Best card terminals UK 2026
Compare the UK shortlist below, then get matched quotes from the acquirers most likely to approve you and beat your current pricing.
The best card terminal in the UK in 2026 is Dojo Go Max for £10k+ monthly card volume (same-next-day settlement, 1.2% blended below £100,000 a year in card takings (custom rate above), 12-month contract), SumUp Solo for sub-£10k no-contract (1.69% flat, £79 + VAT hardware), Square Terminal for independent retail all-in-one (no contract, 1.75%, built-in printer), and Tap to Pay on iPhone for mobile traders with zero hardware. Whole-of-market editorial pick, scored on rate, hardware, contract terms, settlement timing and acquirer reliability.
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. Dojo Go Max
Review score 4.4 / 5Best overall for hospitality and high-volume retail
Portable countertop terminal · 1.2% blended below £100,000 a year in card takings (custom rate above) · 12 months minimum
Dojo Go Max is the strongest UK card terminal for any merchant doing £10k+ monthly card volume in 2026. Same-next-day settlement (including weekends), robust hardware, multi-network connectivity, and a published 1.2% blended below £100,000 a year in card takings (custom rate above). The 12-month contract is the trade-off; for the right volume profile it is the right answer.
2. SumUp Solo
Review score 4.2 / 5Best no-contract for sub-£10k monthly volume
Portable standalone touchscreen terminal (no built-in printer; Solo Lite is the cheaper phone-paired version) · 1.69% per transaction · No contract
SumUp Solo is the strongest no-contract UK terminal. £79 + VAT hardware, 1.69% flat rate, free 4G SIM, full-day battery. Built for sole traders, mobile traders, market stalls, and seasonal businesses. Locked into the SumUp ecosystem; not the right answer above ~£15k monthly volume.
3. Square Terminal
Review score 4.1 / 5Best all-in-one for independent retail
All-in-one countertop terminal with receipt printer · 1.75% per transaction (UK) · No contract
Square Terminal is the strongest no-contract all-in-one in 2026. Built-in receipt printer, software-rich POS, tight integration with the wider Square stack (online store, invoices, inventory). The 1.75% UK rate is uncompetitive at higher volumes; below £20k monthly it is the best plug-and-play choice.
4. Tap to Pay on iPhone (no terminal)
Review score 4.2 / 5Best zero-hardware option
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 turns a compatible iPhone into the card reader. Zero hardware cost (you already have the iPhone), no contract, choose the acquirer (SumUp, Square, Zettle, Stripe, Tide, or Revolut). Best fit for mobile trades, plumbers, electricians, dog groomers, mobile beauty.
5. Stripe Reader S700
Review score 4.0 / 5Best for tech-led businesses on Stripe
Touchscreen handheld smart terminal, 5.5in display, Android 10 (no built-in printer; external receipt printer via the optional dock or hub) · 1.4% + 10p EEA cards, 2.9% + 10p non-EEA (Stripe standard Terminal pricing) · No contract (Stripe standard pay-as-you-go terms)
Stripe Reader S700 is the strongest fit for businesses already running on Stripe online. Tight integration with Stripe Connect, Billing and Tax. The case for it is the developer ecosystem rather than the rate; not the right answer for plug-and-play SMB without development resource.
6. Tyl by NatWest
Review score 3.7 / 5Best for NatWest Business banking customers
Countertop and portable terminal options · Published standard rate 1.39% + 5p; bespoke pricing for higher-turnover merchants · 12 to 18 months typical
Tyl is NatWest's SMB-payments product with a published 1.39% + 5p standard rate and bespoke pricing that gets more competitive at higher volumes, for existing NatWest banking customers. Bank-grade settlement reliability. Contract lengths still longer than fintech alternatives.
7. Tide Card Reader
Review score 3.8 / 5Best for Tide Business banking customers
Compact Bluetooth-paired reader (similar to Zettle / SumUp) · 1.5% per transaction (UK) · No contract
Tide Card Reader is the cheapest UK mainstream rate at 1.5% per transaction, conditional on being a Tide Business banking customer. £49 hardware, no contract, same-day settlement to a Tide account. Locked to the Tide stack; less compelling outside it.
8. Revolut Card Reader
Review score 3.7 / 5Best for international and multi-currency
Compact Bluetooth-paired reader · 0.8% to 1.0% per transaction (depending on subscription tier) · Subscription-tier dependent (Revolut Business plan)
Revolut Card Reader runs at 0.8% to 1.0% per transaction depending on Revolut Business plan. Strong international payments and FX integration. Best fit for businesses with multi-currency flow already on Revolut Business; less compelling as a standalone choice.
Quick comparison
Headline rate, hardware cost, contract and form factor at a glance.
| Rank | Terminal | Rate | Hardware | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Dojo Go Max | 1.2% blended below £100,000 a year in card takings (custom rate above) | £149 upfront on a launch offer (£229 full price) or £25 a month | 12 months minimum |
| #2 | SumUp Solo | 1.69% per transaction | £79 + VAT list price (SumUp often discounts it) | No contract |
| #3 | Square Terminal | 1.75% per transaction (UK) | £149 + VAT | No contract |
| #4 | 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 |
| #5 | Stripe Reader S700 | 1.4% + 10p EEA cards, 2.9% + 10p non-EEA (Stripe standard Terminal pricing) | £229 excl. VAT | No contract (Stripe standard pay-as-you-go terms) |
| #6 | Tyl by NatWest | Published standard rate 1.39% + 5p; bespoke pricing for higher-turnover merchants | Hardware bundled with monthly fee | 12 to 18 months typical |
| #7 | Tide Card Reader | 1.5% per transaction (UK) | £49 hardware | No contract |
| #8 | Revolut Card Reader | 0.8% to 1.0% per transaction (depending on subscription tier) | £49 hardware | Subscription-tier dependent (Revolut Business plan) |
FAQs
What is the best card terminal in the UK in 2026?
Dojo Go Max is the strongest overall pick for UK merchants doing £10k+ monthly card volume in 2026, on the strength of same-next-day settlement, robust hardware and competitive blended pricing. SumUp Solo is the strongest no-contract pick for sub-£10k monthly. Square Terminal is the strongest all-in-one for independent retail. The right answer depends on your volume and whether you want a contract.
Which card terminal has the lowest rate?
Revolut Card Reader (0.8% on higher Revolut Business plans) and Tide Card Reader (1.5%) publish the lowest UK headline rates. Both are conditional: Revolut requires the relevant Business plan (£25 to £100+ per month), Tide requires Tide Business banking. Tyl by NatWest publishes a 1.39% + 5p standard rate, with bespoke pricing for higher-volume NatWest customers. SumUp offers 0.99% to registered charities.
Do I need a contract for a UK card terminal in 2026?
No. Several strong no-contract products exist: SumUp Solo (1.69%), Square Terminal (1.75%), Zettle Reader 2 (1.75%), Tide Card Reader (1.5%), Tap to Pay on iPhone. Contracts (Dojo, Worldpay, Tyl) make sense above ~£15k monthly volume where the rate model wins back the contract trade-off.
Are bank-acquirer terminals (Worldpay, Tyl) still worth it?
Sometimes. Tyl by NatWest is competitive at higher volumes for existing NatWest banking customers. Worldpay's estate is rarely the best deal for new merchants in 2026; the case for staying is usually inertia or specific POS-system integration. Always compare against Dojo, SumUp and Square before committing to a 12-36 month bank-acquirer contract.
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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MerchantHQ is owned and operated by Best Business Loans Ltd, directed by Oliver Mackman. Published · Updated