Card Machines for Businesses UK 2026 | Compare Costs & Providers
Quick answer
Card machines for UK businesses typically cost £0-£30+ per month, plus transaction fees that often range from around 0.99%-2.5%, depending on provider, pricing model, card type, turnover, contract length and whether you choose pay-as-you-go or a merchant account.
For most small businesses:
| Business type |
Best card machine type |
|
| Sole traders and pop-ups |
Mobile card reader |
£0/month + flat transaction fee
|
| Market traders |
Mobile reader or Tap to Pay |
Low upfront cost + pay-as-you-go fees
|
| Small shops and cafés |
Portable or countertop terminal |
£0-£30/month + transaction fees
|
| Restaurants and pubs |
Portable or EPOS-integrated terminal |
£15-£40+/month + transaction fees
|
| Higher-volume businesses |
Contracted terminal or merchant account |
Monthly rental + lower negotiated rates
|
| Hotels and larger venues |
Integrated payment system |
|
| Trades and mobile services |
Mobile reader or phone-based payments |
|
A business taking £10,000 per month in card payments could pay around £99-£250+ per month in transaction fees, depending on whether it uses a low-rate monthly plan, a flat-rate card reader or a negotiated merchant account.
The cheapest card machine is not always the best value. Low-volume businesses usually benefit from no monthly fee, while higher-turnover businesses often save more by comparing lower transaction rates.
Compare card machine quotes based on your monthly turnover, business type and payment setup.
Free quotes • No obligation • Compare UK card machine providers
Compare Card Machine Deals
Card Machine Fees Calculator UK
Estimate your monthly and annual card processing costs in seconds. Adjust the fields below to see how much your current setup could be costing you.
Your Estimated Costs
Estimated monthly fees
£0.00
Estimated annual fees
£0.00
Estimated monthly transactions
0
Potential monthly saving
£0.00
You could save money by switching to a lower-fee provider.
This calculator is an estimate only. Actual card machine costs vary by provider, pricing structure, card mix, sector and contract terms.
Not sure if you are paying too much?
Card machine costs can rise quickly if you are on the wrong pricing model.
You may be overpaying if:
- you take more than £5,000 per month in card payments on a flat-rate reader
- you pay monthly rental but have low card turnover
- you have not reviewed fees in the last 12 months
- you pay PCI, refund, chargeback or authorisation fees without realising
- your contract has rolled over
- you use separate providers for card machines, EPOS and online payments
- you do not know your effective transaction rate
Compare Card Machine Quotes
Free quotes • No obligation • Compare UK providers by turnover
Best card machine providers by business type
| Provider |
Best for |
Not ideal for |
|
| SumUp |
Sole traders, pop-ups and low-volume businesses |
Larger businesses wanting advanced POS features |
No monthly fee or lower-fee monthly plan
|
| Square |
Small shops, cafés, salons and simple POS users |
Businesses needing very low high-volume rates |
No monthly fee, flat transaction fee
|
| PayPal POS, formerly Zettle |
Small retailers and businesses already using PayPal |
Businesses wanting the lowest possible fees at scale |
Reader purchase plus transaction fees
|
| Dojo |
Hospitality, restaurants and growing SMEs |
Very low-volume or occasional sellers |
Terminal and transaction pricing based on business profile
|
| Worldpay |
Established SMEs and higher card turnover |
Businesses wanting simple no-contract pricing |
Contracted merchant services
|
| Clover |
Retail, hospitality and POS-led businesses |
Businesses wanting a basic low-cost reader only |
Hardware, software and payment fees
|
| Tyl by NatWest |
SMEs wanting bank-backed payment services |
Very small businesses wanting PAYG simplicity |
Monthly terminal rental and transaction fees
|
| Takepayments |
SMEs wanting guided setup and merchant services |
Businesses wanting fully transparent online pricing |
Quote-based contracted pricing
|
What is the best card machine for a small business?
The best card machine for a small business depends on how and where you take payments.
| Small business type |
Best option |
| New business |
Pay-as-you-go mobile reader
|
| Sole trader |
Mobile card reader or Tap to Pay
|
| Market stall |
Mobile reader with phone app or built-in SIM
|
| Café |
Portable card machine |
| Small shop |
Countertop or POS-integrated terminal
|
| Salon |
Portable or countertop machine
|
| Restaurant |
Portable or EPOS-integrated terminal
|
| Pub or bar |
Fast portable terminal with strong connectivity
|
| Hotel |
Merchant account with pre-authorisation support
|
| Tradesperson |
Mobile reader or payment links
|
| High-turnover SME |
Merchant account or contracted terminal
|
- For very low turnover, providers such as SumUp, Square and PayPal POS-style readers are often simple starting points.
- For higher turnover, compare Dojo, Worldpay, Elavon, Tyl, Takepayments, Clover and other merchant account providers because lower negotiated rates can save more than a no-monthly-fee reader.
Most Businesses Overpay for Card Payments
Common issues:
- Paying flat fees when volume is high
- Stuck in expensive contracts
- Not comparing providers regularly
👉 Switching can reduce costs by 10-40% instantly
Key takeaways
- Pay-as-you-go machines suit low or irregular turnover
- Contracted machines usually reduce fees for higher volumes
- Mobile, countertop and portable machines suit different use cases
- Most card machines need an internet connection
- Security standards are mandatory, not optional
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: July 2026
Contents
How card machine pricing works
Types of card machines (and who they’re for)
Who each option is best for
Security & compliance (what every business must know)
Alternatives to traditional card machines
Typical card machine pricing
| Cost Type |
Typical Price |
| Monthly fee |
£0-£30 |
| Transaction fees |
1.2%-2.5% |
| Card reader |
£19-£99 |
| Setup |
Usually free |
👉 Transaction fees = your biggest cost
Card machine costs by monthly turnover
| Monthly card turnover |
Likely best option |
Why |
| Under £1,000 |
Pay-as-you-go reader |
No monthly fee usually matters more than low percentage fees
|
| £1,000-£5,000 |
SumUp, Square or PayPal POS-style reader |
Simple pricing and low commitment
|
| £5,000-£10,000 |
Compare PAYG vs monthly plan |
A lower transaction rate may start saving money
|
| £10,000-£20,000 |
Monthly plan or contracted terminal |
Lower fees can outweigh monthly rental
|
| £20,000-£50,000 |
Contracted card machine or merchant account |
Negotiated rates may reduce total cost
|
| £50,000+ |
Merchant account or tailored quote |
Small fee differences can save thousands per year
|
why transaction fees matter
| Monthly card sales |
1.75% fee |
1.69% fee |
0.99% fee |
| £2,000 |
£35 |
£33.80 |
£19.80 |
| £5,000 |
£87.50 |
£84.50 |
£49.50 |
| £10,000 |
£175 |
£169 |
£99 |
| £25,000 |
£437.50 |
£422.50 |
£247.50 |
| £50,000 |
£875 |
£845 |
£495 |
When should you switch from a card reader to a merchant account?
A pay-as-you-go card reader is usually easiest when your card turnover is low or irregular.
A merchant account or contracted terminal may become better value when your monthly card turnover is higher.
As a rough guide:
| Monthly card turnover |
What to compare |
| Under £1,000 |
Pay-as-you-go reader |
| £1,000-£5,000 |
Simple reader vs low-fee monthly plan
|
| £5,000-£10,000 |
PAYG vs merchant account quote
|
| £10,000-£20,000 |
Contracted terminal or merchant account
|
| £20,000+ |
Negotiated merchant services |
| £50,000+ |
Tailored pricing and interchange-plus options
|
Why businesses overpay for card machines
Many businesses do not overpay because card machines are expensive.
They overpay because they use the wrong pricing model.
Common causes include:
- using a flat-rate reader after turnover has grown
- paying monthly rental for a terminal that is rarely used
- accepting renewal pricing without comparing
- ignoring PCI or non-compliance fees
- missing authorisation or minimum monthly charges
- paying higher fees for business or international cards
- using a provider that does not suit their sector
- not comparing EPOS-integrated payment options
- staying in an old contract after needs have changed
Even a small difference in transaction fees can matter once monthly card turnover grows.
Compare your current monthly cost against new quotes before renewing.
What’s the Best Card Machine for Your Business?
| Business type |
Recommended setup |
Providers to compare |
Why |
| Sole trader |
Mobile card reader or Tap to Pay |
SumUp, Square, PayPal POS |
Low setup cost and no long contract
|
| Market trader |
Mobile card reader with built-in SIM or phone app |
SumUp, Square |
Works away from a fixed till
|
| Tradesperson |
Mobile reader or phone-based payments |
SumUp, Square, PayPal POS |
Good for taking payments on-site
|
| Small retail shop |
Countertop or POS-integrated machine |
Square, Clover, PayPal POS, Tyl |
Better for regular till use
|
| Café |
Portable or countertop card machine |
Square, Dojo, Clover, SumUp |
Supports queues, tables and takeaway payments
|
| Restaurant or pub |
Portable or EPOS-integrated terminal |
Dojo, Clover, Lightspeed, Worldpay |
Better for table service and faster reconciliation
|
| Hotel |
Integrated payment processing and merchant account |
Worldpay, Elavon, Dojo, Clover |
Better for deposits, pre-authorisation and larger payments
|
| Growing SME |
Contracted terminal or merchant account |
Worldpay, Tyl, Takepayments, Dojo |
Lower rates may save money at scale
|
| High-volume business |
Tailored merchant services quote |
Worldpay, Elavon, Dojo, Tyl |
Negotiated rates matter more than headline monthly cost
|
Cheapest card machine vs best-value card machine
| Option |
Best for |
Main risk |
| Cheapest card reader |
Low-volume sellers and occasional payments |
Higher transaction fees at scale
|
| No monthly fee card machine |
Sole traders and seasonal businesses |
Can become expensive as turnover grows
|
| Monthly plan with lower fees |
Businesses with regular card turnover |
Monthly fee only makes sense if you process enough payments
|
| Contracted terminal |
Growing businesses and higher turnover |
Exit fees, PCI fees and contract terms
|
| EPOS-integrated card machine |
Retail and hospitality |
Higher software and hardware costs
|
| Merchant account |
Established SMEs |
More complex pricing and setup
|
Hidden costs to watch out for
- PCI compliance fees on some contracts
- Early exit fees on long-term agreements
- Higher fees for business or international cards
- Chargeback and refund handling fees
- SIM or connectivity charges on mobile terminals
Types of card machines (and who they’re for)
- Mobile card readers
- Use Wi-Fi or mobile data
- Ideal for sole traders, pop-ups, trades
- Often pay-as-you-go
👉 See: Portable card readers, Swipe machines for small businesses
Countertop card machines
- Fixed location
- Ethernet or phone-line connected
- Best for shops and reception desks
👉 See: Countertop card readers, POS and PDQ explained
Portable card machines
- Work within a venue (Wi-Fi base)
- Popular in hospitality
- Flexible table-side payments
POS-integrated machines
- Connect to EPOS systems
- Suitable for retail and hospitality chains
- Faster reconciliation and reporting
👉 See: Payment terminals, Smart chip machines
Who each option is best for
| Business type |
|
| Sole traders |
|
| Retail shops |
Countertop or POS-integrated
|
| Hospitality |
Portable or POS-integrated
|
| Mobile services |
Mobile reader or phone-based
|
| High volume |
|
Provider snapshot
| Provider type |
Typical pricing model |
Best for |
| Pay-as-you-go |
% per transaction |
Low volume |
| Contracted |
Monthly + lower % |
High volume |
| Bank-linked |
Interchange-plus |
|
| App-based |
No contract |
|
Card Machine vs Merchant Account
| Feature |
Card Machine |
Merchant Account |
| Accept payments |
Yes |
Yes |
| Holds funds |
No |
Yes |
| Fees |
Higher (PAYG) |
Lower at scale |
| Best for |
Small businesses |
Growing businesses |
Security & compliance (what every business must know)
All UK card machines should support secure card payment processing. Businesses should check that their provider supports:
- PCI DSS requirements
- EMV chip and PIN payments
- contactless payments
- encryption and tokenisation
- secure payment data handling
- chargeback processes
- fraud monitoring
- card scheme rules from Visa, Mastercard and American Express
- GDPR-safe customer data handling where customer details are stored
For most small businesses, your payment provider will guide you through PCI compliance. However, some providers may charge PCI compliance or non-compliance fees, especially on traditional merchant service contracts.
Our tip: Do not choose a card machine provider without checking PCI fees, chargeback fees, refund fees and contract terms.
👉 See: Are credit card machines safe?, Business internet security
Alternatives to traditional card machines
In some cases, a full terminal isn’t necessary and you can get by with:
- Tap to Pay on iPhone – accept cards using a smartphone
- Remote card payments – take payments over the phone
- Payment links & invoices – email or SMS payments
👉 See: Accept credit card payments, iPhone as a credit card reader
Card machine decision table
| Your priority |
Best option |
| Lowest upfront cost |
Pay-as-you-go mobile reader
|
| No monthly fee |
SumUp, Square or PayPal POS-style provider
|
| Lowest transaction fees |
Monthly plan or merchant account quote
|
| Best for small shops |
Countertop or POS-integrated machine
|
| Best for restaurants |
Portable or EPOS-integrated terminal
|
| Best for tradespeople |
Mobile card reader or Tap to Pay
|
| Best for high turnover |
Contracted terminal or merchant account
|
| Best for no contract |
|
| Best for EPOS integration |
Clover, Square, Lightspeed or Dojo-style setup
|
| Best for hotels |
Provider supporting deposits and pre-authorisation
|
| Best for remote payments |
Payment links, invoices or virtual terminal
|
| Best overall route |
Compare providers based on monthly turnover
|
Why trust our card machine reviews?
Our card machine guides are written to help UK businesses make practical buying decisions, not just compare headline transaction fees.
We focus on:
- realistic UK 2026 card machine costs
- monthly fees, transaction fees and hidden charges
- pay-as-you-go vs contracted pricing
- business types such as shops, cafés, restaurants, salons, trades and hotels
- card machine types including mobile, portable, countertop and POS-integrated terminals
- merchant account options for growing businesses
- contract length, PCI fees, chargebacks and exit fees
- quote-led guidance to help businesses reduce payment costs
FAQs about Card Machines
1. How much does a card machine cost for a small business?
Most UK businesses pay £0-£30+ per month, plus transaction fees of around 1.2%–2.5%. Low-volume businesses often choose pay-as-you-go, while higher-volume businesses usually benefit from contracts with lower fees.
2. Are there card machines with no monthly fee?
Yes. Pay-as-you-go card machines typically have no monthly rental, but higher transaction fees. They’re best for businesses with low or irregular card turnover.
3. What’s the cheapest way to accept card payments?
For very small businesses, the cheapest option is usually a mobile card reader with no contract. Businesses with steady turnover often save more overall with a contracted terminal and lower per-transaction fees.
4. Do card machines need an internet connection?
Yes. Card machines require Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or mobile data to process payments securely. Some older models can use phone lines, but most modern machines are internet-based.
5. Can I use my phone as a card machine?
In many cases, yes. Some solutions allow you to accept contactless payments directly on a smartphone, though features and limits may differ from traditional terminals.
Which card machine has the lowest fees?
There is no single lowest-fee card machine for every business. Low-volume businesses often benefit from no-monthly-fee readers, while higher-volume businesses may save more with a contracted terminal or merchant account.
Is SumUp or Square cheaper?
It depends on your payment type, turnover and whether you need POS features. SumUp and Square both offer simple card reader options, but the cheapest provider depends on your transaction volume and how you take payments.
Is a card machine better than Tap to Pay?
A card machine is usually better for regular in-person payments, higher volumes, receipts and staff use. Tap to Pay can be useful for sole traders, pop-ups and mobile businesses that want to accept payments using a smartphone.
What is the cheapest way to take card payments?
For occasional or low-volume payments, a mobile card reader or Tap to Pay solution is often cheapest. For regular or higher card turnover, a merchant account may reduce overall fees.
Do I need a merchant account for a card machine?
Some providers include payment processing without a separate traditional merchant account. Larger or higher-volume businesses may still benefit from comparing merchant account providers.
How much are card machine transaction fees?
Transaction fees often range from around 0.99%-2.5%, depending on provider, pricing model, card type, payment method and turnover.
Are card machine fees negotiable?
They can be, especially if your business has higher monthly card turnover. Merchant account providers may offer tailored pricing based on volume, card mix and risk profile.
What card machine is best for restaurants?
Restaurants usually need portable terminals, table-side payments, fast settlement, tipping support and EPOS integration. Dojo, Clover, Worldpay, Square and other hospitality-friendly providers are worth comparing.
What card machine is best for market traders?
Market traders usually need a mobile card reader, phone-based payment app or device with mobile connectivity. Low upfront cost and reliable signal are usually more important than advanced POS features.
Can I accept card payments without a card machine?
Yes. Alternatives include Tap to Pay on a smartphone, payment links, QR codes, online invoices, virtual terminals and ecommerce checkout.
Compare card machine quotes before you renew
Card machine pricing changes as your business grows.
The provider that was cheapest when you started may not be the best value once your monthly card turnover increases.
Compare quotes if you:
- take more than £5,000 per month in card payments
- have a contract ending soon
- want lower transaction fees
- need a new terminal
- want EPOS integration
- take payments online and in person
- pay fees you do not understand
- want to compare SumUp, Square, Dojo, Worldpay, Tyl, Clover or Takepayments
Compare Card Machine Quotes
Free quotes • No obligation • Compare UK providers
Compare card machines for businesses and see whether you could reduce payment costs
Related card machine guides
Card Machine Providers & Reviews
Merchant Account Providers
Card Machine Types & Payment Methods
Setup, Connectivity & How It Works
Comparisons & Alternative
Small Business & Use Cases
EPOS Systems & POS Software
Compare Card Machine Quotes Now
- ✔ Save up to 40% on fees
- ✔ Compare leading UK providers
- ✔ Free, no-obligation quotes
👉 Compare the Best Card Machines
James Ward is the CEO & Founder of Compare Your Business Costs — a UK-verified comparison platform helping SMEs save money on business broadband, leased lines, phone systems, mobile telecoms, managed services and IT support. With over 10 years of experience in telecoms and technology procurement, James is a trusted UK business expert featured in national media and verified on Companies House.
Co Authors :
Hi, I’m Ally Cox, a senior copywriter and blogger at CompareYourBusinessCosts.co.uk, the UK’s trusted platform for comparing business services.
With 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.
Before joining CompareYourBusinessCosts, I worked across various industries, gaining hands-on experience in HR, copywriting, and business operations- from clocking-in systems to card machines and office technology.
My goal is simple: to help UK businesses make informed, confident decisions when choosing products and services that improve efficiency and save money.
