7 best card machines and mobile card readers for small businesses

For UK retail and hospitality businesses, it’s more challenging than ever to keep costs down. There’s been a nasty recent mix of increased overheads, with rises to employer national insurance contributions, an increase to the UK minimum wage, and the background supply chain tensions brought about by Trump’s tariff trade wars. In this kind of environment, choosing the wrong equipment for taking and processing payments can make or break a business on fine margins.

Card machines can seem deceptively simple, but with wildly different card processing fees, contract lengths and ongoing costs, they’re an essential item to choose wisely in order to avoid further hurting your bottom line.

Using in-depth data and analysis from our dedicated research team, in conjunction with hands-on user testing, we determined takepaymentsplus as the best all-round card reader for small businesses. This was due to the ergonomic card reader which functions as a handheld POS, great features like extensive reporting, and its custom, quote-based transaction fees. But, there are others to consider, too:

The key factors you’ll need to consider when shopping for a card reader are: the price of the card machine itself, security features, how quickly it transfers money to your bank account, and the suitability of the card reader model for your environment.

We’ve put together a list of the top seven best card machines and readers to help your business flourish. In this expert guide, we’ll help you choose the best possible system for the size and needs of your own business.

Best card reader machine comparison table

Below, we’ve rounded up our top picks of the best card machines, with essential need-to-knows including key features, prices, and credit card transaction fees:

Swipe right to see more

0 out of 0

• backward
• forward

FEATURED PROVIDER	BEST OVERALL
Tide Card Reader Plus	takepaymentsplus	Barclaycard Smartpay Touch	Square Terminal	Zettle Reader 2	Clover Flex	SumUp Air
Best for Best for data and reporting	Best for All-round card reader	Best for If you’re already banking with Barclays	Best for Those who need an all-in-one solution	Best for A lightweight and simple reader	Best for Sleek, modern hardware	Best for A quick and easy setup
Card machine score 4.3	Card machine score 4.7	Card machine score 4.3	Card machine score 4.1	Card machine score 4.0	Card machine score 3.9	Card machine score 3.8
Lowest transaction fee 1.5% £200 cashback and no fees on payments of £10 or less with the code NY2025POS	Lowest transaction fee Quote-based	Lowest transaction fee 1.6% (but bespoke quotes are available for businesses with a high sales volume)	Lowest transaction fee 1.75%	Lowest transaction fee 1.75%	Lowest transaction fee 0.2%	Lowest transaction fee 1.69%
Monthly cost None	Monthly cost £25 + VAT	Monthly cost £29 + VAT	Monthly cost None	Monthly cost None	Monthly cost None	Monthly cost None
Payout time One to three business days	Payout time Next business day	Payout time One to two business days	Payout time One business day (barring Friday and Saturday)	Payout time One to two business days	Payout time One business day (with Clover’s “faster funding”)	Payout time One to three business days (barring Friday and Saturday)
Contract length No contract required	Contract length One month minimum	Contract length 12 months	Contract length No contract required	Contract length No contract required	Contract length No contract required	Contract length No contract required

Use our comparison tool to find the best card reader fees Compare Costs

1. takepaymentsplus: best all-round card reader

Simple to use and the best all rounder

takepayments has some of the lowest card transaction fees around, but you'll need to get a quote on fees for your exact business requirements

Compare Costs

When we tested the takepaymentsplus card machine, we found it to be extremely ergonomic and easy to handle. Source: Startups.co.uk

The cost

takepayments stands out from its competitors by offering bespoke transaction fees – as opposed to a standard fee – based on your business’ turnover and the kind of transactions you’ll be accepting. This will be hugely beneficial if you want more control over your spending.

You’ll have to keep in mind, though, that takepayments charges £25 per month. To put this into context, only one other card reader provider on this list, Barclaycard, charges a monthly fee and it’s £29 per month. Although, if you can negotiate good transaction fees, it might be worth paying the monthly costs.

The strengths

The takepaymentsplus card machine immediately stood out to us as light and easy to handle, especially compared to options like the beefier Tide Card Reader Plus. This makes the takepayments plus ideal for wait staff to carry around a busy cafe all day. Restaurant and bar staff will also appreciate the gratuity feature, which makes adding tips a breeze.

Merchants can easily access in-depth reports straight from the card machine. Making quick adjustments on the fly was fast and painless – issuing a refund in particular stood out as really easy. Essentially, it’s a fully-integrated POS (point of sale) system you can fit in the palm of your hand.

Another key strength of takepayments is the lightning fast next business day payouts. It’s the only card machine on this roundup that offers payout times that fast. In fact, takepayments performed so well in our testing that we’ve also ranked it as the best merchant service provider and the best payment gateway provider.

Security

• takepayments is PCI compliant and has an ISO 27001 certificate.
• takepayments offers a Security+ package, which includes a quarterly secure transactions review. You’ll also receive cyber security updates directly to your inbox.

Help and support options

• You can get user support via phone, email, live chat and a knowledge centre.
• The live chat function is available from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
• Phone support is available from 8am to 7pm on weekdays, 8am to 6pm on Saturdays, and 9am to 10pm on Sundays.
• When we tested the knowledge centre with five different questions, we found the results to be consistently accurate and helpful.

Are there any limitations?

We came across some small user issues during testing, including difficulty in printing off reports. But the key thing to be aware of is that this card reader is leased on a monthly basis. If you’re trying to avoid monthly outgoings and own your card machine outright, take a look at the Clover Flex instead.

Read more: go into more detail with our full takepayments review.

What our researchers think

I loved the takepayments plus card reader. It was super lightweight which made it easy to carry round and serve customers and with the built-in printer I could do everything portably. This is perfect for any sector and can be used with their countertop POS system too!

Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive

2. Barclaycard Smartpay Touch: best for businesses who bank with Barclays

Great for Barclaycard business account holders

Barclaycard Smartpay has transaction fees of just 1.6%, though you can get direct quotes to see if you can reduce these

Compare Costs

The Barclaycard Smartpay Touch is a handheld POS system that can last all day from a single charge. Source: barclaycard.co.uk

The cost

For newer businesses that are taking mostly low-value transactions, Barclaycard starts its processing fees at a pretty reasonable 1.6% per transaction, which is on the lower end of average.

You do need to bank with Barclays in order to use its card machines. However, if you want to switch over from your current bank, Barclays can offer up to a maximum of £3,000 to assist with any exit fees you’ll incur from the move.

The strengths

If you’re already banking with Barclays, this card reader is a no-brainer. The Smartpay Touch can also accept credit and debit card payments using a connected smartphone or tablet’s 4G mobile data, making it a good fit if for businesses on the move, like food trucks and pop ups for example. It can also last all day on a single charge!

It’s also suitable for the food and beverage industry, as it functions as a fully integrated handheld POS system. We particularly liked its ability to distinguish between different courses: separating starters, mains and snacks into separate areas on the interface, for quick and easy order-taking.

Security

• Barclaycard is PCI compliant and has an ISO 27001 certificate.
• Barclaycard provides round the clock, active 24/7 monitoring to spot any fraudulent activity, giving you peace of mind that your payments are secure. This can take the stress out of high value transactions, like jewellery or vehicles.

Help and support options

• You can get user support via phone, email, and a knowledge centre.
• Barclaycard’s general phone support is available 24/7. Phone support specifically for help with taking payments is available Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
• We tested Barclaycard’s knowledge centre with five test queries, and we found that it was able to consistently provide the correct information.

Are there any limitations?

We found the inventory function to be time-consuming, and the overall responsiveness wasn’t as fast when compared against Clover. If you’re operating in a fast-paced, high pressure environment, this might not be the best option for you. Its lack of a more advanced offline functionality was also a miss for us, which the Clover Flex can provide instead.

What our researchers think

I was a huge fan of the Barclaycard device thanks to its capacity as a miniature POS device. As well as this, the device itself was lightweight and easy to hold in the hand, which meant I could use this on the go all day.

Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive

3. Tide Card Reader Plus: best for detailed reporting

Some of the lowest card transaction fees around

Tide offers transaction fees from just 1.5%, and £200 cashback and no fees on payments of £10 or less with the code NY2025POS

Compare Costs

The cost

Tide offers a free plan to help you get started without any upfront costs, and when processing payments, it only charges a 1.5% transaction fee. This is at the cheaper end of the spectrum, and so if you’re particularly budget-conscious, Tide’s certainly worthy of your attention. 

The strengths

A major strength of the Tide Card Reader Plus is the extensive dashboard and advanced reporting tools. So if you want to prioritise actionable, in-depth data, then the Tide Card Reader Plus will be the card machine for you.

In terms of usability, we found the Tide Card Reader Plus to be highly intuitive and user-friendly. Actions like charging customers and inputting costs were fast and easy.

Another major strength of the card machine is its stripped down simplicity. If you want a minimalist card reader that isn’t cluttered up with an overly complicated interface, and also won’t lock you into monthly fees, this card reader is a strong and simple option.

Security

• Tide is PCI compliant and has an ISO 27001 certificate.
• Tide’s card readers are built with what the company calls “tamper-proof designs”, and are compliant with anti-fraud security measures.
• Tide also provides a Fraud Rapid Response team, which is available 24/7.

Help and support options

• You can get user support via phone, email, live chat and a knowledge centre.
• Tide’s support is available 24/7.
• At the time of our testing, Tide did not have a specific knowledge centre where you could type in queries to find answers. It does have a “Help Centre” though, where you can find step-by-step guides and video tutorials.

Are there any limitations?

We found that it was tricky to make quick adjustments once a price had been added (you have to cancel the transaction and start from scratch if you want to change the amount). If you’re working in a fast-paced environment, this is the type of design issue that could really slow you down. We’d recommend the Square Terminal as a faster alternative.

What our researchers think

I liked that it didn’t have any other apps to make the process harder and kept it simple. I also liked that they went for a dark mode theme throughout and this might suit bars and nightclubs well, so there isn’t a bright screen lighting up.

Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive

4. Square Terminal: best all-in-one solution

There's a reason you see Square everywhere

Square devices are loved by food and beverage and retail businesses, with a range of readers and low transaction fees

Compare Costs

We really loved the large display screen on the Square Terminal, and its modern interface. Source: Startups.co.uk

The cost

Square offers a free plan that comes with a 1.75% transaction fee. Fee-wise, this is roughly on par with Zettle by PayPal, but not quite as competitive as Barclaycard’s rates. Essentially, it’s about average, so you’re not getting a bad deal.

That said, you’ll want to take note that transactions that are manually keyed-in via the Square Point of Sale app will be subject to an aggressive 2.5% fee, so be careful not to get caught out by this.

The strengths

The Square Terminal’s sleek, modern interface, combined with some stellar hardware design, results in a first-rate card machine that’s quick to set up and simple to use. This user-friendly machine has a slight edge over competitors like the Clover Flex.

Overall, the Square Terminal is smooth to navigate around, and being able to make quick sales amendments on the fly is incredibly helpful. We loved how easy it was to switch back and forth from the price input screen to the product.

If you do come across any major issues when using the Square Terminal, you’ll have the peace of mind of Square’s 24/7 phone support.

Security

• Square is PCI compliant and has an ISO 27001 certificate.
• Square provides live transaction monitoring, giving you reassurance that fraud should be spotted.

Help and support options

• With Square you get an impressive range of user upport via phone, email, live chat, a knowledge centre, and even a forum you can use to talk with other merchants.
• Square’s customer support phoneline is available from 9am to 5pm on weekdays.
• When we tried out Square’s knowledge centre, it consistently provided the correct answers to our test queries. It provided helpful and accurate responses to three of our test questions within the very first article.

Are there any limitations?

While the Square Terminal can be carried around by staff, we did feel that its natural home is on the countertop rather than in hand, due to its shape.

We would have also liked to have seen Square include an option for using mobile data to take payments. If this is something you’ll need, take a look at the Barclaycard Smartpay Touch instead.

What our researchers think

I loved the Square Terminal as I think it can truly suit any business! The hardware itself is probably the most modern and sleek of any on the market and makes a great countertop device for any retail or food & drink business.

Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive

5. Zettle Reader 2: best for a lightweight, simple reader

Works with iPads and has a free plan

Whether you want to integrate with an existing POS system or use an iPad, Zettle has a range of options

Compare Costs

We really liked the haptic feedback provided by the buttons on the Zettle Reader 2. Source: Startups.co.uk

The cost

The standard 1.75% fee for credit or debit cards (and PayPal QR codes) is about average – but it’s not quite as affordable as SumUp or Square’s rates. Ultimately, if you think the Zettle Reader 2 is the perfect card reader for your business, the transaction fees shouldn’t be a deal breaker – but they’re nothing to write home about either.

The strengths

The Zettle Reader 2 pairs up with your smartphone, and you control it through its well-designed, extremely easy to navigate app – we managed to connect the Zettle app in less than a minute and we were ready to start taking payments. 

It can seamlessly link up to your PayPal account, which means you can input the amount you want to charge through either the reader’s app or the PayPal app.

The simple reader would be suited to smaller-scale setups like little coffee shops. Larger scale operations that need more advanced features, like printable receipts, might find that the the Square Terminal or Tide Card Reader Plus would be more suitable.

Security

• Zettle by PayPal is PCI compliant and has an ISO 27001 certificate.
• When it comes to fraud measures, Zettle by PayPal provides 24/7 transaction monitoring to give merchants peace of mind.

Help and support options

• Zettle provides user support via phone, email, live chat, and a knowledge centre.
• You can reach the phone support line between 8:30am and 5:30pm on weekdays.
• When we tested the knowledge centre, we found that most of the responses were helpful, with one or two exceptions: it was unable to provide any relevant information to at least one of our tests questions.

Are there any limitations?

We felt that the card reader might lack privacy when a customer is inputting their PIN information. If you’re dealing with an older clientele that might be more security conscious, this could be an issue for you.

What our researchers think

The Zettle Reader is a brilliant low cost choice and is especially great for businesses on the move or who don’t want to risk too much money at first.

Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive

6. Clover Flex: best for a sleek, modern card reader

Like a mini POS that can even work offline

The Clover reader is speedy and can even work when offline, though transaction fees are quotes-based

Compare Costs

We appreciated the glossy, professional look of the Clover Flex. Source: Startups.co.uk 

The cost

Clover provides a quote-based rate for transaction fees — what you’re charged will depend on your turnover, so you should always read your card machine service agreement with diligence before signing up.

The only other thing to keep in mind is the expensive price tag on the Clover Flex itself, which costs a pretty steep £450 — not ideal if you want to avoid large upfront costs.

The strengths

When testing the Clover Flex, we really felt confident using the highly responsive, advanced card reader. Our users also particularly liked the extra details, such as the satisfying sound effects that sound when you click on the reader.

The speedy payment processing is another key highlight of Clover’s, and the inventory management system makes it a good fit for the hospitality and retail sectors. Not to mention the detailed sales reporting.

It also offers a really useful automatic offline mode. This means you can still take payments even without an internet connection — a critical feature if your operating in areas with poor signal.

Security

• Clover is PCI compliant and has an ISO 27001 certificate.
• Clover uses EMV® 3DS to authenticate customers’ payments and prevent you from experiencing card-not-present fraud.

Help and support options

• Clover offers user support via phone, email, live chat and a knowledge centre.
• Clover’s dedicated technical support helpdesk is available from 8am to midnight, seven days a week.
• Overall we found the responses from Clover’s knowledge centre to be accurate, with only one exception: it was not able to provide any relevant articles for one of our test queries.

Are there any limitations?

It’s one of the larger devices we tested, so you’ll need to bear that in mind if your expecting your staff to carry it around with them all day.

Our users also felt that navigation could be tricky, as the homescreen had a cluttered look to it. The simpler SumUp Air is a better option for those who prefer a minimalist look.

What our researchers think

The Clover Flex is a sleek and modern bit of kit that doesn’t just act as a payment device but essentially as a mini POS. It’s quite a large device which will suit most but not all sellers, so that may be something to bear in mind, but if you want top of the range hardware, this is the one for you.

Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive

7. SumUp Air: best for a quick setup

One of the easiest card readers to set up

Be up and running effortlessly and take payments with a low transaction fee of 0.69%

Compare Costs

We were impressed by how fast and easy it was to setup the Sum Up Air and start taking payments. Source: Startups.co.uk

The cost

SumUp charges a flat 1.69% charge on all transactions. This is cheaper than Zettle by PayPal and Square’s transaction fees — which are already quite competitive — but not quite as cheap as Barclaycard’s, which makes it about average compared to the other readers available.

With this in mind, SumUp is a solid option if you’re looking to buy an inexpensive card reader outright, and avoid getting locked into monthly fees. You can read more in our full review of SumUp.

The strengths

The SumUp Air can easily sync up to your phone, connecting via Bluetooth, for a fast and easy setup. It meant that we could hit the ground running, fully charged and ready to start taking payments in under an hour. We liked that they haven’t overcomplicated it with a touchscreen, and as a result kept the price low.

We really appreciated how small and sleek this card machine is. The lightweight simplicity makes it a great fit for businesses on the go. The interface was modern and simple, especially when compared to more cluttered interfaces, like the Clover Flex’s.

SumUp’s bare bones approach might not be suited to everyone though, and if you think you’d prefer using a built-in touchscreen interface rather than a connected smartphone app, the takepaymentsplus or the Square Terminal might be more suited to your needs.

Security

• SumUp is PCI compliant and has an ISO 27001 certificate.
• SumUp protects against fraud by never storing sensitive data on any mobile device (such as your smartphone, tablet, or card reader).

Help and support options

• SumUp provides user support via phone, email, live chat, and a knowledge centre.
• SumUp’s phone support is available from 9am to 5pm on weekdays.
• We were reasonably impressed with SumUp’s knowledge centre, with most of the results to our test queries being helpful. For two of our test questions, it did provide a relevant article, but we had to scroll past the first few results to find it, as these weren’t accurate to what we’d asked.

Are there any limitations?

Just bear in mind that SumUp can take one to three business days to provide payouts, whereas the standard for many other providers is just one to two days. In addition to this, SumUp does not transfer funds on Fridays and Saturdays, which could be a real issue if your business takes a lot of payments leading up to the weekend.

Read more: SumUp vs Zettle, which provider came out on top in our head to head?

What our researchers think

The SumUp Air device is a great choice for businesses just starting out. It’s really small and lightweight, so you can easily pack it away if you’re on the move and connecting it to your phone is really simple too.

Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive

How we test card processing products and merchant services for small businesses

In July 2024, our dedicated research department carried out extensive testing on a total of 26 different card machines. They were evaluated on the criteria we deemed to be most useful and important to our readers, so we can most accurately recommend the right card machines to UK-based small businesses.

During the testing process, we conducted 45 tests over 22.5 hours in total, completing a total of 270 different tasks to thoroughly test out the card machines, how they work, and how easy they are to use.

Our testing categories for card machines are:

• Hardware: Evaluating the card machines’ charging power, receipt printing, connectivity, and interface.
• Software: Assessing suitability for POS integration, as well as how the card machine provider handles payouts, the data and reporting available, which payment types are accepted, what security measures are offered, and more.
• Help and support: Appraising the type, availability, and accuracy of the support the platform provides for its merchants.
• Pricing: Assessing the transaction fees, contract costs, monthly costs, and upfront fees that the card machine providers charge.

Buying guide: what to look for in a card machine

There’s a number of factors to consider before you start taking card payments. Here’s a rundown of the key considerations to make when choosing the right card machine for your business:

1. Compliance

Making sure you are fully compliant with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) and GDPR regulations is about as important as it gets for a merchant. So it’s critical that your chosen card machine provider adheres to PCI requirements to safeguard sensitive payment information.

All merchants, big or small, are required to adhere to PCI DSS standards, which are in place to ensure that all payment processing taking place is safe and secure, and both merchants and customers are protected.

It’s crucial to note that there are four different levels of PCI compliance. Your level is determined by how many transactions you are taking each year:

PCI compliance is a joint responsibility between you as the merchant and your payment processing provider. While most of the work of accessing and storing the customers sensitive payment information is done by the payment provider, it’s still your responsibility as the merchant to make sure this is being done correctly.

The penalty for a data breach could result in severe financial penalties and fines (as well as other consequences, like being moved up to compliance level 1, regardless of transaction volume) for your business, so making sure both you and your payment provider are adhering to the correct PCI DSS standards is absolutely critical.

2. Pricing

You can either buy a card reader in one upfront purchase, or lease it for a monthly charge. Just remember that a higher price tag doesn’t always indicate higher quality.

2. Transaction fees

Transaction fees are charged on every sale, and are a percentage of each transaction’s value. Cheaper fees tend to start at around 1.5%, while more expensive fees sit closer to 3% (some providers will enable you to negotiate rates, so do ask about this if it feels appropriate). Examine whether a provider’s fees are:

• Fixed = the same percentage per transaction no matter what
• Variable = changeable depending on the type of payment, for example credit or debit card
• Tiered or sliding = cheaper the higher your transaction volume

3. Monthly fees

Watch out for sneaky additional monthly charges, such as security licence fees or chargeback charges (a fee incurred when a customer disputes a transaction). Some providers also levy fees for hardware maintenance, customer support access, or software updates. Evaluate these costs against the services provided and ensure they align with your business’s needs.

4. Contract lengths

Assess contract lengths (they’re typically a minimum of one year) and termination clauses, as you might be charged if you leave your contract early. Finding a provider that offers maximum contract flexibility is key, especially if your business is seasonal or just starting out.

Other considerations when choosing a card reader:

• Battery life: for mobile or portable machines, longer battery life means fewer interruptions during transactions, and more satisfied customers
• Accepted payment types: ensure your machine supports major card networks (such as Visa and Mastercard) as well as alternative methods like Apple Pay or Google Pay
• Features: such as inventory management, gratuity allocation and advanced data reporting tools
• Integration capabilities: make sure the card reader you choose is fully compatible with your existing POS system, which can streamline your operation and enhance efficiency
• Support options: look for providers that offer reliable customer service, preferably with multiple channels of support
• Fund transfer times: certain platforms will offer next day payouts for your profits, whereas others may take up to three working days to clear

Summary: what you need to know

As a result of our rigorous testing process, we determined that the takepaymentsplus was the best overall card reader for small businesses. We based this decision on the light and easy to handle card reader, the custom transaction fees, and the detailed dashboard that provides insightful reporting.

However, there are other card reader options that might be suited to your specific requirements (for example, if your business is already banking with Barclays, the Smartpay Touch is an ideal solution) so make sure to check through all our recommendations.