Best card terminals UK 2026
The best card terminal in the UK in 2026 is Dojo Go for £10k+ monthly card volume (same-next-day settlement, blended 1.4% to 1.9% rate, 12-month contract), SumUp Solo for sub-£10k no-contract (1.69% flat, £99 hardware), Square Terminal for independent retail all-in-one (no contract, 1.75%, built-in printer), and Tap to Pay on iPhone for mobile traders with zero hardware. Whole-of-market editorial pick, scored on rate, hardware, contract terms, settlement timing and acquirer reliability.
The ranking
1. Dojo Go
4.4 / 5Best overall for hospitality and high-volume retail
Portable countertop terminal · 1.4% to 1.9% blended · 12 months minimum
Dojo Go is the strongest UK card terminal for any merchant doing £10k+ monthly card volume in 2026. Same-next-day settlement (including weekends), robust hardware, multi-network connectivity, and competitive blended pricing at 1.4% to 1.9%. The 12-month contract is the trade-off; for the right volume profile it is the right answer.
2. SumUp Solo
4.2 / 5Best no-contract for sub-£10k monthly volume
Portable terminal with built-in receipt printer (Solo Lite is no-printer) · 1.69% per transaction · No contract
SumUp Solo is the strongest no-contract UK terminal. £99 to £149 hardware, 1.69% flat rate, free 4G SIM, full-day battery. Built for sole traders, mobile traders, market stalls, and seasonal businesses. Locked into the SumUp ecosystem; not the right answer above ~£15k monthly volume.
3. Square Terminal
4.1 / 5Best all-in-one for independent retail
All-in-one countertop terminal with receipt printer · 1.75% per transaction (UK) · No contract
Square Terminal is the strongest no-contract all-in-one in 2026. Built-in receipt printer, software-rich POS, tight integration with the wider Square stack (online store, invoices, inventory). The 1.75% UK rate is uncompetitive at higher volumes; below £20k monthly it is the best plug-and-play choice.
4. Tap to Pay on iPhone (no terminal)
4.2 / 5Best zero-hardware option
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 is the most disruptive UK card-acceptance product of 2025-2026. Zero hardware cost (you already have the iPhone), no contract, choose the acquirer (SumUp, Square, Zettle, Stripe, Tide, or Revolut). Best fit for mobile trades, plumbers, electricians, dog groomers, mobile beauty.
5. Stripe Reader S700
4.0 / 5Best for tech-led businesses on Stripe
Touchscreen handheld terminal with built-in receipt printer · Custom (Stripe pricing) · Stripe terms
Stripe Reader S700 is the strongest fit for businesses already running on Stripe online. Tight integration with Stripe Connect, Billing and Tax. The case for it is the developer ecosystem rather than the rate; not the right answer for plug-and-play SMB without development resource.
6. Tyl by NatWest
3.7 / 5Best for NatWest Business banking customers
Countertop and portable terminal options · Bespoke per merchant; published headline rates from 0.74% · 12 to 18 months typical
Tyl is NatWest's SMB-payments product, with rates competitive at higher volumes (published headline rates from 0.74%) for existing NatWest banking customers. Bank-grade settlement reliability. Contract lengths still longer than fintech alternatives.
7. Tide Card Reader
3.8 / 5Best for Tide Business banking customers
Compact Bluetooth-paired reader (similar to Zettle / SumUp) · 1.5% per transaction (UK) · No contract
Tide Card Reader is the cheapest UK mainstream rate at 1.5% per transaction, conditional on being a Tide Business banking customer. £49 hardware, no contract, same-day settlement to a Tide account. Locked to the Tide stack; less compelling outside it.
8. Revolut Card Reader
3.7 / 5Best for international and multi-currency
Compact Bluetooth-paired reader · 0.8% to 1.0% per transaction (depending on subscription tier) · Subscription-tier dependent (Revolut Business plan)
Revolut Card Reader runs at 0.8% to 1.0% per transaction depending on Revolut Business plan. Strong international payments and FX integration. Best fit for businesses with multi-currency flow already on Revolut Business; less compelling as a standalone choice.
Quick comparison
Headline rate, hardware cost, contract and form factor at a glance.
| Rank | Terminal | Rate | Hardware | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Dojo Go | 1.4% to 1.9% blended | £0 with rolling monthly fee | 12 months minimum |
| #2 | SumUp Solo | 1.69% per transaction | £99 to £149 hardware | No contract |
| #3 | Square Terminal | 1.75% per transaction (UK) | £149 to £199 | No contract |
| #4 | Tap to Pay on iPhone (no terminal) | Same as the underlying acquirer | £0 hardware (you already have the iPhone) | Same as the underlying acquirer |
| #5 | Stripe Reader S700 | Custom (Stripe pricing) | £329 | Stripe terms |
| #6 | Tyl by NatWest | Bespoke per merchant; published headline rates from 0.74% | Hardware bundled with monthly fee | 12 to 18 months typical |
| #7 | Tide Card Reader | 1.5% per transaction (UK) | £49 hardware | No contract |
| #8 | Revolut Card Reader | 0.8% to 1.0% per transaction (depending on subscription tier) | £49 hardware | Subscription-tier dependent (Revolut Business plan) |
FAQs
What is the best card terminal in the UK in 2026?
Dojo Go is the strongest overall pick for UK merchants doing £10k+ monthly card volume in 2026, on the strength of same-next-day settlement, robust hardware and competitive blended pricing. SumUp Solo is the strongest no-contract pick for sub-£10k monthly. Square Terminal is the strongest all-in-one for independent retail. The right answer depends on your volume and whether you want a contract.
Which card terminal has the lowest rate?
Revolut Card Reader (0.8% on higher Revolut Business plans) and Tide Card Reader (1.5%) publish the lowest UK headline rates. Both are conditional: Revolut requires the relevant Business plan (£25 to £100+ per month), Tide requires Tide Business banking. Tyl by NatWest publishes 0.74% as a headline rate for existing NatWest customers. SumUp offers 0.99% to registered charities.
Do I need a contract for a UK card terminal in 2026?
No. Several strong no-contract products exist: SumUp Solo (1.69%), Square Terminal (1.75%), Zettle Reader 2 (1.75%), Tide Card Reader (1.5%), Tap to Pay on iPhone. Contracts (Dojo, Worldpay, Tyl) make sense above ~£15k monthly volume where the rate model wins back the contract trade-off.
Are bank-acquirer terminals (Worldpay, Tyl) still worth it?
Sometimes. Tyl by NatWest is competitive at higher volumes for existing NatWest banking customers. Worldpay's estate is rarely the best deal for new merchants in 2026; the case for staying is usually inertia or specific POS-system integration. Always compare against Dojo, SumUp and Square before committing to a 12-36 month bank-acquirer contract.
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.