Best first card terminals for new UK businesses 2026
Compare the UK shortlist below, then get matched quotes from the acquirers most likely to approve you and beat your current pricing.
Your first card terminal as a new UK business. The right answer is almost always no-contract, low upfront cost, and an acquirer that can onboard a brand-new merchant without 12 months of trading history. These are the strongest options for sole traders, new Ltd companies, and freshly-launched SMBs.
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. SumUp Solo
Review score 4.2 / 5Best first card reader for sole traders
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 first-time choice. £79 + VAT hardware, no contract, 1.69% per transaction, free 4G SIM. SumUp onboards new businesses in 24 to 72 hours and does not require trading history. Built for sole traders and new Ltds doing sub-£10k monthly volume.
2. Tap to Pay on iPhone (no terminal)
Review score 4.2 / 5Best first option with zero hardware
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 is the cheapest possible first step into card acceptance. iPhone XS or newer, no hardware cost, no contract, choose the acquirer (SumUp, Square, Zettle, Stripe, Tide, Revolut). Best fit for new mobile traders or service businesses.
3. Zettle Reader 2
Review score 4.0 / 5Cheapest first hardware
Compact card reader (pairs with phone or tablet) · 1.75% per transaction · No contract
Zettle Reader 2 at £29 + VAT is the cheapest first card reader. 1.75% per transaction, no contract. PayPal ecosystem; useful if you already use PayPal for online sales.
4. Square Terminal
Review score 4.1 / 5Best first all-in-one
All-in-one countertop terminal with receipt printer · 1.75% per transaction (UK) · No contract
Square Terminal at £149 + VAT is the strongest first all-in-one for new retail or small hospitality. Built-in receipt printer, full POS app (free), no contract. Square Online lets you set up a free e-commerce store at the same time.
5. Tide Card Reader
Review score 3.8 / 5Best first reader if banking with Tide
Compact Bluetooth-paired reader (similar to Zettle / SumUp) · 1.5% per transaction (UK) · No contract
Tide Card Reader at £49 with 1.5% per transaction is the cheapest mainstream rate. Conditional on Tide Business banking. Best fit for new sole traders who open a Tide account at company formation.
Quick comparison
Headline rate, hardware cost, contract and form factor at a glance.
| Rank | Terminal | Rate | Hardware | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | SumUp Solo | 1.69% per transaction | £79 + VAT list price (SumUp often discounts it) | No contract |
| #2 | 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 |
| #3 | Zettle Reader 2 | 1.75% per transaction | £29 first reader, £69 each extra (ex VAT) | No contract |
| #4 | Square Terminal | 1.75% per transaction (UK) | £149 + VAT | No contract |
| #5 | Tide Card Reader | 1.5% per transaction (UK) | £49 hardware | No contract |
FAQs
What is the best first card terminal for a new UK business?
SumUp Solo is the strongest first-time choice for most new UK businesses at 2026 rates. £79 + VAT hardware, no contract, 1.69% per transaction, fast onboarding (24 to 72 hours). For mobile or service businesses with an iPhone, Tap to Pay on iPhone is the cheapest possible start. Tide Card Reader is the cheapest if you bank with Tide.
How quickly can a new business get a card terminal?
No-contract products (SumUp, Square, Zettle, Tide, Revolut) onboard new businesses in 24 to 72 hours typically. Contract products (Dojo, Worldpay, Tyl) take longer (5 to 14 days) and often require trading history. For a brand-new business needing to take cards in week one, no-contract is the right answer.
Do I need a Ltd company or can I be a sole trader?
Sole traders are accepted by all mainstream no-contract acquirers (SumUp, Square, Zettle, Tide, Revolut, Stripe). Sole traders provide name, address, date of birth, NI number, and trading details. Ltd companies provide the same plus Companies House registration. Onboarding is faster for Ltd companies because verification is more automatic.
What if my new business gets declined by an acquirer?
Mainstream acquirers decline merchants in restricted categories (vape, CBD, adult, gambling, debt-collection, payday lending). High-risk specialists (Trust Payments, Cardstream, Acquired.com) accept these. See our /high-risk/ section for verticals that need specialist routing.
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.
Get a quote
Open quote form →Related
See all the best card machine picks, browse every card terminal, check what a card machine costs, or find the cheapest card machine in the UK.
MerchantHQ is owned and operated by Best Business Loans Ltd, directed by Oliver Mackman. Last updated: