Best low-fee card terminals UK 2026
The lowest published UK card-terminal rates in 2026 are Tyl by NatWest at 0.74% (existing NatWest Business customers, bespoke per merchant), Revolut Card Reader at 0.8% (Premium and Enterprise Revolut Business plans), Tide Card Reader at 1.5% (Tide Business customers, no contract), and SumUp at 0.99% for Charity Commission registered charities. Dojo Go at blended 1.4% to 1.9% on a 12-month contract is the cheapest mainstream option above £30k monthly volume. Headline rate is only one input: contract length, monthly fees and hardware cost change the total.
The ranking
1. Revolut Card Reader
3.7 / 5Lowest headline rate (Revolut Business)
Compact Bluetooth-paired reader · 0.8% to 1.0% per transaction (depending on subscription tier) · Subscription-tier dependent (Revolut Business plan)
Revolut Card Reader publishes the lowest UK headline rate at 0.8% per transaction on the higher Revolut Business plans (Premium and Enterprise). Conditional on a £25 to £100+ monthly Revolut Business subscription. Best fit for businesses already on Revolut with international and FX flow.
2. Tyl by NatWest
3.7 / 5Lowest bank-acquirer headline (NatWest)
Countertop and portable terminal options · Bespoke per merchant; published headline rates from 0.74% · 12 to 18 months typical
Tyl publishes headline rates from 0.74% for existing NatWest Business banking customers. Bespoke per merchant; rate depends on volume, sector and ticket size. Bank-grade reliability; contract lengths still 12 to 18 months.
3. Tide Card Reader
3.8 / 5Lowest no-contract mainstream rate
Compact Bluetooth-paired reader (similar to Zettle / SumUp) · 1.5% per transaction (UK) · No contract
Tide Card Reader at 1.5% per transaction is the lowest no-contract UK mainstream rate. £49 hardware, no monthly fee, same-day settlement to Tide Business banking. Conditional on Tide Business banking.
4. Dojo Go
4.4 / 5Lowest blended-rate contract (high volume)
Portable countertop terminal · 1.4% to 1.9% blended · 12 months minimum
Dojo Go runs blended 1.4% to 1.9% on a 12-month contract. For hospitality and retail at £15k+ monthly volume, the blended rate beats SumUp's 1.69% flat. Above £30k monthly, Dojo is one of the cheapest mainstream products in the UK.
5. SumUp Solo
4.2 / 5Lowest entry-level no-contract
Portable terminal with built-in receipt printer (Solo Lite is no-printer) · 1.69% per transaction · No contract
SumUp Solo at 1.69% per transaction is the lowest no-contract no-condition rate from a mainstream acquirer. £99 hardware, free 4G SIM, no monthly fee. SumUp also publishes a 0.99% rate for registered charities (Charity Commission registered).
6. Adyen for Platforms
4.0 / 5Lowest enterprise rate (interchange-plus)
Multiple terminals; mostly platform-bundled · Interchange-plus pricing; bespoke · Bespoke, often year-long
Adyen runs genuine interchange-plus pricing with bespoke rates for £100k+ monthly merchants. Cheaper than blended for high-volume retail and platform deployments. Not cost-effective sub-£100k monthly volume.
Quick comparison
Headline rate, hardware cost, contract and form factor at a glance.
| Rank | Terminal | Rate | Hardware | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Revolut Card Reader | 0.8% to 1.0% per transaction (depending on subscription tier) | £49 hardware | Subscription-tier dependent (Revolut Business plan) |
| #2 | Tyl by NatWest | Bespoke per merchant; published headline rates from 0.74% | Hardware bundled with monthly fee | 12 to 18 months typical |
| #3 | Tide Card Reader | 1.5% per transaction (UK) | £49 hardware | No contract |
| #4 | Dojo Go | 1.4% to 1.9% blended | £0 with rolling monthly fee | 12 months minimum |
| #5 | SumUp Solo | 1.69% per transaction | £99 to £149 hardware | No contract |
| #6 | Adyen for Platforms | Interchange-plus pricing; bespoke | Bespoke per merchant; typically platform-bundled | Bespoke, often year-long |
FAQs
What is the cheapest card terminal in the UK?
Revolut Card Reader publishes the lowest UK headline rate at 0.8% per transaction on the higher Revolut Business plans. Tyl by NatWest publishes 0.74% as a headline for existing NatWest customers. Tide Card Reader is the cheapest no-contract mainstream rate at 1.5%. SumUp offers 0.99% to registered charities. The right answer depends on which conditions you can meet.
Are no-contract terminals always cheaper?
No. No-contract products (SumUp 1.69%, Square 1.75%, Zettle 1.75%) are the simplest comparison but not always the cheapest at higher volumes. A Dojo blended rate of 1.5% on £30k monthly volume saves roughly £900 a year vs SumUp Solo, even with a 12-month contract.
Do hidden fees inflate the headline rate?
Sometimes. Watch for monthly platform fees, PCI compliance fees, statement fees, chargeback fees, and authorisation fees. Dojo, Square and SumUp publish these clearly. Worldpay and some ISO-deployed PAX A920 contracts bury them in the small print. Always read the schedule of fees before signing.
How do I compare card terminal rates fairly?
Multiply your expected monthly card volume by each candidate's rate, add monthly platform fees over 12 months, add hardware cost. Subtract any settlement-speed advantage worth quantifying. The cheapest headline rate with poor settlement timing can lose to a slightly higher rate with same-day settlement during a peak trading week.
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: 2026-05-09.