This article was first published on The AI Till: https://theaitill.com/guides/best-card-readers-uk. Prices and details were checked on the dates shown.
For a tradesperson, a shop or a market stall, the right card reader is mostly about fees: what you pay for the device, the percentage on every payment, and any monthly charge. This guide compares seven readers sold in the UK using the prices on each provider's own pricing page, read on 15 October 2026. We don't take payment for placements; see how we make money.
What's the best card reader for a small business in the UK?
For most small businesses taking a few thousand pounds a month, SumUp pay-as-you-go or Square is the simplest choice: a cheap reader (£25 or £19 + VAT), no monthly fee and about 1.7% a payment. If you take more, a lower rate or a monthly plan can cost less, and if you work with no signal, pick a reader with its own SIM.
Which one is best depends on how you take payments:
- Cheapest to start: Tap to Pay on your own phone costs nothing for hardware with Square, SumUp and Zettle. Of the readers, Square Reader is £19 + VAT (on offer at £13.30 + VAT when we checked on 24 October 2026) and SumUp Solo Lite is £25.
- Lowest first-year cost at £2,000 a month: myPOS, at about £353 on our worked example below, then Tide pay-as-you-go (£409) if you already bank with Tide.
- No phone signal on site: myPOS terminals come with a free data SIM, and the PayPal (Zettle) Terminal connects over wifi or 4G.
- Steady counter takings: Dojo's 1.2% blended rate is lower than the pay-as-you-go readers, but the machine costs £179 or more.
- Over £3,000 a month by card: SumUp Payments Plus (0.99% plus £19 a month) beats SumUp's own 1.69% rate, and SumUp suggests it from £3,000.
Prices for SumUp, Square and Zettle were re-read on 24 October 2026; the others are from 15 and 18 October 2026.
The quick comparison
| Reader | Device price | In-person card fee | Monthly fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square | Square Reader £19 + VAT (on offer at £13.30 + VAT on 24 October 2026); Tap to Pay £0 | 1.75% (UK cards) | £0 on the free plan |
| SumUp | Solo Lite £25, Solo £79, Terminal £135 (excl. VAT); Tap to Pay £0 | 1.69% pay-as-you-go, or 0.99% on Payments Plus | £0, or £19 (£189 a year) for Payments Plus |
| Zettle (now PayPal Point of Sale) | PayPal Reader £29 excl. VAT for new users (extra readers £69); Terminal £149 excl. VAT | 1.75%, including American Express | £0, no contract |
| Dojo | Dojo Pocket £239; Dojo Wired £179 upfront | 1.2% blended below £100,000 a year of card turnover | Plus plan £25 a month per location (£11.99 new-customer offer) |
| myPOS | Go 2 £39, Flex £59, Ultra £179 (excl. VAT) | from 1.10% + 7p (varies by payment method) | £0 |
| Tide (Tide account only) | Card Reader £49, Nano £25 on pay-as-you-go; £29 to £39 and £11 to £15 on a plan (excl. VAT) | 1.5% + 5p pay-as-you-go; 0.89% + 3p Essential; 0.69% + 3p Premium (UK consumer debit) | £0, or £17.99 Essential, £19.99 Premium (12-month contract), excl. VAT |
| Revolut Business (Revolut account only) | Lite Terminal £129 + VAT; Terminal £169 + VAT; Tap to Pay on iPhone no hardware cost | 0.8% + 2p (UK consumer Visa and Mastercard); Amex 1.7% + 2p; other cards 2.6% + 2p | Business Basic plan £10 a month |
What you'd pay a month in fees
Transaction fees only, at three levels of monthly card takings. We've assumed an average payment of £150 for myPOS's fixed 7p fee; adjust for your own average. Device costs are one-off and not included.
| Monthly card takings | £1,000 | £3,000 | £6,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square (1.75%) | £17.50 | £52.50 | £105.00 |
| SumUp pay-as-you-go (1.69%) | £16.90 | £50.70 | £101.40 |
| SumUp Payments Plus (0.99% + £19) | £28.90 | £48.70 | £78.40 |
| Zettle (1.75%) | £17.50 | £52.50 | £105.00 |
| Dojo (1.2%, before any package fee) | £12.00 | £36.00 | £72.00 |
| myPOS (1.10% + 7p) | £11.47 | £34.40 | £68.80 |
| Tide pay-as-you-go (1.5% + 5p) | £15.33 | £46.00 | £92.00 |
| Tide Premium (0.69% + 3p + £19.99) | £27.09 | £41.29 | £62.59 |
| Revolut (0.8% + 2p + £10 Basic plan) | £18.13 | £34.40 | £58.80 |
Tide and Revolut rates are for UK consumer cards (Tide's for debit cards); business and overseas cards cost more. Tide's plan fees exclude VAT, and Tide says transaction and subscription fees will rise on 1 December 2026. Three things stand out. SumUp's Payments Plus only beats its own pay-as-you-go rate once you take roughly £2,700 a month (SumUp suggests it from £3,000). And the lowest percentages come with either a dearer device (Dojo) or a rate that varies by card type (myPOS), so check the rate for the cards your customers actually use. And the bank-linked readers (Tide, Revolut) have low percentages but only work with that provider's business account, and for Revolut the plan fee is part of the cost.
Worked example: a sole trader taking £2,000 a month by card
This is the question most readers ask: what would each reader cost me in the first year? Here is the sum, laid out so you can redo it with your own numbers.
Assumptions (change them to match your business):
- £2,000 a month taken by card, in person, as 40 payments of £50.
- Every payment is on a UK consumer debit or credit card. Business, Amex and overseas cards cost more with most providers.
- You buy the cheapest reader each provider lists. Device prices are as the provider lists them, mostly excluding VAT. If you aren't VAT registered, add 20% to those.
- No refunds, chargebacks, instant payout fees or optional add-ons.
- Fee rates for Square, SumUp, Zettle, myPOS and Tide were re-read on each provider's page on 18 October 2026. Dojo and Revolut blocked our check that day, so their figures are from 15 October 2026.
How each line is worked out: monthly fees = £2,000 × the percentage, plus the fixed fee per payment × 40, plus any monthly plan fee. First year = monthly fees × 12, plus the reader.
| Reader | Rate used | Fees a month (40 × £50) | Fees a month if you take 80 × £25 | First year (fees + cheapest reader) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Square | 1.75% | £35.00 | £35.00 | £439.00 (Reader £19 + VAT) |
| SumUp pay-as-you-go | 1.69% | £33.80 | £33.80 | £430.60 (Solo Lite £25 excl. VAT) |
| SumUp Payments Plus, paid monthly | 0.99% + £19 a month | £38.80 | £38.80 | £490.60 (Solo Lite £25) |
| Zettle | 1.75% | £35.00 | £35.00 | £449.00 (Reader £29 excl. VAT, new users) |
| Dojo | 1.2%, before any package fee | £24.00 | £24.00 | £467.00 (Dojo Wired £179 upfront) |
| myPOS | 1.17% + 7p (see note) | £26.20 | £29.00 | £353.40 (Go 2 £39 excl. VAT) |
| Tide pay-as-you-go | 1.5% + 5p | £32.00 | £34.00 | £409.00 (Nano £25 + VAT) |
| Tide Sell In-Person Premium | 0.69% + 3p + £19.99 a month | £34.99 | £36.19 | £430.88 (Nano £11 + VAT, 12-month contract) |
| Revolut Business | 0.8% + 2p + £10 Basic plan | £26.80 | £27.60 | £450.60 (Lite Terminal £129 + VAT) |
Note on myPOS: myPOS advertises "from 1.10% + £0.07", and its fees page gives its own example: a £100 payment on a UK consumer card leaves £98.76, so the fee is £1.24. That is 1.17% plus the 7p fixed fee, so we used 1.17% + 7p rather than the lowest "from" rate. myPOS also lists £1.50 for each transfer in pounds out to another bank account, which isn't in the table; four transfers a month would add £6.00.
What the sum shows at this turnover: the gap between providers is about £12 a month in fees (£24.00 to £38.80). In the first year the reader price matters as much as the rate: Dojo has the lowest fee but its £179 machine means myPOS, Tide pay-as-you-go and SumUp cost less over twelve months on these assumptions. SumUp Payments Plus costs more than its own pay-as-you-go rate at £2,000 a month; SumUp suggests it from £3,000. If your average payment is small, fixed per-payment fees (myPOS, Tide, Revolut) count for more, which is why the £25 column is higher for them.
This is arithmetic on published prices, not a test of the readers. Your own costs depend on your card mix, so check the provider's rate for the cards your customers actually use.
Best mobile card reader for tradespeople
Plumbers, electricians, cleaners and other trades taking payment at the customer's door need three things: a reader that pairs with your phone or works on its own, no monthly fee in quiet months, and money in the bank quickly.
- You always have signal: a Bluetooth reader paired with your phone is enough. SumUp Solo Lite (£25), Square Reader (£19 + VAT) and the PayPal Reader (£29 excl. VAT for new users) all work this way, with no monthly fee.
- You don't want to carry a reader: Tap to Pay turns your phone into the reader for contactless cards and phone wallets. Square says it needs an iPhone XS or later, or a compatible Android phone. Inserting a chip card and PIN still needs a reader.
- You often work with no signal: a standalone terminal with its own data SIM, such as the myPOS terminals, doesn't rely on your phone's connection.
- You need the money fast: SumUp pays into its free business account by 7am the next day, including weekends; Zettle says funds typically reach your PayPal Business account within minutes; Square's free transfers take one to two working days.
If you send a bill after the job instead, invoice payments cost more than tapping a card: Square and Zettle both charge 2.5%.
How much does a card reader cost?
A card reader costs from nothing (Tap to Pay on your phone) to about £239 (Dojo Pocket). Most phone-paired readers are £19 to £39 before VAT: Square £19, SumUp Solo Lite £25, PayPal Reader £29 for new users and myPOS Go 2 £39. Standalone terminals with a screen run from about £79 (SumUp Solo) to £179 (myPOS Ultra or Dojo Wired). On top of the device you pay a fee on every payment, and for some providers a monthly plan, which is why the first-year table below matters more than the sticker price.
Which suits which business
- Occasional payments on jobs: a phone-paired reader with no monthly fee. Square, SumUp pay-as-you-go and Zettle all cost under £30 for the device, and Tide's Nano is £25 on pay-as-you-go. SumUp's Tap to Pay uses your phone with no reader at all.
- No phone signal on site: a standalone reader with its own SIM. myPOS says all its terminals come with a free data SIM.
- Steady takings at a counter: a blended rate can cost less. Dojo's 1.2% applies below £100,000 a year; above that it offers custom rates.
- Invoices and remote payments: fees are higher than in person. Square charges 2.5% for manually keyed payments; Zettle charges 2.5% for invoices and payment links.
Readers tied to a business account
Tide's readers work only with a Tide business account, which has a free plan; Tide says you save with a Sell In-Person plan if you take more than £2,900 a month by card. Revolut's terminals need a Revolut Business account; its Basic fees page lists the £10 monthly plan with in-person rates of 0.8% + 2p on UK consumer Visa and Mastercard. Revolut no longer sells its original Reader, so the cheapest device is now the £129 Lite Terminal. Already bank with one of them? Their reader may be the simplest choice.
Things to check before you buy
- Contracts and cancellation. Zettle and myPOS say there are no long-term contracts. For Dojo, check the terms of your package.
- Payout timing. Dojo says takings arrive next day; myPOS offers instant payouts; Square says free transfers take one to two working days, or instantly for a fee.
- Non-UK cards. Square charges 1.75% plus 1.5% for non-UK cards in person, against 1.75% for UK cards.
- VAT on hardware. Most device prices above are excluding VAT.
If you take a lot of card payments for jobs, link the reader to your invoicing or accounts software so payments match invoices automatically. See best free invoicing apps and, for working out what to charge, the quote and VAT calculator. Compare any two readers side by side: SumUp vs Zettle, Square vs SumUp, Square vs Dojo, or see all card payment tools.
Sources for Tide and Revolut: Tide card readers, Revolut payment devices, Revolut Business Basic fees and Revolut Reader help, all read 15 October 2026.
FAQ
Which card reader is best for a small business?
For low or uneven takings, a reader with no monthly fee such as SumUp pay-as-you-go (1.69%) or Square (1.75%) is the simplest. At steadier takings, myPOS, Dojo or SumUp Payments Plus can cost less. Work out your own monthly card takings first and compare them with the tables above.
What is the best mobile card reader in the UK?
If you always have signal, a phone-paired reader such as SumUp Solo Lite (£25), Square Reader (£19 + VAT) or the PayPal Reader (£29 for new users). If you often have no signal, a terminal with its own SIM, such as myPOS. Tap to Pay on your phone needs no reader at all for contactless payments.
Is Revolut's card reader better than SumUp?
Only if you already use Revolut Business. Revolut's in-person rate of 0.8% + 2p on UK consumer cards is lower than SumUp's 1.69%, but it needs the £10 a month Basic plan and its cheapest device is now the £129 Lite Terminal, as Revolut no longer sells its original Reader. On our £2,000 a month example the first year costs about £451 with Revolut and £431 with SumUp pay-as-you-go.
Do I need a card reader to take card payments?
Not for contactless. Square, SumUp and Zettle all offer Tap to Pay, which takes contactless cards and phone wallets on your own phone with no hardware. You need a reader when a customer wants to insert a chip card and enter a PIN.
What would a card reader cost me at £2,000 a month?
On our worked example (40 payments of £50 on UK consumer cards, checked 18 October 2026), fees run from £24.00 a month (Dojo) to £38.80 (SumUp Payments Plus). Including the cheapest reader, the first year costs from about £353 (myPOS) to about £491. See the worked example above for each line.
What's the cheapest card reader in the UK?
On device price, SumUp's Tap to Pay is £0 (it uses your phone) and Square Reader is from £19 + VAT. On fees, myPOS and Dojo had the lowest headline percentages when we checked, but each has conditions.
Is there a card reader with no monthly fee?
Yes. Square's free plan, SumUp pay-as-you-go, Zettle, myPOS and Tide pay-as-you-go all showed no monthly fee on 15 October 2026.
When is SumUp Payments Plus worth it?
When the 0.70% saving on each payment outweighs the £19 a month: roughly £2,700 or more of monthly card takings.
Do card fees change?
Yes. Prices here were read from each provider's pricing page on 15 October 2026; check before you buy.
First published at https://theaitill.com/guides/best-card-readers-uk by James Gonzo.
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