7 Best Card Machines With No Monthly Fee UK 2026 (Fees Checked)
A monthly fee is money you pay whether you sell £10 or £10,000. If you trade at weekends, run a seasonal business or you're just getting started, that can make a card machine a cost before it's a tool. The good news is there are plenty of UK card machines with no monthly fee at all. We went through each provider's official UK pricing in October 2026 and picked out seven worth your time, along with the catches.
At a glance
| Card machine | Hardware price | In person fee (UK cards) | Contract | Payouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SumUp Solo Lite | £25 ex VAT | 1.69% | None | By 7am next day to SumUp Business Account |
| Square Reader | £19 ex VAT list price | 1.75% | None | Free in 1 to 2 working days to your bank |
| PayPal Reader (Zettle) | £29 ex VAT for new users | 1.75% | None | To PayPal, typically within minutes |
| Revolut Reader | £49 | 0.8% + 2p | None, but Business plan fee applies | Next day to Revolut Business |
| Stripe Terminal (WisePad 3) | £49 ex VAT | 1.4% + 10p | None | Rolling, weekly or monthly |
| Elavon Mobile | £5 one off | 1.75% on personal Visa and Mastercard | 12 months | To your bank |
| Tap to Pay on your phone | £0 hardware | Your provider's rate | Depends on provider | Depends on provider |
All prices from official UK provider websites, checked October 2026.
1. SumUp: best all rounder
SumUp's pay as you go plan has no monthly fee, no contract and a 1.69% rate on in person cards. The Solo Lite reader costs £25 ex VAT and pairs with your phone; the standalone Solo is £79 ex VAT. Takings land in a free SumUp Business Account by 7am the next day, weekends included.
Watch for: If your card takings pass about £3,000 a month, SumUp's optional Payments Plus plan (£19 a month for 0.99% on domestic consumer cards) works out cheaper, even though it has a fee.
2. Square: best free software
Square charges 1.75% on UK cards in person with no monthly fee on its Free plan. The Square Reader is £19 ex VAT list price. The free POS includes an online store, invoices, a virtual terminal and Square Appointments for salons. Payouts go to your bank free in one to two working days.
Watch for: Non UK cards cost an extra 1.5%. Paid Plus plans from £29 a month add industry features you might not need.
3. Zettle by PayPal: best for PayPal users
Zettle (now PayPal Point of Sale) charges 1.75% on all major cards including Amex, with no monthly fee. The first PayPal Reader is £29 ex VAT for new business users. Money usually reaches your PayPal Business account within minutes.
Watch for: Extra readers cost £69 ex VAT. Payment Links were temporarily unavailable for new sellers when we checked.
4. Revolut: lowest per transaction fee
Revolut's Reader costs £49 one off and charges 0.8% + 2p on UK consumer Visa and Mastercard cards, with no contract or subscription for the hardware. The Terminal is £169 + VAT.
Watch for: You need a Revolut Business account, and plans carry fees (Basic was £10 a month and Grow £35 in the fee schedules we checked). So it's no monthly card machine fee, not no monthly fee at all. Business and non UK cards cost 2.6% + 2p.
5. Stripe Terminal: best for online businesses
Stripe charges 1.4% + 10p on UK and other EEA cards in person, with no monthly or setup fees on standard pricing. The BBPOS WisePad 3 reader is £49 ex VAT.
Watch for: You need a POS app that supports Stripe Terminal. The 10p fixed fee makes small sales expensive, and cellular readers cost £7 a month each for data.
6. Elavon Mobile: cheapest hardware
Elavon's Start simple plan gives you the Elavon Mobile reader for a £5 one off fee, with no monthly fee and 1.75% on personal Visa and Mastercard cards. Money goes straight into your own bank account.
Watch for: It still comes with a 12 month contract, and non compliance fees apply if you don't complete PCI checks within 90 days.
7. Tap to Pay: no hardware at all
SumUp, Square, Zettle, Revolut and Stripe all offer Tap to Pay, letting you take contactless payments on a compatible phone. There's nothing to buy.
Watch for: Revolut and Stripe both charge 10p more per Tap to Pay payment than with a reader. Customers can't insert a card or enter a PIN on most setups, so you may lose the odd sale. See our Tap to Pay guide.
Worked monthly cost examples
Assumes all UK consumer cards and a £20 average sale. Revolut includes the £10 Basic plan.
| Monthly takings | SumUp (1.69%) | Square or Zettle (1.75%) | Revolut (0.8% + 2p + £10) | Stripe (1.4% + 10p) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £2,000 | £33.80 | £35.00 | £28.00 | £38.00 |
| £10,000 | £169.00 | £175.00 | £100.00 | £190.00 |
| £30,000 | £507.00 | £525.00 | £280.00 | £570.00 |
At £10,000 a month or more, a plan with a monthly fee and a lower rate can beat all the flat rate options. SumUp's Payments Plus would cost about £118 at £10,000. So "no monthly fee" is best when your takings are low or unpredictable.
Hidden costs to check on no monthly fee readers
No monthly fee doesn't always mean no other costs. Before you order, look for these:
- Higher rates on some cards. Square adds 1.5% for non UK cards. Revolut charges 2.6% + 2p on business and non UK cards. Zettle charges a flat 1.75% across major cards.
- Fixed fees per payment. Revolut adds 2p and Stripe 10p per payment. On a £3 coffee, Stripe's fee is 14p, or about 4.7%.
- Tap to Pay surcharges. Revolut charges 10p rather than 2p per Tap to Pay payment, and Stripe adds an extra 10p on top of its usual fee.
- Instant payout fees. Square's free payouts take one to two working days; paying for faster access costs extra.
- Online and invoice fees. If you plan to send invoices or payment links, check those rates too. Square charges 2.5% for invoices, as does Zettle for sellers who joined before 8 May 2023, and SumUp has a paid Invoices Plus tier.
- Accessories. Printers, docks and cases are usually extra.
Reader vs standalone terminal
A phone paired reader is the cheapest way in. A standalone terminal costs more but has its own screen, SIM or WiFi and sometimes a printer.
| Phone paired reader | Standalone terminal | |
|---|---|---|
| Examples | SumUp Solo Lite £25, Square Reader £19, PayPal Reader £29 (all ex VAT) | SumUp Solo £79, SumUp Terminal £135, Square Terminal £149, PayPal Terminal £149 (all ex VAT) |
| Needs a phone | Yes | No |
| Receipt printing | By email or SMS | Built in on some models |
| Best for | Occasional sales, mobile traders | Busy counters, staff sharing a device |
If you're the only person taking payments and you always have your phone, a reader is fine. If staff take payments or you want to keep your phone free, spend more on a terminal.
When to move to a plan with a fee
As your takings grow, the flat rate starts to cost more than a subscription would. Here's roughly where the switch makes sense on published rates:
- SumUp Payments Plus (£19 a month, 0.99% on domestic consumer cards) beats SumUp pay as you go once you take about £2,700 a month.
- Elavon Business Booster Desk (£15 a month, 0.99% on personal Visa and Mastercard, 12 month contract) beats a 1.75% reader once you take about £2,000 a month.
Check your last three months of takings, not just your best month, before you commit.
Which suits your business?
Cafe
If you take more than £3,000 a month, compare a low rate plan with a fee. Under that, SumUp or Square.
Market stall
SumUp's Solo or Square's Reader. No monthly cost through the winter.
Hairdresser
Square, for its free appointments system.
Trades
SumUp or Square, both with invoicing. Revolut if you want low fees and banking in one.
Taxi
A standalone SumUp Solo or Tap to Pay on your phone. Avoid fixed monthly costs if you drive part time.
How to choose
- Estimate your monthly card takings. Below about £3,000, no monthly fee usually wins.
- Decide where you want your money. Your bank, PayPal or a provider account.
- Check your card mix. Lots of tourists? Watch non UK card rates.
- Think about software. Bookings, stock or an online shop may matter more than a few pence on fees.
Our Square card reader guide and Lopay review cover two more low cost options.
FAQs
Can I get a card machine with no monthly fee?
Yes. SumUp, Square, Zettle, Stripe and Elavon Mobile all have options with no monthly fee. Revolut has no fee for the card machine, but you'll pay for a Revolut Business plan.
What's the cheapest card machine with no monthly fee?
On hardware, Elavon Mobile at £5, though it has a 12 month contract. Among no contract readers, the Square Reader at £19 ex VAT list price.
Which no monthly fee card reader has the lowest rate?
Revolut, at 0.8% + 2p on UK consumer cards, if you're happy to use a Revolut Business account.
Are no monthly fee card machines worth it for busy businesses?
Often not. Above about £3,000 a month, a plan with a fee and a lower rate is usually cheaper.
Do no monthly fee readers need a contract?
Most don't. Elavon Mobile is the exception, with a 12 month contract.
Can I use my phone as a card machine?
Yes, with Tap to Pay on a compatible iPhone or Android phone through providers such as SumUp, Square, Zettle, Revolut and Stripe.
Do I need a business bank account for a no monthly fee card reader?
Not always. Square and Elavon pay into your existing bank account. SumUp gives you a free SumUp Business Account, Zettle pays into PayPal and Revolut requires a Revolut Business account.
Can I use a no monthly fee reader for a seasonal business?
Yes, and it's one of the best uses for them. If you trade at summer festivals or a Christmas market, you pay nothing in the months you're closed. Just charge the reader before your first event, update the app and run a test payment, as a reader left in a drawer for months may need a software update before it works.