What is the cheapest card reader for a small business in the UK?

For low or irregular sales volumes, pay-as-you-go readers with no monthly fee (such as SumUp, Zettle or Lopay) are usually cheapest overall. For high, steady volumes, a fixed monthly fee with a lower per-transaction rate can work out cheaper — compare based on your actual monthly card takings.

Do I need a business bank account to get a card reader?

Most modern card reader providers (such as SumUp and Zettle) can pay out to a personal or business bank account and don't require a dedicated merchant account. Traditional bank-provided readers may require a business current account.

Is a card reader the same as a POS system?

No. A card reader only takes payment. A POS (point of sale) system also manages stock, staff, receipts and reporting, and often includes a card reader as part of the package.

Home / Card Readers

Updated for 2026

Compare the best card readers for UK businesses

Portable and countertop card machines for taking chip, contactless and mobile wallet payments face to face — compared on contract terms, payout speed and who they suit best.

Pricing checked: 30 July 2026 We review provider pricing regularly. Some businesses may qualify for bespoke rates — see our .

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Best overall

Square combines a competitive flat rate, no contract, and the clearest path to a full POS system as you grow.

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Best value

Lopay's 0.79-0.99% rate is the lowest of any provider we compared, with no monthly fee or contract.

⭐

Best for ease of use

SumUp — simple flat-rate pricing, cheap hardware and a well-known setup process for first-time sellers.

How much do you take in card payments each month?

Estimates assume an average transaction of £35 and standard published UK consumer-card rates.

Provider	Best for	Card fee	Est. monthly cost*	Contract	WMP score	Action
SuSumUp	Occasional & first-time sellers	1.69% Simple pricing	—	None	★★★★☆4.1/5	Check latest price
View full SumUp details Terminal price Solo Lite £25, Solo £79, Terminal £135 (+VAT) Payout time By 7am next day, incl. weekends Minimum monthly charge None International/Amex fees Included in the 1.69% flat rate on the PAYG tier Invoicing Invoices Plus add-on, £8/month Support Phone, email, chat — hours not officially confirmed Pricing checked 30 July 2026 — sumup.com
ZeZettle	PayPal users	1.75% Simple pricing	—	None	★★★★☆4.2/5	Check latest price
View full Zettle details Terminal price Reader £29 (1st), £69 (additional), Terminal £149 (+VAT) Payout time Within minutes to PayPal balance Minimum monthly charge None Payment links PayPal QR 1.75%; Payment Links/Invoice 2.5% Support Phone 020 3467 8316, Mon-Fri 8:30am-5:30pm Pricing checked 30 July 2026 — zettle.com
SqSquare	Growing into a full POS	1.75% Simple pricing	—	None	★★★★☆4.5/5	Check latest price
View full Square details Terminal price Reader £19, Terminal £149, Register £649 (+VAT) Payout time Next business day (instant for a fee) Minimum monthly charge None (Retail Plus £49/mo optional, 1.6% rate) Ecosystem Square for Retail/Restaurants software available Support Phone 0800 098 8008 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; 24/7 self-serve Pricing checked 30 July 2026 — squareup.com/gb
LoLopay	Lowest fees overall	0.79-0.99% Simple pricing	—	None	★★★★☆4.3/5	Check latest price
View full Lopay details Terminal price WisePad3 reader £35 + £6.95 P&P Payout time Essential: weekly. Standard: next day. Instant to Bank: same day (50p fee, £1,000 daily cap) International/Amex fees +1% surcharge on top of headline rate Chargeback fee £20 admin fee + disputed amount Invoicing Xero integration: 0.29% + 10p per invoice Support Phone, email, in-app chat — hours not officially confirmed Pricing checked 30 July 2026 — lopay.com
mymyPOS	Multi-currency & built-in 3G/4G	1.10% + 7p Simple pricing	—	None	★★★★☆4.2/5	Check latest price
View full myPOS details Terminal price Go 2 £29, Ultra £229, Flex+dock £69 (ex VAT) Payout time Instant to myPOS account; £1.50 flat fee to withdraw to a UK bank International/Amex fees EEA cards 2.20%+7p, Amex 2.45%+7p, other 2.85%+7p Minimum monthly charge Possible £15 inactivity fee on dormant accounts (unconfirmed on official page) Support 24/7 phone, chat and email Pricing checked 30 July 2026 — mypos.com
TyTyl by NatWest	Transparent rates from a high-street bank	1.39% + 5p Simple pricing	—	~12 months	★★★★☆3.8/5	Check latest price
View full Tyl details Terminal rental PAX A80 £13.99+VAT/mo, A50 £14.99+VAT/mo, A920 Pro £19.99+VAT/mo Minimum monthly charge None International/Amex fees Custom quote for Amex; over £50k/year also custom-quoted Online gateway £14.95+VAT/mo if needed (third-party reported) Support Phone 0345 901 0001, Mon-Sat 8am-midnight, Sun 9am-5pm Pricing checked 30 July 2026 — tylbynatwest.com
PaPaymentsense	Bundled hardware & software add-ons	1.40% / 1.99% Scales with volume	—	18mo-5yr or 30-day rolling	★★★☆☆3.0/5	Get a tailored quote
View full Paymentsense details Terminal rental £20+VAT/month Minimum monthly charge £24.95 — applies even in a slow month PCI fee £4.95+VAT/month Chargeback / refund fees £28 chargeback, 50p refund, £3.99 account-on-file Contract Not stated officially; third-party reports 18mo-5yr, exit fees from £120+VAT — or a newer 30-day rolling option Support 24/7 claimed; some sources cite narrower hours for a different tier — reconcile before relying on this Pricing checked 30 July 2026 — paymentsense.com/uk
DoDojo	Hospitality businesses	~1.4% + 5p (indicative) Custom quote required	—	~12 months	★★★☆☆3.2/5	Get a tailored quote
View full Dojo details Terminal price Dojo Go £149 upfront or £15/mo; Pocket £239 or £20/mo Pricing Package-based, e.g. £39.99/mo covers up to £3,999 turnover + 1% on excess — get a quote to confirm Multi-location +£10/mo per location, +£11.99/mo Plus add-on Support General 8am-6pm, technical 8am-11pm daily (third-party reported — Dojo's official pricing page blocked automated access) Pricing checked 30 July 2026 — cross-checked third-party sources
BaBarclaycard	Existing Barclays banking customers	~1.6% (indicative) Custom quote required	—	~12 months	★★☆☆☆2.8/5	Get a tailored quote
View full Barclaycard details Terminal rental Smartpay Touch ~£29+VAT/mo, Flex from £15+VAT/mo (third-party, figures vary by source) Settlement Next day for transactions before 7pm (cross-checked, not official) Support Card holder line 0800 008 008 Mon-Fri 8am-6pm; technical 0800 161 5343, 24/7 Contract Exit-fee claims conflict across sources — confirm directly before signing Pricing checked 30 July 2026 — cross-checked third-party sources (official site blocked automated access)
TaTakepayments	Rep-led setup for traditional businesses	~1.1-2.45% + 7p (indicative) Custom quote required	—	12 months	★★☆☆☆2.5/5	Get a tailored quote
View full Takepayments details Setup fee £0 (confirmed official) Settlement Next working day (confirmed official) Contract exit fee £40 admin fee + £30+VAT per remaining month Support 7 days a week (confirmed official); specific hours not published Pricing checked 30 July 2026 — takepayments.com

*Based on £5,000 monthly card turnover and £35 average transaction unless you change the figure above. Actual costs vary by card type, transaction method and negotiated rates — and custom-quoted providers in particular can vary significantly from the figures shown. Pricing, contract terms and payout speeds change frequently — always confirm current rates directly with the provider before signing up. We may earn a commission when you sign up through a link on this page, at no extra cost to you. See our Affiliate Disclosure and Editorial Policy.

Choosing a card reader

How to pick the right card reader for your business

Low or irregular sales volume?

Pay-as-you-go readers with no monthly fee and no contract — like SumUp, Zettle or Lopay — usually work out cheapest, since you only pay when you take a payment.

Steady, higher sales volume?

A fixed monthly fee with a lower per-transaction rate, like Dojo or Takepayments, can undercut pay-as-you-go pricing once your monthly card takings pass a certain threshold.

Need next-day payouts?

Cashflow-sensitive businesses should check settlement speed — most established providers now offer next-business-day payouts as standard.

Already bank with a specific bank?

Barclaycard Payments and Tyl by NatWest can bundle card acceptance into your existing business banking relationship.

Deep dives

Not sure which reader fits your business?

See recommendations tailored to sole traders, small businesses or enterprise.

Find your fit

Compare the best card readers for UK businesses

Best overall

Best value

Best for ease of use

How to pick the right card reader for your business

Low or irregular sales volume?

Steady, higher sales volume?

Need next-day payouts?

Already bank with a specific bank?

Real numbers, by business type and head-to-head

Best for Sole Traders

Best for Small Business

Cheapest for Low Volume

Best for Tradespeople

Best for Market Stalls

Best for Cafés & Restaurants

SumUp vs Zettle

SumUp vs Square

Dojo vs Square

Best at £10k/Month

Flat-Rate vs Interchange-Plus

Reduce Processing Fees

Not sure which reader fits your business?