myPOS card machine review: fast access to sales, but card mix matters
myPOS packages a card machine, connectivity, an e-money merchant account and a business Mastercard. Card takings are credited to the myPOS account in seconds, so a trader can spend them with the card without waiting for a conventional payout to a high-street bank.
That can be genuinely useful for cash flow. It also means the settlement destination is different from providers that automatically pay your existing bank account. The best buying question is not “How fast is the payout?” but “Where does the money arrive, what does it cost to move, and does that fit the way we pay bills?”
Our view: myPOS is attractive for mobile traders and small businesses that value a standalone reader, included SIM data and immediate access to takings. Its domestic consumer-card rate is competitive, but the 7p fixed charge raises the effective rate on small baskets, while EEA, Amex, commercial and other cards cost more.
Prices and features were checked on 11 September 2026 using myPOS's official UK pages. Hardware promotions can change, and all prices should be confirmed before ordering.
myPOS quick verdict
myPOS states on its UK pricing page that there is no lock-in contract for its pay-per-transaction route. Businesses over £10,000 monthly card turnover can request custom pricing, and rental may be available subject to suitability.
Card machines and practical differences
The range shown in September 2026 included Go 2, Go Combo, Ultra, Flex and unattended devices. Do not buy the most capable model by default. Match the hardware to the work.
myPOS Go 2
The Go 2 product page listed the reader at £39 excluding VAT. It is standalone, weighs about 182g, uses Wi-Fi or an included 4G data SIM, and sends digital receipts. It does not need a customer's phone or your phone to complete an ordinary card sale.
This is the sensible baseline for a market trader, mobile service or backup payment point. If customers expect printed receipts, price the Go Combo or another device with a printer rather than improvising at the till.
Go Combo and smart terminals
The Combo adds a charging and printing dock. Ultra and Flex are aimed at businesses wanting a larger touchscreen, apps or a more conventional counter and handheld experience. Ask which software features work on the chosen model, how tips and staff logins are reported, and what happens when the printer or dock fails.
myPOS Glass
Glass turns a compatible Android phone into a contactless acceptance device. It can reduce hardware carried by a mobile worker. Check device compatibility, customer PIN handling, staff phone policy and what happens if the phone battery or data connection fails. A dedicated terminal can still be the better operational choice for a busy counter.
The published fees by card category
For in-person payments below £10,000 monthly turnover, the official UK price page listed:
For online payments it listed 1.30% plus 15p for domestic consumer cards, 2.50% plus 15p for Amex, and 2.90% plus 15p for other consumer and commercial cards. Mail order and telephone order payments cost the online fee plus 0.5%.
The important word is “from”. A shop serving mostly local consumers could be close to the domestic rate. A hotel, business-to-business supplier or tourist venue may see a much higher blended result.
Worked cost example: neighbourhood café
Assume a café takes £8,000 a month across 800 in-person payments, all on UK consumer cards. The average card ticket is £10.
- Percentage fee: £8,000 x 1.10% = £88
- Fixed fee: 800 x £0.07 = £56
- Total processing fee: £144 a month
- Effective rate: 1.80%
The 1.10% headline is not the café's effective rate because the fixed 7p is material on small tickets.
If the same £8,000 came from 200 payments averaging £40, the fixed fees would be £14 and the total would be £102, an effective rate of about 1.28%. The provider has not changed. Basket size has.
Hardware is separate. At £39 excluding VAT, the Go 2 costs £46.80 including 20% VAT if the business cannot reclaim it. VAT-registered businesses normally focus on the ex-VAT business cost while accounting for VAT in the usual way.
Worked mixed-card example: city hotel desk
Assume £12,000 across 300 payments, with 65% domestic consumer cards, 15% EEA consumer cards, 10% Amex and 10% other or commercial cards. Because turnover is over £10,000, the hotel should request custom pricing. To understand the public tariff as a benchmark:
- Domestic: £7,800 x 1.10% = £85.80
- EEA: £1,800 x 2.20% = £39.60
- Amex: £1,200 x 2.45% = £29.40
- Other/commercial: £1,200 x 2.85% = £34.20
- Fixed fees: 300 x 7p = £21
Total illustrative processing cost is £210, or 1.75% of turnover. A flat 1.69% provider would cost about £202.80 before any monthly or hardware fee. The right answer depends on the exact alternative and the value of myPOS settlement and connectivity.
Instant settlement is not the same as a bank payout
myPOS says accepted funds reach the myPOS merchant account in seconds and provides a dedicated IBAN plus a business Mastercard. That is fast access inside the myPOS setup.
Map your actual cash routine:
- Card sale is credited to the myPOS account.
- The business can spend with the myPOS card or initiate a bank transfer.
- External transfer timing and charges may apply according to the account tariff.
- Your accounting system must reconcile sales, fees, card spending and transfers.
A mobile mechanic buying parts with the supplied card may value this highly. A company whose direct debits, payroll and tax payments all leave another bank may prefer automatic settlement there. Download the complete account tariff and test one transfer before moving all sales.
Online payments and one-provider convenience
myPOS also offers online checkout, payment requests, payment links and a virtual terminal. Combining channels can simplify onboarding, but do not assume the fee or risk is the same as card-present trade.
For a £50 domestic consumer online payment, 1.30% plus 15p equals 80p. The same card in person at 1.10% plus 7p would cost 62p. That 18p difference reflects the channel and fixed charge. International or commercial cards increase the gap.
Use payment links for a genuine remote sale, not as a way to key card details into an in-person transaction. Keep evidence of customer authorisation, delivery and refund terms because card-not-present disputes can be harder to defend.
Connectivity, resilience and receipts
The included SIM removes dependence on a phone hotspot. It does not guarantee coverage everywhere. Test the networks at the actual stall, basement treatment room or rural venue.
Ask these operational questions before relying on one device:
- Does the terminal fail over between Wi-Fi and mobile data automatically?
- Can staff see which connection is active?
- Are digital receipts enough for your customers?
- How long does replacement take?
- Can a second device share the same account and staff setup?
- What is the offline policy, transaction limit and merchant risk?
For events, carry a charged backup and a documented fallback. A low device price does not compensate for a queue that cannot pay.
Comparing myPOS with alternatives
SumUp
SumUp uses a simple pay-as-you-go model and can suit traders who want an easy reader without adopting an e-money account as the main destination for sales. Compare current hardware, rate and bank payout timing.
Square
Square combines readers with broader POS and online software. It can be stronger when product management, appointments or a till workflow matters more than the lowest domestic-card percentage.
Contract terminal provider
A quote-led merchant account may beat the public tariff at steady volume, especially with many small transactions or more expensive card categories. Include rental, PCI charges, authorisation fees, minimums and exit costs.
