Best Card Machines for Retail Shops (2026)
In a shop, the card machine sits at the heart of the till. It needs to be quick, reliable and tied into how you track stock, so you know when to reorder and what's actually selling. Get it right and the queue moves. Get it wrong and you're typing prices by hand while customers wait.
Here's how to choose a card machine for a retail shop, from a gift shop to a busy convenience store, with prices from providers' official UK websites, checked October 2026.
At a glance
| Provider | Best for | In person pricing | Hardware (ex VAT) | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Square | Independent shops wanting free POS and stock control | 1.75% on UK cards | Terminal £149, Reader £19 | None |
| SumUp | Small shops on a budget | 1.69%, or 0.99% with Payments Plus at £19 a month | Terminal £135, Solo £79 | None |
| Zettle by PayPal | Shops with tourists | 1.75% on all major cards | PayPal Terminal £149 | None |
| Dojo | Busier shops wanting a blended rate | 1.2% under £100,000 a year; custom above | Pocket £149, Wired £239 | Plans vary |
| Worldpay | Shops wanting a bank style provider | 1.50% Simplicity | Hire | 18 month hire |
| Elavon | Shops happy with a 12 month contract for a lower rate | 0.99% on Desk at £15 a month | Included in plan | 12 months |
What shops need from a card machine
Speed. Fast contactless to keep the queue moving.
Stock control. Barcode scanning, product libraries and low stock alerts.
Countertop reliability. Mains power, good WiFi or a wired connection.
Reports. Best sellers, quiet hours and staff performance.
Integration. With your till, your online shop and your accounting software.
Fair fees. Margins in retail can be tight.
1. Square: best free POS for independent shops
Square's free point of sale handles product libraries, stock counts and sales reports, with card payments at 1.75% on UK cards. The Square Terminal costs £149 ex VAT, and paid retail plans from £29 a month add more advanced stock tools. Square also has a free online store, so your shop and website can share the same stock.
Good for: gift shops, boutiques and independents selling online too.
2. SumUp: low cost for small shops
SumUp charges 1.69% on UK cards with no monthly fee. The SumUp Terminal costs £135 ex VAT, with a free SIM and built in printer. Once your takings pass about £2,700 a month, Payments Plus at £19 a month and 0.99% on domestic consumer cards is cheaper.
Good for: small shops and new retailers.
3. Zettle by PayPal: one rate for every card
Zettle charges 1.75% on all major cards, including Amex and overseas cards. The PayPal Terminal is £149 ex VAT, and PayPal sells a barcode scanner version separately.
Good for: shops in tourist areas.
4. Dojo: simple blended rate as you grow
Dojo's 1.2% blended rate applies to businesses taking under £100,000 a year by card. Above that, custom rates are available. Payouts are next day.
Good for: busier shops that want a single rate.
5. Worldpay: bank style provider
Worldpay's Simplicity offer charges 1.50% with no authorisation fees and no minimum monthly service charge on Visa and Mastercard, with terminal hire on an 18 month agreement. Payouts are next business day.
Good for: shops wanting an established provider and predictable pricing.
6. Elavon: low rate on a 12 month contract
Elavon's Desk plan is £15 a month for 0.99% on personal Visa and Mastercard, on a 12 month contract. That's a good rate for steady takings.
Good for: established shops that are happy to commit.
Cost examples
| Monthly card takings | Square or Zettle (1.75%) | SumUp Payments Plus (0.99% + £19) | Elavon Desk (0.99% + £15) | Dojo (1.2%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £3,000 | £52.50 | £48.70 | £44.70 | £36.00 |
| £6,000 | £105.00 | £78.40 | £74.40 | £72.00 |
| £12,000 | £210.00 | £137.80 | £133.80 | Custom rate (over £100k a year) |
Rates on UK consumer cards. Excludes hardware, PCI and other fees.
Countertop, portable or both?
Most shops need a countertop terminal at the till. A portable or mobile terminal is useful if you:
- Help customers on the shop floor.
- Run a pop up or market stall as well.
- Take payment at the door during busy sales.
Our guide to PDQ machines explains the different terminal types, and our Castles card machines page covers another popular terminal brand.
Stock control: why it matters
If your card machine connects to a POS with stock control, every sale updates your stock. You can see what's selling, spot slow lines and get low stock alerts. For shops with lots of products, this alone can save hours a week.
Things to check:
- Can you scan barcodes?
- Can you handle variants, such as sizes and colours?
- Can you import your product list from a spreadsheet?
- Does it sync with your online shop?
Setups by type of shop
| Shop | Suggested setup |
|---|---|
| Small gift shop or boutique | Square Terminal or Reader with free POS and online store |
| Convenience store | Fast countertop terminal linked to an EPOS with barcode scanning |
| Farm shop | Terminal with a SIM if WiFi is patchy, plus stock control for produce |
| Clothing shop | POS that handles sizes and colours |
| Bookshop | Barcode scanning and a big product library |
| Seasonal shop | No contract terminal to avoid paying through quiet months |
Questions to ask before you sign
- What's my total monthly cost on my real takings, including rental and PCI?
- Does the terminal work with my current till or EPOS?
- Can I scan barcodes and import my products?
- When will I be paid, and is that every day or working days only?
- How long is the contract, and what does it cost to leave?
- What's the rate on Amex, business and overseas cards?
- How quickly will a broken terminal be replaced?
Common mistakes shops make
Choosing a card machine that doesn't talk to the till. Staff end up typing the total twice, and mistakes creep in. Check compatibility first.
Paying for features you don't use. A paid retail plan is worth it if you use the stock tools. If you don't, the free version may be enough.
Staying on a flat rate too long. Once you're taking several thousand pounds a month, a monthly plan or a blended rate can save hundreds a year. Run the numbers every year.
No backup. When the broadband drops on a Saturday, a terminal with 4G or Tap to Pay on a phone keeps the shop trading.
Forgetting the online shop. If you sell online too, having one system for both keeps stock and reporting accurate.
A quick example
A gift shop takes £6,000 a month by card. On a 1.75% flat rate, that's £105 a month. On SumUp Payments Plus at 0.99% plus £19, it's £78.40, saving about £320 a year. On Dojo's 1.2% blended rate, it's £72, saving about £396 a year. Hardware and any other fees will shift these numbers slightly, but the gap is big enough to be worth a look.
Tips for shops
- Put the card machine where customers can reach it. Don't make them stretch over the counter.
- Keep a backup. Tap to Pay on a phone, or a spare reader.
- Train staff on refunds and exchanges.
- Check your end of day reports. Spot mistakes early.
- Review your costs yearly. As your takings grow, a monthly plan may save money.
FAQs
What's the best card machine for a small shop?
For most independent shops, Square or SumUp. Square has the stronger free POS and stock tools, while SumUp has slightly lower pay as you go fees.
Do I need a POS system as well as a card machine?
Not always. Small shops can type amounts into a card machine. A POS adds stock control and reports, which become more useful as you grow.
Can my card machine scan barcodes?
Some can, with a scanner attached or built in. PayPal sells a barcode scanner version of its Terminal, and Square's POS works with barcode scanners.
Should a shop rent or buy a card machine?
Buying a terminal on a no contract plan is usually simplest for small shops. Renting can make sense if it comes with a lower rate.
Which card machine is cheapest for a shop?
It depends on your takings. At a few thousand pounds a month, monthly plans such as SumUp Payments Plus or Elavon Desk can beat flat rates. Dojo's 1.2% blended rate is competitive under £100,000 a year.
How fast will I get paid?
SumUp pays by 7am next day, Dojo next day, Worldpay next business day and Square free in one to two working days.
Can I use the same system in more than one shop?
Yes, most POS providers support multiple locations. Square, SumUp and Zettle let you see each shop's sales separately and together, though multi location stock tools may need a paid plan.
What happens if my card machine goes offline?
Some terminals can take offline payments for a short time and process them once they reconnect, but you take the risk if a card is declined later. A terminal with a SIM, or Tap to Pay on a phone, is a safer backup.
Do I need to tell customers about card fees?
You can't add a surcharge to UK consumer card payments, so build card costs into your prices instead. A minimum spend for card payments is allowed, but many shops find it puts customers off.