The 6 best card machines and mobile card readers for small businesses

The takepaymentsplus is the best card machine for small businesses because it features an ergonomic design, fast next-day payouts, and bespoke transaction fees, according to our 22.5-hour, hands-on test of 18 devices.

Following the news from Wolters Kluwer’s 2026 Future Ready Business Report that UK SMEs are facing the highest cost pressures in Europe, it’s critical that merchants have a card machine that’s affordable and provides effective results.

You need to choose a chip and PIN machine with low processing fees, a flexible contract, and features that meet the demands of the current trading landscape. In this expert guide, we’ll help you choose the best card machine for your small business.

Which are the best card readers and machines for small businesses?

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		Card machine score	Best for	Hardware cost	Lowest transaction fee	Payout time	Contract length
FEATURED PROVIDER	BEST OVERALL
Tide Card Reader Plus	takepaymentsplus	Barclaycard Smartpay Touch	Square Terminal	Clover Flex	SumUp Air
4.3	4.7	4.3	4.1	3.9	3.8
Data and reporting	An all-round card reader	Barclays business customers	Flexibility and 0 monthly fees	Sleek, modern hardware	A cost-effective option
Tide Card Reader Plus – £199 + VAT	Quote-based	£29 + VAT per month rental fee	£149 + VAT	From £9.99 per month rental fee From £450 + VAT	£25+ VAT
Monthly Fee £0 to £24.99 Use code ZEROFEES for £200 cashback and 3 months of fee-free domestic card payments (under £10).	Quote-based	Quote-based	1.75%	1.49% (on an 18-month contract) (Quote-based for businesses with a card turnover exceeding £100k)	1.69%
One to three business days	Next business day	Next-day settlement	One business day (instant transfers available for a 1.5% fee)	One business day (with Clover’s “faster funding”)	One day
No contract required	12 months	12 months	No contract required	18-months	No contract required

Video: what you need to know about our top card machines

Here are the highlights and need-to-knows of our favourite readers in under three minutes:

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• Overall card machine rating: 4.7
• takepayments pricing: takepayment’s pricing is quote-based, but you will need to enter into a 12 month contract
• Connectivity: Wifi, mobile data, Bluetooth, and ethernet
• Payment speed: Next business day
• Our full takepayments review

The takepaymentsplus is our number one recommendation for a mobile card reader, as it’s a fully integrated POS (point of sale) system that can effectively handle your entire sales process, while still remaining lightweight and easy to use for waitstaff.

The takepaymentsplus comes with helpful, built-in features such as:

• In-depth reports that can be accessed directly from the device’s extensive dashboard
• The option to make quick adjustments on the fly, like issuing a refund
• A gratuity feature for easily adding tips
• Easily process both card and cash payments

How much does the takepaymentsplus cost?

takepayments offers fast next-business-day payouts at no extra cost and charges bespoke transaction fees, also making it the best merchant service provider for small businesses, as well as the best card reader.

How does the takepaymentsplus perform in hands-on testing?

We found that the takepaymentsplus is ergonomic and easy to handle, with a simple, clean-looking interface, making it a pleasure to use. We especially appreciated the “checkout-basket” style procedure for completing payments, rather than processing items in isolation.

When we tested the takepaymentsplus card machine, we found it to be feature-dense but still easy to handle. Source: Startups.co.uk

We encountered some minor issues during testing – for example, some of our users found it difficult to print reports, and there was no option for audio or haptic feedback (making it less suitable for merchants with impaired vision or hearing).

Expert Opinion: what our Senior Researcher thought...

I loved the takepaymentsplus card reader. It was super lightweight, which made it easy to carry around 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

What are takepayments’ help and support options?

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

Overall card machine rating: 4.3
Barclaycard pricing: £29 plus VAT monthly rental fee for the device, and quote-based transaction fees
Device connectivity: Wifi, Bluetooth, and mobile data
Payment speeds: payments are typically processed within one to two business days

The Barclaycard Smartpay Touch is the best choice for Barclaycard account holders, as it will seamlessly integrate with your existing bank account. If you’re a long-term Barclaycard account holder, this will also increase your chances of a favourable pricing plan.

The Smartpay Touch is a fully integrated POS system with a built-in receipt printer that can last all day on a single charge. It comes with a smart SIM included that can connect to wifi or a mobile data network to maximise your connectivity, making the Smartpay Touch a great option for on-the-go F&B businesses.

How much does the Barclaycard Smartpay Touch cost?

Contract length	12 months
Processing fee	Quote-based
Monthly fees	£29 + VAT per month (rental cost)
Card machine price	N/A, this is covered in the monthly fees
Setup fees	None
Free trial or plan	None

You’ll need to bank with Barclays to use its card machines, though Barclays can offer up to £3,000 to assist with any exit fees you’ll incur from switching from your current bank.

How does the Barclaycard Smartpay Touch perform in hands-on testing?

The Smartpay Touch is compact and easy to handle, and we particularly liked its ability to distinguish between courses, separating starters, mains, and snacks into distinct areas on the interface for quick and easy order-taking.

We liked that it had the ability to set up a float from the device, which can assist larger retailers with a more complex inventory. Source: Barclaycard.co.uk

Our testing found that this card machine is less suitable for a fast-paced environment as the inventory function can be time-consuming, so we’d suggest the Clover Flex as an alternative.

Expert Opinion: what our Senior Researcher thought...

I was a huge fan of the Barclaycard device thanks to its capacity as a miniature POS device. As well as this, the device 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

What are Barclaycard’s 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 for payment processing is available Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
• We tested Barclaycard’s knowledge centre with five test queries and found it consistently provided the correct information.

Overall card machine rating: 4.3
Tide pricing: Tide has a free plan, and offers transaction fees from just 0.69% and 3 months of fee-free domestic card payments (under £10) with the code ZEROFEES
Connectivity: Wifi, Bluetooth, and mobile data
Payment speeds: payments are typically processed within one to three business days

The Tide Card Reader Plus is the card reader with the best advanced reporting tools, which can provide you with actionable, in-depth data. You can view sales by employees, card types, or items, and you can receive alerts about low inventory, or find out your average order value.

Its Carbon Footprints feature also allows you to monitor carbon emissions connected with business transactions, helping to meet the UK’s net zero reporting expectations.

How much does the Tide Card Reader Plus cost?

Tide has a free plan, which allows merchants to get started without any upfront costs. You can also pay an additional £2.99 per month for next-day settlements (though this is something takepayments offers without extra charges).

How does the Tide Card Reader Plus perform in hands-on testing?

We appreciated the stripped-down simplicity of the Tide Card Reader Plus –  it doesn’t have an overly complicated interface (like the Clover Flex). We also liked the amount of visual feedback from the device, which is reassuring when inputting pricing or a customer PIN.

However, we found it frustrating that you have to cancel a payment entirely to correct a price, rather than having a simple edit function. The Square Terminal is more suitable to a fast-paced environment, based on our tests.

Expert Opinion: what our Senior Researcher thought...

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

What are Tide’s 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.

Overall card machine rating: 4.1
Square pricing: Square has a free plan with a 1.75% transaction fee, and the Square Terminal can be purchased for £149 plus VAT
Connectivity: Wifi, ethernet, and Bluetooth
Payment speeds: One business day 
Read our full Square review 

The Square Terminal is the best card machine for merchants who want to combine both in-store and online sales, thanks to the wider Square ecosystem which allows you to seamlessly connect Square Payments with Square Online (the ecommerce web builder).

We found the Square interface incredibly intuitive and by far the easiest to use. The Square Terminal is an excellent, all-in-one handheld POS system thanks to its integration with Square’s Point of Sale mobile app, which lets you access business management features such as sales summaries and inventory management.

How much does the Square Terminal cost?

Square offers a free plan that comes with a 1.75% transaction fee, which fits the industry average, so a good deal for a no-cost tier without a contract.

How does the Square Terminal perform in hands-on testing?

We found that the Square Terminal is quick to set up, simple to use, and great for fast paced environments such as a cafe with high foot traffic. We found it to be incredibly responsive, particularly compared to the Smartpay Touch and Clover Flex, with zero delay when inputting information.

We loved how easy it was to switch back and forth from the price input screen to the product on the Square Temrinal. Source: Startups.co.uk

We also appreciated the large 5.5-inch display on the Square Terminal, which made it easy for us to efficiently process payments in our test-run. However, we did find it less ergonomic than the takepaymentsplus, making it less suitable to have to carry around all day.

Expert Opinion: what our Senior Researcher thought...

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

What are Square’s help and support options?

• With Square, you get an impressive range of user support options, including phone, email, live chat, a knowledge centre, and a forum where you can talk with other merchants.
• Square Terminal users get access to 24/7 customer support.
• Square’s general customer support phone line is open from 9am to 5pm on weekdays.
• When we tested Square’s knowledge centre, it consistently provided the correct answers to our queries, with helpful, accurate responses to three of our test questions in the very first article.

Overall card machine rating: 3.9
Clover pricing: you can currently get a clover device for £9.99 plus VAT per month, with quote-based transaction fees (bespoke offers are also availble)
Device connectivity: Wifi and mobile data
Payment speeds: Standard payout time is one to three business days, but funds can be accessed immediately with Rapid Deposit (this will cost you 1.75% of the deposit amount)
The Startups guide to Clover

The Clover Flex has the best offline functionality of all the card machines we tested, as it can take offline payments for up to seven days, and the fully automatic synchronisation removes any frustration from uploading transactions. This is a critical feature if you’re operating in areas with poor signal.

The Clover Flex itself is an impressive piece of hardware which comes with a built-in thermal dot printer, barcode scanner, and also has advanced features that make it a good fit for both retail and hospitality, including:

• The built-in inventory management system
• Detailed sales reporting
• 24/7 sales tracking directly from the dashboard

How much does the Clover Flex cost?

From our own research, we found that Clover’s transaction fees can be as low as 0.2%, so it’s a good solution for more established businesses with a high average transaction volume, as they may be able to secure a good rate.

How does the Clover Flex perform in hands-on testing?

During our testing of the payment process, we found issuing refunds to be particularly easy with the Clover Flex because of the clearly labelled tab. We also loved the quick and easy charging of the Clover Flex thanks to the accompanying base unit.

We appreciated the large, bright screen on the Clover Flex, which makes it easy to input pricing and show customers their total. Source: Startups.co.uk 

The Clover Flex is one of the larger devices we tested, so it could be uncomfortable for your staff to carry around all day and they might prefer a smaller SumUp reader. We did also feel that navigation between selling and refunds could have been made slicker.

Expert Opinion: what our Senior Researcher thought...

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

What help and support options does Clover provide?

• 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; there was just one test query for which it couldn’t provide any relevant articles.

Overall card machine rating: 3.8
SumUp pricing: £25 plus VAT for the card reader, and 1.69% for the transaction fees
Connectivity: Wifi, mobile data, and Bluetooth
Payment speeds: payments are typically processed within one to three business days

SumUp offers the lowest-set transaction fees in our analysis at 1.69%, and is the cheapest card reader, making it the best-value option for new merchants.

Setup is also fast and easy, as SumUp seamlessly syncs with your phone via Bluetooth. We were fully charged and ready to start accepting payments within an hour.

How much does the SumUp Air cost?

Depending on how many transactions you’re taking a month, it could be worth upgrading to SumUp’s Payments Plus package (at £19 per month), which gives you 0.99% transaction fees. You can read more in our full review of SumUp.

How does the SumUp Air perform in hands-on testing?

We loved how small and sleek the SumUp Air is, and its lightweight simplicity makes it a great fit for mobile businesses. The interface is also simple and modern, especially when compared to more cluttered interfaces, like the Clover Flex’s.

We were impressed by how fast and easy it was to set up the SumUp Air and start taking payments. Source: Startups.co.uk

An issue we did have with the SumUp Air was the lack of a touchscreen, but that’s been addressed in the newer model, the SumUp Solo Lite which has larger touchscreen display.

Read more: SumUp vs Zettle: which provider is best?

Expert Opinion: what our Senior Researcher thought...

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

What help and support options does SumUp provide?

• 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; most of the results to our test queries were helpful. For two of our test questions, it provided a relevant article, however we had to scroll past the first few inaccurate results to find it.

Which type of card reader is right for my business?

All the card readers mentioned in this guide are excellent in their own way, but some are better suited to specific business types. Below, we’ve matched card machine types to business types to help you find the right fit for your company’s setup:

What should I look for in a card machine?

The key considerations to make when choosing a card machine are:

• Pricing model: you can either buy a card reader in a single upfront purchase or lease it for a monthly fee.
• Transaction fees: these will be charged with every transaction, so make sure your budget can accommodate them.
• 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: consider your business needs. Some machines include 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.
• Fund transfer times: some platforms offer next-day payouts for your profits, whereas others may take up to three working days to clear.
• Contract lengths: assess contract lengths (many providers don’t require contracts) and termination clauses, as you might be charged if you leave your contract early.
• PCI DSS compliance: your card machine provider should have solid compliance measures in place to protect sensitive data and maintain customer confidence, and ensure you avoid fines.

What is offline mode, and do I need it?

Offline mode allows card machines to accept a payment without an internet connection, with the card machine storing, rather than processing, the card details. When the card machine is connected again, it processes the details and completes the transaction.

Offline mode is particularly important for mobile businesses such as food trucks or tradespeople, since they’re more likely to conduct business in areas with poor or no reception.

While offline mode serves as a helpful backup, it also carries risks. If the card is declined when the machine has internet access, the transaction may fail. This can occur if a card has expired, or there are insufficient funds. Also, if you lose or damage your card reader before it can go online, the transaction may be permanently lost.

What’s a reasonable transaction fee?

Transaction fees are charged on every sale and are a percentage of each transaction’s value. In our market analysis, we found transaction fees typically range from 1.5% to 3%. For instance, SumUp and Square charge 1.69% and 1.75% respectively.

Keep in mind that some providers allow you to negotiate rates, so always check to secure the best deal. You can find more information, and a handy calculator, in our guide to UK credit card processing fees.

What hidden fees should I watch out for?

Watch out for sneaky additional monthly charges, such as security license fees, currency conversion, or chargebacks (a fee incurred when a customer disputes a transaction). Some providers also levy fees for PCI compliance.

Under the FCA’s Consumer Duty rules, providers are now required to demonstrate that their products offer genuine “fair value”. This means you should look for partners that don’t just promote “low rates” but instead offer transparent and measurable outcomes. If a provider cannot clearly explain why a fee exists, they may be failing to meet these standards.

What compliance regulations do I need to know about?

Making sure you are fully compliant with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) and GDPR regulations is about as important as it gets for a merchant, as it ensures all payment processing is safe and secure.

While the work of accessing and storing sensitive payment information is done by your payment provider, it’s your responsibility to make sure you’ve chosen a provider that does this properly. A data breach could result in severe financial penalties for your business, and you may be held to stricter compliance standards (such as compliance level 1 in the list below).

There are four different levels of PCI compliance, determined by how many transactions you take each year:

What do I need to apply for a card reader?

To lease or buy a card reader and start accepting payments, you’ll need the following:

• Registration as a sole trader, partnership, limited company, or charity
• A business bank account
• Proof of identity and business address
• Your business information or a business plan (such as your expected turnover, and details of the nature of your business)

You may also need to undergo a credit check or have an account with the provider – for instance, to get the Barclaycard Smartpay Touch, you’ll need a Barclays business bank account. Some providers may also prohibit certain business types (such as gambling or cryptocurrency).

Can I use a card reader with my personal bank account?

Most of the major card reader providers will require you to have a dedicated business bank account in order to connect a card terminal. While it’s possible that some of the pay-as-you-go providers might let you link a personal account, we would heavily advise against this.

Using a personal bank account will make tax transparency much more complicated. If HMRC decides for whatever reason to investigate you, then the lack of a dedicated business bank account will make your life much harder.

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

In July 2024, we undertook extensive testing on 18 different card machines. We conducted audience research to identify the key user priorities for a small business card machine.

We used these priorities to determine the criteria necessary to judge and rank the card machine providers, alongside our Senior Research Executive performing hands-on user testing of the devices.

We spent 22.5 hours conducting 45 test sessions, completing 270 tasks to thoroughly evaluate the card machines and assess their functionality and ease of use.

We had four testing categories in total to determine an unbiased ranking of the best card readers, with each testing criterion being given an appropriate weighting based on importance to a small business owner:

1. Pricing (35%): how much does a card reader cost?

We assessed the transaction fees, contract costs, monthly costs, and upfront fees that the card machine providers charge, as well as any free trial or plan offered.

2. Help and support (30%): what assistance will I get if my card reader has an issue?

We appraised the type, availability, and accuracy of the support the card machine provider has for its merchants.

3. Software (20%): what tools and features are available through my card reader?

We researched the suitability for POS integration, how quickly you’ll receive payouts, the data and reporting available, which payment types are accepted, what security measures are offered, if there’s an app as well the reader, and crucially: the offline functionality of the reader.

4. Hardware (15%): how functional and easy to use are the physical devices?

We performed hands-on testing of the actual device, evaluating the charging power, receipt printing, connectivity, and interface.

Summary: what’s the best card machine for small businesses?

Our hands-on testing found that the takepaymentsplus is the best overall card reader for small businesses, as it’s light and easy-to-handle, with custom transaction fees and a detailed dashboard with insightful reporting. Alternatively, if you need a cheap, contract-free reader that’s quick to set up, then we recommend SumUp.