Card readers for sole traders with no monthly fee
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These options have no monthly fee and no contract, so you only pay when you take a payment. Ordered by fee on £1,000 of in-person UK consumer-card takings, lowest first (Tide assumes a £20 average sale).
| Option | Reader price (ex VAT) | Fee | Fee on £1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lopay Essential (weekly payout) | £35 + P&P (first, via app) | 0.79% | £7.90 |
| Lopay Standard (next-day) | £35 + P&P (first, via app) | 0.99% | £9.90 |
| SumUp pay-as-you-go | Solo £79 (other models: see SumUp) | 1.69% | £16.90 |
| Square | Reader £19 | 1.75% (UK cards) | £17.50 |
| PayPal POS | £29 first reader (new business users), then £69 | 1.75% incl. Amex | £17.50 |
| Tide PAYG | Nano £25 on PAYG; needs a Tide account | 1.5% + 5p | £17.50 (at £20 average sale) |
Things to weigh
- Payout speed: Lopay's 0.79% comes with payouts on Thursdays only.
- Card mix: Lopay adds 1% for Amex, corporate and international cards. PayPal POS charges 1.75% even on Amex.
- Upfront cost: Square's Reader (£19) has the lowest upfront price among these options on pay-as-you-go.
- Tide: its fees rise on 1 Dec 2026.
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See the full comparison or the calculator.
SumUp offers: SumUp runs time-limited hardware offers. On 26 Oct 2026 we saw sale prices below its usual reader prices. Offers may end without notice, so check SumUp's card reader page for the current price (usual prices Solo Lite £25, Solo £79, Terminal £135 ex VAT, checked 28 Oct 2026).
Last checked: 19 Oct 2026. Prices ex VAT unless stated. Check the official provider page before buying, because promos and fees change. Tide says its fees go up on 1 Dec 2026.
Related guides
- Tide vs SumUp vs Square card readers (2026)
- Card readers for mobile tradespeople
- Amex fees on UK card readers explained
- How payout speed affects cash flow
- Find my card reader quiz
My notes
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