Best Card Machines for Restaurants and Cafés (2026)

A restaurant card machine has a harder job than most. It needs to go to the table, split a bill four ways, take a tip, survive a dropped plate and do it all on a Friday night when the kitchen's flat out. And because restaurants run on thin margins with daily supplier bills, the fees and payout times matter just as much as the hardware.

Here's how the main options compare for restaurants and cafés, using prices and features from providers' official UK websites, checked October 2026.

At a glance

Hardware prices ex VAT.

What restaurants need from a card machine

• Pay at table. A portable or mobile machine so the card never leaves the customer's sight.
• Bill splitting. Splitting by amount or by item saves time at the end of a meal.
• Tipping on screen. Customers can add a tip as they pay.
• Integration with your EPOS. So the bill comes up on the machine and you don't type amounts.
• Fast payouts. For daily stock and weekly wages.
• Reliable WiFi or 4G. Including in the garden or on the terrace.
• Good support. Especially evenings and weekends.

1. Dojo: simple blended rate for busy restaurants

Dojo is a hospitality favourite. For businesses with card turnover under £100,000 a year, it publishes a 1.2% blended rate on all card transactions. Above that, it offers custom rates on a 12 month fixed plan or 30 day rolling. The Dojo Pocket costs £149 upfront or £25 a month, and the Dojo Wired £239 or £20 a month. Payouts arrive next day.

Dojo's Essential plan is free per location. Its Plus plan adds features such as customer spend tracking, competitor benchmarking and remote refunds for £25 a month per location, offered at £11.99 for new customers and new locations from 24 August 2026.

Best for: restaurants that want a simple rate and strong hospitality features.

2. Teya: fast payouts, including weekends

Teya focuses on hospitality and pays out next day, including weekends. That's handy when your busiest days are Friday to Sunday. Pricing is quote based. Our Teya card machine guide covers it in more detail.

Best for: restaurants and cafés whose takings peak at weekends.

3. Square for Restaurants: best all in one system

Square's in person rate is 1.75% on UK cards. Its free point of sale is a great start for a café, and paid restaurant plans from £29 a month add table management, coursing and more. Add ons include kitchen display screens from £15 per device a month and kiosks at £35 per device a month. The Square Terminal costs £149 ex VAT.

Best for: cafés and restaurants that want card payments, POS and kitchen tools from one provider.

4. SumUp Terminal: budget option for small cafés

The SumUp Terminal costs £135 ex VAT, has a free SIM and a built in printer, and charges 1.69% on UK cards. If your café takes more than about £2,700 a month by card, Payments Plus at £19 a month and 0.99% on domestic consumer cards is cheaper. Payouts arrive by 7am the next day.

Best for: small cafés and coffee shops.

5. Zettle by PayPal: good for tourist spots

Zettle charges 1.75% on all major cards, including Amex and overseas cards, with no monthly fee. The PayPal Terminal costs £149 ex VAT and works on 4G and WiFi.

Best for: cafés in tourist areas with lots of overseas cards.

6. Stripe Terminal: for custom setups

Stripe charges 1.4% + 10p on EEA cards in person. The S700 smart reader costs £229 ex VAT. Stripe works best when your ordering or POS app already supports it.

Best for: restaurants with their own app or online ordering on Stripe.

For more hospitality focused systems, see our guide to Shift4 SkyTab.

Cost examples

Rates on UK consumer cards. Excludes hardware, plan fees and any other charges. At £20,000 a month your yearly turnover is above £100,000, so Dojo would quote a custom rate.

Pay at table vs pay at counter

Tips and tipping

Most modern terminals can show tip options on screen, such as 10%, 12.5% or a custom amount. Since October 2024, the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act requires employers to pass on all tips to workers and to have a written tipping policy. Make sure your card machine and payroll records make it easy to track card tips.

How many card machines do you need?

A rough guide, though your layout and service style matter more than the numbers:

Always keep a spare charged. On a busy night, one dead battery can slow the whole floor.

EPOS integration: why it matters

If your card machine connects to your EPOS, the bill total goes straight to the terminal. Staff don't type amounts, so there are fewer mistakes and no mismatched totals at the end of the night. Payments, tips and refunds then match up in one set of reports.

Before you sign, ask:

• Does the card machine integrate with my current EPOS?
• Will the bill appear on the terminal, or will staff type it?
• Do tips flow back into the EPOS for reporting?
• Who do I call when the integration stops working?

If you're starting from scratch, an all in one system such as Square for Restaurants, Dojo or Teya removes this question.

Common mistakes restaurants make

• Choosing on rate alone. A slightly higher rate with better EPOS integration and support can save more in staff time than it costs.
• Not testing the garden. The terrace in summer is where WiFi usually fails.
• One terminal for a full restaurant. Servers end up queuing for the machine.
• Ignoring weekend payouts. If Saturday's takings arrive on Tuesday, wages and stock can feel tight.
• Long contracts before you know your numbers. A new restaurant's takings can change a lot in the first year.

A busy service checklist

• All terminals charged before service.
• Spare terminal on the dock.
• Paper rolls stocked, if you print.
• Test payment on each machine at opening.
• Staff know how to split bills and refund.
• Tap to Pay set up on the manager's phone as backup.

Tips for choosing

• Count your tables and staff. You may need several portable machines.
• Test WiFi everywhere, including outdoor seating. Choose 4G if it's patchy.
• Check your EPOS integration before you sign.
• Ask about weekend payouts. It matters when your peak is Friday to Sunday.
• Don't forget the takeaway side. Can the same system handle online orders?

FAQs

What card machine do most restaurants use?

There's no single answer. Dojo, Teya and Square are all popular with UK restaurants, alongside the bank owned providers and EPOS specific systems.

What's the best card machine for a small café?

A SumUp Terminal or Square setup is often the best value. Both have no contract options and good café features.

Can restaurant card machines split bills?

Yes. Most modern terminals and POS systems let you split by amount or by item.

Do I need a portable card machine for table service?

Yes, ideally. It lets customers pay at the table and keeps their card in sight.

How do tips on card work?

Customers add a tip on the card machine screen as they pay. By law, employers must pass all tips to workers and keep a written tipping policy.

Which restaurant card machine pays out fastest?

SumUp pays by 7am next day, every day. Teya pays next day, including weekends. Zettle typically pays into PayPal within minutes.

Can customers pay with Apple Pay and Google Pay at the table?

Yes. Any contactless card machine accepts Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay. For bigger bills, phone payments are often easier than contactless cards, because the customer is checked on their phone.

Is it worth paying for a restaurant plan?

If you use the features, often yes. Table plans, coursing and kitchen displays save time on busy nights. If you're a small café with counter service, a free plan is usually enough to start with.

Should restaurants accept Amex?

Many do, as business diners and visitors often use it. Check what your provider charges for Amex. Some, like Zettle and Dojo's blended rate, include it in one price, while others charge more.

Can I use the same card machine for deliveries?

If it has a SIM, yes. A mobile terminal can go out with a delivery driver and come back for service. A WiFi only machine won't work once it leaves your premises.