Best card machine for Free Now drivers UK 2026
For UK Free Now (formerly mytaxi, Hailo) drivers operating across London, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow and the wider Free Now UK network. Platform fares settle via Free Now in-app; this guide covers off-platform fares: corporate accounts, direct bookings, hotel concierge referrals.
The ranking
1. Tap to Pay on iPhone (no terminal)
4.2 / 5Best for Free Now driver off-platform
iPhone XS or later running iOS 16.4+, no separate terminal · Same as the underlying acquirer · Same as the underlying acquirer
Tap to Pay on iPhone: zero hardware, no contract, no monthly fee. iPhone in the dashboard mount becomes the card reader at the end of the off-platform fare. Best for the typical Free Now driver doing under £10k monthly off-platform card volume.
2. SumUp Solo
4.2 / 5Best dedicated Free Now off-platform reader
Portable terminal with built-in receipt printer (Solo Lite is no-printer) · 1.69% per transaction · No contract
SumUp Solo at £99 with 1.69% rate. Standalone 4G works without phone tether so your phone stays on the Free Now app and GPS.
3. Tide Card Reader
3.8 / 5Best for Tide Business banking Free Now driver
Compact Bluetooth-paired reader (similar to Zettle / SumUp) · 1.5% per transaction (UK) · No contract
Tide Card Reader at £49 with 1.5% rate, same-day to Tide Business banking.
Quick comparison
Headline rate, hardware cost, contract and form factor at a glance.
| Rank | Terminal | Rate | Hardware | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Tap to Pay on iPhone (no terminal) | Same as the underlying acquirer | £0 hardware (you already have the iPhone) | Same as the underlying acquirer |
| #2 | SumUp Solo | 1.69% per transaction | £99 to £149 hardware | No contract |
| #3 | Tide Card Reader | 1.5% per transaction (UK) | £49 hardware | No contract |
FAQs
Do Free Now drivers need a separate card machine?
For Free Now in-app fares: no, the platform handles payment. For off-platform fares: yes. Tap to Pay on iPhone is the cheapest setup. Free Now (formerly mytaxi and Hailo) primarily serves the licensed Hackney carriage / black cab fleet, so most Free Now drivers also have TfL-compliant on-meter card requirements; off-platform handles the non-Free-Now trade.
How is Free Now different from Uber for taxi drivers?
Free Now historically focused on licensed black cabs (Hackney carriage) rather than private hire. As of 2026 Free Now serves both. Drivers can run platform-side via Free Now app and off-platform-side via Tap to Pay on iPhone or dedicated reader.
Can Free Now drivers run Free Now and Uber simultaneously?
Yes in most UK cities. Multi-platform drivers commonly run Free Now + Uber + Bolt simultaneously, picking whichever platform has the highest-paying fare available at any moment. Off-platform card-machine spend (Tap to Pay on iPhone, SumUp Solo) covers all non-platform fares regardless of which platforms the driver is otherwise logged into.
What does Free Now charge drivers as commission?
Around 10-15% commission on Free Now fares as of 2026, varying by city and service tier. Off-platform fares via direct card payment to the driver have zero commission to Free Now or any other platform, so off-platform fare income net-of-card-machine-fees is higher than platform fare income net-of-platform-commission.
Methodology
Rankings are based on direct hands-on testing, published rates, settlement timing, contract terms, and acquirer reliability. We do not accept payment for ranking position. See our full methodology and editorial policy.
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Open quote form →Reviewed by Oliver Mackman, Director. Last reviewed: 2026-05-11.