We at MobileTransaction have spent the last decade testing and comparing mobile card readers so you can make an informed choice. And I’m happy to say that the terminals I’ve tested during my time as a reviewer are much more affordable and run smoother than the ones I used in retail years ago.

There’s now a good selection of contract-free, inexpensive card readers enabling you to take cards through a connected mobile app. We like this setup because it’s actually quite flexible when the app gives you more tools than a card machine traditionally did.

How card readers work:

  • Wireless card reader connects to a mobile phone or tablet via Bluetooth

  • App on mobile device communicates transaction to the card reader

  • Payer enters their PIN or taps a card just like a normal card machine

These devices do not typically have monthly fees, lock-in or complicated fees. Instead, you just purchase the card reader upfront and pay a fixed rate per transaction.

We know this is attractive for merchants who cannot commit to ongoing costs, and perfect for new businesses looking to start up quickly.

Another thing we consider is the accompanying app which may act as your main point of sale (POS) system. Some card readers for phones only have a basic payment app, while others go beyond that with a product library, staff accounts, payment links, etc.

The best card reader therefore depends not only on the build quality – we also test the app and compare costs and the potential to expand with other tools.

A card reader – or credit card reader – is a small payment terminal that requires a mobile app on a connected smartphone or tablet to accept card payments.

Card readers accept credit and debit cards via chip (insertion), NFC (contactless tap) and/or magnetic stripe (swipe). They also accept mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay if NFC is enabled. They may have a physical PIN pad or a virtual one displayed in the app on the merchant’s touchscreen mobile device.

Sometimes, the term card reader is used to describe any card payment terminal, whether or not it works with an app.

Compare card readers in the UK:

Card reader Price* Rate Advantage Website
SumUp Air £39 1.69% Accessible biz tools >>SumUp
Square Reader £19 1.75% Many app features >>Square
Revolut Reader £49 0.8-2.6% + 2p Low UK card rate >>Revolut
Zettle Reader £29–£59 1.75% Ergonomic design >>Zettle
Shopify WisePad 3 £49 1.5-1.7% Shopify integration >>Shopify
Elavon MobileMerchant £29 1.75-2.5% 24/7 support >>Elavon
Smartpay Anywhere £29 1.6% Low fixed rate >>Barclaycard

*Prices exclude VAT.

Card reader Price* Rate Advantage Website
SumUp
Air
£39 1.69% Accessible biz tools >>SumUp
Square
Reader
£19 1.75% Many app features >>Square
Revolut
Reader
£49 0.8-2.6% + 2p Low UK card rate >>Revolut
Zettle
Reader
£29–£59 1.75% Ergonomic design >>Zettle
Shopify
WisePad 3
£49 1.5-1.7% Shopify integration >>Shopify
Elavon
MobileMerchant
£29 1.75-2.5% 24/7 support >>Elavon
Smartpay
Anywhere
£29 1.6% Low fixed rate >>Barclaycard

*Prices exclude VAT.

MobileTransaction rates card readers in the following key areas: the quality and usability of the product, pricing, transparency and registration, value-added features, reviews and support, and contract requirements.

Each criteria gets a score ranging between 1 and 5, resulting in an overall star rating reflecting the card reader’s overall value for a small business.

A card reader’s primary function is to accept card payments in person, and the accompanying app should work well to enable it. The device quality and app features during a transaction therefore have a higher weighting that falls under the product criteria.

We also give higher ratings to solutions accepting more cards, a good battery life and the ability to integrate with additional features.

SumUp Air – cool reader, broad range of extras

SumUp
Our rating:
(4.4/5)

>> Our review

Pros:

  • No monthly fees, no lock-in

  • Next-day payouts in free account

  • Easy to wipe

  • Various online payment tools

Cons:

  • POS features quite basic

  • Very few integrations

What I like most about SumUp Air is probably how easy it is to keep clean – the flat glass PIN pad just needs a quick wipe. It also has a long battery life, so I rarely needed to charge it.

Emily Sorensen portrait   Emily Sorensen, Senior Editor at MobileTransaction

SumUp Air is another popular card reader for iPad, iPhone and Android tablets and smartphones. The card reader has a smooth glass surface over its PIN pad, which we found easy to wipe clean. It accepts contactless and chip payments from most card brands and mobile wallets.

Photo: Emily Sorensen (ES), MobileTransaction

SumUp Air with iPad app

The card reader costs £39 + VAT and has no monthly fees or contractual commitment. All you pay is a fixed 1.69% per transaction for any type of card. There is also a stand for SumUp Air, which is in a bundle with the reader for £49 + VAT.

The Air card reader works with SumUp App, a simple POS system with a product library, user accounts, sales overview, payout reports and online payment options.

SumUp users can send email invoices or payment links, set up a basic online store from the app, display or print QR codes for payments and accept telephone payments through the in-app virtual terminal. You can also sell e-gift cards that can be accepted through the app.

Accepted cards

VisaVisa ElectronV PayMastercardMaestroAmerican ExpressDiners ClubUnion PayDiscoverContactlessApple PayGoogle Pay

What’s more, the free SumUp Card (Prepaid Mastercard) that’s linked to your very own online Business Account provides access to transactions the day after, weekends inclusive. Alternatively, payouts can land in your bank account within 1-3 working days.

For a more complex till, the Air reader can be used with the SumUp Point of Sale software for full-fledged retail or hospitality functions. You can’t currently integrate with accounting software, but SumUp does integrate with Wix, PrestaShop and WooCommerce through plugins.

Customer support is available on weekdays between 8am and 7pm and weekends between 7am and 5pm. Signing up is easy through a web form, after which you can order the card reader.

Square Reader – most features in a free app

Square
Our rating:
(4.3/5)

>> Our review

Pros:

  • Smallest card reader

  • No monthly fees, no lock-in

  • Excellent free POS app

  • Many free online tools

Cons:

  • PIN pad in app only

  • Only weekday support

Square Reader is so small and inconspicuous you can actually lose it easily if it’s not placed in a stand. But that’s a good thing if you need things minimal.

Emily Sorensen portrait   Emily Sorensen, Senior Editor at MobileTransaction

Square Reader is an inconspicuous, square-shaped card reader without a PIN pad. Compatible with iPhone, iPad and Android devices, it takes chip (with PIN entry on your mobile device) and contactless payments. It’s the smallest and lightest terminal on this list, but its app, Square Point of Sale, is the most comprehensive of them all.

Photo: ES, MobileTransaction

Square Reader only costs £19 + VAT, and the pay-as-you-go transaction rate is 1.75% for all card payments. There are no monthly fees or contract lock-in to worry about. You can get a charging dock for the reader for £25 + VAT too, and connect the hardware with receipt printers, kitchen printers, a cash drawer and barcode scanner.

The free Point of Sale app has enough features to serve most small businesses. Its inventory library tracks stock levels, and the till menu shows various product options and the ability to mark transactions for eat-in, eat-out, delivery or pickup.

You can schedule staff shifts, track breaks, export payroll data and analyse employee sales, while an additional app called Square Team lets staff log their own hours (more employee features cost £20/month per location).

Accepted cards

VisaVisa ElectronV PayMastercardMaestroAmerican ExpressContactlessApple PayGoogle PaySamsung Pay

There are also customer lists, sales reports, order management, invoicing and more to access through the app. Electronic gift cards can be sold and accepted, payment links created, QR codes generated for contactless selling, and any payment method accepted through the checkout including Clearpay (Buy Now Pay Later option).

Square’s web Dashboard has a free virtual terminal for telephone payments, an online store builder, detailed sales reports and options to subscribe to POS systems for retail, restaurants and a scheduling system. Square also integrates with many external software tools for e.g. accounting, online ordering and ecommerce.

Payouts reach your bank account in 1-2 working days, but there’s an instant transfer option (not available to all) for an extra fee of 1%.

Square’s customer support is available on weekdays between 9am and 5pm. You sign up online through a simple form, order the card reader and wait 3-5 working days for the delivery of Square Reader.

Revolut Reader – with business account

Revolut
Our rating:
(3.8/5)

>> Our review

Pros:

  • Good business account features

  • Low rate for UK consumer cards

  • Payouts within 24 hours

Cons:

  • Support can be slow to help

  • Very basic app features

  • Merchant account needs extra approval

I’d only go for Revolut Reader if I actively used the Revolut Business account. The card reader feels a bit cheap, and the app is not really designed for point of sale transactions.

Emily Sorensen portrait   Emily Sorensen, Senior Editor at MobileTransaction

Revolut Reader is a new contactless and chip card reader that Revolut Business account holders can purchase, if they have an approved Merchant Account which is separate from the current account. Transactions clear in the online account connected with a Visa debit card within 24 hours, which is super-fast.

Fees are low for domestic, consumer Visa and Mastercard transactions (0.8% + £0.02) while high for all other cards (2.6% + £0.02). The terminal itself costs £49 + VAT excluding a compulsory £5 shipping charge. You can choose to use a free Revolut Business account or upgrade to a subscription with more business (not POS) tools.

To get started, you first need to sign up for a Freelancer or Company account (free plan available), then apply for a Revolut Merchant Account allowing you to accept card payments online and through the card reader.

Photo: ES, MobileTransaction

Revolut Reader with card decals

We do not recommend buying the card reader before your Merchant Account has been completely approved. We did the mistake of ordering it after the immediate, automatic approval of it, only to have the account on hold in the following days while Revolut requested additional information to process.

After receiving the keypad-less card reader – which looks functional and akin to a retro pocket gaming device in its plastic casing – we had some technical issues with it, but it was eventually resolved and we received a free replacement.

Accepted cards

VisaMastercardContactlessApple PayGoogle Pay

We tried the chat support available to all Revolut Business account users, but the support agents were rarely able to help. It took several days or weeks to fix any of our issues. That being said, the app is regularly updated and bugs fixed, which can’t be said of certain competitors.

Overall, Revolut Reader could be a nice extra for those who need simple in-person payments in addition to payment links and a business account. New features are gradually added, for example a product catalogue allowing you to itemise bills.

The hospitality POS system from Nobly also integrates with Revolut Reader, requiring a monthly or annual subscription.

Zettle Reader – best card reader design

Zettle
Our rating:
(3.8/5)

>> Our review

Pros:

  • Most ergonomic card reader

  • No monthly fees, no lock-in

  • Widest range of accepted cards

Cons:

  • Limited online payment tools

  • Features not being developed further

  • Only weekday support

Zettle Reader is a perfect palm size with an accessible PIN pad. It’s a shame Zettle has stopped adding features the app – it feels like PayPal is neglecting the product.

Emily Sorensen portrait   Emily Sorensen, Senior Editor at MobileTransaction

The most popular card reader in the UK has been iZettle Reader (now Zettle Reader without the “i”) for some years. It was one of the first to introduce an inexpensive, contract-free reader without monthly costs.

The first card reader machine costs £29 + VAT upfront (following ones are £59 + VAT each) and then you pay 1.75% per transaction regardless of the type of card used.

Photo: Emmanuel Charpentier, MobileTransaction

Zettle Reader in desk stand

When testing it, we found the latest version (Zettle Reader 2) ergonomic, small, lightweight and sturdy. It comes in white or black and can connect with a till drawer, barcode scanner and receipt printer. The optional charging stand (Zettle Dock) keeps it in place on a countertop.

Zettle Reader works with a free POS app called Zettle Go on most tablets and smartphones. It has a product library, transactions overview, basic sales reports, invoicing and the ability to accept cards, cash, payment links and gift cards. QR codes can be generated at checkout for customers with a PayPal app to scan it.

Accepted cards

VisaVisa ElectronV PayMastercardMaestroAmerican ExpressDiners ClubJCBUnion PayDiscoverContactlessApple PayGoogle PaySamsung Pay

The card reader works with other POS systems like Lightspeed, Revel and Tabology, and integrates with Xero and QuickBooks for accounting and ecommerce platforms like Shopify, BigCommerce and PrestaShop.

However, Zettle’s own app has hardly been developed further since PayPal took over Zettle. The lack of investment in the product means we can’t recommend the card reader as a solution that will definitely continue for years, unless you’re happy with it for your current situation.

Out of all card readers for iPhone, iPad and Android, Zettle accepts the most card brands via chip and PIN and contactless tap. Transactions are automatically cleared in your bank account within 1-2 working days.

Zettle only provides customer support on weekdays between 9am-5pm via telephone, email and chat. To sign up, all you need is fill in the short registration form online and order the card reader.

Shopify WisePad 3 – intelligent ecommerce integration

Shopify
Our rating:
(3.8/5)

>> Our review

Pros:

  • Good omnichannel features in app

  • 24/7 customer support

  • Good quality card reader

Cons:

  • Requires ecommerce subscription

  • Not the cheapest card reader

Shopify’s card reader immediately feels like good quality, but the PIN pad is small for people with larger hands.

Emily Sorensen portrait   Emily Sorensen, Senior Editor at MobileTransaction

Most known for its ecommerce software, Shopify also has a card reader to go with a POS app. It is called WisePad 3 Reader, costs £49 + VAT and works with the Shopify Payments system, which is only activated while you’re on a Shopify ecommerce subscription.

The card reader works with a POS app on your iPhone, iPad, Android smartphone or Android tablet.

Photo: MobileTransaction

Shopify card reader on box and next to decals and charging cable

You’ll have to sign up for one of the following online store plans to use the POS and payments system: ‘Basic Shopify’ for £25 monthly and a 1.7% transaction fee, ‘Shopify’ for £65 monthly and a 1.6% transaction fee, and ‘Advanced Shopify’ for £344 monthly and a 1.5% fee for all card reader transactions. The subscriptions are cheaper with an annual contract.

Because of the ongoing monthly cost, the card reader is only really worth it if you’re also using Shopify for an online store.

The Shopify POS app is by default free (Shopify POS Lite), but you can upgrade to Shopify POS Pro for £69 monthly per location in addition to the ecommerce subscription. This higher plan has many more features designed to unify online and in-store sales for a better customer service experience, for instance with a smooth Click & Collect system.

Accepted cards

VisaMastercardAmerican ExpressContactlessApple PayGoogle Pay

The free POS plan has a good selection of features for e.g. product and order management, customer profiles, staff accounts and integration with hardware such as receipt printers, cash drawers and barcode scanners. POS Lite is recommended for on-the-go sales, whereas POS Pro is better for a full setup in a retail shop.

Transactions are settled in your bank account within 6 working days, which is the slowest in this comparison. All subscriptions include 24/7 customer support and online help guides.

card machine selection on blue background

Looking for options beyond card readers?

Card machines for small businesses in the UK

Elavon MobileMerchant – basic product with 24/7 support

Elavon
Our rating:
(3.2/5)

>> Our review

Pros:

  • No fixed monthly fee or lock-in

  • 24/7 customer support

Cons:

  • Buggy app

  • High fees for Amex, JCB, Diners Club and Discover

Compared with the other models we’ve tested, Elavon MobileMerchant looks more dated. It gives off a calculator feel, but the buttons are at least very easy to use.

Emily Sorensen portrait   Emily Sorensen, Senior Editor at MobileTransaction

A big acquiring bank, Elavon, has a card reader called MobileMerchant (purchased for £29 + VAT).

As with others, it has no monthly fee or contractual commitment, just a transaction fee that depends on the card accepted: 1.75% for Visa and Mastercard, 1.9% for American Express and 2.5% for Diners Club, Discover and JCB cards.

The card reader has a PIN pad, looks like a calculator and accepts contactless payments and chip and PIN cards. Elavon MobileMerchant does not connect with a cash drawer, barcode scanner or receipt printer, so it is purely for mobile transactions.

To accept a payment through the MobileMerchant app, you need to enter the transaction amount with an item description. It’s possible to add a tip, discount and VAT, accept cash and send an e-receipt, but there are no other checkout options. There’s no product library or other advanced features in the app.

The app is rarely developed and actually had a 3-year break between updates (not to add features, only to fix issues), so Elavon clearly does not prioritise this service. A healthy card reader app should be updated regularly to fix bugs and keep up with iOS and Android software, so it is unsurprising to see that users complain of technical issues preventing them from using the card reader.

Accepted cards

VisaMastercardMaestroDiners ClubDiscoverAmerican ExpressContactlessApple PayGoogle Pay

Elavon merchants can access a free virtual terminal in the web dashboard, where you can accept over-the-phone payments for a higher transaction cost. You can also benefit from fast settlement – one working day – but this is not guaranteed.

Customer support is provided 24/7 for merchants, which is a luxury for a pay-as-you-go credit card reader. Signing up is more tedious, though: you complete an online form (takes around 15 minutes) and have to submit various documents for verification. Once onboard, you can order the card reader.

Smartpay Anywhere – low fixed rate for all cards

Barclaycard
Our rating:
(2.7/5)

>> Our review

Pros:

  • No fixed monthly fee

  • Low fixed rate (1.6%)

Cons:

  • Buggy app

  • Old card reader model

The card reader Barclaycard sells is an old model that used to be popular over a decade ago. I wouldn’t pick it today, especially with the unreliable app it’s supposed to connect with.

Emily Sorensen portrait   Emily Sorensen, Senior Editor at MobileTransaction

Barclaycard Business offers a card reader called Smartpay Anywhere without contract lock-in or monthly fees, just an upfront cost of £29 + VAT.

The model (Miura M010) is not bad, but it is an old card reader with a basic accompanying app for iOS and Android devices.

Barclaycard card reader app

The card reader doesn’t work with receipt printers, cash drawers or barcode scanners, but it does take swipe cards on top of contactless and chip cards. The ‘Barclaycard’ logo on the terminal may put some customers at ease, since it is a trusted brand.

You’d think a banking giant like Barclays would only have amazing products, but the latest app version is poorly designed and looks neglected. Some features include a product library, refunds, sending a digital receipt and viewing transactions (these features are usually standard elsewhere).

What’s more, the app was last updated a years ago, which means it is buggy. In fact, user ratings frequently mention bugs, connectivity issues and a lack of customer service when they report the issues.

Accepted cards

VisaMastercardMaestroJCBContactlessApple PayGoogle Pay

However, you can’t fault the low transaction fee of 1.6% for any Visa, Mastercard or JCB card. This is the lowest fixed rate available for an app-based reader, except for the high subscription tiers with Shopify’s card reader (where the fee is 1.6% or 1.5%) and Revolut for domestic cards.

Standard payouts may take between 2 working days and a week, but next-day settlement is available for some users.

To get started, you need to fill in an online application form, which should take about 15 minutes. Your chance of approval “depends on financial circumstance and borrowing history”, which is stricter than other card reader sign-ups.

Card reader apps compared

Without doubt, Square comes away with the best and widest range of point of sale (POS) features in its choice of free apps. Where others lack these features, Square gives you free inventory tracking, split bills, many different payment methods and team management tools.

SumUp comes in second with its online payment tools and complimentary business account accessed in the card reader app. The POS features in SumUp App are, however, extremely basic and only for simple stores that don’t need stock control or integrations with external software.

Revolut still only has few POS features like a basic product library, since it focuses more on business account features, not in-person payments. But we’ve found that new features are added quicker than other solutions, so the app is progressively maturing.

The Zettle Go app is easy to use, though even simpler than SumUp App with its fewer features overall. Online payment tools are very basic, although Zettle has slightly more checkout features than SumUp and integrates with accounting and ecommerce.

App Product
library
Online payment
tools
App updates Integrations
SumUp Yes Many Regular Some
Square Yes Many Regular Many, various
Revolut Yes Some Regular Some
Zettle Yes Few Regular Some
Shopify Yes Few Regular Many, various
Elavon No Few Rare None
Barclaycard No None Rare None
App Product
library
Online
payment
tools
App
updates
Integrations
SumUp Yes Many Regular Some
Square Yes Many Regular Many, various
Revolut Yes Some Regular Some
Zettle Yes Few Regular Some
Shopify Yes Few Regular Many, various
Elavon No Few Rare None
Barclaycard No None Rare None

The Shopify POS app is excellent for product features when managing retail inventory across sales channels. It has good customer relationship management tools, promotional features and a customisable display.

The apps from Barclaycard and Elavon are more basic and less reliable than Zettle, SumUp, Square, Shopify and Revolut who regularly update and improve their apps. In addition, Elavon and Barclaycard do not integrate with external software for accounting and ecommerce, nor do they offer payment links.

Elavon is slightly better than Barclays for its complimentary virtual terminal, online reports and more recent update. The Barclaycard Anywhere app was last updated 4 years ago, which means a host of bugs and compatibility issues.

Compare card reader pricing

Prices and fees of app-based card readers tend to be similar given the healthy market competition. That said, they represent different values because of the varying quality you get for the price.

The cheapest card readers tend to be Square Reader, SumUp Air and Zettle Reader, on offer at various times. After purchase, you own them.

Unlike the other two options, Zettle Reader is most expensive from the second reader purchased (£59 + VAT) while the others remain at a low price (£49 for SumUp Air and £19 for Square Reader).

Barclaycard advertises a low “one-off device rental fee”, so you don’t actually own the card reader despite the lack of a monthly fee. The card readers from Shopify, Elavon and Revolut are yours to keep after purchase.

Card reader Price* Monthly fee* Transaction fee
SumUp £39 None 1.69%
Square £19 None 1.75%
Revolut £49 From £0 0.8% or 2.6% + 0.02%
Zettle £29–£59 None 1.75%
Shopify £49 From £25 1.5%-1.7%
Elavon £29 None 1.75%-2.5%
Barclaycard £29 None 1.6%

*Excl. VAT.

Card reader Price* Monthly
fee*
Transaction
fee
SumUp £39 None 1.69%
Square £19 None 1.75%
Revolut £49 From £0 0.8% or 2.6% + 0.02%
Zettle £29–£59 None 1.75%
Shopify £49 From £25 1.5%-1.7%
Elavon £29 None 1.75%-2.5%
Barclaycard £29 None 1.6%

*Excl. VAT.

Only Shopify requires a monthly fee, as you must subscribe to a paid ecommerce plan with ecommerce features. This includes a basic retail POS app, with an option to upgrade to the full range of POS features for £69 + VAT monthly.

Revolut also has a range of business account subscriptions, but they don’t give you extra features for the point of sale. If using Revolut Reader with Nobly POS, a subscription applies to that. Square and SumUp have their own advanced EPOS systems you can upgrade to at various price points.

Zettle and Square share the highest fixed rate for all cards, only marginally higher than SumUp’s. Barclaycard’s 1.6% is the lowest rate that applies to all cards. You can get a similarly low rate with Shopify, but only in conjunction with a pricey online store plan.

Elavon distinguishes between Visa and Mastercard transactions (1.75%) and other card brands (1.9% or 2.5%) which could be expensive for businesses with tourists or business clients with corporate or premium cards.

Revolut has the lowest rate dedicated to UK-issued Visa and Mastercard transactions, but the highest rate of all options for other cards, plus a small fixed fee.

Other credit card readers

A few services have gone out of business: WorldPay Zinc, Worldpay Reader, Payatrader and Intuit Pay. PayPal Here has also been discontinued and replaced with Zettle Reader (PayPal owns Zettle).

The European neobank Viva Wallet offers a Mini Card Reader that works with its app, and this is available for UK merchants.

Then there’s a Stripe card reader for existing platform users. Card machines by Stripe can be more complicated, as they need to be programmed and link with your online payment system.

You sometimes see other app-based card readers in the UK, but without the tech funding to update the software and adapt the product quickly, these products do not get good reviews. In the end, the fittest survive – which is good news for small businesses.

Summary

Card reader Advantage Website
SumUp Great features for simple shops that sell remotely too
Square Most POS features in an app, many extra features available
Revolut Business account features and low rate for UK cards
Zettle Best card reader design with user-friendly app
Shopify Advanced integration with Shopify ecommerce
Elavon 24/7 customer support, but buggy app
Barclaycard Lowest fixed rate, but buggy app
Card reader Advantage

SumUp

Great features for simple shops that sell remotely too

Square

Most POS features in an app, many extra features available

Revolut

Business account features, low rate for UK cards

Zettle

Best card reader design with user-friendly app

Shopify

Advanced integration with Shopify ecommerce

Elavon

24/7 customer support, but buggy app

Barclaycard

Lowest fixed rate, but buggy app