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Best Mobile Card Machines For Your Small Business
The right mobile card reader can take your business to the next level, but which one is right for your business?
More and more, businesses in the UK are choosing simple, easy-to-use, and portable card machines. These machines can be a godsend for businesses in which staff are busy or footfall is high. This is where mobile card readers come in; the handy tool to help you capitalise on your potential with ease.
As you’re probably already aware, there’s a whole load of mobile card machines available and it can be tricky to know which one is best. Even if you’re sure about the provider you want, it can still be a challenge to pick the right mobile card machine. With this in mind, we’ve created the following list, which takes you through what we consider to be the top five mobile card machines currently available in the UK.
The mobile card machines you’ll read about here are all fairly advanced; they each have access to POS software, so each has varying degrees of features available to help you run your business. As you’ll see, each provider has different transaction fees, different software fees, and different contract requirements, all of which we will compare. If, however, you want to speed up the process of getting your card machine, fill in our form to get deals sent straight to you.
Want to know 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 payment gateways for your business, we also have in-depth guides that fully explain all you need to know about taking payments. Explore below:
Which is the Best Mobile Card Machine?
Choosing the right card machine can be overwhelming, especially if you’re new to electronic payments. That’s why we’ve done all the research for you. All the best mobile card machines for small businesses are in one place for you to compare them.
This article compares what we consider to be the top five mobile card readers for your business. We’ll cover processing fees, user-friendliness, and integration options to help you make an informed decision. Click on the provider below to learn more:
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Barclaycard Smartpay Touch
Manage stock, take customer bookings, and view sales reports.
- Pros
- EPOS software
- Competitive rates
- Perfect if you already bank with Barclays
- Cons
- Contract required
- Monthly rental fee
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.
If you take less than £100,000 in card payments the Smartpay Touch has a transaction fee of 1.6%. This becomes a custom cost if you take more than £100,000. Unfortunately, it does also come with a monthly rental fee of £29, regardless of how much you take.
- Pros
- EPOS software
- No rental fees
- No monthly fees
- Cons
- Transaction fees on the expensive side
- Cheaper alternatives on the market
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.
- Pros
- No monthly fees
- Competitive rates
- No contract
- Cons
- Software is limited
SumUp is a popular provider of card machines, particularly for small businesses. Its main focus is similar to that of Square’s, whereby providing cheaper and more convenient payment solutions is top of their aims. The SumUp Solo is a step up from the SumUp Air (its most basic reader) and has the option to issue refunds, take tips, and monitor your transaction history.
While it isn’t as fully-fledged as the software on the Smartpay Touch or Square Terminal, the software is capable of meeting the needs of many smaller businesses and, with no monthly costs and no rental fees, all you pay is the 1.69% transaction fee. It’s also cheaper to buy than the Square Terminal, coming in at only £79.
Want to know more about how SumUp Compares to Square?
If you want to find out more about how Square compares to SumUp, we’ve written an article on exactly that. We compare transaction fees, hardware usability, range of features and more, so you can get a better idea about which card machine provider suits you.
Takepayments Plus
Additional capabilities like split payments, inventory management, and detailed transaction reporting.
- Pros
- High-quality software
- Easy to set up
- Able to process cash payments
- Cons
- No transparent fees
- Requirement for a contract
As suggested by its name, Takepayments offers multiple ways of taking payment. 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.
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.
- Pros
- All-in-one system
- Competitively priced hardware
- No contract required
- Cons
- Expensive transaction fees
The Zettle 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 1.75%, so even though there are no rental fees and no monthly fees, it could still cost more than you think in the long run.
Want to know more about how Takepayments compares to Zettle?
To read more about the differences between takepayments and Zettle, read our takepayments vs Zettle article which covers everything from transaction costs to ease of use.
Verdict
Of the card machines explored above, the likely best choice is the Smartpay Touch from Barclaycard. It provides some of the most useful tools you’re likely to use in your business, and it can act as your principal business management tool, helping you to stay on top of your processes.
That said, it does come with monthly fees and a contract so if you are looking for something without that kind of ongoing commitment, a Square Terminal or SumUp solo might suit you better. Whatever the needs of your business are, there is a card machine here that would suit them. The most important thing is to consider each of your options carefully, that way you know your choice will be the right one.
FAQs
Which is the best mobile card reader?
The Smartpay Touch from Barclaycard is a strong choice of card machine for businesses that take payments on the go. It offers essential features to help you manage your business efficiently. However, it involves monthly fees and a contract so, if you prefer a more flexible solution, consider a Square Terminal or SumUp Solo.
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