Compare Card Machines: Find One That Fits Your Working Day
A customer is ready to pay. You want a quick tap, a clear receipt if they need one, and the money to arrive when expected. Choosing the right card machine should help that happen without adding another job to your already busy day.
The best choice depends on what your business looks like. A florist needs room on the counter and a way to take delivery orders. A café needs staff to keep the queue moving. A mobile hairdresser needs something that works away from the salon. Price matters to all three, but the cheapest-looking reader will not necessarily suit them equally well.
Start here: compare SumUp for straightforward payments, Square if you also want help managing sales, PayPal POS if its app and account suit you, and takepayments if you want to discuss a complete machine-and-service package. The sections below explain the differences before getting into the sums.
This is a selected shortlist based on published information and practical buying needs, not hands-on testing of every machine. Some links and offers are affiliate links. We may receive a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you.
What do you want the machine to make easier?
You do not need a spreadsheet to answer this first question. Think about your last busy day. Were customers waiting while somebody found the reader? Did staff type the same amount into the till and the machine? Did a customer ask to pay for an order over the phone?
Write down the two things that would make the biggest difference. Those are your starting requirements. A feature list becomes much easier to judge when you know which problem you want solved.
For more about the equipment itself, see our best card readers for small businesses. This page helps you compare the provider and overall package once you know what you need.
Four card-machine providers to compare
The numbers help you navigate the shortlist. They are not scores or a claim that the same provider is best for every business.
SumUp: a straightforward place to start
SumUp provides card-payment devices and business tools. Its Solo works without a paired phone, using Wi-Fi or its included SIM and mobile data. That makes it worth looking at if you want to enter an amount and take payment while leaving your phone available for customer calls. Source: SumUp Solo.
Picture a florist serving at the front of the shop while their phone is being used to arrange a delivery. An independent payment device avoids one task interrupting the other. If you also need stock records or appointment management, compare the relevant software rather than expecting a simple reader to handle everything.
- Best for
Sole traders and small businesses looking for straightforward card payments.
- Why choose it
A standalone option can keep your personal phone free.
- Main watch-out
Check receipt accessories and whether you need more than basic payment collection.
- Useful links
Square: when you want more from the sales screen
Square combines payments with till software and optional tools for different business types. It is worth exploring if you want to see what sold, find an earlier purchase or bring more of your selling activity together. The basic service and specialist paid plans should be compared separately. Source: Square plans.
A small shop might care about finding products quickly and recording returns. A salon might want to investigate appointment tools as well as card payments. The useful question is what is included in the plan you would buy, not how many features exist somewhere in the range.
- Best for
Owners who want payments alongside useful sales tools.
- Why choose it
It gives you room to look beyond simply entering a payment amount.
- Main watch-out
A connected reader needs a compatible phone or tablet; some software costs extra.
- Useful links
PayPal POS: worth a look if the app feels right
PayPal Point of Sale is the current branding for Zettle. Its payment offer includes reader and terminal choices. Treat it as one option in your shortlist, rather than counting PayPal and Zettle twice. Source: PayPal POS.
If you already use PayPal, ask how the proposed service works with your account. Familiarity can be useful, but still try the ordinary jobs: taking a sale, finding it later and giving a refund. Also ask where the takings first arrive and how you move them to your usual bank.
- Best for
Owners comparing an alternative reader and app, including existing PayPal users.
- Why choose it
The app and account arrangement may fit how you already work.
- Main watch-out
Compare the exact current device and account terms, not an old Zettle offer.
- Useful links
Read our PayPal POS review and compare the three reader brands.
takepayments: when you would rather talk it through
Takepayments offers card machines and other ways to collect money, with help choosing a setup. That can appeal if you would rather explain your shop or venue to someone than decide from a shopping page alone. Its current range includes the A920 Pro and takepaymentsplus. Source: takepayments.
Make the conversation about your business. If staff take payments at tables, ask how the proposed device handles that. If your till is staying, ask whether the exact system connects. The value of assistance is getting a setup that works for you, not just having somebody arrange a delivery.
- Best for
Businesses wanting help choosing a machine and payment package.
- Why choose it
You can discuss the equipment, support and payment needs together.
- Main watch-out
The terminal and acquiring agreements need checking separately.
- Useful links
View the takepayments offer or read our takepayments review.
Explore available provider offers
The comparison below includes selected card-payment offers. Use it to explore your shortlist, then check the equipment and full charges for the offer you receive. It does not cover the whole market.
