Independent UK card payment reviews
Card machine comparison
Compare card machines and card readers for UK businesses
Already have a card payment provider? Compare fees, card machines and contracts here, or ask us to help compare the cost of staying with the full cost of moving.
You do not need another quote or a statement to get started. Our free review looks beyond the advertised rate to the full cost and terms. The right deal depends on your business—not a single provider winning every comparison.
Help finding a better deal
You do not need to compare the numbers yourself.
Want to know whether your business could get a better card payment deal? We do the comparison work and explain what it means for you. No competing quote is needed to start.
01
Tell us about your business
Start with how you take payments and how we can contact you. You do not need to know every fee or have another quote.
02
We check the deal for you
We review your current charges and contract, then compare suitable options from the providers we work with. A statement helps with the detail, but you can send it later.
03
Understand your options
We explain the costs, contract and equipment so you can decide whether to stay, renegotiate or switch. If moving is not worthwhile, we will say so.
- Free review
- No statement needed to start
- No obligation to switch
We compare a selected network, not the whole market. If you choose to switch, the provider may pay us a referral fee. Savings depend on your current deal and the options available.
What we check when comparing card payment deals
These are the main things that can change the value of a deal. You do not have to work them all out before contacting us—we can help make sense of the details.
Overall cost, not the headline rate
The advertised percentage is only one part of the bill. Add the per-transaction and authorisation charges, monthly service and PCI fees, minimum monthly charges and terminal rental, then divide the total by your card turnover. This effective rate is useful when the compared figures use the same turnover, card mix, transaction count and tax basis.
Your transaction mix
Debit, credit, business, commercial and international cards all cost the acquirer different amounts. A quote that looks cheap on consumer debit can be expensive if you take a lot of business or overseas cards, so compare against your own mix rather than a sample basket.
Terminal and rental charges
A card machine may be bought, rented or included in a plan. Check any separate hardware agreement, the monthly or upfront amount, the minimum term and what happens to the equipment if you leave.
Contract length and exit terms
Look at the initial term, the notice period, any automatic renewal and the early termination charge. Two providers with identical rates can be very different once you need to move.
Settlement timing
Some providers settle next working day as standard, others take longer or charge for faster payout. Faster settlement genuinely helps businesses whose day-to-day cash flow depends on yesterday's takings, and matters far less to everyone else.
Support and replacement cover
Ask how support is delivered, what the hours are and how quickly a faulty terminal is replaced. Consider the trading impact of downtime alongside the processing rate, especially at busy times.
Integrations and EPOS
If the terminal needs to talk to a till, booking system or online store, confirm the integration exists for your specific software version before you commit, not afterwards.
Suitability for how you actually trade
A fixed counter, a busy restaurant floor, a van, a market stall and a website all point to different hardware. Match the machine to the way you take payments first, then compare the commercials.
The main types of card machine
| Type | Connection | Typically suits |
|---|---|---|
| Countertop terminal | Ethernet or Wi-Fi at a fixed till point | Shops, pharmacies, salons and anywhere with a permanent counter |
| Portable terminal | Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to a base within the premises | Restaurants, pubs, hotels and table-side payment |
| Mobile terminal | 4G SIM, independent of premises Wi-Fi | Trades, delivery, markets and events |
| Card reader (mPOS) | Bluetooth to a phone or tablet app | Sole traders and low-volume or occasional card acceptance |
For a fuller explanation of the terminology, read PDQ machines explained and terminal rental costs.
Head-to-head card payment provider comparisons
Side-by-side overviews of how UK providers differ on pricing approach, contracts, terminals, settlement and business fit.
Worldpay vs Dojo
Considering a move between Worldpay and Dojo? Compare the new written offer with your existing bill, equipment commitments and cost of leaving. Neither brand is automatically the cheaper or more suitable choice.
Dojo vs Teya
Dojo and Teya both support UK retail and hospitality, including integrated card machines. Compare the full quote, the till workflow and the payout arrangement: their current products cannot be reduced to a longer-contract provider versus a flexible one.
SumUp vs Zettle
Compare SumUp's payment plans with the current PayPal POS offer and the terms of your existing Zettle account. The useful differences are the plan, payment channel, account type and equipment you actually need.
Square vs SumUp
Square and SumUp both offer more than an entry-level card reader. Compare their UK card rates, paid software or payment plans, standalone hardware and payout options against the way your business actually trades.
Revolut Business vs SumUp
Both offer card acceptance for UK businesses. Revolut Business combines payments with a business account, while SumUp offers PAYG, paid and tailored plans, with standalone devices, POS tools and a choice of payout destination.
Barclaycard vs Worldpay
Barclaycard Payments and Worldpay both offer in-person and online payment services for UK businesses. If you are an SME looking for a better deal, compare the specific products, complete pricing schedules and service requirements against what you have now.
All comparisons
Provider reviews
Already with one of these providers? Each review explains what to look for on that provider's statement and agreement before deciding whether to stay or move.
Choosing a card machine by business type
Small shops and independent retail
Countertop terminals at the till, with integration to the EPOS if one is in use.
Read the guideRestaurants, pubs and cafes
Portable terminals for table-side payment, with tipping and split-bill handling.
Read the guideTrades and mobile businesses
Mobile terminals on 4G, or a card reader paired to a phone for occasional payments.
Read the guideSole traders and market stalls
Compare low-commitment readers with rented terminals using your likely sales, transaction fees, hardware cost and connectivity needs.
Read the guideHow we compare, and how we are paid
- We do not compare every card machine or every UK provider. We work with a selected network of established payment providers, so these comparisons cover a part of the market rather than all of it.
- We do not declare an overall winner. Card machine costs depend on your turnover, card mix, transaction values and contract position, so the comparison that matters is against your own statement.
- Our review is free to you. If you decide to move provider, the provider may pay us a referral fee. We will explain the quoted costs and terms, and if your current deal is already competitive we will say so.
- Provider names and trademarks identify the services discussed. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement of this website or that we can arrange an offer from every named provider.
Go deeper before you compare
Comparisons show what differs. These clusters explain why it matters, from pricing models to exit fees.
Merchant statements & fees
Everything on your monthly statement, line by line, and how to spot overcharging.
Explore clusterPricing models & rates
How UK card processing is priced through interchange-plus, blended and IC++, and how to compare the complete cost.
Explore clusterContracts, exit fees & switching
Contract length, automatic renewal, termination clauses and how to plan a controlled provider switch.
Explore clusterPCI, SCA & risk
PCI DSS compliance, Strong Customer Authentication, chargebacks and reserves.
Explore clusterCard machines & hardware
Terminals, PDQs, portable and mobile card machines. Buying guides by business type.
Explore clusterOnline & cross-border payments
Gateways, merchant accounts, surcharging law and dynamic currency conversion.
Explore clusterSee whether your current deal still stacks up
Tell us how your business takes payments and, if you have one, add a recent statement. We will review the whole arrangement and explain whether staying, renegotiating or comparing another option makes sense.
Free to review. No obligation. Statement optional.