Best card terminals for UK hospitality 2026
Compare the UK shortlist below, then send a quote enquiry for 2 to 3 tailored quotes.
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The best card terminal for UK hospitality (pubs, restaurants, gastropubs, cafés, bars) in 2026 is Dojo Go Max, on the strength of next-working-day settlement (weekend transfers are a paid upgrade), table-side split-bill and tip handling. Above £100,000 a year in card takings its rate is quoted per merchant. Small independents and pop-up hospitality below about £4,500 a month get better economics from Square Terminal (no contract, 1.75%) or SumUp Solo (no contract, 1.69%).
Based on MerchantHQ terminal reviews and our comparison methodology.
Compared on fit for this use case
The score beside each pick is that terminal's overall review score across all uses, so a lower-scored terminal can sit higher here when it suits this job better. The rate, hardware and contract lines come from the same terminal data as the comparison table below.
1. Dojo Go Max
Review score 4.4 / 5Best overall for UK hospitality
Portable countertop terminal · 1.2% blended below £100,000 a year in card takings (custom rate above) · 12 months, then month to month (under £1m a year in card takings; Dojo FAQ, read 19 Oct 2026) · Source: Dojo pricing page
Dojo dominates UK hospitality. Next-working-day settlement (weekend transfers are a paid upgrade, useful for Friday to Sunday peaks), strong table-side flow, split-bill UX, tip handling, and a blended rate that pays back its £25 a month machine payment against SumUp at 1.69% from about £5,100 a month. Multi-network connectivity (4G + WiFi) keeps the till live when WiFi drops in a busy bar.
2. Square Terminal
Review score 4.1 / 5Best no-contract for independent hospitality
All-in-one countertop terminal with receipt printer · 1.75% per transaction (UK) · No contract · Source: Square Terminal page
Square Terminal is the strongest no-contract option for cafés and small independent hospitality. Built-in receipt printer, software-rich POS, no contract, no monthly fee. The 1.75% rate is uncompetitive at higher volumes; below that it is the best plug-and-play choice.
3. SumUp Solo
Review score 4.2 / 5Best for small cafés and pop-up hospitality
Portable standalone touchscreen terminal (no built-in printer; Solo Lite is the cheaper phone-paired version) · 1.69% per transaction · No contract · Source: SumUp card readers page
SumUp Solo is the right answer for small cafés, market-stall food, and pop-up hospitality at lower volumes. £79 + VAT hardware, free 4G SIM, no contract, 1.69% flat rate. Not the right answer for established busy venues.
4. Tyl by NatWest
Review score 3.7 / 5Best bank-acquirer for hospitality
Countertop and portable terminal options · 1.39% + 5p on UK and European personal cards, 1.99% + 5p on other cards (not Amex), for businesses taking up to £50k a year by card; custom pricing above £50k · 12 to 18 months typical · Source: Tyl pricing and fees page (up to £50k a year)
Tyl by NatWest is competitive at higher volumes for existing NatWest Business banking customers. Standard rate 1.39% + 5p, bespoke for higher volume; contract lengths 12 to 18 months. Bank-grade settlement reliability, useful for venues that value bank-led reconciliation.
5. PAX A920 Pro
Review score 3.8 / 5Best ISO-broker hospitality terminal
Android-based handheld with receipt printer · Acquirer-dependent · Not published; often 12 to 36 months via the acquirer or ISO (our estimate)
PAX A920 Pro is a widely used Android terminal in UK SMB hospitality, supplied through ISOs and brokers (Take Payments, Paymentsense, BoonPay). Hardware solid; the experience varies entirely by which acquirer it is configured for. Compare the ISO offer carefully against Dojo before signing.
Quick comparison
Headline rate, hardware cost, contract and form factor at a glance.
| # | Terminal | Rate | Hardware | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Dojo Go Max | 1.2% blended below £100,000 a year in card takings (custom rate above) | £149 upfront on a launch offer (£229 full price) or £25 a month | 12 months, then month to month (under £1m a year in card takings; Dojo FAQ, read 19 Oct 2026) |
| #2 | Square Terminal | 1.75% per transaction (UK) | £149 + VAT | No contract |
| #3 | SumUp Solo | 1.69% per transaction | £79 + VAT list price (SumUp often discounts it) | No contract |
| #4 | Tyl by NatWest | 1.39% + 5p on UK and European personal cards, 1.99% + 5p on other cards (not Amex), for businesses taking up to £50k a year by card; custom pricing above £50k | Hardware bundled with monthly fee | 12 to 18 months typical |
| #5 | PAX A920 Pro | Acquirer-dependent | Often rented through the acquirer or ISO; confirm the price with them | Not published; often 12 to 36 months via the acquirer or ISO (our estimate) |
FAQs
What is the best card terminal for a UK pub or restaurant?
Dojo Go Max is the strongest UK hospitality terminal at 2026 rates, on the strength of next-working-day settlement (weekend transfers are a paid upgrade), proven peak-hour throughput, and a blended rate that pays back its £25 a month machine payment against SumUp at 1.69% from about £5,100 a month. Smaller cafés and independent operators at lower volumes get better economics from SumUp Solo or Square Terminal because there is no contract.
Why does weekend settlement matter for hospitality?
Hospitality cashflow is concentrated in Friday-Sunday peaks. A terminal that settles funds Tuesday morning forces the operator to bridge stock and staff costs from Monday's thinner trade. Dojo pays at 10am the next working day as standard, and weekend and bank holiday transfers are a paid upgrade (Dojo card machine page, read 19 October 2026), so price that upgrade in if you trade the weekend.
Do I need split-bill support on a hospitality card terminal?
For table-service restaurants and pubs, yes. Customers expect to split a bill across two to four cards at the device. Dojo Go Max and Square Terminal handle this well. SumUp Solo and PayPal Reader are weaker on split-bill UX.
How do I handle tipping on a UK hospitality card terminal?
All modern UK terminals support tipping at the device. Dojo Go Max and Square Terminal handle the flow well. The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 requires accurate records of how tips are distributed across staff; the terminal handles capture, not allocation. Speak to your accountant on the reporting flow.
What should hospitality look for in a card machine?
Typical sale: £12 to £85 (pubs at the lower end, restaurants higher); contactless share: ~55% to 70% of transactions. What matters most: Next-working-day settlement (weekend cashflow during Friday-Sunday peaks); Multi-network connectivity (4G + WiFi) when WiFi drops during a busy service; Split-bill UX and tip-handling at the device; Contactless throughput at peak hours; POS integration (Lightspeed, Goodtill, Zonal, ICRTouch, Comtrex).
Watch out for: Tip-handling rules vary by acquirer; confirm before signing. Some PoS-bundled terminals lock you to a specific till system. Contactless tip cap at £100 transaction limit on some acquirers. Avoid 36-month rentals unless the rate model genuinely beats no-contract alternatives.
Do hospitality terminals support split-bill and tipping?
Most modern terminals support split-bill and tipping at the device. Implementation quality varies. Dojo Go Max and Square Terminal handle both well. SumUp Solo supports tipping but split-bill UX is weaker. Confirm the exact flow with your acquirer before signing, especially if you operate table-service.
How fast does a hospitality card terminal settle funds?
Dojo Go Max pays at 10am the next working day, with weekend and bank holiday transfers as a paid upgrade. Tyl by NatWest settles by the end of the next business day. Square pays the next day, including weekends, and its instant transfers cost 1.95% a transfer. SumUp gives next-day access in a SumUp Business Account by 7am, 365 days a year. Worldpay settles next business day. The weekend question is the live one for hospitality cashflow.
How we compare
Comparisons are built by desk research from each provider's published rates, upfront costs, contract lengths and settlement terms, held in a dated record per terminal. We do not test devices ourselves; specs are taken from provider documentation and cited. MerchantHQ is an introducer. No provider pays for inclusion or position, and fees never affect how we compare. See our methodology and how we are funded.
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An earlier version of this page was reviewed by Derren Powell on 22 October 2026.