In an more and more cashless society, when you don’t have card fee machines, you threat dropping out on gross sales.
A survey carried out by UK Finance in 2023 discovered that debit card funds made up greater than half of all funds made within the UK, funds anticipated to achieve over 30 billion situations in 2033.
There are numerous card machines for small companies in the marketplace as we speak, and most allow you to take chip and PIN, contactless, and cell funds.
However there are variations in options, charges and upfront prices which can make some kind of appropriate for your online business than others.
This text will break down the {hardware} and performance of the very best fee machines at the moment in the marketplace that can assist you select the one which’s best for you.
You may bounce straight to a selected card machine or learn on to search out extra data on the ten (plus one bonus!) finest card fee machines for small UK companies in 2024.
40% of the UK’s micro companies don’t settle for card funds – That is regardless of digital funds being the popular option to pay for 47pc of customers
Card fee machines
- Sq. Reader
- SumUp Air
- Zettle Reader 2
- MyPOS Go
- Dojo Go
- Barclaycard Smartpay Wherever
- TakePayments
- Tyl (by Natwest)
- Shopify
- Tide Card Reader
- Small Enterprise Professional
With Small Enterprise Professional, observe your invoices in addition to getting in-person and on-line transactions at one of many lowest charges in the marketplace. It would additionally assist with the heavy lifting of managing prospects, insurance coverage, finance and HR, plus you’ll get a number of private wellbeing advantages.
You could find out extra about Small Enterprise Professional right here.
How a lot does a typical card fee machine value?
Card fee machine prices are made up of the price of the system and the price of fee processing charges.
Gadget value
Cell card readers usually value between £15 and £30, countertop card machines value between £150 and £200.
You may both purchase the system outright or hire the system 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 proportion 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 shopper buys an merchandise costing £25, and your transaction price 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, a web based or telephone fee, or a recurring fee.
CNP charges are often round 2.5 per cent. They’re increased for the straightforward cause that there’s a larger threat of fraud throughout these sorts of funds.
Countertop vs transportable vs cell card readers
There are three sorts 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 provide any portability, they’re often very dependable by way of their connectivity. They’re finest for companies with a hard and fast fee level akin 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 website. They’re finest for cafes and eating places.
Cell 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 often have Wi-Fi performance as properly. They’re nice for pop up retailers, markets, festivals, avenue meals vans – wherever actually.
This text will predominantly concentrate on cell card readers, as they’re probably the most reasonably priced and provide probably the most flexibility to rising small companies.
Many of the suppliers under additionally promote different {hardware} akin to charging docks, receipt printers, countertop programs and tills.
You solely want the cardboard fee system to begin taking funds, however these things will let you improve your POS system as your online business 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
| Gadget value | £19 + VAT |
| Transaction price | 1.75% |
| CNP price | 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 Sq. Reader is probably the most smooth, easy and reasonably priced card reader in the marketplace. This appropriately square-shaped system prices simply £19 + VAT, a lot decrease than opponents.
And weighing in at simply 56g, it’s not simply the worth that’s low. All you need to do is sync it to your telephone by way of Bluetooth and begin promoting. You may then monitor and handle all of your gross sales from Sq.’s free app. All funds are deposited the subsequent working day.
Nifty options embrace specially-designed POS dashboards for eating places, eating places and cell companies who must make appointments, akin to hairdressers or masseurs.
And Sq. additionally has a complete arsenal of different funds equipment 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 12 months in card gross sales pay a decrease transaction price.
SumUp Air Card Reader
| Gadget value | £39 (£49 with charging dock, £79 for Solo standalone card reader) |
| Transaction price | 1.69% |
| CNP price | 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 |
Because of its ease of use and practicality, this trendy and light-weight transportable card reader is at the moment one of many common card readers for small companies.
It’s straightforward to arrange and begin utilizing. All that you must do to begin accepting contactless, chip and PIN, and cell funds from all main suppliers is to pair the system together with your smartphone, which takes minutes.
You may then begin utilizing the SumUp Air wherever with Wi-Fi or knowledge protection, and it may possibly course of 500 transactions on a single cost – at 12 hours, it’s most likely the very best battery life in the marketplace.
Accessible for a one-off value of simply £39, and with a diminished 1.69 per cent transaction price, it’s additionally very reasonably priced. They usually have additionally sped up the size of time for funds to seem in your account to simply at some point.
You additionally get entry to a helpful smartphone app, with a dashboard that lets you view your product catalogue, observe gross sales, and ship digital receipts.
Evaluate card fee machine quotes
Zettle Reader 2
| Gadget value | from £29 + VAT (with Zettle Dock 2 £68) |
| Transaction price | 1.75% |
| CNP price | 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) system you could 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 a good eight-hour battery life – although this solely lasts for round 100 transactions, which isn’t 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 in the marketplace, Zettle’s tamper-proof system adheres to the very best trade requirements, and is totally 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, until you purchase the in-dock charger will value £68 + VAT for the reader and charger.
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myPOS Go 2
| Gadget value | £39 + VAT |
| Transaction price | 1.1% + 7p (Amex 2.45% + 7p) |
| CNP price | 1.3% + 15p (Amex 2.5% + 15p) |
| Key options | ● Digital receipts by way of e mail or SMS; means 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 akin 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 trendy as rivals, however underneath the hood, myPOS Go 2 is one other extremely practical and compact cell card reader.
The system prices £19 + VAT and its transaction price is 1.59 per cent + 5p and could 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 other than 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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Not like 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 immediate entry to funds by way of 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
| Gadget value | £20pm + VAT month-to-month rental |
| Transaction price | 0.75% + 5p on all debit card transactions 1.2% + 5p on all bank card transactions |
| CNP price | 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 subsequent 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 cell (working on 3G/4G connectivity) and a transportable (utilizing Wi-Fi) system.
Dojo Go’s large promoting level is its velocity: the corporate claims its system can take card funds in round two seconds – over 50 per cent sooner than the trade common. And you’ll hold observe 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 can pay your exit charges as much as a worth 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.)
Dojo’s assist and help is accessible 24 hours a day. And when you can’t get issues mounted over the telephone, Dojo can take over your system remotely to analyze.
All funds are transferred in your account the subsequent day, which it claims is quicker than every other supplier as commonplace.
There are two tiers of 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 price are negotiable. In case your card turnover is under £150,000, there’ll be a month-to-month £10 platform price to pay per location.
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 persistently excessive month-to-month takings.
And, if your online business wants money rapidly, Dojo affords a service provider money advance powered by YouLend, which is repaid by way of a proportion of your card takings. Dojo expenses a hard and fast one-off price for this money facility.
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Barclaycard Smartpay Wherever
| Gadget value | £29 + VAT |
| Transaction price | 1.6% on pay as you go, however personalised pricing plans accessible to fulfill greater enterprise wants |
| CNP price | 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 online portal giving actual time entry to gross sales studies and dashboards |
Barclaycard Smartpay Wherever is aimed toward hospitality and retail companies, with the “app” turning it right into a POS resolution. 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 price is 1.6 per cent, among the many lowest of any main supplier.
It’s additionally powered by a characteristic stuffed app in addition to entry to an online portal offering actual time knowledge and perception into your online business efficiency. In the event you want help there’s a 24/7 buyer help staff, 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, you need to undergo a web based vetting course of checking monetary and borrowing historical past to be authorised for a tool, which Barclays says ensures the system 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 subsequent day (if transactions are carried out earlier than 7pm).
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TakePayments
| Gadget value | from £7.50 + VAT |
| Transaction price | Based mostly on enterprise turnover however between 0.3%-2.5% + flat price |
| CNP price | 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 supplied card terminals and on-line fee options for over 30 years. It is among the fastest-growing card fee firms within the UK with over 70,000 prospects.
takepaymentsplus card reader
A quick and dependable Android terminal that permits you to take each card and money funds.
Some key options embrace:
- Speedy 4G and WiFi connection
- Inventory and pricing administration from the system
- Means 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, when you’re simply trying to take funds rapidly, their A920Pro card machine and DX8000 terminal take solely 4 easy steps to arrange. Keep related with 4G and WiFi, and settle for Apple and Google Pay as commonplace.
Terminal rental from £15 + VAT.
The transaction price based mostly on enterprise turnover and the CNP (card not current) price 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 accessible in two varieties, Counter and Full. Plus, their devoted staff will present full coaching and buyer help seven days every week.
tPOS begins from £45 a month.
Some key options embrace:
- Product administration and inventory stock
- Means to separate funds and serve a number of prospects without delay
- Fastened reductions and affords
- Means so as to add notes and configure orders
- Enhanced reporting
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Tyl (by NatWest) Clover Flex
| Gadget value | £16.99 + VAT month-to-month |
| Transaction price | 1.39%-1.99% + 5p depending on gross sales quantity |
| CNP price | 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 online business from one system, together with stock and buyer administration, itemised receipts and extra.
It has a good eight-hour battery life and a high-res 5’’ touchscreen, which lets you use a wide range of the 150 apps on the Clover App Market. Nonetheless, whereas it’s helpful to have this performance in a single place, we’d wager most individuals don’t thoughts switching to their telephone for these capabilities if it means having a smaller system.
Additionally, it’s not probably the most reasonably priced possibility for small companies. You’ll pay £16.99 monthly for the 4G cell model earlier than transaction charges are even factored into the equation.
Nonetheless, NatWest is providing to waive rent charges for brand spanking new prospects for 3 months, as soon as they decide to a 12-month contract.
Tyl can also be waiving its month-to-month charges on its e-commerce gateway for 12 months, up till the top of September 2024. Usually, it expenses £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.
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Shopify WisePad 3 Reader
| Gadget value | £49 + VAT |
| Transaction price | 1.5%-2% on-line + 25p/1.5%-1.7% in individual |
| CNP price | 2.5% |
| Key options | ● Totally built-in with Shopify POS ● Fee 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 prospects, 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. 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: Fundamental, Shopify and Superior. Fundamental prices £25 a month, Shopify £65 monthly, and Superior £344 a month. All are billed yearly.
Fundamental (£19pm)
Card charges
- 2% + 25p on-line
- 1.7% + 0p in individual
- 2% third-party suppliers
What’s included in Fundamental
- Localised international promoting (three markets)
- 10 stock places
- 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 international promoting (three markets)
- 10 stock places
- 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 studies and evaluation
- 10x checkout capability
- 15 further workers accounts
Nonetheless, there is no such thing as a 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).
Nonetheless, 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 mentioned, if already use Shopify as your POS system, this is able to be a no brainer.
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Tide Card Reader
| Gadget value | £89 + VAT |
|---|---|
| Transaction price | 1.50% |
| CNP price | TBC |
| Key options | Lifetime free 4G connectivity (price £5 pm)
Settle for Contactless, Chip + Pin, Digital wallets Modern and compact system to allow each in-store and cell 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’ll be able to settle for card and cell 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 system has a one-off value of £89 + VAT with a transaction price of 1.50 per cent. From August to October 2024, you will get £200 cashback if you purchase a Tide card reader by utilizing code CARDREADER200 if you enroll right here. T&Cs apply.
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Small Enterprise Professional
| Gadget value | WisePad 3 Terminal (£49 one off value) OR WisePOS E (£179.00 one off value) + month-to-month membership price (£39.99 sole merchants and £49.99 for companies) |
| Transaction price | From 1.25% transaction charges for normal playing cards, premium playing cards (akin to company playing cards) are 2.25% |
| CNP price | 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 observe transactions ● Financial institution deposits in 3 enterprise days |
And at last… we are able to’t overlook our very personal fee processor, which varieties a part of our Small Enterprise Professional 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 price (£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 (akin 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 observe transactions
- Financial institution deposits in 3 enterprise days
Professionals: Our transaction price 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 must buy a month-to-month membership from us.
Finest for: Foods and drinks, retail, well being and wonder and service-based companies that wish to streamline a number of instruments and platforms.
Which is the very best card fee system?
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, price constructions and extra options.
If it’s the latter, don’t fear. For many small companies, we’d suggest SumUp. It’s an reasonably priced system with one of many lowest transaction charges in the marketplace, and because it’s a flat charge, 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 possibility 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 could entry funds immediately.
That mentioned, we’ve chosen all of the above card fee machines for his or her flexibility, simplicity and practicality, and each can be an awesome possibility on your small enterprise. Completely happy promoting.
Want a card fee system quote?
Wish to examine costs from all the very best card fee units we’ve listed above? Why not use our free comparability instrument to be matched with probably the most appropriate supplier on your wants.
Merely fill in our free quote-finding kind, and reply a number of questions on your online business (it takes lower than a minute). We’ll match you with probably the most acceptable card fee supplier.
Additional studying
Finest fee processors for UK small companies – 11 of the very best – What’s the very best fee system on your small enterprise? 11 of the very best fee processors for UK SMEs reviewed
