Best card machine for Free Now drivers UK 2026
Compare the UK shortlist below, then get matched quotes from the acquirers most likely to approve you and beat your current pricing.
For UK Free Now (formerly mytaxi, Hailo) drivers operating across London, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow and the wider Free Now UK network. Platform fares settle via Free Now in-app; this guide covers off-platform fares: corporate accounts, direct bookings, hotel concierge referrals.
Based on MerchantHQ terminal reviews and our ranking methodology.
The ranking
Ranked on fit for this use case. The score beside each pick is that terminal's overall review score across all uses, so a lower-scored terminal can rank higher here when it suits this job better. The rate, hardware and contract lines come from the same terminal data as the comparison table below.
1. Tap to Pay on iPhone (no terminal)
Review score 4.2 / 5Best for Free Now driver off-platform
Software on an iPhone Xs or later, no separate terminal · Set by the provider you use it with; see that provider's own pricing page · No fixed term for the feature itself; any contract is with your provider
Tap to Pay on iPhone: zero hardware, no contract, no monthly fee. iPhone in the dashboard mount becomes the card reader at the end of the off-platform fare. Best for the typical Free Now driver doing under £10k monthly off-platform card volume.
2. SumUp Solo
Review score 4.2 / 5Best dedicated Free Now off-platform reader
Portable standalone touchscreen terminal (no built-in printer; Solo Lite is the cheaper phone-paired version) · 1.69% per transaction · No contract
SumUp Solo at £79 + VAT with 1.69% rate. Standalone 4G works without phone tether so your phone stays on the Free Now app and GPS.
3. Tide Card Reader
Review score 3.8 / 5Best for Tide Business banking Free Now driver
Compact Bluetooth-paired reader (similar to Zettle / SumUp) · 1.5% per transaction (UK) · No contract
Tide Card Reader at £49 with 1.5% rate, same-day to Tide Business banking.
Quick comparison
Headline rate, hardware cost, contract and form factor at a glance.
| Rank | Terminal | Rate | Hardware | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Tap to Pay on iPhone (no terminal) | Set by the provider you use it with; see that provider's own pricing page | £0 hardware (you already have the iPhone) | No fixed term for the feature itself; any contract is with your provider |
| #2 | SumUp Solo | 1.69% per transaction | £79 + VAT list price (SumUp often discounts it) | No contract |
| #3 | Tide Card Reader | 1.5% per transaction (UK) | £49 hardware | No contract |
FAQs
Do Free Now drivers need a separate card machine?
For Free Now in-app fares: no, the platform handles payment. For off-platform fares: yes. Tap to Pay on iPhone is the cheapest setup. Free Now (formerly mytaxi and Hailo) primarily serves the licensed Hackney carriage / black cab fleet, so most Free Now drivers also have TfL-compliant on-meter card requirements; off-platform handles the non-Free-Now trade.
How is Free Now different from Uber for taxi drivers?
Free Now historically focused on licensed black cabs (Hackney carriage) rather than private hire. As of 2026 Free Now serves both. Drivers can run platform-side via Free Now app and off-platform-side via Tap to Pay on iPhone or dedicated reader.
Can Free Now drivers run Free Now and Uber simultaneously?
Yes in most UK cities. Multi-platform drivers commonly run Free Now + Uber + Bolt simultaneously, picking whichever platform has the highest-paying fare available at any moment. Off-platform card-machine spend (Tap to Pay on iPhone, SumUp Solo) covers all non-platform fares regardless of which platforms the driver is otherwise logged into.
What does Free Now charge drivers as commission?
Around 10-15% commission on Free Now fares as of 2026, varying by city and service tier. Off-platform fares via direct card payment to the driver have zero commission to Free Now or any other platform, so off-platform fare income net-of-card-machine-fees is higher than platform fare income net-of-platform-commission.
How we rank
Rankings are built by desk research from each provider's published rates, upfront costs, contract lengths and settlement terms, held in a dated record per terminal (last-reviewed date shown on this page) and re-checked when published pricing changes. We do not hands-on test every device; specs are taken from provider documentation and cited. No provider pays for inclusion or position. MerchantHQ is an introducer. Quote enquiries go to one card-payments broker, Merchant Advice Service, which pays us a fee for each introduction; acquirers do not pay us commission on quote enquiries. That fee never affects a ranking. See our methodology and how we are funded.
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