- UK card machine providers at a glance
- Ten UK card machine providers for small businesses
- Read the account behind the machine, not just the device
- Pocket reader, portable, 4G or countertop?
- Questions to ask before you take a card machine
- My plain advice on choosing a card machine
- Frequently asked questions
A UK card machine is either a mobile card reader that pairs with your phone, a portable or 4G terminal that works on its own, or a countertop machine at the till. The bigger choice is the account behind it: a no-contract reader, a business account bundle or a merchant account on contract. Ten providers follow in no particular order.
Taking cards in person used to mean a bank, a contract and a machine on the counter. Now a market stall can tap a card on a phone, and a café can get a terminal that settles into a business account within seconds. That's good news, but it's made comparing providers harder, because two card machines that look the same can come with very different paperwork.
This list is for UK small businesses taking face-to-face payments. The ten providers below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and each description comes from the provider's own UK website, read as of Oct 2026. If you also need a till system to go with the machine, my guide to POS systems for small businesses covers that side.
UK card machine providers at a glance
I checked the free plan column on each vendor's own website, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the page names a free plan, a free version or an open source edition. Trial only means it names a time-limited free trial. Not stated means the page I read named neither, so check the vendor's own site before you sign up.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barclaycard Payments | Bank-backed card acceptance | Pocket, portable and countertop readers | Not stated |
| DNA Payments | UK card payment provider | Mobile, countertop and unattended terminals | Not stated |
| Elavon | Merchant services provider | Card machines with fraud and PCI support | Not stated |
| myPOS | Card machines with a free account | Standalone readers, no long-term contract | Yes |
| Paymentsense | Merchant services | Portable, mobile and countertop machines | Not stated |
| SumUp | Card readers and POS | Card readers, Tap to Pay and free POS tools | Yes |
| Takepayments | Card machines (Global Payments) | Short contracts and 7-day support | Not stated |
| Teya | Card machines plus business account | Instant settlement into a business account | Not stated |
| Viva.com | European acquirer and bank | Tap to Pay, offline mode, daily settlement | Not stated |
| Zettle by PayPal | Card reader and POS (PayPal) | PayPal users taking in-person payments | Not stated |
Ten UK card machine providers for small businesses
Barclaycard Payments
Best for: Businesses that want card readers from a big UK bank brand, from pocket-sized to countertop and all-in-one POS, with payment processing behind them.
DNA Payments
Best for: Retail, hospitality and trade counters wanting terminals running axept PRO software, plus self-checkout units and ePOS from one UK provider.
Elavon
Best for: Restaurants, cafés, hotels and shops wanting card machines alongside a payment gateway, PCI compliance help and chargeback management.
myPOS
Best for: Small businesses after a standalone card machine plus a free business account and debit card, with no long-term contract.
Paymentsense
Best for: Quote-first buyers wanting a mobile machine that works over 3G/4G without Wi-Fi, with funds arriving the next working day.
SumUp
Best for: Market stalls, food trucks and sole traders wanting a card reader or Tap to Pay on a phone, with free POS tools to start.
Takepayments
Best for: Owners who want a 12 month contract, next day settlement and a UK welcome team, from a Global Payments company.
Teya
Best for: Busy counters wanting a card machine that works with an existing EPOS, a business account and funds ready seconds after each sale.
Viva.com
Best for: Event traders and hospitality businesses wanting Tap to Pay on iPhone, offline payments during outages and settlement 365 days a year.
Zettle by PayPal
Best for: PayPal business users wanting a touchscreen card reader or Tap to Pay, now sold under the PayPal Point of Sale name.
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Read the account behind the machine, not just the device
Here's what I noticed reading the UK pages, and it changes how you compare them. The device is the easy part. What you're signing up to is the account behind it, and the page titles give it away. Teya's UK home page is titled Card machines and Business Account, so the reader comes bundled with somewhere for the money to land. Zettle's UK page now opens with the line Zettle by PayPal becomes PayPal Point of Sale. One provider describes itself as a Global Payments company. And the bank-backed and merchant services names sell the terminal with a payment processing agreement behind it.
So before you compare readers, decide which of three set-ups you want: a reader linked to a simple account you sign up for online, a card machine bundled with a business account, or a merchant account arranged through a quote and a contract. Each one suits a different kind of business.
Pocket reader, portable, 4G or countertop?
- Pocket or mobile reader. A small reader that pairs with your phone over Bluetooth. It's the usual start for market stalls, mobile trades and pop-ups.
- Tap to Pay on a phone. No reader at all: customers tap their card or phone on yours. Several providers here offer it on iPhone and Android.
- Portable terminal. Works over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth around a shop or between tables, with a battery that lasts a shift.
- Mobile 4G terminal. Has its own SIM, so it takes payments with no Wi-Fi at all, which matters for deliveries, events and rural sites.
- Countertop machine. Sits at the till on an Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi, often with receipt printing, and is the steadiest option for a busy counter.
- Unattended terminal. Built into vending, parking, ticketing or self-checkout units.
Questions to ask before you take a card machine
- How quickly does the money arrive? Pages here range from about five seconds after the sale to the next working day.
- How long is the contract, and how do you leave? One provider leads with a 12 month contract and another says no long-term contract at all.
- Does it work with the EPOS or till system you already use, or do you have to switch?
- What happens when the internet drops? One provider names an offline payments mode for outages.
- Who helps with chargebacks, fraud checks and PCI compliance?
- Where does the money land: your existing bank account or a new business account from the same provider?
If a provider's bundled account is part of the appeal, compare it with a standard business account first. My guide to how to open a business bank account online covers what a straightforward account gives you.
Do you make a card machine or card reader? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a card machine
Match the machine to where you take payments, then match the account to how you run your money. A market trader taking a few dozen payments a day needs a pocket reader or Tap to Pay and nothing more. A café or shop with queues needs a portable or countertop terminal that's fast, works with the till and settles quickly. A bigger business with high card volumes is the one that should be asking for quotes from the merchant services providers.
Whatever you pick, read the contract before the hardware. A shiny touchscreen won't help if you're tied in for longer than you planned.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a card reader and a card machine?
People use both terms for the same thing. A card reader usually means a small device that pairs with your phone, while a card machine often means a standalone terminal with its own screen, SIM or printer.
Do I need a merchant account to take card payments in the UK?
Not always. Some providers here let you sign up online and take payments through their own account, while others arrange a merchant account through a quote and contract.
Can I take card payments on my phone without a reader?
Yes. Several providers on this list offer Tap to Pay on iPhone or Android, so customers tap their card or phone on yours.
Which card machines work without Wi-Fi?
Mobile terminals with their own SIM work over 3G or 4G, and one provider here names an offline mode that keeps payments going when the internet drops.
Is there a card machine with no contract?
Yes. At least one provider here says it has no long-term contracts, and another leads with a short 12 month contract. Check each provider's terms before you order.
