Top Card and Contactless Readers for UK Small Businesses (Fees, Features & Reviews) – Small Business UK
Our market research has determined that the best overall card reader for UK small businesses is the Square Reader. With its low one-off hardware cost, no monthly fees, and lightweight, portable model, the Square Reader is ideal for small businesses and sole traders. What’s more, additional features are available through Square’s Free plan.
The card machine with the lowest transaction fees is the Tide Card Reader Plus. However, these rates are only available with a subscription fee and requires opening a Tide business bank account.
Key Takeaways:
- Best overall card reader for small businesses – Square
- Best low-cost option – SumUp
- Best for a high volume of transactions – WorldPay
- Lowest transaction fee per in-person transaction – Tide
- Typical cost of card readers – between £19 and £159
- Typical transaction fees – 0.79% +3p to 1.75%
Choosing the right card reader is an important decision for your business. While it may be tempting to choose the cheapest one-off hardware cost, or the provider with the lowest transaction fees, there are other considerations to take into account. Think about whether the card reader is only available if you open a business bank account with the provider, for example, or the length of the contract.
Card Reader Comparison Table
| Cost | Domestic In-person Transaction Fee | Contract Length | Next Day Settlement? | Best for | |
| Square Reader | £19 + VAT | 1.75% | None | Yes | SMEs looking for broad solution |
| Tide Card Reader Plus | £199 + VAT | 0.79% + 3p | None | Yes – at £2.99 + VAT per month | Low transaction fees |
| WorldPay | £22.50/month | 1.50% | 18-months | Yes | High volume of transactions |
| Takepayments | Request a quote | Request a quote | Yes | Businesses taking cash and card | |
| SumUp | £25 + VAT | 1.69% | N | Yes | Sole traders on the move |
| Revolut Business | £129 + VAT and minimum £10/month for Revolut Business account | 0.8% + 2p | None | Yes | Existing Revolut Business users |
| Clover | Request a quote | Up to 1.49% | Short-term | Yes | Cafes, pubs and restaurants |
The 7 Best Card Machines Reviews
Square Reader – Best Overall Provider
At £19 + VAT, the Square Reader is among the cheapest one-off card reader providers in the UK market, making it ideal for businesses looking for a budget-friendly option. Its transaction fees (1.75% per in-person transaction) are slightly more expensive than other providers, but additional benefits as part of the Square Free plan arguably off-set these recurring charges.
With Square, you can add invoicing for free as part of your plan, meaning if your client doesn’t have a card on them, you can quickly send them an invoice via email or SMS.
In addition to this, as part of the Free plan you can create a custom online booking website, as well as integrate a Book Now button to your Facebook profile, Instagram account and Google Business profile.
Key Features:
- Cost: £19 + VAT
- In-person Transaction Fees: 1.75%
- Dimensions: 6.6 x 6.6 x 1.0cm
- Weight: ~56gm
- Accepts: Contactless, chip + pin, and digital wallets
- Next day settlement
- Bluetooth enabled
- Wi-Fi and 4G connectivity
- Two year warranty
- Trustpilot rating: 4.2/5 (3,562 reviews)
As one of the lightest carders on the UK market, the Square Reader is ideal for sole traders on the move looking to be able to take payments quickly.
Pros:
- Cheap one-time purchase cost
- Variety of benefits with Square Free Plan
- Portable and lightweight device
- Battery lasts all day
- Can take payments for up to 24 hours without an internet connection*
Cons:
- Device liable to get lost due to size
- Upper end of in-person transaction fees
*Terms and conditions apply
Tide Card Reader Plus – Lowest Transaction Fees
The Tide Card Reader Plus is ideal for small businesses looking for a holistic solution to receiving in-person card payments.
The Tide Card Reader Plus (and its cheaper alternative, the Tide Card Reader) is only compatible with a Tide Business Account, meaning you will need to open a business bank account with Tide to use their card reader.
This may not be suitable for businesses that aren’t looking to switch business bank accounts, however there are several advantages to opening a Tide business bank account. It’s free – as long as you choose the Tide Free Business Account – making it one of the few free business bank accounts. It also includes a linked Instant Saver account (up to 2.27% AER), free Making Tax Digital tools, and the ability to send three free invoices per month.
Key Features:
- Cost: £199 + VAT
- Dimensions: 20 x 7.8 x 5.6cm
- Weight: 495g
- Accepts: Contactless, chip + pin, and digital wallets
- Wi-Fi and 4G connectivity
- Card reader transaction fees: 0.79% + 3p*
- Next day settlement**
- Trustpilot rating: 4.4/5 (32,824 reviews)
*With subscription to Tide’s Sell In-Person.
**Additional £2.99 + VAT per month
If portability and size are a key consideration, the Tide Card Reader Plus is a bit on the clunky side. You may be better off going for Tide’s more lightweight option, the Tide Card Reader.
Use code TIDEZERO for £200 cashback and 3 months of fee-free domestic card payments.
Pros:
- All-in-one business bank account, merchant account, accountancy software, invoicing, and card reader provider
- WiFi and 4G connectivity
- Can print paper receipts
Cons:
- One of the heavier models on the market
- Requires Sell in-Person subscription to unlock lower transaction fees
- Next day settlement is an additional cost
WorldPay – Best for Businesses with High Volume of Transactions
If you are looking to rent a card reader, WorldPay is a budget-friendly option for small businesses. The DX4000 countertop model and DX8000 portable model are sleek card readers, and both accept a wide range of payments, including contactless, chip + pin, and digital wallets.
WorldPay may be best suited for businesses with a high volume of transactions, as to qualify for the free rental offer for the first 12 months of the 18 month contract*, you will need to have a minimum transactions of £10,000 over a continuous 180-day period (for one terminal).
With a 1.50% transaction fee as part of the Simplicity pricing tariff, WorldPay ranks as a middling option in terms of cost-per-transaction.
*Available until June 2026
Key Features:
- Cost: £22.50 per month (after twelve month £0pm offer ends)
- Dimensions: not specified
- Weight: not specified
- Accepts: Contactless, chip + pin, and digital wallets
- Wi-Fi (& 4G connectivity for DX4000 countertop)
- 1.50% transaction fee
- Trustpilot rating: 4.3/5 (9,872 reviews)
Pros:
- No joining fee
- Next day terminal replacement
- No authorisation fee
- Next business day settlement
- 24/7, 365 customer support
Cons:
- You will need to sign up to a minimum 18 month contract
- Free rental offer only applies for first 12 months
- Minimum transaction of £10,000 over a continuous 180-day period for one terminal
- The benefits of WorldPay are more apparent when accepting global payments online
Takepayments – Best for Businesses that Accept Cash and Card
It might seem strange for a card reader to be able to accept cash and card, but Takepayments Plus allows you to take both, making it an ideal choice for cafes, restaurants, and bars looking to make reconciliation easier.
You will be tied to a twelve month contract, which may put off some businesses who don’t want to commit to a provider.
Takepayments are the highest rated provider on Trustpilot, with reviewers praising staff for excellent customer service and helpfulness.
Key Features:
- Cost: request quote
- Transaction fees: bespoke – request quote
- Detailed breakdown of transactions on device
- Ability to take cash and card
- Easy set-up
- Next day settlement
- Trustpilot rating: 4.9/5 (64,819 reviews)
Takepayments also offer POS terminals for hospitality and retail, with prices starting at £45 per month.
Pros:
- Highest volume of 4* and 5* reviews on Trustpilot compared to other card payment providers
- 24/7 customer support
- User-friendly interface
Cons:
- Pricing only available by quote
- Tied to a twelve month contract
- Early termination equivalent to remaining time left on the contract
Are you looking for a Point of Sale (POS) provider? Check out our guide to POS systems: The essential guide to point of sale (POS) systems
SumUp Solo Lite – Best Budget Option
If you’re a sole trader looking for a budget-friendly, portable card reader, SumUp’s Solo Lite is a simple, reliable card reader that pairs with the SumUp mobile app.
With a one-time cost of £25 + VAT, no monthly fees, and 1.69% transaction fees, SumUp’s Solo Lite is a market-leader for value-for-money.
Key Features:
- Cost: £25 one-time purchase
- Transaction fees: 1.69%
- Dimensions: 8.3 x 8.3 x 1.7cm
- Weight: ~126gm
- Accepts: Contactless, chip + pin, and digital wallets
- Next day settlements by 7am
- Built-in sim card
- WiFi and mobile data connectivity
- Trustpilot score: 4.1/5 (40,899 reviews)
While the device is pocket-sized, this does make it liable to get lost when on the move.
Pros:
- One-off payment, no monthly fees
- Portable and lightweight
- Connects to most UK business bank accounts
Cons:
- If you make more than £3,000 in card payments, lower transaction fees only available with £19 monthly fee
- If you only accept contactless payments, SumUp’s free Tap to Pay may be a more suitable option
Revolut Lite Terminal – Best for Existing Revolut Business Users
If you are an existing Revolut Business user, the Revolut Lite Terminal is a simple solution to accepting in-person payments.
The one-off hardware cost is slightly expensive at £129 + VAT, but this is offset by the low domestic transaction fees (0.8% + £0.02) and 24-hour settlement, even on weekends.
If you are on the move, Revolut Business’s Tap to Pay on iPhone can allow you to accept contactless payments with no hardware costs.
Key Features:
- Cost: £129 one-time hardware purchase
- Transaction fees: 0.8% + 2p
- Dimensions: Not specified
- Weight: Not specified
- Accepts: Contactless, chip + pin, and digital wallets
- Next day settlements even on weekends
- WiFi and mobile data connectivity (2G, 3G and 4G)
- Trustpilot rating: 4.7/5 (381,047 reviews)
With 2G, 3G and 4G connectivity, the Revolut Lite Terminal is a reliable card reader for businesses in rural areas.
Pros:
- Low domestic transaction fees
- Next day settlements on weekends
- Reduced transaction fees from Revolut Pay accounts (0.5%)
Cons:
- Only available with a Revolut Business account (starting at £10/month)
- High one-off hardware purchase cost
Right now, you can receive £100 welcome bonus by signing up to Revolut Business via Small Business. To receive the £100 you must onboard via the link below. Offer ends 31/12/2026. Fees, promotional terms, and T&Cs apply.
Get started with Revolut Business
Clover Flex – Best for Service Industry
The Clover Flex is a compact, reliable handheld device helps track your sales, manage inventory and track shifts with the cloud-based Clover dashboard. This makes it ideal for service industry businesses, such as cafes, pubs and restaurants that value mobile, all-in-one payment solutions.
Clover may not be the most budget-friendly option as it charges a monthly £9.99 service fee alongside the one-off hardware cost, determined by a bespoke package after enquiry.
Key Features:
- Cost: Bespoke quote + £9.99 monthly service fee
- Transaction fees: Up to 1.49%
- Dimensions: Not specified
- Weight: Not specified
- Accepts: Contactless, chip + pin, and digital wallets
- Next day settlements
- Manage inventory on the device
- WiFi and mobile connectivity
- Trustpilot rating: 4.6/5 (2,614 reviews)
Clover are noted for their excellent customer support, which may make them a good option for new businesses unfamiliar with setting up card readers.
Pros:
- No minimum monthly charges for transactions
- Real-time reports and analytics
- No hidden fees
- 8-hour battery life
Cons:
- Hardware cost only available upon enquiry
- Monthly service charge
What is the best card reader for UK small businesses?
For its low one-off cost, portability, and additional features as part of the Free plan, including invoicing, custom booking website, and Book Now integration on social media platforms, the Square Reader is the Smallbusiness.co.uk best overall card reader.
How much do card readers cost?
Prices vary from £19 + VAT to £199 + VAT.
How to choose the best card reader for your business
There are a number of factors that determine which card reader is best for your business:
- Fees and pricing
- Transaction volume
- Settlement speed
- Contract length
- Payment method and card type
- Business type and location
- Connectivity options
- Additional benefits with the provider (such as invoicing or a business bank account)
What are the different types of card reader?
- Portable readers
- Integrated POS terminals
- Magstripe readers
- Contactless readers
Want to learn more about card readers?
