Card Machines for Small Businesses UK

Card Machines UK Guide

Card machines for small businesses: choose the right setup and keep costs clear

Card machine comparison guide for UK small businesses

Running a small business is already a full-time job. Choosing a card machine should not mean spending your evening comparing payment jargon, contract small print and twenty nearly identical terminals. The practical question is simpler: what will reliably take payments, what will it cost you each month, and will it still suit the business if sales grow?

Start with the jobs you need the machine to do. Can you take payment beside a customer, print a receipt or keep the phone free for calls? Once you know that, it is much easier to compare prices. This guide takes you through the choices, with a shortlist of providers and examples to help you see what you would actually pay.

If you want to shop around now, start with our card machine comparison. If you mainly need a low-commitment reader, see the best card readers for small businesses. For the cost side, our card machine fees guide explains what actually ends up on the bill.

What a card machine is
Types of card machines
Portable card machines
Countertop machines
Mobile card readers
Costs and current rates
Providers to compare
How to choose

Already taking regular card payments?

Have your latest statement handy. Comparing your current monthly bill with a new quote can show whether a different pricing plan is worth considering.

Compare card machine quotes

Start with your business

Which route should you compare first?

Starting small or selling occasionally

Buying a reader and paying fees as you use it can keep things manageable when sales are irregular. Think about where you will put the machine, whether it needs your phone and how customers will get a receipt.

Compare simple card readers

Taking payments every day

If the machine is in constant use, get a quote for the equipment and payment service together. Compare a whole year’s costs, including any software and the cost of leaving your current provider. A lower rate is useful only if the full bill comes down too.

Get a quote for your business

There is no magic sales figure that makes one type of deal right for everyone. Two businesses taking the same amount can pay different fees because one takes hundreds of small payments and the other takes a few larger ones. Use your own figures and choose something your staff will find straightforward.

What a card machine is

A card machine is simply the bit of kit that lets a customer tap, insert or swipe a card and pay your business. Modern machines normally accept contactless cards, Chip & PIN, Apple Pay and Google Pay. You will also hear them called card readers, PDQ machines, payment terminals or Chip & PIN machines.

The payment company handles the checks behind each tap and arranges for the money to reach you. The machine needs a suitable connection to do its job, which could be Wi-Fi, mobile data, a cable or your phone, depending on the model.

What matters during a busy day is whether customers can pay without a fuss. After closing, you want to see what you took, understand the fees and know when the money will arrive. Those are useful things to ask about before getting drawn into a list of technical specifications.

Common names for the same topic

Card machine
Card payment machine
Chip and pin machine
PDQ machine
Card reader
Portable card machine
Mobile card machine

What most businesses need from one

Fast, reliable payment processing
Contactless and Chip & PIN support
Good battery or stable fixed connection
Clear fees and fair contract terms
Payout timings that fit your cash flow
Support when things go wrong

Types of card machines

The easiest way to choose a machine is to think about where the customer pays. A repair counter may need a machine that stays beside the till. A driving instructor may need something they can carry between lessons. The best starting point is where you will use it, not which screen looks smartest.

Portable card machines

Choose portable if staff need to carry the terminal around the premises, for example to tables, treatment rooms or different checkout points.

Countertop card machines

Choose countertop if customers always pay at one fixed till and you value a permanent power and internet connection more than mobility.

Mobile card readers

Look at a mobile reader if you collect payment at different locations. Check the connection as carefully as the size: an easy-to-carry device still needs to work wherever the customer pays.

Smart terminals

Choose a smart terminal if you want payments tied more closely to products, staff, stock, tipping, receipts or other EPOS functions.

The simple rule

Do not pay for features you will never use. A simple reader can be plenty if you just need to collect payment after a job. If several people will use it all day, spend more time checking the screen, charging arrangements and how it connects to your till.

Portable card machines

A portable terminal lets you bring the payment to the customer while staying at your premises. That could mean taking payment beside a restaurant table or moving between a showroom desk and the collection counter. You avoid sending every customer to one fixed spot just to pay.

A standalone portable model can also keep staff phones out of the process. Look at whether that makes the working day easier, particularly when several people share the equipment. A small saving on the device is less useful if everyone finds it awkward to use.

Best for

Restaurants and table service
Bars and pubs
Hair and beauty
Busy retail environments
Clinics and service counters

What to check

Battery life
Wi-Fi and 4G capability
Receipt options
Screen size and speed
Whether it integrates with EPOS

Try the machine where you would actually take payments, including the furthest point from your router. Ask how long the battery lasts, how receipts work and whether it connects to your till. If mobile data is available as a backup, check what is included. Get the exact model written into the quote so you know the demonstration matches what you will receive.

Countertop card machines

If customers always pay at the same counter, a fixed terminal may be all you need. It has a place to live, can stay connected to power and is there when the next person is ready to pay. You do not have to buy portability just because it is available.

Think of a parts counter or a visitor reception desk. The practical questions are whether staff can reach the machine comfortably, whether the customer can see the amount and how it works with the till. Ask what happens if the internet connection drops as well as how it works on a normal day.

Good fit: If everyone pays at one desk or counter, start by comparing a fixed setup. You can still choose a handheld option if it makes serving customers easier.

Mobile card readers

A mobile reader is worth looking at when you collect payment away from one fixed checkout. You might use it after finishing a job or take it to an occasional event. Check the model’s connection and account terms rather than assuming every small reader works in the same way.

For a mobile repair business, the attraction is being able to take payment before leaving the customer. For an occasional seller, it may be avoiding a rental bill between events. Some devices can be bought outright with pay-as-you-go processing, but check what ongoing charges apply to the particular service.

Strengths

Low upfront cost
No heavy contract in many cases
Easy setup
Great for occasional or mobile trading

Watch-outs

May rely on your phone or app
Smaller screens
No built-in printer on basic models
Flat rates can become expensive at higher volume

As you take more payments, the running cost deserves another look. The reader you bought cheaply may still suit you perfectly, but a different payment plan could change the bill. Compare the whole service before replacing equipment that already does the job. Our small-business card reader guide is a good place to shortlist the simpler options.

Know your monthly bill

How much does a card machine cost in the UK?

Think of the cost in two parts: getting the machine and using it to take payments. You might buy the device, rent it or pay for it as part of a package. Then there are the payment fees. Compare a year of both costs, rather than treating the price on the box as the full amount you will spend.

Add the percentage fee, any fixed pence charge per sale and the monthly equipment or software bill. Ask about refunds, disputed payments and any extra charge to get your money faster. You also need to know what it would cost to leave. Our card machine fees guide explains the charges to look for on a statement.

Published processing rates to help you shortlist

Pricing checked 9 September 2026. The figures below cover the stated in-person payment types. Device purchases and other applicable charges are additional. Hardware offers can vary by plan and promotion.

Selected published card-payment rates
Plan	In-person processing	Monthly plan cost	Check before choosing
Square	1.75% for UK cards; an extra 1.5% for non-UK cards.	No base monthly fee for the standard payment service.	Add any paid software and device costs.
SumUp PAYG	1.69% for in-person cards other than SumUp cards; SumUp-card payments are 0%.	£0 monthly processing subscription.	Check the separate tariff for online payments.
SumUp Payments Plus	0.99% for domestic debit and credit cards; 1.69% for premium, international and Amex cards. SumUp-card payments are 0%.	£19 a month on the monthly plan shown on its pricing page.	Savings depend on the cards your customers use.
Tide PAYG	1.5% + 5p for domestic consumer debit cards.	£0 monthly plan fee; hardware extra.	Other card types have different fees.
Tide Sell In-Person Essential	0.89% + 3p for domestic consumer debit cards.	£17.99 a month, excluding VAT where applicable.	Monthly plan; compare the whole tariff.
Tide Sell In-Person Premium	0.69% + 3p for domestic consumer debit cards.	£19.99 a month, excluding VAT where applicable.	12-month contract; check the full commitment.

Sources: Square UK pricing, SumUp UK pricing and Tide card-reader plans. Confirm the tariff and applicable VAT in your written offer.

Worked example: why turnover changes the answer

These are illustrative plans, not provider offers. Plan A charges 1.75% with no monthly fee. Plan B charges 1% plus £20 a month, with no fixed pence charge. Both examples assume every payment qualifies for the stated rate and exclude hardware, VAT and other charges.

Illustrative monthly processing costs
Monthly card sales	Plan A: 1.75%	Plan B: 1% + £20	Lower illustrative cost
£1,000	£17.50	£30	Plan A by £12.50
£5,000	£87.50	£70	Plan B by £17.50
£15,000	£262.50	£170	Plan B by £92.50

On those assumptions, the plans cost the same at about £2,667 of monthly card sales. Below that, Plan A costs less; above it, Plan B costs less. This is a calculation for these two examples, not a general rule for choosing a provider.

Small sales? Watch the pence charge

A 5p fee is another 1% on a £5 sale, but only 0.1% on a £50 sale. For example, 1.5% plus 5p on a £5 payment is 12.5p before rounding, equivalent to 2.5%. If you sell lots of small items, those pennies deserve as much attention as the percentage.

Give each provider the same monthly card sales and payment count. Include the types of cards you regularly accept, such as UK, overseas or business cards. Ask for an example bill using those figures, so you can compare pounds and pence rather than separate promises.

Compare quotes using your turnover

Build your shortlist

Card machine providers to compare

These providers give you different starting points. Read the descriptions with your own working day in mind, then choose two or three to look at more closely. This is a shortlist, not a ranking or a complete list of the market. For more options, use our card machine comparison and merchant account provider guide.

We may earn a commission through some provider links or if you sign up through our quote service. The selection below does not cover every provider in the market.

Payments with room to add software

Square

Square combines payments with tools for managing sales. It may appeal if you want the machine to be part of a wider selling setup, rather than somewhere you just type an amount. A hobby shop, for example, might want to keep track of products as well as take the money. Start with the jobs you want to make easier, then check which Square software covers them and whether it costs extra. If you only need an occasional payment, keep the setup simple.

Before choosing: Compare UK and non-UK card charges, your device choice and any paid plan.

View Square offer

Read our Square review

Payments alongside a Tide account

Tide

Tide offers card readers and payment plans alongside its business account. It is a starting point if having those services with one provider would suit how you manage your money. Decide where you will use the reader first, then compare the plans using a typical month’s sales. The lowest advertised transaction rate is not always the cheapest choice after a subscription is added. Check the account requirements too, so you know what you need to open and use.

Before choosing: Compare the full card tariff, subscription cost and commitment, especially on Premium.

View Tide offer

Read our Tide review

A package quoted for your business

takepayments

takepayments provides card payment equipment and services with prices quoted for your business. It may suit the way you prefer to buy if you want to talk through the setup before ordering. Explain how customers pay today and what gets in the way, whether that is sharing one machine or needing to take it away from the counter. Ask the adviser to show how the proposed equipment would help. Then compare the complete quote with another provider.

Before choosing: Get rental, processing, minimum charges, payout timing and cancellation terms in writing.

View takepayments offer

Read our takepayments review

A merchant-services option to price up

Worldpay

Worldpay offers payment services for businesses taking money in person and online. It is one to consider when you are reviewing more than the reader itself, particularly if customers pay in several ways. An independent retailer may want to understand how website sales and counter sales are handled together. Ask what the actual package includes, how you find a payment or refund and who provides help. Use a recent statement to compare the proposed bill with what you pay now.

Before choosing: Check the full agreement, equipment costs and support arrangements for your proposed setup.

View Worldpay offer

Read our Worldpay review

Other providers and hardware to investigate

Keep alternatives on your shortlist where they fit your requirements. Our reviews cover SumUp, PayPal Point of Sale, Dojo, myPOS, Revolut and Tyl by NatWest. Confirm current availability, prices and eligibility with the provider before ordering.

Ingenico, PAX and Verifone are names you may find on the machine itself. That does not necessarily tell you who sends the bill or answers the support phone. Two businesses with the same device can have different fees and agreements. Before choosing, make sure you know which company looks after your service.

Compare available card-payment offers

Use these offers as a starting point for your own comparison. Check the equipment, full charges and terms of any offer that interests you. The available providers and their order can change. If you would rather discuss your needs, use the quote form at the top of this page.

Compare quotes for my business

Common terminal hardware you may be offered

The brand on the machine and the name on your payment agreement may be different. A provider can supply equipment made by another company, then arrange the processing and support around it. Treat the device and the deal as two things to check together.

PAX A920

PAX A920-style machines are handheld smart terminals. If one is offered, ask to try the screen, receipt printer and everyday payment steps. Check which software and connections the particular package includes.

Clover Flex

Clover Flex offers payments with access to wider POS tools. Ask which apps you would use and what they cost. Extra tools are useful when they replace a job you currently do by hand, rather than add another subscription you forget about.

Ingenico Move series

Ingenico Move is a range of portable terminals you may see in a provider’s quote. Ask about the exact model and connection, then try taking a payment and printing a receipt rather than choosing from the name alone.

Verifone mobile terminals

Verifone equipment is supplied through different payment arrangements. If the device suits you, compare the service around it too: the fees, help, replacement policy and contract still matter.

How to choose a card machine

Start with how you trade. Fixed till, table service, on-the-go selling, or mixed channels all point to different device types.
Estimate your monthly card turnover. If payments are occasional, watch the fixed monthly charges. If you take cards regularly, ask whether a quoted plan would cost less using your actual sales.
Check payout speed. Faster access to funds can matter more than a slightly lower transaction rate.
Compare total cost, not just the card rate. Hardware, monthly fees, PCI, and contract length all matter.
Think ahead. If you may add ecommerce, staff tills, or extra locations, choose a setup that can grow with you.

Best approach: pick two or three providers that cover the jobs you need done. Ask each to price the same business, then choose the service you can afford and feel comfortable using.

Which type of card machine suits your business?

Market stalls and mobile traders

Sole trader or occasional seller: begin with a simple reader and low fixed costs. Check whether it needs your phone and whether the receipts and connection suit the way you work.

Cafés and quick-service retail

Café or quick-service shop: try the machine as a member of staff would use it. A clear screen, a useful till connection and easy refunds can matter more than extra features you never open.

Restaurants and table service

Restaurant, pub or café: check coverage at the places customers will pay, how charging works and when support is available. Choose equipment that fits the space and the way staff serve people.

Growing retailers

Growing or higher-volume business: get a fresh quote using your real sales and compare the whole year’s bill. Include software, equipment and any cost of leaving before counting a saving.

Card machine questions, answered

What is the difference between a card reader and a card machine?

The terms overlap. A reader often means a compact device, sometimes connected to a phone. A card machine can also mean a standalone terminal with its own connection, screen or printer. Check the actual model rather than relying on the name.

Are PDQ and chip and PIN machines the same thing?

These names describe the same broad category of payment terminals. Chip and PIN refers to inserting a card and entering a PIN. Check that your chosen device also accepts the contactless and digital-wallet payments your customers use.

Do I need a contract for a card machine?

You must accept the provider’s service terms, but you do not always need a long fixed-term rental or processing contract. Pay-as-you-go options can avoid a monthly processing subscription. Other packages have a minimum term. Check the notice period and whether equipment and payment processing have separate agreements.

Can I buy a card machine outright?

Yes, some providers sell their readers and terminals. Buying the hardware does not remove processing fees or guarantee that you can move the device to another provider. Check compatibility, warranty and replacement arrangements before buying a second-hand machine.

Should I choose the hardware or provider first?

Start with what you need to do, then find providers that can cover it. Look at the machine and the whole service together. There is little benefit in a device you like if the ongoing bill or support makes life harder.

Can I use a card machine without Wi-Fi?

A compatible standalone terminal can use mobile data instead. Some smaller readers use your phone’s connection. Check coverage at the places you trade and whether data is included. Do not assume a machine will accept payments with no connection at all; offline features and restrictions vary.

What should I check about payouts?

Ask when a payment taken on Friday evening will reach the account you use to pay bills. Check weekends, bank holidays, cutoff times, account requirements and any faster-payout fees. An advertised payout time may be subject to checks or other conditions.

What is the cheapest card machine for a small business?

It depends on your card turnover, average transaction and the cards customers use. Compare the complete monthly and annual cost. A plan without a subscription can suit occasional sales, while another tariff may become better value as regular sales grow.

Find a card machine that fits the way you work

Tell us how you take payments using the form above. If you already have a provider, keep a recent statement handy. Compare the full quote and the equipment, then decide whether the proposed setup would make getting paid easier for your business.

Compare card machine quotes

Card machine prices, hardware offers, and transaction fees change regularly. Always confirm the latest commercial terms directly with the provider before signing.