Best card machine for mobile traders UK 2026
See the pick and alternatives for mobile traders below, then ask our card-payments broker partner for 2 to 3 matched quotes.
The best UK card machine for mobile traders in 2026 is Tap to Pay on iPhone, on SumUp or Square. Typical transaction size, cashflow and contactless use for this trade are in the table below, and the alternatives are listed after it.
MerchantHQ is owned and operated by Best Business Loans Ltd, directed by Oliver Mackman.
Our pick
Tap to Pay on iPhone
Acquirer: SumUp or Square
Tap to Pay on iPhone removes the hardware cost entirely. Pair with SumUp or Square for the no-contract economics that fit a mobile trade.
Read full Tap to Pay on iPhone (no terminal) reviewWhat mobile traders card payments look like
- Cashflow shape
- Job-by-job, often weekly cycle. Lumpy.
- Typical transaction (our estimate)
- £40 to £200
- Contactless use (our estimate)
- Lower, with larger payments by chip and PIN
- Recommended acquirer
- SumUp or Square
Transaction sizes and contactless use are our working estimates for sizing a quote, not published statistics. Your own card statements give the real figures.
Card machines compared for mobile traders
Headline rate, hardware cost and contract at a glance, from our full terminal reviews.
| Rank | Terminal | Rate | Hardware | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Tap to Pay on iPhone (no terminal) Our pick | 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 | Zettle Reader 2 | 1.75% per transaction | £29 first reader, £69 each extra (ex VAT) | No contract |
Prices and rates checked on the provider's own page: Apple Tap to Pay on iPhone (UK) (2026-10-02); SumUp card readers page (2026-09-25); Zettle card reader page (2026-09-25); Square Terminal page (2026-09-25); Stripe UK pricing page (2026-10-02).
Alternatives for mobile traders
- SumUp Solo
- Zettle Reader 2
Watch outs specific to mobile traders
- Connectivity black-spots; choose 4G-capable hardware.
- Battery life on long mobile-trade days.
FAQs
What is the best card machine for mobile traders in the UK?
The best UK card machine for mobile traders in 2026 is Tap to Pay on iPhone on SumUp or Square. Tap to Pay on iPhone removes the hardware cost entirely. Pair with SumUp or Square for the no-contract economics that fit a mobile trade.
How much does a card machine cost for mobile traders?
Hardware runs from nothing (Tap to Pay on iPhone, on a phone you already own) to £229 + VAT (Stripe Reader S700), with SumUp Solo at £79 + VAT and Square Terminal at £149 + VAT. Published pay-as-you-go rates on UK cards are 1.69% at SumUp, 1.75% at Square and 1.75% at Zettle, with no monthly fee; contract providers quote a blended or bespoke rate and usually charge monthly terminal rental instead. Your blended monthly cost depends on card volume and average transaction size, so model it on your own numbers with our fees calculator rather than relying on a flat figure.
What is the average transaction size in this trade?
£40 to £200, on our working estimate. Your own card statements give the real figure, and it matters because percentage fees and fixed per-transaction fees weigh differently on small and large payments.
How much contactless use is typical for mobile traders?
Lower, with larger payments by chip and PIN, on our working estimate. Your own card statements show the real split between tap and chip and PIN, which is worth checking before you choose between a phone-paired reader and a standalone terminal.
What should I watch out for when choosing a card machine for mobile traders?
Connectivity black-spots; choose 4G-capable hardware. Also check the contract length, exit fees, chargeback handling and how quickly money settles into your account.
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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