Best card machine for pubs UK 2026
See the pick and alternatives for pubs below, then ask our card-payments broker partner for 2 to 3 matched quotes.
The best UK card machine for pubs in 2026 is Dojo Go Max, on Dojo. 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
Dojo Go Max
Acquirer: Dojo
Dojo handles peak-hour tap-and-go flow well; multi-network connectivity reduces dropout when WiFi struggles in a busy bar.
Read full Dojo Go Max reviewWhat pubs card payments look like
- Cashflow shape
- Evenings and weekends. Sport-event and seasonal spikes. Strong card flow especially since 2020.
- Typical transaction (our estimate)
- £12 to £25
- Contactless use (our estimate)
- High, with most in-person payments tapped
- Recommended acquirer
- Dojo
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 pubs
Headline rate, hardware cost and contract at a glance, from our full terminal reviews.
| Rank | Terminal | Rate | Hardware | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Dojo Go Max Our pick | 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 | Square Terminal | 1.75% per transaction (UK) | £149 + VAT | No contract |
Prices and rates checked on the provider's own page: Dojo pricing page (2026-09-25); Square Terminal page (2026-09-25); SumUp card readers page (2026-09-25); Stripe UK pricing page (2026-10-02); Zettle card reader page (2026-09-25).
Alternatives for pubs
- Square Terminal (smaller venues)
Watch outs specific to pubs
- Bar-tab card-on-file features differ by acquirer.
- Some PoS-bundled terminals lock you to a wider till system.
FAQs
What is the best card machine for pubs in the UK?
The best UK card machine for pubs in 2026 is Dojo Go Max on Dojo. Dojo handles peak-hour tap-and-go flow well; multi-network connectivity reduces dropout when WiFi struggles in a busy bar.
How much does a card machine cost for pubs?
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?
£12 to £25, 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 pubs?
High, with most in-person payments tapped, 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 pubs?
Bar-tab card-on-file features differ by acquirer. Also check the contract length, exit fees, chargeback handling and how quickly money settles into your account.
Need a full till, not just a card machine?
If you also need stock, menus or kitchen tickets, see pub and bar EPOS systems compared on published UK pricing.
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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