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Best Card Machines For Your Small Business: 2025 Round-Up
Your business needs a card machine that's suited to you and your customers: here's our breakdown of best card machines out there.
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Best Card Machines For Your Small Business: 2025 Round-Up
Your business needs a card machine that's suited to you and your customers: here's our breakdown of best ones out there.
Last updated 04/09/2025
Card machines, also known as card readers or PDQ machines, are essential items for any and every business, and having a good one can make a real difference to how many sales you ultimately make. However, choosing the right card reader for your business can be a tricky job.
While card machines aren’t the most glamorous thing to spend your money on, they are an essential part of your business. These days, millions of people use their cards to pay for the vast majority of their goods and services, and you don’t want to be left out in the cold. Â
You, then, need a reliable and cost-effective card machine to ensure your business is not only able to take card payments, but also take payments quickly and easily.Â
Card machines come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some you’ll see below are portable card machines, while others are large and fixed to your business’s countertop. We’ve covered all bases in, so you’ll find a mix of different types of card machines.Â
The Best Card Machine for Small Businesses
Different card machines offer different features and benefits, and knowing which card machine is best for your business isn’t easy. That’s why we’ve done most of the research for you. During our research, we prioritised portability, ease of use, and adaptability as these are the main KPIs of the modern card machine.Â
Through our research, we’ve compiled a list of the best card machines on the UK market, and the results are in… Â
According to our research, the Barclaycard Smartpay Touch is the best card machine for small businesses. Its large touchscreen, intuitive interface, and ability to become a fully-functional all-in-one EPOS system give it the edge over its competitors. As well as all this, Barclaycard offers variable rates for businesses with higher volumes of sales, so it’s a great option for both new and established businesses. This all makes it the Commercial Experts’ card machine of choice.Â
The Best Card Machine for Your Business: Things to Consider
Card Machine Costs
Remember to keep your budget at the front of your mind when choosing your card machine. You have the option to buy your machine outright or rent it with a monthly fee, but there are also things like transaction fees and payout times to consider.
As you’ll see on this list, card machines typically cost between £40 and £180 to buy and between £20 and £30 per month to rent. Transaction fees, meanwhile, are usually between 1.5% and 1.75%. All of these things were considered by us, and you will need to do the same.Â
What industry is your business in?
Different card machines work better in certain industries. Some card machines, for example, will be more suited to businesses in which staff are taking payments on the go.Â
While we consider the Barclaycard Smartpay touch to be the best card machine available, the takepayments Plus is a close second as it offers similar functionality. Other strong choices include the Zettle Reader 2 and the SumUp Air, which are both great, cheaper options for smaller businesses that operate on the go.Â
What industry are you in?
Please select the industry that you trade within. This information allows us to tailor your quote.
The Best Small Business Card Machines
While we consider the Barclaycard Smartpay Touch to be the best card machine available, due largely to its range of features, a different card machine could still suit your business better.Â
Here’s a table that compares our top choices of card payment machines side-by-side, so you can make the decision based on your business’s requirements.Â
| Card Machine | Cost | Transaction Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Barclaycard Smartpay Touch | £29/mo (rental) | 1.6% |
| Takepayments Plus | Available on request | Available on request |
| Square Terminal | £149 | 1.75% |
| Sumup Air | £25 starting price | 1.69% |
| Zettle Reader 2 | £49 | 1.75% |
| Dojo Go | £20/mo (rental) | 1.4%-1.8% |
| PayPal Terminal | £149 | 1.75% |
1. The Barclaycard Smartpay Touch: Our No.1 Pick
Manage stock, take customer bookings, and view sales reports - all on one simple portable device.
Price: £29 rental fee
- Pros
- EPOS software
- Competitive rates
- Perfect if you already bank with Barclays
- Cons
- Contract required
- Monthly rental fee
Barclaycard Smartpay Touch: At a Glance
- 12-month contract.
- £29 monthly rental.
- customisable transaction fees.
- All-in-one EPOS system.
- 4G connectivity as standard.
The Smartpay Touch offers more than the average mobile card machine. Its large touchscreen and intuitive interface make it a good choice for businesses seeking a modern payment solution with added benefits. Its screen allows you to manage stock, take customer bookings, and view real-time, insightful sales reports. These added features essentially make the card machine an all-in-one EPOS system that your staff can carry around with them.
The Smartpay Touch comes with a minimum 12-month contract duration with no initial charges. What you do pay is the monthly rental fee, which is £29 per month plus VAT. Transaction fees are then customisable, with your rate depending on your specific circumstances.
2. The Takepayments Plus: A Close Second
Useful features like split payments, inventory management, and detailed transaction reporting.
Price: Available on request
- Pros
- High-quality software
- Easy to set up
- Able to process cash payments
- Cons
- No transparent fees
- Requirement for a contract
Takepayments Plus: At a Glance
- Quick to set up.
- 12-month contract.
- Cash payments.
- Print receipts.
- Next day settlements.
As suggested by its name, Takepayments offers multiple ways of taking payments. This includes mobile card machines, and its most advanced mobile card machine is the TakepaymentsPlus. Like many of the other mobile card machines on this list, it comes with enhanced features that make it stack up well even to advanced EPOS hardware.Â
It offers all the standard functionalities, plus additional capabilities like split payments, inventory management, and detailed transaction reporting. In terms of cost, Takepayments prefers you to approach the company directly for a quote. So to get a true idea of cost, you’re best heading over to their website.
Want to know more about card processing fees?
While we’ve touched on it here, we’ve got a whole page dedicated to the different fees associated with merchant accounts. Check out our full card processing fees guide to find out all you need to know.
You’ll be an expert in no time…Â
3. The Square Terminal: Card Payments on a Budget
Packs a punch and lacks the typically expensive commitments associated with other card machines.
Price: £149 (plus VAT)
- Pros
- EPOS software
- No rental fees
- No monthly fees
- Cons
- Expensive transaction fees
Square Terminal: At a Glance
- Customisable software
- No monthly fees
- All-day battery
- Prints receipts
- Work with accessories
Like the Smartpay Touch, the Square Terminal comes with what is essentially fully-fledged EPOS software. This makes it a good option for businesses that want the EPOS software without the typically expensive and bulky hardware. Things like sales reports, bookings, and other business insights can be accessed straight from the machine. It also comes with a built-in receipt printer, which adds to its versatility.
The Square Terminal costs £149, which buys the machine outright. With no card machine rental and no monthly fees, all you pay is the 1.75% transaction fee. If you choose to, you can upgrade to Square’s Plus membership, which gives you access to extra industry-specific features for £29 per month.
4. The Sumup Air: Next Level Portability
Modern card payment solution with low up-front cost and no extra fees or monthly payments.
Price: £25 (plus VAT)
- Pros
- No extra fees or monthly payments
- Email invoices to a customer
- Cons
- Unusable without a smartphone or tablet
SumUp Air: At a Glance
- Low up-front cost.
- Portable.
- 12-hour battery life.
- Easy set-up with a mobile device.
Similar to the Square Reader explored above, the SumUp Air is a simple, small, and modern card reader that makes the most of its simplicity. Also relying on a connection to a phone or tablet app, which can be used to email invoices to a customer, the machine is as customer-friendly as its design suggests. Its keypad adds to its usability and makes paying with a PIN quick and easy.Â
It’s also friendly to your budget; the £25 card reader is all you’ll need to buy, and there are no extra fees or monthly payments. Once the machine is yours, the 1.69% transaction fee is all you’ll ever need to pay.Â
5. The Zettle Reader 2: Set up in No Time
Fast payouts and quick setup time make this reader ideal for smaller start-ups.
Price: £49 (plus VAT)
- Pros
- Lack of contract
- Integrate with several EPOS systems
- Cons
- 1.75% transaction fee
Zettle Reader 2: At a Glance
- Quick setup
- Connects via Bluetooth
- 8-hour battery life
- Contactless payments in 5 seconds
Like some of the other card machines featured on this list, the Zettle Reader 2‘s low cost and lack of contract make it ideal for small businesses or start-ups. Once you buy the reader outright, which will cost you a one-off £49, you will only pay the 1.75% transaction fee. Although slightly higher than rates available elsewhere, it compares well to other machines that also come with a lack of a contract.Â
The Zettle Reader 2’s fast payout time also compares well to its main competitors (some of which also feature on this list). Its fund transfer time is typically within two working days, which puts it days ahead of some of the other machines on the market. This, coupled with its ability to integrate with several EPOS systems, makes it a clear contender for your small business.Â
6. The Dojo Go: Master of Speed
Serve more customers at a faster pace, 58% faster than the market average.
Price: £179 (plus VAT)
- Pros
- Fast payouts
- Next day delivery
- Option to go hardware-free
- Cons
- Exit fee help subject to turnover
Dojo Go: At a Glance
- 10-hour battery life.
- Integrated payment options.
- User-friendly.
- Print receipts.
The Dojo Go card machine offers an easy, portable option for your business to take card payments. It is a highly functional, highly capable card reader machine that is well-placed to slot into many business environments. Where the Dojo Go excels is in its speed; you’ll be able to serve more customers at a faster pace, 58% faster than the market average, in fact. Â
It’s easy to switch too, with Dojo offering to pay up to £3,000 of your exit fees with your current card machine provider; pretty handy if you’ve found yourself in a bad deal. Â
Dojo’s transaction fees depend on your turnover; smaller businesses with an annual turnover of less than £100,000 pay £39 per month, which covers transactions up to £3,999 turnover per month. Therafter, you pay a flat 1% on any transactions over the £4k monthly threshold. Â
When it comes to the card machine itself, you can opt to pay a one-off fee of £179, which comes with no ongoing cost beyond the transaction fee, or you can choose to break the cost of the card machine into smaller monthly payments. These payments will come on top of any transaction fees you pay. You can even opt not to use this card machine at all and opt instead to use the Dojo app.Â
Find out more about how card payments work
If you’re confused about all the jargon you’ve just read, don’t worry. While this article focuses on the best card machines for your business, we also have in-depth guides that fully explain all you need to know about taking payments. Explore below:Â
7. PayPal Terminal: All-in-One Solution
Competitively priced all-in-one hardware for small businesses.
Price: £149 (plus VAT)
- Pros
- All-in-one system
- Competitively priced hardware
- No contract required
- Cons
- Expensive transaction fees
PayPal Terminal: At a Glance
- No requirement for a mobile device
- Charges in 90 minutes
- All-in-one device
- 12-hour battery life
Â
The PayPal Terminal is the next step up from the Zettle Reader. Unlike its smaller cousin, it’s a stand-alone card machine that doesn’t rely on the Zettle app. Instead, it works independently of the app but still allows you to manage your inventory and view reports with its built-in EPOS software. The optional printer means you can print receipts and charge the device all at once.
The card machine, at £149, is a competitive price when compared to others on this list with similar functionality. Zettle’s transaction fees, however, compare badly. Each payment charges at least 1.75% (sometimes more, depending on the method of payment), so even though there are no rental fees and no monthly fees, it could still cost more than you think in the long run.
Are Portable Card Machines Better?
As you’re probably aware, UK businesses are choosing simple, portable card machines more and more. Why? Because contactless payments have become the dominant payment method in the UK, which has led to smaller businesses are adopting smaller, cheaper card machines that facilitate this trend without cluttering the shop floor or demanding a lot of know-how.Â
If this kind of business is similar to yours, then a portable card machine could be ideal for you. In fact, the team at Commercial Experts consider these types of card machines to be a great middle ground between countertop card machines (which offer no portability and are typically bulkier) and mobile card machines (which have 4G capabilities but don’t offer the EPOS features of bigger machines).Â
How Much Does a Card Machine Cost?
Always keep your budget at the front of your mind when choosing your card machine. You have the option to buy a card machine outright or rent it with a monthly fee, but there are also things like transaction fees and payout times to consider.
Card Machine Costs
The physical card machine you choose will typically cost between £40 and £180 to buy and between £20 and £30 per month to rent. The more advanced the card machine is, the more you will end up paying. If you only need basic functionality, a small mobile card reader like the Zettle Reader 2 or the SumUp Air will suit you fine. If, however, you need more functionality, like the abiltiy to check stock levels or print receipts, a more expensive PDQ machine will almost certainly be worth the extra investment.Â
Transaction Fees
Every time a customer chooses to pay with a credit or debit card, you will be subject to a card processing fee. These fees are usually charged as a percentage of the transaction or sometimes as a percentage plus a fixed fee. Â
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The transaction fee is usually small in comparison to the actual transaction, but it can add up to significant amounts, especially when you’re accepting card payments exclusively, so make sure you run the maths before committing to a particular card machine, especially if it comes with a contract. Transaction fees are usually between 1.5% and 1.75% but sometimes cost a little less, depending on whether you opt to rent or buy your card machine. Suffice to say, it’s always good to check.Â
Incidental Fees
As their name suggests, incidental fees are usually paid on a one-time basis when something happens to incur them. This could be a refund fee (incurred when you have to refund a customer – usually a fixed fee), a chargeback fee (triggered when a customer is wrongly charged) or an early termination fee, where you leave your contract early. Â
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The size of the fee you have to pay in these situations will depend on what triggered the fee, with some costing significantly more than others. On the plus side, incidental fees can usually be mitigated, and while they are more linked to your bank than your actual card machine, they are certainly something to be aware of.Â
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Verdict
While we consider the Barclaycard Smartpay Touch to be the best card machine available, this list is designed to cover all the needs of the modern small business, so the best choice for you will ultimately depend on your specific requirements.Â
Whatever your requirements are, we’re certain that there’s a card machine on this list that will suit you. As we’ve said, all of the featured card readers here are highly capable, with the takepayments Plus, Square Terminal, and Zettle Reader 2 all coming closely behind our number one choice.Â
With all the information above, you’re able to see what different card machines offer, as well as how they could work for your business, but if you do want a better understanding of which card machine would best suit your business, we can help. Click below to fill in our free form, which we will use to put you in touch with a card machine provider that suits you. Â
FAQs
What is the best card machine for a small business?
According to our research, the Barclaycard Smartpay Touch is the best card machine for small businesses. Its large touchscreen, intuitive interface, and ability to become a fully-functional all-in-one EPOS system give it the edge over its competitors. As well as all this, Barclaycard offers variable rates for businesses with higher volumes of sales, so it’s a great option for both new and established businesses. This all makes it the Commercial Experts’ card machine of choice.Â
Where can I find a card machine for my business?
Whatever your requirements are, we’re certain that there’s a card machine on this list that will suit you. As we’ve said, all of the featured card readers here are highly capable, with the takepayments Plus, Square Terminal, and Zettle Reader 2 all coming closely behind our number one choice.Â
With all the information above, you’re able to see what different card machines offer, as well as how they could work for your business, but if you do want a better understanding of which card machine would best suit your business, we can help. Click the button on this page to fill in our free form, which we will use to put you in touch with a card machine provider that suits you.Â
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