That increasingly means that even small and micro businesses like taxi drivers need a card reader. Luckily, there are dozens of choices on the UK market, ideal for small, mobile businesses. 

While there are plenty of choices of card readers for taxi drivers, this list includes some of the best based on features, pricing, and what you get for the money. Let’s take a look! 

Top 8 Best Card Readers For Taxi Drivers 

These 8 card readers make up our selection of the best card readers for taxi drivers. We selected based on price, suitability, features, and recurring costs. 

1. Square Terminal – £179 

Square is a payment processor offering a card reader, online software, and extras. With no monthly fees, you won’t have to worry about anything but transaction costs.

The card terminal itself offers an integrated printer for digital or paper receipts. It also supports contactless and chip and pin payments. 

• Tap to pay for iOS and Android 
• Instant payouts 
• Payment links and virtual terminals 
• Invoicing 
• Contactless & Chip & Pin
• All day battery 
• 1.75% flat transaction rate for all payments 
• Touchscreen 

USP for Square: You can set up online booking and allow customers to schedule their rides for free. 

2. Lloyds Bank Cardnet MPOS – £49 

If you want to work with a bigger bank, Lloyds Bank Cardnet is one of the best options out there.

The MPOS is a pocket-size card reader complete with a keypad, small digital screen, and receipt functionality. Unlike other Lloyds Bank Cardnet card machines, it also doesn’t have a minimum contract. 

• 1.75% flat rate for all payments 
• 8-hour battery, recharge with USB
• Contactless and Chip & Pin payments
• Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or 4G connectivity
• SMS or Email receipts 
• 3-day payment processing 

USP for Lloyds Bank Cardnet: One of the largest banks in the UK, so you get peace of mind.

3. Handepay Castles Saturn 

With the Handepay Castles Saturn, you can skip a pricey upfront investment. Instead, you’ll pay monthly for your card reader.

In most cases, you can expect that to be about £10-£20 per month depending on your contract. That means you need to keep a card machine for 2-4 years before it becomes cheaper to buy outright.

You’ll also get the first 400 transactions included for free every month, which means costs are predictable.

What else? With local UK cards starting at just 0.5%, Handepay can be a great choice for taxi drivers moving local passengers. 

• 0.5% – 3% transaction rate
• £10-£30 monthly 
• Integrated printer and camera
• E or paper receipts 
• Accept contactless and chip & pin payments
• Natively integrates into taxi apps 
• Next-day payment processing 
• 12 hour battery life 

Handepay USP: The first 400 transactions are included in monthly costs, so you might not pay additional transaction fees. 

4. Tide Card Reader Plus – £79

At just £79 for the first card reader (second purchases cost £199), Tide offers a great incentive for new businesses to choose their brand. Plus, the card reader comes with no monthly fees and a flat 1.5% transaction fee for all payments.

The card reader itself features Android 9, a receipt printer for e or paper receipts, and lifetime free 4G connectivity. You’ll also get a 5.5” display and a 12 hour battery life. 

• 1.5% transaction rate
• £0 monthly fee
• Integrated printer 
• E or paper receipts 
• Accepts contactless and chip & pin payments
• Android based
• Free 4G 

Tide USP: Pay just 1.5% no matter where the card is from. 

5. SumUp Solo & Printer – £139 

The SumUp Solo & Printer delivers a smart card terminal with a printer dock. The dock also includes a charger, so your card machine lasts for 12 or more hours. The machine also includes free 4G for processing payments on the go.

SumUp also integrates into taxi apps, supports splitting costs between passengers, and delivers e and paper receipts. 

• 1.69% transaction fee 
• £0 monthly fee 
• Printer for paper or e-receipts
• Accepts contactless and chip & pin payments
• Free 4G 
• 12-hour battery life

SumUp USP: The printer can be connected via USB inside your car, so you can automatically recharge your card reader while you’re driving. 

6. Lopay Card Reader – £24

At just £24, the Lopay card reader is the cheapest option on this list. That doesn’t mean it’s the worst. Instead, you get a feature-rich mini card reader with options to take pin and contactless payments.

You will have to link it to your phone for 4G connectivity. However, if you set up a Lopay account first, you can get it for just £12.

What are the cons? You’ll need an app to use it. And, you can only issue receipts via the app. 

• 0.79% per transaction 
• £0 monthly fee 
• Thursday settlements 
• Accept contactless & chip & Pin payments
• Connect via Bluetooth
• Free app 

Lopay USP: This is the cheapest card reader for taxi drivers.

7. Teya Essential – £179

Teya has made a name for itself as a small-business card reader company. For taxi drivers, it offers two different card models, however, we’ve opted to highlight the more affordable of the two.

You get an Android-powered terminal, a 5.5” touchscreen, integrations, and a receipt printer. Plus, the battery lasts for 6+ hours and recharges with USB. 

• 1.49% fee for most cards 
• £0 monthly fee
• Next-day payouts 
• Lifetime warranty 
• Local support

Teya USP: Teya offers a free lifetime warranty and accident cover for all card machines – which might be important for taxi drivers. 

8. myPOS Go 2 – £29 

With a keypad, free 4G, digital screen, and digital receipts, the myPOS Go 2 is the most feature-rich budget card reader out there.

In addition, it’s the only card reader we’ve found under £50 that also accepts magstripe payments. That means you can even accept international cards from areas outside the EEA.

The reader itself is pocket-sized but comes packed with features like tipping, splitting payments, and setting up online receipts. 

• 1.10% + 7p transaction fee
• £0 monthly fee 
• Digital receipts
• Instant payouts
• 2-year warranty 
• Free SIM card with free 4G 
• Full day battery

myPOS USP: Probably our top choice for starters looking to control costs. 

Comparing Card Readers for Taxi Drivers

All of these compare very well to each other, so you’ll want to look at individual offers and how they suit your specific needs. 

What Functionality Does A Taxi Driver Need In A Card Reader? 

You need a card reader that’s flexible, capable of meeting the needs of all your customers, and able to last all day. 

Receipts

Many people taking taxis are doing so for business purposes. That means they need receipts. You should prioritize receipt-enabled card machines, whether they’re sending e-receipts or printing them out. 

PIN Supported Payments

Look for a card that accepts PIN payments, even if a PIN has to be added to your phone. Most contactless charges don’t accept payments over £100. 

Long Battery Life

Taxi drivers can work long hours. You want your card machine to last as long as you do. Look for a battery that you won’t have to plug in all day. 

4G

You can often connect your card machine via your phone. However, you might want a direct 4G connection so you don’t have to. 

Competitive Rates

Taxi drivers don’t always have a predictable income, which means it might be important for you to lower costs as much as possible. That means looking for competitive transaction rates and low or no monthly fees.

Here, you’ll want to pay especially close attention to card rates based on the card. For example, if you work in a small town and mostly process local cards, you can look for a big bank that offers discounts for domestic UK cards.

On the other hand, if you work near the airport and frequently transport customers with international credit and debit cards, it’s going to be more important to look for a blended rate that costs more for local but can be as much as 70% cheaper for international cards. 

Choosing The Best Card Reader For Your Taxi Business 

Choosing a card reader means picking from dozens of options. For taxi drivers, there are plenty of options ranging from the extremely affordable to the feature-rich. Often, this is a highly competitive market, so your best option is to compare competitors and get the best price and value. All you have to do is keep hidden fees, monthly fees, receipts, and mobile connectivity in mind. 

Want help? Use the form below and we’ll request competitive quotes from top card machine providers, match them to your needs as a taxi driver, and send you the best ones!

In addition, you get a selection of models to choose from, which means you can easily choose a card machine that fits your needs and budget.

If you’re looking for a small business card machine, myPOS stands out. However, you still want to know as much as possible about the brand, pricing, reviews, and offerings before committing. This review covers all that and more. 

Who Are myPOS?

myPOS launched in 2014 as one of the first eBanks on the European market.

It’s also one of the first card machine services to offer instant settlements at no extra charge. That means you can get money from transactions instantly applied to your bank account. 

myPOS has also been a merchant acquirer since 2022. This means you can accept card payments without an additional service, except for your business bank account. It also offers debit cards so you can directly spend money from your account.

However, myPOS is not a bank. Instead, it’s an e-money institution, much like PayPal. You’ll pay extra to withdraw funds to your actual bank account as well. 

myPOS Card Machine: Features & Benefits

myPOS offers four different card machines, tap-to-pay from your phone, and even payment tags. You can set up taking card payments across any channels you sell on. 

Card Machines

myPOS sells four different models of card machines. These are all available for a flat-rate price with no monthly plans available. That means you’ll always pay for exactly what you’re getting.

However, it also means you’ll have to invest in the full card machine upfront. That can be a disadvantage if you want to test a model or see if it’s right for you before committing. 

myPOS Go 2

This pocket portable card machine is a perfect starter or micro business model. At just £29, it’s also extremely affordable.

Unlike many similarly priced models, it also has a keypad, meaning you can accept chip and pin payments. The card reader includes a 4G SIM card, Wi-Fi connectivity, and eReceipt function. It also has a 3” screen.

It’s also the only card machine in this price range offering both Magstripe payments and receipts. That makes this a top choice for small businesses looking for a great starter option.

myPOS Go Combo

This card machine costs £169 plus VAT. It’s designed for mobile use. It also has 2 batteries, so you can keep using it all day.

The machine also features a charging and printing dock, so you can recharge the battery wirelessly throughout the day. The dock also includes a printer, making it ideal for use as a flexible countertop or portable model.

The built-in 4G SIM also means you won’t need Wi-Fi or a phone to accept payments. This has a 3” screen. 

myPOS Ultra

At £179 to £229 plus VAT, this is the most expensive card machine offered by myPOS. However, it’s also a full payment terminal and PoS.

In fact, you get an app market, Android-based interface, and options to seamlessly connect to most shopping carts and inventory management solutions.

The onboard battery lasts for days. It also includes a built-in printer and a free data SIM card so you can take it anywhere. The 6.5” touchscreen also makes it easy to navigate, even if you’re adding products to the store. 

myPOS Carbon

The myPOS Carbon costs £199 plus VAT.

This model includes a printer, app store and marketplace, POS functionality, and a camera for scanning QR and barcodes. It also has an onboard SIM for free mobile payments. 

Tap-to-Pay

You can use the myPOS app to accept contactless payments on your iPhone or Android phone. 

Online Payment Gateway

myPOS offers an online payment gateway complete with integration into checkout and shopping carts, integration into apps, and an API.

You can set up pay by link, pay with a payment tag, QR codes, payment requests, and much more. 

Extras

myPOS offers plenty of extras like: 

• Website builder
• Online checkout integration
• Virtual terminals
• Bank cards
• Instant payout 

Benefits of myPOS Card Machines

There are a lot of reasons to use myPOS card machines instead of a competitor.

For example, it has one of the most functional budget card machines on the market.

• No monthly payments, you pay for what you use 
• Card machines are priced flat-rate, although you will have to buy them upfront
• Free business card 
• Flat-rate pricing for transactions so you get transparent and predictable costs 

myPOS Card Machine Pricing 

myPOS sells all of its card machines for a flat-rate with no monthly fees. In addition, you’ll get “blended” transaction rates, so you pay almost the same fee across all transactions. 

Card Present Transactions

• 1.10% + 7p for domestic UK and EEA cards (Debit and credit)
• 2.45% + 7p for American Express
• All other cards 2.85% + 7p

These rates are extremely competitive, especially when you look at domestic UK cards. You can get rates as low as 70p – but with Mastercard and EEA cards covered as well, chances are, you’ll save over that as well. 

Card Not Present Transactions 

If you’re using pay by link or an online payment gateway, you can expect the following rates: 

• 1.30% + 15p for domestic UK and EEA cards
• 2.50% + 15p for American Express
• All other cards 2.90% + 15p
• MO/TO payments are the MO/TO fee + 0.5%

UTP Merchant Services

In 2025, myPOS purchased UTP Merchant Services. All UTP Merchant Services offerings and card machines are now fulfilled by myPOS. For most UTP customers, this means more transparent pricing and no more monthly fees. 

myPOS Card Machine vs Competitors

myPOS compares well to its competitors, including traditional banks and other eMoney institutions.

The myPOS card machine’s closest competitors include Lloyds Bank Cardnet, Tyl by NatWest, Handepay, TakePayments, Square, and Teya. 

Essentially, myPOS compares well on features, pricing, and offerings. That makes it a top choice for nearly any small business. 

myPOS Card Machine Reviews & Ratings

myPOS is extremely well reviewed with an average of 4.2 stars across all ratings. Customers cite ease of use, fast setup, real customer service, and transparent fees. 

• Most users receive their card machines within a few days of finishing the account setup
• Customer support is always delivered by real people and not a chatbot 
• The app and card machines are easy to set up and use 
• No hidden or monthly fees 
• Very predictable pricing 

However, not all reviews are great. For example, some customers cite that it took a week to complete identity verification. In some cases, the tap to pay app also crashes or might have bugs, which means myPOS might not be the best choice if you only want tap to pay. 

Who Should Use myPOS? 

myPOS is a strong competitor for low-cost card machine providers in the UK. While it has options geared towards micro businesses it scales up, making it a great fit for larger businesses as well.

In addition, myPOS offers discounted transaction rates for organizations earning more than £10,000 per month. However, myPOS is best fit for: 

• Contractors and freelancers
• Microbusinesses
• Small retail stores with minimal PoS needs
• Mobile businesses
• SMEs with simple checkout needs 
• Omnichannel retail with mostly online sales 

If you need a more complex point of sale device with till and registers included, myPOS won’t be able to offer it. However, you can get the basics here and they will be cheaper than most alternatives.  

Getting The Best Card Machine For Your Small Business 

myPOS offers a strong contender for one of the best budget card machines in the UK. However, there are plenty of other options. Depending on your point of sale needs, transaction volume, and service needs, they might not be the best fit. It’s always a good idea to compare multiple options, so you know you’re getting the best provider for your needs. You’ll want to look at transaction fees, card machine costs, offerings, and customer service. Once you have a total idea of costs and what you’re getting for the money, it’s a lot easier to choose the right card machine provider. 

Use the form below to let us know what you need and we’ll help you find the best offers. We’ll request competitive quotes on your behalf and send you the best ones, so you can save.

Revel Systems was one of the most popular service industry payment solutions in the UK. Today, as SkyTab, it’s one of the most popular in the world. 

Of course, popularity isn’t everything. You still need to know what the Shift4 SkyTab offers for your business. In this review we cover pricing, features, ratings, and much more, so you can make an informed decision. 

What Is The Shift4 SkyTab? 

Revel Systems was a restaurant and hospitality industry-focused point of sale system based in the UK.

In 2024, the brand and its 18,000 merchants were acquired by U.S. based Shift4. The move meant Shift4 adopted and rebranded the Revel point of sale and card terminal. It also now offers the Shift Cloud Point of Sale and other business management solutions as part of the package. 

The transfer means that the Revel Systems PoS is now available under a different name (SkyTab) with some changes to services, offerings, and pricing.

For UK customers, the largest difference is that Revel’s poorly rated customer service team have been replaced by a much larger customer service team. However, it also means that pricing is no longer as transparent. 

Shift4 SkyTab Features

Shift4 SkyTab offers a full-service solution to point of sale including software, card terminals, tills, interfaces, and more.

You can also add on apps, extensions, and integrations with a PoS marketplace, making it easy to get more from your point of sale without coding. 

Online Payments

SkyTab offers a full cloud Point of Sale, meaning you can set up products online and then sell them directly. That means secure online payment gateway.

You can also use Pay by Link and Pay by QR code. For example, customers can order online for online delivery or in-store pickup. 

Point of Sale

Shift4 is primarily a point of sale company. That means you get a point of sale application complete with order management, product management, inventory management, and more.

It also offers an app marketplace, where you can add third party apps from dozens of services. Most of these apps are focused on the restaurant and service industry, like back of house automation, tax automation, etc. 

This PoS is geared towards the hospitality industry. However, you can also use it for retail and shops. 

Pricing varies depending on what you’re getting but you can typically expect fees from about £20 per month. If you get a custom package with everything put together, it could be much cheaper. 

Mobile Terminals 

SkyTab offers a mobile card terminal with a receipt printer, camera, and battery for charging at tables or on the go.

It’s still primarily designed for the service industry, however, you can use it in most retail settings, including in airports, hotels, and shops. In addition, you can link it to loyalty programs, gift cards, and more. 

The mobile terminal costs from £20 per month at the normal rate. However, you can also use the tap to pay mobile app for half that. 

Shift4 SkyTab Pricing 

Shift4 does not offer transparent pricing in the UK. This does mean you’ll need a custom quote.

That also means it’s more important to request multiple quotes so you can compare rates and make sure you’re getting a good deal.

However, we see the following rates for most of Shift4’s services: 

• SKyTab PoS – £29.99/month 
• SkyTab Mobile Card Machine – £20/month 
• SkyTab Glass mini PoS – £29.99/month 
• SkyTab Kitchen Display PoS – £29.99/month 
• SkyTab Customer-Facing Display – £29.99/month 

Shift4 also offers custom, advantage, and custom pricing schedules for card transactions. Standard pricing is normally 2.75% + 15p for all transactions. 

You can also get extras like: 

• Remote printers – £9.99/month
• Tap-to-Pay app – £15/month
• Digital scale – £39.99/month
• Caller ID – £9.99-£19.99
• Barcode Scanner – £9.99

However, none of this pricing is fixed. Shift4 primarily works through resellers in the UK, which means that pricing can change depending on your business partner.

Chances are high, however, that you can negotiate lower rates than listed here, especially for transaction rates. 

Benefits Of Shift4 SkyTab

SkyTab has a lot to offer to the service industry and restaurants.

For example, it delivers a complete PoS with payment processing built-in. You can also build your own technology package, so you only pay for what you need. 

• Designed for the needs of hospitality and service industry 
• Front and back of house PoS and payment solutions
• Online ordering available including online payments 
• Extra features like bill splitting and gratuities worked in 
• Build your own PoS package with hardware and apps and pay for what you need

Of course, if you choose for Shift4 SkyTab, you’ll either want a purchasing partner that operates as a bank and an acquirer or to already have those services. However, that’s true with all of Shift4’s competitors. 

Shift4 SkyTab vs Competitors 

Shift4 SkyTab compares well with other Point of Sale systems like Clover, Toast, Shopify, SumUp, and Square. However, with a lack of real transparency on the UK market, you’ll have to request quotes to see what you’ll actually pay. 

In short, Shift4 SkyTab offers more restaurant-specific features than most competitors.

It’s also the most modular, with options to build your own package by selecting the features you want. That means you could pay less than a full-service solution. 

Shift4 SkyTab Reviews & Ratings 

Shift4 SkyTab is very well reviewed with an average rating of 4.6. That’s a big difference from Revel Systems, which had fallen to 2 stars, after a history of poor customer service. 

SkyTab’s customers quote ease of setup, high quality terminals, and clear fees. 

• High quality card terminals and hardware
• Easy setup, with POS and installation typically only taking a few days
• Helpful customer support, with walkthroughs and support calls to enable setup 
• Transparent fees with packages built to meet your specific needs, e.g., you won’t pay for services you aren’t using. 

Some users do complain about Shift4 SkyTab. However, most of those complaints appear to be about Shift4’s UK partners and sales team. This means you’ll want to be careful with door-to-door salesmen offering Shift4, but the company itself is very well reviewed. 

Who Should Use the Shift4 SkyTab? 

Shift4 SkyTab is really geared towards the restaurant and service industry. Many of its products and offerings are also uniquely beneficial to the restaurant industry.

For example, it’s one of the only payment processors to offer scales that automatically link to the payment system. While you can get the same kinds of services through another service provider, you’ll typically need multiple providers to achieve it. 

SkyTab is also likely to be cheaper than its closest competitors like Toast, which offer the same things, but starting from £80 per month. However, the actual rate you get depends on your negotiating abilities, the products you need, and which supplier you choose, so that can vary. 

Of course, with a complete PoS, Shift4 can also meet the needs of any retail shop, especially those with omnichannel sales. So, for example, if you want to sell online with in-shop pickup, Shift4 supports that natively. That makes it ideal for retail shops with an online presence as well. 

Getting The Best Deal On Your Point Of Sale 

Revel Systems, now SkyTab, is a great Point of Sale and Card Terminal for restaurants and the service industry. It stands out with high quality hardware. In addition, much of the software and hardware are designed around the needs of the food and hospitality industry. That means it can be a perfect fit if you need those solutions. 

On the other hand, Shift4 doesn’t offer transparent pricing in the UK. You’ll have to get a custom quote or work through a third-party partner before you know what your rates will be. That makes it more important to request and compare quotes, even from Shift4’s competitors.

Use the form below to tell us what you need and we’ll request competitive quotes from those suppliers, so you get the best possible deal on your point of sale and card machines.

BarclayCard stands out with clear pricing, an all-in-one service, and plenty of features for businesses of all sizes. It’s also a great choice for many if you’re scaling or already have the transaction volume to negotiate better rates.

If you’re wondering what BarclayCard charges for machines, transactions, and contracts, this review covers that and more. 

What is BarclayCard? 

BarclayCard is the business payment processing service offered by Barclays Bank. The bank itself is one of the largest in the UK, offering services to over 900,000 businesses.

BarclayCard itself offers payment processing, acquiring, card machines, and online payments. Barclays is also an international bank, which makes it ideal for businesses taking international payments. 

Plus, with a business bank account, business debit cards, payrolling, and even business finance, Barclays offers everything you need. You won’t need a separate bank or account to accept or spend money you earn through your business. 

BarclayCard Card Machines: Models, Features & Pricing

BarclayCard is primarily designed to offer card terminals with a merchant account service. However, you can also set up an online payment gateway for websites and apps. 

Card Terminals

BarclayCard offers a choice of three different card machines. Each is available for a different rate, but all three use the same transaction rates. These include: 

• BarclayCard Flex – A simple chip & pin and contactless card machine. This offers the basics for accepting payments. It’s also battery powered so good for use throughout a shop or facility. A 4G subscription also means you can take it anywhere. This card reader costs from £15.99 per month. 
• SmartPay Anywhere – This card reader is designed for micro business. It costs just £29 upfront. In addition, unlike many micro-business card machines, this one accepts chip and pin. That makes it more versatile than competing offers from Square or SumUp. Plus, it fits into your pocket and connects to your phone via 4G. That makes it ideal for contractors and gig workers on the go, like plumbers, taxi drivers, and delivery services. 
• SmartPay Touch – This Android-powered card machine offers a full point of sale machine, including barcode scanning and receipts. It costs £29 per month to rent. In addition, it offers inventory and stock management, product listings, an online portal, and even accounting services for free. 

With three card machines on offer, BarclayCard offers enough to meet the needs of most consumers. You can also add more than one model, and pricing per month will simply scale up accordingly.

However, it’s definitely geared towards startups and small businesses. If you earn more or need a full-scale PoS, BarclayCard might want to move you to a custom contract. 

Online Payment Gateway

BarclayCard offers an online payment gateway that integrates directly into most major shopping carts. You can also integrate it directly into apps, software-as-a-service platforms, and into your own website. However, usability is slightly lower than some competitors and you may need support from the BarclayCard team to finish the integration. BarclayCard previously asked £20 per month for the online payment gateway. However, the current pricing structure means you’ll need a custom quote to get rates for your specific business and transaction volumes. 

On average, transaction rates start at 0.7% for UK debit cards and go up to 2.4% for credit cards. You’ll also pay a 3p authorisation fee per transaction. 

BarclayCard also doesn’t charge different rates for online card processing vs. Face-to-face transactions. That means you’ll potentially save over some omnichannel payment processors that do charge different rates. 

Other Services

BarclayCard is a full-service bank. This means you’ll have options for: 

• Business Banking – You can open a full business bank account with Barclays and immediately accept funds to that account. 
• Acquiring – Barclays is an acquiring service; you won’t need a third party to accept payments. 
• Business Debit and Credit Cards – You can directly spend earnings from a business debit card or apply for business credit. 
• Business financing – Barclays offers business financing. However, unlike some competitors, you won’t get an instant decision. 
• Accounting – Barclays offers accounting software for free with many of its packages. That means you can save costs on software you need anyway. 

Some of these features are available for free. However, most will cost you a monthly fee. That means you’ll need a custom quote from Barclays to see what your rate is. 

BarclayCard Pricing 

BarclayCard is owned by a big bank, which means that most of its pricing is custom. You’ll have to request a quote to see what your actual rate is. That makes it more important to get multiple quotes from competitors so you can compare. 

Keep in mind that these rates will change depending on your specific contract: 

• Card Machine Hire Rate – £15.99-£29.99 or a one-off fee for a small model 
• Online Payment Gateway – £20 per month 
• PCI DSS Fee – £4.80 monthly 
• Transaction Fees – 0.75% – 2.45% + 3p (negotiable)
• Minimum monthly service charge for transaction fees is £10
• Chargeback fee – £20

These prices are all competitive, both with other big banks and with eBanks. 

Benefits Of BarclayCard Card Machine

BarclayCard Card Machine is a great service with offerings for micro to small businesses. It’s primarily geared at businesses with £6,500 or less monthly turnover. If you have a higher turnover, BarclayCard will typically move you over to a different service. 

• BarclayCard is a big bank with big bank trust and insurance
• You’ll benefit from a large customer support team and service hours 
• Plenty of features and offerings, including support for international sales
• Integration into software and apps
• Development support available for integrations 
• Choice of card machines
• You can negotiate lower rates as your sales increase 

Essentially, Barclays does have a lot to offer. In fact, one of the biggest cited disadvantages of BarclayCard, its contract lengths, aren’t that out of the ordinary.

BarclayCard has a minimum of an 18-month contract. However, if you look to the next section, its contract rates are right about average. 

BarclayCard Card Machine vs Competitors 

BarclayCard’s closest competitors are Tyl by NatWest, Lloyds Bank Cardnet, Handepay, Tide, Takepayments, and Square. Let’s take a look at how they compare. 

BarclayCard overall compares well to other high street banks. For example, card terminal hire is cheaper than at Lloyds Bank.

Rates for UK bank cards also start much lower at BarclayCard, because BarclayCard doesn’t offer a flat rate transaction fee. This means that if you primarily process UK debit and credit cards, BarclayCard could save you a lot over Tyl by Natwest or Lloyds.

However, BarclayCard will offer custom pricing based on your volume of sales, so nothing is set in stone.

Who Should Use BarclayCard Card Machine?

BarclayCard card machines include three options geared towards micro and small businesses. However, its card terminals also work for businesses of all sizes, providing you don’t need a full-service PoS.

That makes BarclayCard ideal for: 

• Startups
• Freelancers and Contractors
• Small-scale service industry
• Small retail shops
• Hospitality
• B2B sales 

In addition, its online payment gateway and app integration solutions mean BarclayCard is a great fit for online-only businesses.

Software-as-a-Service and app companies can definitely benefit from the ease of integration offered by the payment gateway. 

Getting The Best Card Machine For Your Small Business

BarclayCard offers three card machines ranging from a micro solution to a point of sale. This makes the bank a great fit for small businesses and startups looking for a big bank. You’ll also only need one account with Barclays, as the bank can cover everything you need to accept and spend earnings. As an international bank, Barclays also offers room for scaling, and you can negotiate rates lower as you grow. 

However, the best way to make sure you’re getting a great deal on your card machine is still to compare options. Use the form below to share which payment processing services you need, and we’ll request quotes from competitors, select the best ones, and pass the best deals on to you.

Here, small business owners can benefit from an online payment gateway, card machines, and a business debit card, all with transparent fees and pricing. Viva Wallet stands out as a top choice for everything from micro business and startups to established organizations. 

Viva.com is extremely popular, but are they right for your business? This review covers features, offerings, ratings, and pricing, so you can make the best decision for your business. 

What Is Viva.com?

Viva.com, formerly Viva Wallet, is a part of the Viva Group of financial tech (fintech holdings). The group includes Viva Bank and Viva.com. Together, these two organizations offer a complete card processing service.

Here, you get your business bank, card terminal, online payment gateway, acquiring service, and merchant account for complete card processing. 

Viva.com is officially a bank. It has a banking license in Greece. That means you’re protected under European Banking legislation, which might make this alternative to high street banks a little bit more tempting than most eBanks. 

Viva.com Features

Viva.com offers everything you need to start accepting card payments online or face-to-face. Let’s take a look.

Online Payment Gateway

Viva.com’s online payment gateway comes with a merchant account, checkout, and tools for integration into most payment solutions. It also accepts all major cards and digital wallets. 

The platform also supports pay by QR code, pay by link, and tap to pay for accepting online payments with your phone. 

• E-Commerce Zero – Minimum monthly charge of £3.99
• E-Commerce Default – £3.99 per month
• E-Commerce Standard – £10.99 per month 
• E-Commerce Premium – £15.99 per month 

You’ll also pay transaction fees averaging 2.06% + 24p. However, you’ll pay a 0.20% fee for debit and 0.30% for credit for all domestic card transactions.

In addition, you can negotiate a custom deal with Viva to pay for transaction fees as part of a lump monthly fee so you get predictable costs. 

Card Machines

Viva.com offers a wide selection of card machines. In fact, with 10 models in its store, you get more options than most of Viva’s competitors. 

With options to hire or buy every model, you can decide to try out a model or buy it upfront to save as much as possible over the duration of your contract. 

Business Banking

Viva.com offers business banking and acquiring services. This means you need a Viva.com account to get started. Here, you can choose from three account options: 

• Zero
• Default
• Standard
• Premium

You get a business bank, business debit card, and either same-day or real-time payouts. That means funds you process from customers are normally instantly available in your business bank to be spent. 

The downside is that, if you already have a business bank account, you’ll have to use two or make the switch to Viva Bank.

Viva.com Pricing 

Viva.com uses simple pricing for in-person payments, omnichannel payments, and online payments. 

Viva Wallet uses transaction fees for its standard accounts. However, you can also work with Viva to get a flat rate subscription with no transaction fees.

For normal accounts, the transaction fees are: 

• 1.69% for card present transactions
• 2.19% + 24p for online payments 
• 1.16% card present acquiring fee 
• 2.06% online payments acquiring fee 
• Klarna and Alipay cost 2.40%-4.99% 

You’ll also pay extra for additional services. For example: 

• Support with a human agent (£3.99 per month), Video support with a human agent (£15.99 per month)
• 80p bank transfer fees/2% transaction fees 

Viva also offers a lot of convenience in terms of delivering both acquiring and card processing in one service. You won’t need two accounts.

Instead, you’ll have everything through one service, including business spending cards. That can greatly simplify your entire contract, so you have less to worry about and less to manage. 

Viva Wallet vs Competitors

Viva compares well with competitors, including Lloyds Bank Cardnet, Tyl by Natwest, Handepay, Takepayments, and Tide. In fact, it’s one of the few of its competitors that offers a self-service card reader as part of the service. That makes this brand ideal for vending machines, carwash, and other unattended businesses. 

Let’s take a look at how Viva’s pricing and features compare: 

Overall, Viva compares well, especially on pricing, where it’s one of the cheapest. That’s also true for card terminal rentals, where the cost to hire the same Pax model is about half the price with Viva as with Tyl by Natwest. 

Viva.com Reviews & Ratings

Viva.com is overall very well rated by customers online. However, not everything is positive.

On the positive side, the company maintains an average 3.2 star rating. Customers quote reliable service, low fees, and ease of self-service. 

• Easy to set up and get started on your own
• Android-based card terminals are easy to use 
• Fees are lower than most competitors 
• Fees are transparent 

However, Viva.com also has negative reviews. For example, some customers complain that the AI used for setup can take too long or can be buggy. That can cause frustration during setup. The app might also sometimes have bugs, which means it’s not always 100% reliable. 

Benefits Of Viva.com

Viva.com offers a lot of benefits to consumers including;

• All-in-one service, with merchant account, business account, acquiring services, card terminal, and online payment gateway, you won’t need another provider
• Plenty of choice of terminals with 10 models
• Transparent fees and low rates

Some customers don’t like that you have to pay extra for human support for customer service. However, that’s increasingly the norm and means you only pay for what you need. 

Who Should Use Viva? 

Viva.com (Viva Wallet) is a great low-cost business banking option.

While primarily aimed at SMEs, the solution is versatile enough to work for micro businesses and startups as well. You can also negotiate flat-rate pricing, meaning early business costs are as predictable as possible. 

In addition, Viva.com brings the best of both worlds of eBanking and traditional banking together. Viva.com has a banking license, meaning you get the same protections as when working with a traditional bank. 

Overall, this bank is best fit for small businesses, especially if transparency and predictable costs are important for you.

Choosing The Best Payment Processor For Your Small Business 

Viva Wallet, now Viva.com, stands out with transparent pricing, low fees, and scalable services. It’s also an all-in-one payment services provider, which can make a huge difference to new business owners still trying to figure out how payments work. You’ll only need one provider. However, there are plenty of options on the UK market and comparing them can help you to get the best deal. In most cases, transaction rates are fully negotiable, and the higher your transaction rate, the more you can save. 

Use the form below to request quotes from top payment providers in the UK and we’ll forward your request, select the best responses, and pass the savings on to you.

Teya card machines are one of those services, specializing in delivering localized small business services including an online payment gateway, payment processing, and card machines. 

If you’re wondering if Teya card machines are right for your UK business, this article covers everything you need to know. We look at pricing, features, reviews, and how Teya compares with its nearest competitors. Let’s take a look! 

What Is Teya? 

Teya is a merchant service provider offering payment processing and card machines. The company launched in 2019 and has quickly risen to become one of the fastest growing card machine companies in the EU.

The company has since grown to over 300,000 customers across 16 countries. Those customers are all businesses looking for payment processing services including card machines, and merchant accounts. 

Teya is an e-money and financial services account. It offers a business banking solution. It also functions as an acquirer for processing card transactions. This means you’ll only need one account for accepting card payments. However, regulations are lower than those of traditional banks with a banking license. 

Teya Card Machines & Offerings 

Teya offers multiple card machines in its normal packages. All are priced at a flat rate and are geared for small businesses. In addition, you can opt for Tap to Pay or a business bank service. 

Teya Go

The Teya Go is an Android-powered card reader that’s roughly the size of a mobile phone.

It offers contactless and chip on pin payments. It also has a battery that lasts up to 6 hours. The card machine costs £69 upfront. 

Teya Essential

The Teya Essential is a PoS with a 5.5” touchscreen, built-in receipt printer, and integrated camera. That means you can use it to scan QR codes and barcodes. You can also integrate your PoS.

The model also offers an up to 6 hour battery. Integrated receipts also mean you can choose to print paper receipts or send digital ones to customers. This costs £179 + VAT. 

Teya Pro

The Teya Pro is a portable card machine with integrated barcode scanner, receipts, and camera. You can accept chip and pin and contactless payments.

It also offers a 10-hour battery. Plus, with a 6” touchscreen, it’s easy to navigate for most. 

Teya Bespoke 

You can negotiate a custom plan with Teya including your own transaction rates, machines, and Point of Sale support. 

Tap to Pay 

Teya offers an app where you can accept contactless payments via your phone. This is a great choice for starters and micro businesses, as you’ll only pay transaction fees.

This payment method supports pinned transactions. However, it does not support American Express cards.

Business Bank Account 

Teya offers a business bank account, complete with cards. Here, you get next-business day settlements on inbound transactions. 

Business Funding 

Teya offers business funding up to £1.5 million. However, you’ll need a Teya account to qualify. 

Teya Benefits 

Teya stands out as a small-business oriented card machine provider. For example, the business establishes local support and local customer service in every area it sells card machines. It also offers free support.

Every Teya card machine also comes with a lifetime warranty and accident cover, which is better than any other competitor. 

• Lifetime warranty on all card machines 
• Flat-rate fees 
• Card machines cost less than most competitors
• Plenty of extras
• Local support

However, Teya isn’t perfect. For example, you can’t use it to set up online payments. If you run omnichannel sales or also want to sell with a web shop, you’ll need a different merchant account. That can be a hassle, which may make Teya less of a great offer.

In addition, it does not offer a monthly plan or a payment plan for card machines. This means you’ll have to buy the machine outright and upfront. That can be a bad deal if you’re not sure what kind of model you want yet. 

Teya Card Machine Pricing

Teya charges very simple rates for all of its products. Here, you pay a flat rate for a card machine.

Teya card machines stand out with no monthly fees. That means there’s no monthly fee to hire the machine and no monthly fee to use the machine.  You’ll pay a flat rate upfront and then just transaction costs. For a small business owner, that means your operating costs could be significantly lower. 

Teya transaction rates are also simple: 

• 1.49% for credit and debit cards
• 1.59% for tap to pay transactions
• 1.9% for all Amex cards 

In addition, you’ll pay the following rates for card machines: 

Those rates are highly competitive. In fact, if you go to the next section, you’ll see that Teya is extremely competitive in terms of costs. 

Teya vs Competitors 

Teya is extremely popular for being small business-friendly. Its offerings include choices for different business needs, transparent and low rates, and local customer support.

Let’s take a look at how Teya card machines compare with other top providers. 

Teya’s top competitors include Handepay, EVO Payments, Stripe, PayPal Zettle, Adyen, Square, and Worldpay. Of these, Teya is the only option to not offer an online payment gateway. 

As you can see, Teya card machines compare favourably on price and transaction fee. However, keep in mind that if you’re primarily processing UK payments, some alternatives will offer transaction fees from as little as 0.70%, so it’s still important to request and compare quotes before making a decision. 

How much does that matter? You’d need to process about £2,500 in local UK card transactions to save £20. Considering that’s the monthly fee for most card machine companies offering domestic rates at 0.75%, that should be your cutoff point. And, you’ll want to look at other fees too. 

Teya Reviews & Ratings 

Teya is overall very well rated by customers across the UK and the EU. Customers cite ease of use, low and transparent prices, and great customer service. 

• Setup is fast and you can get your card machine in just a few days
• Customer service solves problems in days not weeks 
• Machine is reliable and fast 
• Fees are competitive
• No monthly fees
• Card machines are very competitively priced 
• Machines are replaced same-day when they stop working
• Card machine warranty is unmatched

Of course, not everyone is completely thrilled with Teya. For example, some customers complain that Teya froze their accounts while verifying their identities. You also won’t get many integrations for other software or hardware you already have, which can be a hassle if you want to set up and use it with a till or register. 

Otherwise, Teya looks like a great solution and its customers love it. 

Who Should Use Teya Card Machines?

Teya is a great low-cost card machine provider, but is it for everyone? No!

Teya has multiple drawbacks including a lack of services, lack of features, and lack of support for more complex businesses. Users often report that Teya is a great basic payment processing application but if you want more flexibility from the app, it’s just not there. 

Still, that leaves a lot of room for Teya to be a top choice for many businesses. For example, startups, brick and mortar companies without online sales, and contractors are all likely to not just benefit from Teya, but also to save a great deal in costs. 

On the other hand, more complex businesses like retail shops with web shops, restaurants that need to integrate PoS and back of house, etc., probably want to look at other services. 

Getting The Best Card Machine For Your UK Business 

Teya is just one card machine provider in the UK. It stands out with low card machine costs, no monthly fees, and competitive transaction rates. In most cases, you can start for nothing but the cost of the card machine. From there, you’ll pay based on sales you actually make. Teya’s actual transaction costs can be higher for domestic UK cards than some competitors. However, with no monthly fees, that is likely to balance out for low-volume business and micro-businesses. 

If you’d like to make sure you’re getting the best deal on your card machine, use the form below. Tell us what you need, your transaction volume, and required services. We’ll request quotes from top providers on your behalf, select the best ones, and pass the savings on to you.

Lloyds Bank Cardnet is a payment processing service including card machines, online payment gateway, and business banking. Unlike many other high street bank offerings, Lloyds also offers flat rate pricing, clear monthly fees, and fixed transaction fees. 

That makes Lloyds Bank Cardnet a tempting option, even for startups and micro businesses. The following review looks at features, offerings, and reviews to help you decide if Lloyds Bank Cardnet is the right payment solution for your small business. 

What Is Lloyds Bank Cardnet?

Lloyds Bank Cardnet is a self-service payment service offering merchant account services, business banking, online payment gateway, card machine rental, and virtual terminal.

Lloyds charges flat rate fees for some products and offerings. For example, most of its card terminals are available for a flat monthly fee. In addition, most of its transaction fees are transparent.

However, for some plans, monthly fees and transaction fees are custom to your account. That means you’ll still have to request a custom quote and ideally compare it with competitors to ensure you’re getting the best deal. 

Lloyds is one of the largest banks in the UK. That means it’s a great place to go if you’re already banking with Lloyds, if you want the reliability of a big bank, or if you want to build customer trust. 

Lloyds Bank Cardnet Costs & Pricing 

Lloyds Bank Cardnet uses a semi-transparent fee structure. This means you can see some fees and others, you can’t.

For example, you can expect the following fees: 

• Card terminal rental: £21-£23 per month or a one-off fee 
• Service charges: Minimum Monthly Fee is £10 for authorisation fees
• Debit card transaction fee: 0.5% + 3p 
• Payment gateway fee: 13p
• SIM from £10 per month 
• Card not present fee: 0.2% 
• Additional fees such as card not present, international card payments, online payments, refunds, & chargebacks

In most cases, you’ll have to request custom pricing. For example, higher volume sales mean you’ll normally pay a lower transaction rate.

In addition, you’ll get a custom monthly rate for items such as monthly fees for payment gateways. That means Lloyds isn’t entirely transparent about pricing. 

Lloyds Bank Cardnet Features

Lloyds Bank Cardnet offers a full-service payment processing service with everything you need to accept payments in-person or online. When paired with a Lloyds business bank account, you won’t need any additional services to take payments. 

Merchant Account Services 

Lloyds Bank is a merchant account service, meaning you can set up payment processing via card terminal, online payment gateway, or virtual terminal. 

• Online Payment Gateway – You get an online payment gateway complete with apps for integration and integration assistance. You’ll have some branding options. However, monthly fees and transaction rates are fully custom based on expected volume of sale. 
• Virtual Terminal – You can accept payments via link, QR code, or over the phone with a virtual terminal. Again, all pricing is fully custom. 

Card Readers 

Lloyds Bank Cardnet offers a selection of card machines. Here, you’ll pay a monthly fee plus transaction costs. 

• MPOS – This small chip and pin card reader is ideal for starters and micro businesses. It offers contactless and chip and pin payments. You can also connect it to your phone, 4G, or Wi-Fi. It also costs just £49 upfront with no monthly fees. Lloyds Cardnet also offers a fixed transaction rate at 1.75% for all cards except American Express. That makes this option ideal for small and micro businesses that need fixed rates. You’ll have a minimum £10 per month transaction cost. However, the contract is monthly with no long-term commitments. 
• Castles Saturn – The Castles Saturn is available from £23 per month. If you sign an 18-month contract, it’s free for the first 6 months. This card reader offers a touchscreen, Android interface, app store, integrated camera, and integrated printer. You can use it to scan barcodes and QR codes. You can also choose when to print receipts. That makes this ideal for retail stores and shops needing an all-purpose portable card reader. 
• Clover Flex – The Clover Flex is designed to be a PoS and inventory management system, complete with barcode scanner, printer, and even financing. It costs £21 per month plus VAT. You’ll also pay £10 per month if you want a 4G SIM card. 
• Clover Mini – This tabletop Point of Sale offers a full-service card reader and mini till solution ideal for retail and shops. It costs from £23 per month. In addition, you’ll have access to point of sale and eCommerce apps, finance management, and even employee management and payroll directly through the app. A 4G SIM is £10 per month. Contracts are also fixed for 18 months. 
• Clover Station – This is a full-service PoS, complete with printer, till, and Clover Flex. Pricing is custom and contracts have a minimum of 18 months. 

Benefits Of Lloyds Bank Cardnet For Small Businesseses

There are plenty of reasons Lloyds Bank Cardnet stands out for small businesses. 

• Fully Scalable – Lloyds Bank offers fixed monthly rate and fixed transaction costs for micro business and startups. However, it scales as far as you need it to, with a maximum processing speed of 600 transaction per second. If you stick with Lloyds, you’ll only ever need one payment processing service no matter how much you grow. 
• Big Bank Trust – Lloyds is a top five bank, you’ll benefit from business trust and consumer trust. 
• Omnichannel Support – Lloyds supports online, virtual, and face-to-face transactions. In addition, it offers apps and direct integrations for many major eCommerce platforms and shopping carts so you can easily set up online payments without coding.
• Multiple Card Reader Offerings – Lloyds Bank Cardnet offers multiple card reader offerings including a full Clover PoS setup, which you can rent with Lloyds payment processing included. 
• Includes Business Banking – Lloyds offers a complete business bank account with an opening deposit of £1. That qualifies you for business finance, business debit cards, and a place to deposit payments as they come in. 

What about cons? Lloyds isn’t as transparent as many eBanking or alternative banking providers. This means you could end up with higher fees, or less of an idea of what you’re paying upfront.

However, you can often get around this by comparing your options upfront and making sure you have a good quote before you sign. 

Lloyds Bank Cardnet vs Competitors 

Lloyds Bank is just one of the many payment processors you can choose. Its nearest competitors include Tyl by NatWest, Handepay, Takepayments, Tide, SumUp, and Square.

Let’s take a look at how they compare:

Essentially, Lloyds compares very well, even to other high street banks. However, with pricing that isn’t as transparent, it can be harder to see what you’re paying without getting a custom quote. 

Lloyds Bank Cardnet Reviews & Ratings

Lloyds Bank Cardnet is generally well reviewed with an average of 3.8 stars online. Customers quote high quality card readers, good choice of services, and great service. 

• Card readers are high quality and come with everything you need to get started
• Complete service with no other accounts needed 
• Good customer service

Some reviewers quote that account updates can take longer than they’d like. Some people also cite hidden fees or unexpected fees. 

Who Should Use Lloyds Bank Cardnet?

Lloyds Bank Cardnet is a great option for business owners looking for a major bank to do business with.

In addition, it offers scalable services, making it a great fit for starters, scale-ups, and for businesses that can already negotiate good rates with the bank. Plus, if you’re a starter, you can get an instant decision on credit for business financing. 

Choosing The Best UK Small Business Payment Provider

Lloyds Bank is a popular payment processing service with everything you need to accept payments online and face-to-face. It also offers competitive rates, plenty of card machine options, and direct integrations for its online payment gateway. Still, pricing is not fully transparent, so it’s important to compare your options so you can ensure you’re getting the best value. 

Use the form below to request quotes from payment processors in the UK. We’ll look at top providers that meet your needs, request competitive quotes, and then pass the savings on to you.

Android card terminals offer apps, marketplaces, and ease of use unparalleled in old fashioned models. And, with the same security, that doesn’t come at a cost to keeping customers or your funds safe. 

The Pax a920 Pro is one of the first of those smart card readers on the UK market. It’s also made by one of the biggest brands. That means it’s affordable, accessible, and easy to get your hands on whether you’re buying it outright or looking to hire.

Here are some of the reasons you might want to or not to get a Pax a920 Pro.

What Is The Pax a920 Pro? 

The Pax a920 Pro is an Android-based touchscreen card machine. This card reader is one of the first of the new generation of card terminals, which deliver apps, integrated cameras, and high-capacity batteries.

Here, you get everything you need to accept payments on location or on the go, wrapped in a phone-like interface for easy navigation. 

For most business owners, that means making a switch from a clunky interface you have to learn, to a simple Android interface. If you can use your smartphone, you can use an Android card machine. 

Features and Offerings

The Pax a920 Pro delivers a phone-like interface and everything you need to charge cards, digital wallets, and even QR codes.

Let’s take a look at the specs: 

• Android 5.1 PayBiz operating system 
• Cortex A7 + ARM processor
• 8GB storage + 1GB memory (Optional 16GB storage/2GB memory) 
• MicroSD card slot up to 32GB
• PCI PTS 5.x 
• 5” HD Touchscreen Display 
• Dual Cameras 
• Chip & Pin, Contactless, MagStripe
• 4G, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
• 5,250mAh battery (8-15 hours)
• Dual SIM/SAM
• GPS positioning
• 3-keys + PIN on Glass
• Buzzer/Speaker/Microphone
• Micro USB or 6 PIN charging
• Suitable for indoor use 
• Certified for EMV, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, JBC, Interac, CE, Atex, and digital wallets 
• Integrated printer 

Benefits

The Pax a920 has a lot to offer over a standard card terminal. For example:

• Modern Interface – You get a modern interface with an Android operating system, meaning you likely won’t have a learning curve. Just pick it up and go. Plus, with a touchscreen interface, you won’t have to memorize number combos to change settings, you can just tap a screen. That also makes this a top choice for temporary use and events, because you don’t have to worry about upfront training. 
• Sleek Design – Android card terminals are small, lightweight, and often fit in your pocket. This one almost does, except for the printer. 
• Print Receipts – Accept contactless and digital wallet payments and print receipts where needed. Your a920 Pro comes with an integrated printer. 
• Portable – With a battery that lasts up to 12 hours, you can use this card terminal all day – or return it to the dock during the day. That makes it perfect for nearly any type of business use. 
• App Marketplace – The Android PayBiz interface means you can download apps and seamlessly integrate your Pont of Sale, meaning you can load products and make sales seamlessly. Plus, the app marketplace offers inventory management, CRM, and more. 
• Cameras – The onboard cameras mean you can issue receipts, vouchers, and more with QR and barcodes and then read them from the scanner. That also means you can directly scan products from the store to automatically load pricing and do-away with a separate barcode scanner. 

In short, the Pax a920 Pro has a lot to offer for stores, events, and businesses of all sizes. 

How Much Does The Pax a920 Pro Cost? 

The Pax a920 Pro is available for sale and for hire. In most cases, you’ll want to get it through your merchant account services provider. Why? They’ll deliver you a machine that’s ready to use with their services. All you’ll have to do is plug it in.

If you buy your own separately, you’ll have to do a lot of work and probably hire a technician from the merchant account services. 

Price to Buy the Pax a920 Pro: £375-£495 

We’ve seen it as low as £315 on discount, but you can’t count on those prices. 

Short-Term Hire: £75 per week, perfect for events. 

Hire Price: Varies per merchant account service.

Essentially, the rate can vary quite a bit depending on your merchant account service. In addition, you’ll also want to pay attention to card transaction fees and other services attached to the account. 

Pax a920 Pro vs Alternatives 

The Pax a920 Pro is just one of a suite of modern Android card terminals. Here, the biggest competitors to Pax are Castles, the Tide Card Reader, Clover, and Square Terminal. Other alternatives like Takepayments actually offer you a choice of options like Pax and Castles card machines. 

Essentially, the Pax a920 Pro compares very well to competitors in terms of battery life and features. It is slightly more expensive than the nearest competing option, the Castles S1F4 Pro. However, it’s significantly more expensive than options like the Clover Flex, which also offers a barcode scanner.

Other cheaper options don’t offer barcode scanning, which means you might have to add that as an additional cost if you’re selling retail. 

Customer Reviews & Feedback

The Pax a920 Pro is extremely well reviewed by customers, with average ratings hovering at 4.7 stars. Users share ease of use, friendly customer service, and fast setup as its top features. 

• Ease of Use – the Pax a920 pro has very little learning curve. The interface is built on Android, so it’s easy for most people to use. 
• Fast Onboarding – Setting up the Pax is a matter of setting up an account, downloading apps, and getting started. 
• Customer Service – While you’ll likely receive customer service from the individual provider you source your Pax card terminal from; you can still reach out to Pax directly for support. 
• Fast Processing – The a920 Pro uses 4G and Wi-Fi, features an onboard printer, and accepts contactless payments, making it extremely easy process payments quickly. 

The only real con for the Pax a920 we can find is that it’s more expensive than most competing models, although it does offer more than most of them. 

Why Choose The Pax a920 Pro? 

The Pax a920 Pro stands out as a high-end modern card reader. It’s also an all-in-one solution. That makes it the perfect fit for retail or anywhere you want to scan barcodes.

For example, while it does cost £300 or more, you won’t have to buy a separate printer, barcode scanner, etc., meaning it’s more cost-effective than it looks at first glance. 

However, if you don’t need the barcode scanner, you might be better off with a cheaper alternative. 

What if you’re paying a monthly hire rate? In most cases, you won’t see much difference in price between an Android card reader like the Pax a920 Pro and a more traditional model without a touchscreen. In that case, choosing for ease of use and an all-in-one terminal might be the best way to go! 

Choosing The Best Card Terminal For Your Business 

In most cases, the best card terminal for your business is one that meets your needs and is offered by your merchant account service provider. It doesn’t make sense to buy your own card terminal, because you’ll normally have to pay to have it programmed to work with your merchant account service. 

However, you might want to create a features list like whether or not you want a touchscreen or an Android interface. That will help you choose between models like the Pax a920 pro that offer both and more traditional card readers like an Ingenico Moby 8500 or similar. 

If you’re ready to choose a merchant account service and card reader, use the form below to request a quote. We’ll compare top models and offerings, including transaction and monthly charges and then send you a list of the top options that offer the card readers you’re interested in.

In addition, Castles offers a wide selection of payment processors. Whether you’re looking for contactless payments, point of sale, or biometrics and tokenization, Castles offers it.

Its selection of Android terminals meets most needs for face-to-face card payments. However, Castles does not offer a payment gateway or card processing. Instead, you’ll have to partner with an additional payment processor. 

However, Castles is well-known for its sleek, state-of-the-art card machines. You can source them through top merchant account providers like Adyen, Handepay, PayTen, Lloyds Bank, Visa, and many more.

Here’s everything you need to know before choosing a model.

What Is Castles Technology? 

Castle’s Technology is a global payment technology provider. The organization focuses on card terminals including mobile, desk, point of sale, and unattended models. It’s also one of the only to offer a choice of Linux or Android terminals.

The company launched in 2016 and has since been a major disruptor on the card terminal market. Rather than delivering traditional card readers, Castles uses modern and sleek designs, focuses on using mobile operating systems, and offers repairs as part of service. 

Today, the company has 1,000+ global employees, sales in 150 countries, and has shipped more than 4 million card terminals. 

Castles Card Machines

Castles has a large number of card readers in categories including countertop, mini POS, multi-lane PIN Pad, Portable (Mobile) and Unattended (Self-checkout).

With 20 individual models, it also has more choice of card terminal than nearly any other manufacturer. 

S1F4 Pro

The Castles S1F4 Pro Card Machine is a portable Android card terminal. The device was developed on Android 13 and offers full touchscreen capabilities. 

• PCI PTS 6.x security 
• 6.7” HD touchscreen
• 13MP camera
• 2 sim card slots 
• 3350/7.2v Li-ion battery for 8-12 hours of use 
• Integrated printer 
• 4G LTE, 3G, 2G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
• USB-C charging
• Magnetic Stripe, Smart Card, Contactless
• Integrated barcode scanner 

S1U2-M4

The Castles S1U2-M4 is an unattended card reader offering contactless, magstripe, and chip and pin payments. It’s meant to be mounted, indoors or out and is fully waterproof.

In addition, it can be connected to coin change and door switch technologies for use in everything from vending machines to ticketing, petrol pumps, and more. 

• 4” colour touchscreen
• Android 13
• PCI PTS 6.x 
• 2 sim card slots 
• IP65 and IK09 weatherproofing 
• RG LTE, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth
• USB, Ethernet, MDB, RS232, Coin Pulse, and Door Switch interfaces
• GPS positioning
• 2mp camera for barcode scanning and security available 

S1P2

The S1P2 is a countertop Android-based pin terminal offering a permanent card terminal ideal for retail, restaurants, and the service industry.

The reader accepts all major payments including magstripe, Chip and Pin, contactless, and even QR codes and barcodes. It also offers backlit keys for ease of use. 

• PCI PTS 6.x 
• Android 13
• 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
• MagStripe, Contact, Contactless cards
• Ethernet, USB, RS232 interfaces 
• 4” colour touchscreen
• 2 SIM

V1M

The V1M Castles mobile card terminal is one of Castles’ most popular models. This mobile card reader supports all major payment options.

In addition, it comes with a battery for 8+ hours of use on the go. It also offers more security for businesses with a Linux processor. 

• PCI PTS 6.x
• Contact payments, contactless, MagStripe, QR Code, barcode
• 3.5” colour touchscreen
• Linux
• 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
• Keypad
• Integrated printer
• 2mp camera
• 3,100 mAh battery for up to 12 hours of service 

S1F3 

The S1F3 is a card reader ideal for small retail sales, food, and microbusinesses. Unlike some alternatives, it also offers a printer, so you get a mobile and lightweight card terminal capable of printing receipts. 

• PCI PTS 6.x 
• Android 12 
• 2G, 3G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 
• 5.5” colour touchscreen 
• 2 cameras including barcode scanner/QR code reader
• MagStripe, Smart Card, Contactless, SIM/SAM
• Integrated printer
• Use plugged in or with an up to 8 hour battery 

S1F2 

The S1F2 is a Castles card machine offering a mobile terminal, apps, a marketplace for PoS, and a 5.5” touchscreen. It also features pin on glass, a printer, and a 6,000 mAh battery for an all-day charge. 

• PCI PTS 6.x 
• Micro SD storage
• 5.5” colour touchscreen 
• 3G, 4G LTE, GPRS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
• Contact, Contactless, Magstripe, SIM, SAM
• 6000 mAh battery
• 2 cameras with optional barcode scanner/QR code reader
• Integrated printer 

S1E2

The S1E2 is a modern card reader putting the focus on touchscreen and navigation. The reader accepts magStripe, Smart Card, Contactless, SIM, and SAM payments. You can also add an optional barcode reader.

In addition, with a 3,000 mAh battery, this phone-size card reader will go all day. 

• PCI PTS 6.x 
• Contact and contactless payments
• 5” touchscreen
• 8+ hour battery 
• 3G, 4G LTE, WI-Fi, Bluetooth 
• PIN on Glass
• Integrated camera 

S1U2

The S1U2 is a large self-service card reader offering contactless and contact card payments.

The Android-based terminal also offers support for vending, ticketing, multimedia, public transportation, petrol, laundromats, and much more. 

• PCI PTS 6.x 
• Android 10 
• 5” colour touchscreen
• Contact, contactless, magstripe payments 
• 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 
• 5Mp camera with QR and barcode capabilities 
• Unattended model 

S1 MINI 2

The S1 MINI 2 is a mobile card reader designed for small and micro businesses with mobile sales. It’s ideal for use in taxis, outdoor vending, and delivery services.

It’s also small and lightweight enough to fit into a pocket, although it won’t print receipts. 

• PCI PTS 6.x 
• 4” colour touchscreen 
• Android 13 
• Accepts smart card and contactless payments (No chip and pin)
• Charges via USB-C 
• 4G LTE, 3G, 2G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
• 1 Sim
• 0.3mp camera 
• 8-hour battery / 2,000mAh

S1 MINI

The S1 MINI is a small and lightweight card terminal ideal for small businesses. This desktop terminal does come with a battery, however at 1,600 mAh, you’ll want to return it to the charging cradle during the day.

However, it’s also smaller than a smartphone, making it easy to transport, put in a pocket, or keep out of the way while you work. 

• PCI PTS 6.x 
• 3.97” colour touchscreen 
• Comes with stylus 
• 2Mp integrated camera
• 6-8 hour battery 
• Smart Card, Contactless, Sim/SAM 
• Android 10 

Other Models 

With 20+ card terminals on offer, you’ll have plenty to choose from with Castles. Here’s a quick overview of all Castle’s card terminals and payment machines. 

Benefits Of Castles Card Machines 

Castles Technology offers modern, feature-rich, and sleek card machines. You’re not getting a card reader that looks the same as the 1990s; you’re getting a modern device with apps, a marketplace, and it fits in your pocket. 

• 20 different card terminals 
• Unattended card terminals 
• Android or Linux options 
• Available through many major merchant account services 
• Modern look and design
• High range of compatibility with other software and technology 
• Repair services available 

However, Castles also has some downsides. For example, you can’t rent your card machine directly. Instead, you’ll have to hire a card reader as part of your merchant account services contract with another provider – or buy one from a third-party seller. 

Who Should Use Castles Card Machines? 

Castles Card Machines is a relative newcomer to the market. However, it offers industry-disrupting technology, with Android and Linux native card machines. In fact, with 20 models offering apps, a marketplace, and touchscreen updates, Castles makes modern digital card readers accessible to everyone. 

In addition, it offers models suitable for everything from vending machines to high-volume sales. This card reader is ideal anywhere you need to accept payments. 

However, you can’t buy direct. In addition, Castles won’t offer payment processing. Therefore, you’ll have to set up your merchant account service. If you want a Castles card reader, the best option is to choose one of the many merchant account providers that use Castles. 

Choosing The Best Card Reader For Your UK Small Business 

The right card reader will make a massive difference for your business. You have to consider factors like weight, functionality, and daily use. Your card reader needs to be durable, user-friendly enough to update on your own, and secure. Castles is just one of dozens of different card terminal manufacturers in the UK. 

At the end of the day, the deal-breaker for your card reader should be whether or not your chosen merchant account offers it. However, if you really want to make sure you get the best card terminal for your needs, use the form below and we’ll help you compare options and get the best deal.

While DNA Payments has a lot to offer for small businesses in the UK, it also has a lot of competition. Looking at your options, reading reviews, and comparing them is the best way to save.

This review covers DNA Payments’ offerings, pricing structure, and features.

What Is DNA Payments?

DNA Payments is an omnichannel payment provider service. The company was founded in 2018 and has grown quickly to become one of the largest independent payment providers in the UK.

In addition, it’s part of the DNA Payments Group, which includes Card Cutters, Zash, and other small business solutions. The company also launched quickly by buying established UK payment solutions and incorporating them into a single payment solution. 

However, unlike many of its competitors, DNA Payments does not provide transparent pricing. That puts the brand at a disadvantage on the market. Despite that, it’s still highly rated and reviewed and boasts an impressive client portfolio of over 65,000 businesses in the US and UK. 

DNA Payments Features

DNA Payments is an omnichannel payment processor. This means you can accept payments online, via card, or mobile and link. Like alternatives like Handepay, it provides an all-in-one solution, including acquiring services and merchant account services. 

Online Payment Gateway

DNA Payments’ online payment gateway offers the option to create white-label checkout pages for your own website, major eCommerce platforms, and many shopping carts. In addition, you can take payments through link, via mobile, and over the phone. 

• Online payment gateway with native integrations for one-click installation into BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Magento, OpenCart, PrestaShop, and others. 
• Virtual terminal to accept payments over the phone 
• Recurring payments, ideal for subscriptions and SaaS solutions
• Charity-specific solutions to collect money for charities as part of sales 
• Integration support for your own website
• Full white-labeling, so your checkout looks and feels like part of your brand 

In short, you can fully accept online payments, even if you’re not a developer. 

Card Terminals 

DNA Payments offers multiple card terminals and readers, including mobile, tap-to-pay, self-checkout, and much more. While card reader selection is very good, DNA Payments does not offer transparent pricing. This means you’ll definitely want to compare quotes to make sure you’re getting a good rate. 

• Terminals Pax A920 Pro, Pax Q25, Pax A35, Nexgo N86, SUNMI P2 Lite SE, and SUNMI P2 Pro
• Choose from Mobile, Portable, Countertop, and Self-checkout models 
• Accept contactless payments from any Android phone 
• Branded card terminals available 
• Accepts all major UK and EU cards 
• Shipped within 1-3 business days of setting up an account

With plenty of card terminal options and even self-checkout options available, DNA Payments stands out for small-to-mid-size businesses. 

Extras

DNA Payments offers plenty of extras like point of sale and e-Point-of-Sale, custom branding, and even integrated fraud management. With DNA Payments, you get: 

• All-in-one service 
• Custom branding for online checkout and card machines
• Fraud management systems
• Short-term accounts for popups and temporary retail locations
• Self-checkout terminals with point of sale 

Benefits Of DNA Payments For Small UK Businesses

DNA Payments is a fully independent omnichannel payment processor. That means it’s not affiliated with any UK banks.

In addition, it offers everything you need to accept payments across software (SaaS), eCommerce platforms, your own website, and face-to-face. 

• White Label. Online checkout and card machines are fully brandable 
• 8+ direct integrations into eCommerce platforms and shopping carts
• One of the only options with self-checkout terminals 
• Short-term rentals and contracts available for popups and temporary stores 
• Next-day settlement 

Of course, DNA Payments has cons as well. For example, it does not offer transparent pricing. That’s against the norm for small business payment processors in the UK. It also means you’ll have to ask for a custom quote based on sales volume, card terminals needed, etc. 

DNA Payments Pricing & Fees 

DNA Payments doesn’t offer transparent pricing. Instead, you’ll have to contact DNA payments to receive a quote based on volume of sales, terminals needed, and online services needed. 

Fees are variable. You might be quoted at lower or higher rates depending on what you’re getting. However, average rates include: 

• Minimum monthly transaction fee: £10
• Authorisation fees: 3p 
• Pay by Link: £5 per month 
• 2 to 4-year standard contract
• 0.26%-0.29% fee on debit 
• £159 early cancellation fee 
• £7.99 per month for next-day settlement 
• Average fees of £200 per year or £16.50 per month 

Eventually, you’ll have to request a custom quote to see what you’re paying with DNA Payments. In addition, you can normally expect cheaper rates if you lock in for four years, but not everyone wants to do that, so be sure to check your quote terms as well. 

DNA Payments vs Competitors

DNA Payments has a lot of competitors. In addition, most are more transparent about pricing and fees, which make them a better fit for small business. However, DNA does have a lot to offer.

Here’s how DNA Payments compares vs top competitors like Handepay, EVO Payments, Stripe, Tyl by NatWest, and Square. 

As you can see, the big difference between DNA Payments and its closest competitors is that most offer transparent pricing.

DNA Payments is also extremely similar to Handepay, with many of the same service offerings. However, DNA Payments is one of the only options to offer self-service terminals. 

DNA Payments Reviews & Ratings

DNA Payments is well reviewed, with an average of a 4 star rating across the internet. However, about 10% of those reviews are 1-star, meaning that the percentage of customers with a negative experience is quite high. Still, customers are extremely happy with DNA Payments on most fronts. 

• Fast Customer Service – Customers quote fast customer service, including speedy fixes, speedy integration, and fast help with questions about terminals and manuals. 
• Wide Range of Options – Customers quote being happy with the fact that they can source everything through one company, including online payments and card terminals. 
• Onboarding Help – DNA Payments offers extensive onboarding support, including guides per terminal and shopping cart integration. 

Not all customers are happy, some have complaints, including: 

• Long Contracts – Some DNA Payments customers share that a door-to-door salesman signed them up for a four-year contract when they were promised one. This means it’s important to review contract terms before signing. 
• Termination Fees – Terminating a DNA Payments contract early means buying out the contract plus a £150 fee. 
• Unexpected Fees – About 2% of customers quote unexpected fees 
• Slow Replacements – Some customers share that replacing terminals takes too long once you already have a contract

Eventually, DNA Payments might save you money. However, it will be important to compare your options, to read the quote in full, and to make sure you fully understand the fee schedule before signing. 

Who Should Use DNA Payments? 

DNA Payments is a large omnichannel payment processor offering support for online, face-to-face, and pay by phone. In addition, with a larger number of card reader options, it’s ideal for larger businesses.

Lack of fee transparency and the potential of unexpected monthly charges mean this option isn’t a great fit for startups and microbusinesses.

However, low average rates and an all-in-one service make this a very good fit for mid-size businesses like chain restaurants, hotels, busy retail, and multi-location or omnichannel sales.

Plus, with extras like self-service terminals, DNA Payments stands out as a great option for retail and service industry businesses. 

Is DNA Payments Right For Your Small Business? 

DNA Payments is one option of multiple payment processors. With merchant account, payment processing, and acquiring included, it’s a great all-in-one service. In addition, DNA Payments promises highly competitive fees and everything you need with one contract. Plus, branding and white label options mean you can showcase your business on your card terminals and checkout pages. However, with no transparent fees, contracts that last up to 4 years, DNA Payments isn’t for everyone. 

That means your best option is to get quotes, compare what you’re getting, and to look at what you’re getting for the full duration of the contract. Use the form below and we’ll contact DNA Payments and its top competitors to request quotes and send you the best options, so you don’t have to.