Cheapest Card Machines UK 2026: Low Cost Options Ranked
The cheapest card machine isn't always the one with the lowest price tag. A £5 reader on a 12 month contract can cost you more than a £49 one if the fees are higher, and a free phone app can be the dearest of the lot once you add the per payment charges. So this list ranks the options two ways: what you pay to get started, and what you'll pay each month once you're up and running.
All prices below come from each provider's official UK website, checked October 2026. Hardware prices are ex VAT unless we say otherwise.
Cheapest card machines at a glance
| Card machine | Upfront cost | In person fee (UK consumer cards) | Monthly fee | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tap to Pay on your phone | £0 | Your provider's rate, sometimes plus a fixed fee | Depends on provider | Depends on provider |
| Elavon Mobile | £5 | 1.75% on personal Visa and Mastercard | £0 | 12 months |
| Square Reader | £19 list price | 1.75% | £0 | None |
| SumUp Solo Lite | £25 | 1.69% | £0 | None |
| PayPal Reader (Zettle) | £29 for new users | 1.75% | £0 | None |
| Lopay Card Reader | £35 plus P&P when ordered in the app | 0.79% to 1.79% depending on payout plan | £0 | None |
| Revolut Reader | £49 | 0.8% + 2p | Revolut Business plan from £10 | None |
| Stripe WisePad 3 | £49 | 1.4% + 10p | £0 | None |
Sources: each provider's UK pricing pages, checked October 2026.
Cheapest to buy
If all you care about is the smallest outlay today, the order is simple.
Tap to Pay costs nothing to start. If you've got a recent iPhone or a compatible Android phone, you can take contactless payments through apps such as SumUp, Square, Zettle, Revolut, Stripe and Lopay without buying any hardware. The catch is that it only takes contactless. Customers who need to put their card in and type a PIN can't pay this way, and some providers add a small fixed fee per payment. Lopay, for example, adds 8p to Tap to Pay payments, and Revolut charges 10p instead of 2p.
Elavon Mobile is the cheapest physical reader at £5. That's a one off price for a reader that pairs with your phone. It's a real bargain, but it comes with a 12 month contract and PCI non compliance fees if you don't complete your security checks within 90 days. If you're happy to commit for a year, it's hard to beat.
Square Reader at £19 is the cheapest no contract reader. You can walk away whenever you like, and Square's free point of sale app is excellent for a small shop or stall.
Cheapest to run
This is where the ranking changes. Once you're taking payments every week, the fee per payment matters far more than the price of the reader.
| Monthly card takings | Lopay Standard (0.99%) | Revolut (0.8% + 2p + £10 plan) | SumUp (1.69%) | Square or Zettle (1.75%) | Stripe (1.4% + 10p) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £500 | £4.95 | £14.50 | £8.45 | £8.75 | £9.50 |
| £2,000 | £19.80 | £28.00 | £33.80 | £35.00 | £38.00 |
| £5,000 | £49.50 | £55.00 | £84.50 | £87.50 | £95.00 |
| £10,000 | £99.00 | £100.00 | £169.00 | £175.00 | £190.00 |
These examples assume an average sale of £20 and that every payment is on a UK consumer Visa or Mastercard. Revolut's fixed 2p and Stripe's 10p are worked out on that £20 average. The Revolut column includes the £10 Basic plan.
A few things jump out:
- At low takings, a monthly plan fee hurts. Revolut's rate is very low, but the £10 plan makes it one of the dearer options if you only take £500 a month.
- Fixed fees punish small sales. Stripe's 10p is fine on a £50 sale and painful on a £2 one.
- Flat rate readers sit in the middle. SumUp, Square and Zettle cost roughly the same as each other on UK cards.
The cheapest options, one by one
1. Tap to Pay: cheapest to start
No hardware, no waiting for the post. It's ideal as a backup or for very occasional sales. We'd not rely on it alone at a busy counter, because chip and PIN customers will be stuck, and your phone battery becomes your till.
2. Elavon Mobile: cheapest reader
At £5 with a 1.75% rate on personal Visa and Mastercard and no monthly fee, it's cheap. The 12 month contract is the trade off. Read the PCI terms carefully, as non compliance fees start after 90 days if you haven't completed your questionnaire.
3. Square Reader: cheapest no contract reader
£19, 1.75% in person, free payouts to your own bank in one to two working days and a strong free app. Non UK cards cost 1.5% more, so it's a weaker pick in a tourist area.
4. SumUp Solo Lite: cheapest flat rate for regular trading
£25 and 1.69%, slightly lower than Square and Zettle. Payouts land in a free SumUp Business Account by 7am the next day. If your takings grow past about £2,700 a month, SumUp's Payments Plus plan at £19 a month and 0.99% on domestic consumer cards becomes cheaper.
5. PayPal Reader (Zettle): cheapest for mixed card types
£29 for your first reader as a new user, then £69 for extras. It charges 1.75% on all major cards, including Amex, so it's handy if you see a lot of overseas or premium cards. Money goes to your PayPal Business account.
6. Lopay: lowest flat percentage
Lopay's fees depend on how quickly you want your money. Its Essential plan is 0.79% with free payouts on Thursdays, Standard is 0.99% with free next day or scheduled payouts on weekdays, and Instant to bank is 1.79% with instant payouts any time. Amex, corporate and international cards cost 1% more. The reader is £35 plus postage when you order your first one in the app, or £49 otherwise. Payments are processed through Stripe.
7. Revolut Reader: cheapest per payment if you already bank with Revolut
0.8% + 2p on UK consumer cards is very cheap. But business and non UK cards are 2.6% + 2p, and you need a Revolut Business account with its own monthly plan. If you already pay for that plan, the reader is a cheap add on.
8. Stripe WisePad 3: cheapest for businesses already on Stripe
£49 and 1.4% + 10p. It's great if your website already uses Stripe, but most Stripe readers need a compatible app, so it's not the easiest pick for a beginner.
Hidden costs that make a cheap card machine expensive
- Contracts with exit fees. A cheap reader tied to a long contract can cost more than you saved.
- Monthly minimums. Some traditional providers charge a minimum monthly service charge, so a quiet month still costs you.
- PCI fees. Some providers charge a monthly PCI fee and a bigger fee if you're not compliant. Most no contract readers don't.
- Card mix. If many customers pay with business or overseas cards, a provider with a low headline rate on UK consumer cards may not be cheapest overall.
- Payout fees. Instant payouts often cost extra. Lopay builds it into a higher rate, and Square charges for instant transfers.
- Accessories. Docks, printers and cases aren't usually included.
Which cheap card machine suits you?
- You take the odd payment a few times a month: Tap to Pay, or a Square Reader if you need chip and PIN.
- You run a market stall or pop up: SumUp Solo Lite or Square Reader. Both are no contract and quick to set up. Lopay's worth a look if you don't mind waiting for payouts.
- You take a few thousand pounds a month: compare Lopay Standard, SumUp and Revolut on your real card mix.
- You're happy to sign for a year to save on hardware: Elavon Mobile at £5.
- You get lots of tourists: Zettle's single 1.75% rate is easier to live with than surcharges on non UK cards.
How to work out your own cheapest option
- Pull your last three months of card takings. Use your average, not your best month.
- Estimate your average sale. This shows how much fixed pence per payment fees will cost you.
- Guess your card mix. How many customers pay with business, Amex or overseas cards?
- Add any monthly fees. Include plan fees and any bank account fees you'd need.
- Add the hardware cost spread over a year. A £49 reader is about £4 a month in year one.
The provider with the lowest total is your cheapest card machine, whatever the sticker price says.
If you'd like to see how pay as you go readers compare with countertop terminals, our guide to PDQ machines explains the bigger terminals, and our Lopay card reader and Tide card reader pages cover two more low cost options in detail.
FAQs
What is the cheapest card machine in the UK?
On upfront price, Tap to Pay on your phone is free and Elavon Mobile is the cheapest physical reader at £5 ex VAT, though it has a 12 month contract. The cheapest no contract reader is the Square Reader at £19 ex VAT list price. On running costs, Lopay's 0.79% Essential plan has the lowest published percentage on UK consumer cards, as long as you're happy with weekly payouts.
Is a free card machine really free?
Not usually. Free hardware is normally paid for through higher fees, a monthly charge or a contract. Always add up the total cost over a year.
Are cheap card readers safe?
Yes, if they're from a regulated UK provider. The big names all use encrypted readers and are PCI compliant. The risk is less about security and more about hidden fees or contracts.
Can I use a cheap card reader without a smartphone?
Most cheap readers pair with a smartphone or tablet. If you don't want to use a phone, you'll need a standalone terminal, such as the SumUp Solo at £79 ex VAT, which costs more.
Do cheap card machines accept Amex?
Many do. SumUp, Square, Zettle and Revolut accept Amex, sometimes at a higher rate. Check the provider's pricing page before you rely on it.
How quickly will I get paid?
It depends on the provider and plan. SumUp pays by 7am the next day into its own business account, Square takes one to two working days for free, Zettle typically pays into PayPal within minutes and Lopay's speed depends on your plan.