Barclaycard Card Machines Review 2026: Fees, Terminals, Contract & Verdict Quick answer
Barclaycard offers card machines and payment services for UK businesses that want a recognised, bank-backed payment provider with options for countertop, portable, mobile and POS-style payments.
Its main card machine options include Smartpay Anywhere, Barclaycard Flex and Smartpay Touch, and these cover everything from a simple mobile card reader to a more advanced all-in-one POS terminal.
Barclaycard is best suited to established small businesses, retailers, cafés, restaurants, salons, hospitality venues and growing businesses that want a more traditional payment provider. It may be less suitable for sole traders, occasional sellers or businesses that want the simplest no-contract card reader.
Best for: established businesses, cafés, retail, hospitality, Barclays customers and businesses wanting a recognised payment providerLess great for : very small sellers, seasonal businesses, pop-ups and businesses wanting the lowest-commitment setup
Typical costs : Smartpay Anywhere from £29 + VAT upfront, Barclaycard Flex from £15 + VAT per month, and Smartpay Touch from £29 + VAT per month. Transaction fees and contract terms vary.
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Contents
Benefits of Barclays Card Machines
Downsides of Barclays Card Machines
Barclaycard vs. Competitors
Barclaycard Card Machine Options & Features
Barclaycard Card Machine Fees & Pricing
Our Verdict on Barclays Card Machines
How do we work?
Transparent, impartial, and data‑driven reviews made by a team of expert humans, never AI generated – here’s exactly how Compare Your Business Costs helps you find the best deals from trusted UK providers: click here
Authored by: Ally Cox (Business Technology & B2B Services Specialist 10+ Years’ Experience)
Reviewed by: James Ward (Telecoms Specialist, 12+ Years Experience)
Last Updated: May 2026
Barclaycard card machines at a glance
Feature
Best for
Established small businesses, retail, cafés, hospitality and growing SMEs
Main card machines
Smartpay Anywhere, Barclaycard Flex and Smartpay Touch
Lowest upfront option
Smartpay Anywhere from £29 + VAT upfront
Monthly rental options
Barclaycard Flex from £15 + VAT/month and Smartpay Touch from £29 + VAT/month
Contract style
Depends on product and package
Payment types
Chip & PIN, contactless, debit cards, credit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay
POS features
Available through Smartpay Touch
Main strength
Recognised payment brand with several terminal options
Main drawback
Less simple than pay-as-you-go providers such as Square, SumUp, LoPay and PayPal POS
Best alternatives
Square, SumUp, LoPay, Dojo, Worldpay, Clover, Tyl and PayPal POS
Key Takeaways
Barclaycard is a well-known UK card payment provider with several card machine options.
Smartpay Anywhere is the lowest upfront option, listed by Barclaycard at £29 + VAT for the reader.
Barclaycard Flex is positioned as a reliable all-rounder with flexible connectivity and is listed at £15 + VAT per month.
Smartpay Touch is Barclaycard’s all-in-one POS-style device and is listed at £29 + VAT per month.
Barclaycard can suit cafés, restaurants, salons, shops and established small businesses.
It will not be the easiest option for casual sellers because cancellation fees and contract terms can apply depending on the product.
You should compare Barclaycard against Square, SumUp, LoPay, Dojo, Worldpay, Clover and PayPal POS before choosing.
Is Barclaycard right for your business?
Barclaycard may suit you if…
You may want to compare alternatives if…
You want a recognised payment brand
You want the cheapest possible card reader
You run a shop, café, restaurant, salon or hospitality business
You only take occasional payments
You want portable, countertop or POS-style terminal options
You want instant setup with no contract worries
You need an all-in-one POS-style device
You prefer flat-rate, pay-as-you-go pricing
You are happy to compare a quote or package
You are a sole trader, market seller or seasonal trader
Our verdict:
Barclaycard card machine fees 2026 Barclaycard’s costs depend on the card machine, contract, transaction volume and payment setup you choose.
Cost type
Smartpay Anywhere
Barclaycard Flex
Smartpay Touch
Transaction fees
Vary by product, package and business profile
Setup fees
May vary depending on package
Contract length
Depends on chosen product
Cancellation fees
Can depend on reader type, number of readers and months left on the contract
Best for
Businesses with regular in-person payments
Less suitable for
Occasional sellers wanting the simplest pay-as-you-go setup
Our tip: A
Benefits of Barclaycard Card Machines
Multiple card machine models – Options for mobile, portable, and countertop solutions
Supports various payment methods – Chip & PIN, contactless, Apple Pay, Google Pay
Seamless POS integration – Some models can integrate with point-of-sale systems
Trusted financial provider – Backed by Barclays Bank, offering faster settlements for Barclays customers
Downsides of Barclaycard Card Machines
Users have reported difficulties in reaching customer support and receiving timely assistance.
Feedback indicates that some terminals operate on outdated software, affecting performance and user experience.
The onboarding process has been described as cumbersome, ansd people report delays in activation.
Barclaycard’s card machine contracts are not super flexible.
How to Purc hase Barclaycard Card Machines
Our Verdict on Barclaycard Card Machines Barclaycard card machines are a solid option for established UK businesses that want a recognised payment provider with several terminal options.
The main advantage is choice. Barclaycard offers a simple mobile reader, a more traditional flexible card machine and an all-in-one POS-style terminal. That means it can work for small shops, cafés, restaurants, salons, hospitality businesses and growing SMEs.
The main drawback is that Barclaycard is not always as simple or transparent as flat-rate providers. Monthly rental, contract terms, transaction fees and cancellation rules can all affect the final cost.
Choose Barclaycard if:
you want a recognised card payment provider
you take regular in-person payments
you run a shop, café, salon, restaurant or hospitality business
you want a choice of terminal options
you are happy to compare a package or quote
Consider alternatives if:
you want no contract
you only take occasional payments
you want the simplest flat-rate pricing
you are a sole trader, pop-up seller or seasonal trader
you want the lowest upfront commitment
Overall, Barclaycard is worth comparing for established businesses, but smaller sellers should compare it against Square, SumUp, LoPay, PayPal POS and Dojo before choosing.
FAQs for Barclaycard Card Machines What card machines does Barclaycard offer?
Barclaycard offers several card machine options, including Smartpay Anywhere, Barclaycard Flex and Smartpay Touch. These cover simple mobile payments, flexible card machines and POS-style payment terminals.
How much does a Barclaycard card machine cost?
Barclaycard currently lists Smartpay Anywhere from £29 + VAT upfront, Barclaycard Flex from £15 + VAT per month, and Smartpay Touch from £29 + VAT per month. Transaction fees and other charges vary by package.
Does Barclaycard have a contract?
Contract terms depend on the Barclaycard product and package you choose. Barclaycard says cancellation fees may depend on the reader type, number of readers and months remaining in the contract.
Is Barclaycard good for small businesses?
Barclaycard can be good for established small businesses that take regular card payments. Very small sellers, sole traders and occasional traders may prefer simpler options such as SumUp, Square, LoPay or PayPal POS.
Is Barclaycard cheaper than Square?
It depends on your business. Square has simple flat-rate pricing, while Barclaycard’s total cost depends on the terminal, rental fees, transaction fees and contract terms. Barclaycard may suit established businesses, while Square is often simpler for smaller sellers.
Is Barclaycard cheaper than SumUp?
Barclaycard may be better suited to businesses taking regular payments, while SumUp is usually simpler for sole traders and occasional sellers. The cheaper option depends on card turnover, transaction fees, hardware cost and monthly fees.
Does Barclaycard support contactless payments?
Yes. Barclaycard card machines support contactless payments, chip & PIN and mobile wallet payments such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Does Barclaycard offer a POS system?
Yes. Barclaycard Smartpay Touch is positioned as an all-in-one POS system, with monthly rental listed at £29 + VAT.
Are Barclaycard card machine reviews positive?
Reviews are mixed. Barclaycard is a recognised payment brand, but public reviews often mention customer service and payment issues. Review platforms may include wider Barclaycard products, not just business card machines.
What are the best Barclaycard alternatives?
The main Barclaycard alternatives include Square, SumUp, LoPay, Dojo, Worldpay, Clover, Tyl by NatWest, PayPal POS and Stripe Terminal.
Related card machine guides Explore more of our UK card machine guides, provider reviews and comparison pages below.
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Card machines by business type
Card machine provider reviews
Card machine comparisons
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Hi, I’m Ally Cox , a senior copywriter and blogger at CompareYourBusinessCosts.co.uk, the UK’s trusted platform for comparing business services.over a decade of experience in the B2B sector, I specialise in simplifying complex topics like leased lines, VoIP, business energy, HR and payroll solutions, accounting software, and EPOS systems .HR, copywriting, and business operations- from clocking-in systems to card machines and office technology .informed, confident decisions when choosing products and services that improve efficiency and save money.
