According to UK Finance, if you need more proof of the critical nature of card payment machines for small businesses, consider this: cash will account for barely 17% of all payments in 2020.
Without a card payment terminal in an increasingly cashless environment, you risk losing sales.
There are several card readers geared at small companies on the market today, and the majority support chip and pin, contactless, and mobile payments.
However, some will be more or less fit for your company than others due to variances in features, fees, and upfront expenditures.
This article will dissect the hardware and functionality of the ten finest card payment machines for small businesses to assist you in selecting the correct one for your needs.
Card payment machines
- SumUp Air
- Zettle Reader 2
- Square Reader
- MyPOS Go
- Dojo Go
- Barclaycard Anywhere
- TakePayments
- Tyl (by Natwest)
- Paymentsense
- Shopify WisePad Reader 3
Cost of the device
Card readers for mobile devices typically cost between £15 and £30, whereas countertop card readers cost between £150 and £200.
You may purchase the equipment entirely or rent it every month. This varies by provider.
Fees
Your card payment provider deducts transaction fees as a percentage of each payment made using your card machine. They generally range between 1.5 and 2% of the transaction’s value.
Therefore, if a consumer purchases a $25 item and your transaction fee is 1.75 percent, your card payment provider will charge you around 43p.
Additionally, card payment providers will promote the card, not present (CNP) transactions. A CNP transaction happens when neither the cardholder nor the card is present at the time of the transaction – for example, an online or phone payment or a recurring payment.
Fees for CNP services are typically approximately 2.5 percent. They are higher simply because there is a larger danger of fraud associated with these types of payments.
Card readers on a desk vs. portable vs. mobile
Card payment machines are classified into three types: countertop, portable, and mobile.
Countertop card machines are intended to be deployed at certain spots around your shop. Although they lack mobility, they are often rather dependable in connection. They work well for companies with a single payment point, such as a grocery store or small shop.
Portable card machines are battery-operated devices that connect to your site through WiFi to accept card payments. They are most appropriate for cafés and restaurants.
Mobile card readers are even tinier, battery-powered devices that accept card payments everywhere there is a GPRS (3G or 4G) connection. They often provide wireless connectivity as well. They’re ideal for pop-up stores, marketplaces, festivals, and street food vendors, among other applications.
This post will mostly discuss mobile card readers since they are the most economical and flexible option for expanding small enterprises.
The majority of the vendors listed below also offer various types of hardware, including charging docks, receipt printers, countertop systems, and tills.
While you just only the card payment device to begin accepting payments, these things enable you to expand your point of sale system as your company expands.
Machines for accepting credit cards – the possibilities
The ten-card payment machines listed below are excellent choices for small companies, providing minimal costs and a variety of functions.
SumUp Air Card Reader
| Device cost | £29 (£39 with charging dock) (excl. VAT) |
| Transaction fee | 1.69% |
| CNP fee | 2.5% |
| Key features | ● 500 transactions per charge ● Contactless & Chip & PIN ● Payments settled in 2-3 business days ● Accepts all major payment types including Google and Apple Pay, Amex and Diners Club, and contactless ● Email and SMS receipts |
This elegant and lightweight, portable card reader is now one of the most popular card readers for small companies due to its simplicity of use and portability.
It’s simple to install and begin using. All you need to do is pair the device with your smartphone to begin accepting contactless, Chip & Pin, and mobile payments from all major providers.
After that, you may use the SumUp Air everywhere there is Wifi or data coverage, and it can execute 500 transactions on a single charge – easily the greatest battery life on the market.
It’s also quite reasonable, with a one-time charge of only £29 and a flat 1.69 percent transaction fee. The one true disadvantage of SumUp Air is that payments might take up to 2-3 business days to settle in your account, which is much longer than the industry norm of roughly 1-2 days.
Additionally, you have access to a convenient app that includes a dashboard to see your product catalog, track sales, and send digital receipts.
Zettle Reader 2
| Device cost | £29 + VAT (charging dock £39) |
| Transaction fee | 1.75% |
| CNP fee | 2.5% |
| Key features | ● 8 hour battery life (100 transactions) ● Accepts all major payment types including Google and Apple Pay, Amex and Diners Club, and contactless ● Payments settled in 1-2 business days ● Email and SMS receipts |
The Zettle Reader 2 is another little (130g) gadget that connects quickly and easily with your Apple or Android smartphone.
It takes all major debit and credit card payment methods and has an impressive eight-hour battery life – however, this is only enough for around 100 transactions, compared to SumUp’s 500.
Where the Zettle Reader 2 stands out is in its emphasis on security. Zettle’s tamper-proof card reader, which the company claims are one of the safest on the market, complies with the highest industry standards and is completely secured using HSMs cryptographic servers.
And if you do notice a strange charge, Zettle’s transaction protection covers chargebacks up to £250 every month.
As with SumUp Air, there are no monthly fees; instead, you pay a flat cost per transaction, which is somewhat more than its competition at 1.75 percent.
Additionally, the quoted £29 discount applies only to your first read as a new business client. Additional devices will cost £59 each. Separately, the charging dock is available for £39 + VAT.
Square Reader
| Device cost | £16 + VAT |
| Transaction fee | 1.75% |
| CNP fee | 2.5% |
| Key features | ● All day battery ● Weighs just 56g ● Funds deposited the next business day |
The Square Reader is available for the most svelte, straightforward, and cheap card reader. This square-shaped gadget costs only £16, far less than rivals.
And with a weight of only 56g, it’s not just about the price. All you have to do is connect it over Bluetooth to your phone and begin selling. Then, using Square’s free app, you can track and control all of your sales. All money is deposited on the next business day.
Square also sells a variety of alternative payment kits that may be used to build a complete point-of-sale system, including terminals, registers, and other hardware and accessories.
While the transaction costs are not the lowest in the industry at 1.75 percent, you will struggle to find a more lightweight and cost-effective option to begin accepting payments.
MyPOS Go
| Device cost | £29 + VAT |
| Transaction fee | 1.10% + 7p |
| CNP fee | 1.30% + 10p to 2.90% + 20p (depending on card used) |
| Key features | ● Digital receipts via email or SMS ● Instant access to funds ● Accepts all major payment types including Google and Apple Pay, Amex and Diners Club, and contactless |
Although it lacks competitors’ elegant and attractive look, MyPOS Go is another very practical and tiny mobile card reader.As with the SumUp Air and Zettle 2, the gadget costs £29 + VAT, but its transaction charge of only 1.10 percent + 7p is much cheaper (depending on the amount taken).
The MyPOS Go card reader also provides several features that distinguish it from rivals. You get a free e-money merchant account, which includes dedicated international bank account numbers in 14 currencies, making international payments simple.
And, unlike with other providers, card payments are immediately credited to your account, and you have rapid access to money through your VISA Business Card.
Additionally, we like the multi-operator option, which enables you to monitor and divide gratuities based on individual staff performance.
Dojo Go
| Device cost | £20 per month |
| Transaction fee | Custom, based on business turnover |
| CNP fee | Contact provider |
| Key features | ● 10-hour battery life ● Accepts all major payment types including Google and Apple Pay, Amex and Diners Club, and contactless ● Payments settled by 10am the next working day |
Billed as the “ultimate all-rounder,” Dojo Go is a compact business card machine that doubles as a mobile (3G/4G) and portable (Wifi) device.
The primary selling point of Dojo Go is its speed: the business says that the gadget can process card payments in less than two seconds – 80 percent quicker than the industry norm. And with the Dojo Go app, you can keep track of all those payments in real-time.
The dojo is so confident in its product that it will cover your exit expenses up to the amount of £3,000 if you’re migrating from another supplier.
Additionally, we appreciate Dojo’s assistance and support, which is accessible 24 hours a day. And if you’re unable to resolve an issue over the phone, Dojo may remotely take over your smartphone to investigate.
All payments are made at 10 a.m. the next business day, which the company says is quicker than any other supplier.
At £20 per month and a transaction charge dependent on your business’s revenue, Dojo Go is a better fit for expanding small enterprises with consistently high monthly revenue.
Barclaycard Anywhere
| Device cost | £14.50 + VAT (normally £29 + VAT) |
| Transaction fee | 1.60% |
| CNP fee | 2.5% |
| Key features | ● Contactless and Chip & PIN ● Accepts most major payment providers including Google and Apple Pay (does not accept Amex or Diners Club) ● Payments settled in 1-2 working days ● Email and SMS receipts |
The Barclaycard Anywhere payment terminal is the cheapest major card payment terminal on the market and a serious competitor to SumUp and Zettle.
It’s half the price of the competitors mentioned above until 31 December, at £14.50, and costs only 1.60 percent for each transaction, the lowest rate of any major supplier.
You can monitor your inventory and sales using the company’s specialized app, which secures all payments and client data. However, it’s worth noting that the Anywhere app currently has a rating of 2/5 in the app store, with consumers complaining about problems, malfunctions, and connection issues.
Thus, the benefits include:
- A small and inexpensive card reader.
- Minimal transaction costs.
- Processing payments within 1-2 working days.
Unlike competitors, however, Barclaycard Anywhere requires applicants to through an online verification procedure before being authorized for a device, and it presently does not take American Express or Diners Card.
TakePayments
| Device cost | Monthly rental fee (prices available upon request) |
| Transaction fee | Custom, based on business turnover |
| CNP fee | Dependent on payment service provider |
| Key features | ● Short 12-month contract lengths ● No setup or exit fees ● Payments settled next working day ● Accepts all major payment types including Google and Apple Pay, Amex and Diners Club, and contactless |
TakePayments is a well-known manufacturer of card terminals and online payment systems. Its mobile card reader is compact and rugged, with a battery life of up to a day.
Unlike some of our other card payment machines, TakePayments customizes a package for your company based on its nature and anticipated or present revenue. This means you may be certain you’re paying a reasonable cost for your sales and not overpaying.
Another advantage of TakePayments is that its contracts are just 12 months long, instead of the 24 or even 36-month contracts offered by other suppliers. Additionally, there are no setup or termination costs.
Tyl (by NatWest) Clover Flex
| Device cost | £15.99 + VAT per month |
| Transaction fee | 0.2%-3.5% + 20p-40p dependent on sales volume |
| CNP fee | N/A |
| Key features | ● 12-month contract ● Payments settled within one business day ● Accepts all major payment types including Google and Apple Pay, Amex and Diners Club, and contactless |
Tyl’s Clover Flex card reader, which weighs 453 grams, is on the chunkier end of the mobile card reader market.
While it retains Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity, enabling it to be used anywhere, it is substantially heavier than the previous devices, impairing its mobility.
However, in this situation, more does equal more. Clover Flex is an all-in-one point-of-sale system that enables you to accept payments and run your company all from a single device, including inventory and customer management, itemized receipts, and more.
It has a respectable eight-hour battery life and a high-resolution 5-inch touchscreen that allows you to access several applications directly from the device. While having this capability in one location is convenient, we’d predict that most consumers don’t mind going to their phones for these tasks if it means having a smaller device.
Additionally, it is not the most cost-effective alternative for small firms. You’ll pay £15.99 per month before transaction costs are included. Additionally, the terminal is offered in combination with a merchant account, which may demand a four-year commitment and associated costs.
As a result, the Clover Flex is a better fit for bigger small enterprises with a high, steady sales volume.
Paymentsense
| Device cost | Prices available upon request |
| Transaction fee | Prices available upon request |
| CNP fee | Prices available upon request |
| Key features | ● Day-long charge ● Paid next working day ● Accepts all major payment types including Google and Apple Pay, Amex and Diners Club, and contactless |
Paymentsense is a well-established brand with over 70,000 consumers in the United Kingdom. It designs and manufactures rugged and effective mobile card readers.
Unlike most of its rivals, Paymentsense’s mobile devices only provide GPRS SIM connection and not Wi-Fi, which is sufficient for most consumers while out and about. It accepts all major credit cards and payment methods, and payments should be put in your account the next business day.
Paymentsense’s price is entirely customized for your company – how many devices you need, how many cards payment volumes you anticipate, and so on – and the only way to determine to price is to request a free, personalized estimate.
Shopify WisePad 3 Reader
| Device cost | £49 + VAT |
| Transaction fee | No transaction fee for Shopify Payments users |
| CNP fee | 2.5% |
| Key features | ● Fully integrated with Shopify POS ● Accepts all major payment types including Google and Apple Pay, Amex and Diners Club, and contactless |
Although offered only to Shopify customers, we believe it is worthwhile to showcase Shopify’s WisePad 3 Reader.
It’s compact (130 grams) and accepts all major credit cards and payment methods. To utilize Shopify Payments, you must activate it. Still, it is completely linked with Shopify POS and your online store, making it simple to construct a seamless and effective payment system.
The primary benefit of utilizing Shopify Payments is the absence of transaction fees. However, if you use another payment gateway, you will be charged 2%, 1%, or 0.50%, depending on your Shopify plan.
Which card payment device is the best?
You’ve either identified the card reader that’s appropriate for your company or been thrown into a loop by the bewildering array of card payment devices, pricing structures, and optional features.
If the latter is the case, have no fear. SumUp is our recommendation for the majority of small companies. It’s a reasonably priced gadget with one of the lowest transaction costs on the market, and since it’s a flat rate, the charge structure is predictable and clear. Additionally, we were delighted by its lengthy battery life, which allows for processing over 500 payments on a single charge.
MyPOS Go also stands out as an excellent alternative for small enterprises, in our opinion. Along with very low transaction costs, it has useful features such as multi-operator mode, making it an excellent option for cafés and restaurants. Additionally, the fact that cash is instantaneously accessible is fantastic.
We’ve chosen the machines above for their versatility, simplicity, and practicality, and each would be an excellent fit for your small company. Have fun selling.