Revolut Card Reader Review 2026: £49 Reader, 0.8% + 2p Fees
Revolut's card reader has one number that stops people scrolling: 0.8% + 2p on UK consumer Visa and Mastercard cards. That's well under the 1.69% to 1.75% most app based readers charge. There's a catch, of course. You need a Revolut Business account, and that account has its own plan fees. We checked Revolut's UK card machine page and its Business fee schedules in October 2026 to see what you'd really pay.
Overview
Revolut Business is a business current account that also lets you take payments: online, by payment link, by QR code, through Tap to Pay on iPhone and with two pieces of hardware, the Revolut Reader and the Revolut Terminal. Card takings settle into your Revolut Business account, and Revolut says you'll have access to funds within 24 hours with next day settlement.
There's no contract, no subscription for the card machines and no maintenance fee. You pay once for the device, then per transaction.
Quick verdict: If you're happy banking with Revolut, its reader is one of the cheapest ways to take cards in the UK on per transaction fees alone. Just add your Business plan fee to the sum, and bear in mind that non UK and Amex cards cost noticeably more.
Hardware
| Device | Price | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Revolut Reader | £49 one off | Pocket reader that pairs with your phone |
| Revolut Terminal | £169 + VAT one off | Standalone terminal, also takes Revolut Pay |
| Tap to Pay on iPhone | No hardware | Contactless on your phone |
| POS app for iPad | Included | For in store sales |
Source: revolut.com/business/accept-payments/card-machines-sme, checked October 2026.
Revolut says payments are accepted in under three seconds and the Reader handles chip and PIN and contactless. Revolut Pay in store is only available on the Terminal.
Fees
Revolut's UK Business fee schedules (versions applying from 17 February 2026) list the same payment processing fees on the Basic and Grow plans:
| Payment type | Fee |
|---|---|
| In person, UK consumer Visa and Mastercard | 0.8% + 2p |
| In person, Amex | 1.7% + 2p |
| In person, any other cards | 2.6% + 2p |
| Tap to Pay | Same percentages, but + 10p |
| Revolut Pay in store | 0.5% + 2p |
| Online, UK consumer Visa and Mastercard | 1% + 20p |
| Refunds | No additional fee |
Sources: revolut.com/legal/business-basic-fees and business-grow-fees, checked October 2026.
Business plan fees
You'll also pay for your Revolut Business plan. The fee schedules we checked list Basic at £10 a month and Grow at £35 a month or £360 a year. Plans differ in things like card numbers, ATM limits and transfers, so pick the plan for your banking needs, not just for the reader.
"Any other cards" matters
The 2.6% + 2p rate covers cards that aren't UK consumer Visa, Mastercard or Amex. That includes business cards and cards issued abroad. If you serve lots of tourists or trade customers, your average rate will be higher than 0.8%.
Worked monthly cost examples
These assume a £20 average sale, all on UK consumer Visa and Mastercard cards, and include the Basic plan at £10 a month.
| Monthly takings | Card fees (0.8% + 2p) | Plan fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| £2,000 | £18.00 | £10 | £28.00 |
| £10,000 | £90.00 | £10 | £100.00 |
| £30,000 | £270.00 | £10 | £280.00 |
Compare that with SumUp at 1.69% (£33.80, £169 and £507) or Square at 1.75% (£35, £175 and £525). Even with a plan fee, Revolut comes out cheaper in every row, as long as most of your customers pay with UK personal cards.
When it's less of a bargain
Say 30% of your £10,000 came from business or overseas cards. You'd pay about £81 on that £3,000 (2.6% plus 2p a sale) and about £63 on the other £7,000. With the £10 plan fee that's roughly £154 a month. Still cheaper than a 1.75% reader, but a long way from the headline £100.
Revolut for different businesses
Cafe
Low fees on lots of small payments make a real difference. The 2p fixed fee is tiny compared with 10p or 20p elsewhere. The Terminal's Revolut Pay option at 0.5% is a bonus if your regulars use Revolut.
Market stall
A £49 reader and no monthly hardware cost suits weekend trading. Check your phone signal at your pitch, as the Reader works through your phone.
Hairdresser
Fine for a small salon, and the iPad POS app helps with service lists. If you need appointment booking, check what you'll pair it with.
Trades
The Reader in your van, payment links for deposits and money straight into your business account is a tidy setup.
Taxi
Tap to Pay on iPhone avoids extra kit, but costs 10p per payment instead of 2p. On a £15 fare the Reader saves you 8p every trip.
Pros and cons
Pros
- 0.8% + 2p on UK consumer cards is among the lowest we've seen
- No contract, subscription or maintenance fee for the hardware
- Next day settlement into your Revolut Business account
- Takes payments in 35+ currencies
- Free refunds
Cons
- You must have a Revolut Business account, with its own plan fee
- 2.6% + 2p on business and non UK cards
- Revolut Pay in store only on the Terminal
- Takings land in Revolut, not your existing bank
Who it suits
Sole traders and small businesses who already bank with Revolut, or are happy to, and whose customers mostly pay with UK personal cards.
Setup tips
- Open the right account first. You need an active Revolut Business Merchant account before you can order a reader.
- Pick your plan on banking needs. The payment fees we checked were the same on Basic and Grow.
- Turn on Tap to Pay as a backup. Handy if the reader's flat, but remember it costs 10p rather than 2p per payment.
- Check your card mix after a month. Look at how much went through at 2.6% and decide whether that changes the maths.
What to check before you order
- Do you already use Revolut Business? If not, you'll need to open an account, which adds a step and may take a little while to verify.
- What cards do your customers use? Revolut's 0.8% + 2p is very cheap on UK consumer cards, but 2.6% + 2p on business and non UK cards is steep. A hotel or tourist spot may pay more than expected.
- Do you need receipts printed? The Reader doesn't print, so check the Terminal or a separate printer if customers ask for paper.
- Is your signal good? The Reader works through your phone, so weak mobile data or WiFi can slow payments down.
- Which plan are you on? Your Revolut Business plan has its own monthly fee, from £10 on Basic. Count that as part of your card payment costs.
Alternatives
- Tide card reader: another business account with a reader.
- Square: free POS and no account switch.
- Lopay: low cost app based payments.
- Tap to Pay on iPhone and Android: compare phone based options.
Verdict
Revolut's reader is a genuine bargain for businesses whose customers mostly use UK personal cards, even after the plan fee. Just go in knowing that business and overseas cards cost 2.6% + 2p, and that your money will sit in Revolut. For many small traders, that's a trade worth making.
FAQs
How much is the Revolut card reader?
The Revolut Reader costs £49 one off. The Revolut Terminal costs £169 + VAT.
What are Revolut's card reader fees?
0.8% + 2p on UK consumer Visa and Mastercard cards, 1.7% + 2p on Amex and 2.6% + 2p on other cards, according to Revolut's UK Business fee schedules.
Do I need a Revolut Business account?
Yes. Revolut says you need an active Revolut Business Merchant account to order and use its card machines.
Is there a contract?
No. Revolut says there's no contract, subscription or maintenance fee for its card machines.
How fast does Revolut pay out?
Revolut advertises next day settlement into your Revolut Business account.
Can Revolut take payments in other currencies?
Yes. It says you can accept payments in 35+ currencies and refund in the original currency.
Can I use the Revolut Reader abroad?
Check with Revolut before you travel. Its card acceptance terms and the countries it supports can change, and the Reader relies on your phone's connection.