Compare Card Machines in the United Kingdom

Card machine costs vary by provider. Pay-as-you-go readers have no monthly fee: Square's hardware runs Reader £19 / Stand £99 / Terminal £149 / Register £699 (excl VAT), and Zettle's runs First reader £29 / extra £69 (excl VAT). Providers with monthly plans typically charge From £15/mo (incl terminal) (Elavon) to ~£50+/mo (Paymentsense) including terminal rental. Transaction rates range from 0.99% for mid-volume merchants on Elavon's plan to 1.75% on flat-rate providers. Always add up the transaction rate, monthly fee, per-transaction fee, and any PCI or service charges to get your true monthly cost.

SumUp (1.69%), Zettle (1.75%), Square (1.75%), myPOS (1.10% + 7p), and Stripe (1.4% + 10p) all have no monthly fee on their standard plans. You pay only per transaction. Providers with monthly fees such as Elavon, Dojo, TYL by NatWest, and Paymentsense bundle terminal rental or plan features into the fee, which can work out cheaper at higher volumes.

No, for many card machine providers. SumUp, Zettle, Square, myPOS, and Stripe all operate on a pay-as-you-go, no-contract basis. However, Worldpay requires an 18-month contract, Takepayments requires 12 months, Elavon typically requires 12 months, and TYL by NatWest runs on a 12-month term. Dojo offers both a 12-month Fix plan and a rolling 30-day Flex plan. Always check the contract length and any early-termination fee before signing.

Most major providers accept Amex, including SumUp, Zettle, Square, Stripe, myPOS (at 2.45% + 7p (in-person)), Dojo (Go plan), TYL by NatWest (on request), Elavon, Takepayments, Teya, and Barclaycard (Touch and Flex plans). Paymentsense does not advertise Amex acceptance. The Barclaycard Anywhere reader specifically excludes Amex. Always confirm Amex acceptance and any rate difference before choosing a provider.

Most providers settle the next business day: Square, SumUp, TYL by NatWest, Paymentsense, Takepayments, Worldpay, and Barclaycard (to Barclays accounts). Dojo settles by 10am the next business day. Zettle pays to a PayPal balance in minutes (some accounts 1 to 2 days). Stripe settles in T+3 days standard (T+7 for new accounts) with instant payouts at 1% min 40p. myPOS offers instant settlement in around 3 seconds to a built-in myPOS account; bank transfers incur £1.50 (bank transfer). Teya settles by 9am the next day including weekends.

PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) compliance is a security framework required for all businesses that accept card payments. Some providers include PCI compliance support at no extra cost: Dojo (Included (non-compliance £15+VAT/mo)), Elavon (Included (£60k breach protection)), Stripe (Included free (E2EE)), and TYL by NatWest (Included free (E2EE)). Paymentsense charges £4.95+VAT/mo (separate) for PCI. Worldpay charges ~£5/mo (not included). Teya PCI compliance: Included free. Always confirm your PCI obligations with your provider.

For small businesses with standard UK card volumes, myPOS at 1.10% + 7p per transaction with no monthly fee is typically the cheapest transparent option. At £15,000/month with an average £20 transaction, myPOS costs around £218/month. SumUp (1.69%) costs around £254/month, Zettle and Square (both 1.75%) around £263/month, and Stripe (1.4% + 10p) around £285/month at those volumes. Quote providers may be cheaper at higher volumes. Use the calculator above to compare your exact scenario.

Some providers do not require a business bank account. myPOS includes a built-in business account that receives settlement instantly. Zettle settles to a PayPal balance rather than a bank account. Square and SumUp can settle to a personal or business bank account. Most traditional providers such as Worldpay, Barclaycard, Takepayments, and TYL by NatWest typically require a business bank account for settlement.