Compare UK card readers, with dated prices and sources
No links here are currently paid; some may earn us commission in future. How we make money
Plain-English comparisons of card readers for UK sole traders, market traders and small businesses. Every figure is dated and linked to the provider's official page.
Compare card readers → Find my card reader → Card fee break-even calculator →Start here
Find my card reader quiz
Five questions, then a transparent shortlist sorted by estimated fees.
Why card readers are the future for small businesses
The move away from cash, convenience, and what research says about spending, with an example calculator.
Cheapest no-contract card reader UK (Oct 2026)
SumUp, Square, PayPal POS, Tide, Lopay and Dojo side by side, ranked on clear criteria.
Card reader break-even calculator
Monthly fees at £500, £1k, £3k and £5k of card sales, and the point where monthly plans pay off.
Tide card reader fees: what changes on 1 Dec 2026
What Tide has announced and what to check.
Card readers for sole traders with no monthly fee
Pay-as-you-go options compared.
Low-cost card readers for market stalls UK
Upfront prices for occasional trading.
🌿 No contract. Pay as you go. No sales, no fees.
Square, SumUp, PayPal POS, Lopay and Tide's Pay As You Go plan all say they have no long-term contract and no monthly fee on that plan. You only pay a transaction fee when you take a card payment, so in a quiet week with no card sales there are no transaction fees.
- The honest small print: the card reader itself is a one-off purchase (from £19 ex VAT, checked 19 Oct 2026).
- Tide readers only work with a Tide business account.
- SumUp Payments Plus and Tide Essential/Premium are optional paid plans with a monthly fee. Tide Premium is a 12-month contract.
- Dojo has a 12-month contract, so it isn't included here.
We cover card readers and payment services only. We don't promote business credit cards, loans or other credit.
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.