impaired) and built-in SIM card with mobile data.

It has a complete – and easy to use, in our tests – till app that’s ideal as a mobile checkout, with the ability to add a product library and monitor sales by staff members. The package costs £25 + VAT per month and has an 18 months’ contract.

For £7.50 + VAT monthly (Easy Deal) and a £150 + VAT one-off charge, you only get basic payment software on the same terminal so you can accept cards. This doesn’t have a minimum monthly service charge, includes PCI compliance, and only has a contract of 30 days that is cancellable any time with a month’s notice.

Credit: Mobile Transaction

The rental cost of mobile, portable and countertop Ingenico or Verifone card machines starts at £10 + VAT on a year’s contract. These are traditional models with push-buttons.

Transaction fees depend on your average transaction value, turnover and cards accepted, ranging between 0.3%-2.5% + flat fee. The quoted rates are better if your business usually accepts high transaction values. You also pay fees for refunds and chargebacks.

On an annual plan, we were given the following extra fees.

Firstly, an early cancellation fee equivalent to buying out the contract applies if you do not give an exit notice of two months during the initial term. If you make less than an agreed amount during a month, there’s also a monthly minimum service charge. Monthly or annual fees for PCI-DSS compliance apply.

Accepted cards

Takepayments actually signs you up for two contracts – one for themselves and one for Barclaycard Business who provides your merchant account for card processing. Next-day settlement with Barclaycard is free.

For an additional cost, remote payments can be added, such as pay by link, telephone payments, QR codes for table-service, and an online payment gateway for ecommerce. For more extensive POS features, you can opt for a tPOS package with a touchscreen register and EPOS software tailored to your industry.

Signing up requires talking to a Takepayments sales rep, most likely in connection with a physical visit to your premises. After onboarding, you have access to customer support over the phone every day within working hours.

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There’s a monthly rental fee of £15 or £20 + VAT (depending on card turnover) for Dojo Go, plus transaction charges and a few other costs.

The plan is best suited for businesses with a consistent sales volume, because you’ll have to pay a minimum of £24.95 per month towards transactions (“monthly minimum service charge”).

Credit: Mobile Transaction

Transaction fees depend on the brand and type of card accepted. Consumer debit and credit cards from Visa, Mastercard and Maestro cost 1.4% + 5p per transaction. Business, premium and corporate cards cost 1.8% + 5p per transaction. Amex has their own (typically higher) fees that are custom to your business.

Above an annual card turnover of £150k, Dojo customises your rates which may fall between 0.3%-2% plus a fixed authorisation fee.

You get free next-day payouts with Dojo – including Bank Holidays and weekends – which is faster than most payment providers can guarantee.

Accepted cards

The card machine is a PAX A920 model with a large touchscreen and user-friendly interface. It comes with a built-in SIM card for mobile connectivity but works with WiFi. Add to that the long 10-hour battery life and you have a mobile card machine that’s ideal for use anywhere on the road, for table service and many other scenarios. It also integrates with most major POS systems, if you’re not using it on its own.

We found it tedious that you can’t add a description to transactions, though. It’s therefore not suitable for inventory tracking or checking what was sold, but a Dojo app does allow you to check sales figures remotely. Ecommerce integration and payment links are also available for slightly higher transaction fees.

Overall, Dojo is a great option for staffed businesses that consistently make several thousands of pounds a month and need a quality card machine for most situations. If onboarding goes smoothly, you should be up and running with Dojo Go within a week.

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