Best mobile 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 mobile card terminal in the UK in 2026 is Tap to Pay on iPhone (zero hardware, iPhone XS or newer running iOS 16.4+, choose any supported acquirer) for traders with a compatible phone, or SumUp Solo at £79 + VAT with the free 4G SIM for traders without one. For mobile trades on a fixed bank stack: Tide Card Reader (£49, 1.5%, Tide Business customers) or Revolut Card Reader (£49, 0.8% to 1.0%, Revolut Business customers). Built for plumbers, electricians, mobile beauticians, dog groomers, food trucks and van-based trades.
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 zero-hardware mobile 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 removes the hardware cost entirely. iPhone XS or newer running iOS 16.4+. Zero contract, choose the acquirer (SumUp, Square, Zettle, Stripe, Tide or Revolut). Best fit for any mobile trader who already has a compatible iPhone.
2. SumUp Solo
Review score 4.2 / 5Best dedicated mobile 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 free 4G SIM is the strongest dedicated mobile reader. Full-day battery, no contract, 1.69% per transaction, no monthly fee. Hardware is rugged enough for van and market use; multi-network connectivity (4G + WiFi + Bluetooth) covers connectivity black-spots.
3. Tide Card Reader
Review score 3.8 / 5Best mobile reader for Tide Business customers
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 UK mobile rate. Bluetooth-paired with the Tide app on phone or tablet. Best fit for sole traders already banking with Tide.
4. Revolut Card Reader
Review score 3.7 / 5Best mobile reader for Revolut Business customers
Compact Bluetooth-paired reader · 0.8% to 1.0% per transaction (depending on subscription tier) · Subscription-tier dependent (Revolut Business plan)
Revolut Card Reader at £49 with 0.8% to 1.0% per transaction (depending on Revolut Business plan) is the cheapest UK headline rate. Strong international and FX integration. Best fit for mobile traders with cross-border or multi-currency flow.
5. Zettle Reader 2
Review score 4.0 / 5Best entry-level Bluetooth reader
Compact card reader (pairs with phone or tablet) · 1.75% per transaction · No contract
Zettle Reader 2 at £29 to £69 is the cheapest entry point. Bluetooth-paired with phone or tablet. 1.75% per transaction, no contract. Best fit for mobile traders already in the PayPal ecosystem; settlement times slower than Dojo or SumUp.
6. Stripe Reader S700
Review score 4.0 / 5Best mobile reader for Stripe ecosystem
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 at £229 with built-in 4G is the strongest mobile reader for tech-led businesses already on Stripe online. Touchscreen UI, custom apps via Stripe Terminal SDK, tight integration with Stripe Billing and Tax. Higher upfront cost than alternatives.
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 |
| #4 | Revolut Card Reader | 0.8% to 1.0% per transaction (depending on subscription tier) | £49 hardware | Subscription-tier dependent (Revolut Business plan) |
| #5 | Zettle Reader 2 | 1.75% per transaction | £29 first reader, £69 each extra (ex VAT) | No contract |
| #6 | 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) |
FAQs
What is the best mobile card terminal in the UK?
Tap to Pay on iPhone is the strongest mobile option in 2026 if you have an iPhone XS or newer. Zero hardware cost, zero contract. For traders without a compatible iPhone, SumUp Solo at £79 + VAT with free 4G SIM is the best dedicated mobile reader. Tide Card Reader at £49 is cheaper if you already bank with Tide.
Do I need 4G or is Bluetooth enough for a mobile card reader?
Depends on your trade. 4G hardware (SumUp Solo, Stripe Reader S700, Square Terminal) runs standalone and is the right answer for traders working in places with patchy mobile signal or no WiFi. Bluetooth-only readers (Zettle, Tide, Revolut) tether to your phone and use your phone's connectivity; cheaper but dependent on your phone signal.
How long does a mobile card reader battery last?
A full trading day (8 to 10 hours, 100 to 150 transactions) on most mainstream products. SumUp Solo, Square Terminal and Stripe Reader S700 all rate around full-day. Cold-weather outdoor trading reduces battery life by 20% to 30%; carry a power bank for festival, market or rural mobile work.
Can a mobile card reader work offline?
Most readers queue transactions when signal drops and process them when connectivity returns. Stripe Reader S700, Square Terminal and SumUp Solo all support offline mode. Offline transaction limits typically cap individual transactions at £30 to £50; confirm with your acquirer.
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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