For a low upfront price, the SumUp Solo Lite is listed at £25 and Square Reader at £19 plus VAT. But the cheapest machine overall depends on your card sales, the payment types you accept, and whether you need a standalone terminal or can pair a reader with your phone. Compare hardware, transaction fees and monthly charges together—not just the sticker price.
What counts as the cheapest card machine?
There are three different ways to mean “cheapest”: the lowest price to buy the device, the lowest fee on each transaction, or the lowest total cost for your business over time. A reader with a small upfront cost can become more expensive if its transaction rate is higher or it requires a paid plan. Conversely, a monthly plan may suit a business with enough eligible card turnover to offset its subscription.
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The figures below are UK prices and rates displayed on provider pages accessed on 4 October 2026. They are advertised commercial terms, not independent test results, and providers may change them. SumUp’s own comparison page is the source for several competitors’ prices and terms; treat those as a snapshot and check the provider’s live offer before buying.
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Compare the prices and fees
| Machine | Listed hardware price | Listed payment cost | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| SumUp Solo Lite | £25 (SumUp comparison page) | 1.69% pay-as-you-go; the comparison page also lists Payments Plus at 0.99% for £19/month | Bluetooth reader that pairs with a smartphone. |
| Square Reader | £19 plus VAT (SumUp comparison page) | 1.75% for card-present payments, according to Square’s UK support page | Bluetooth reader; compare its price after VAT with VAT-inclusive prices elsewhere. |
| SumUp Solo | £79 (SumUp comparison page) | 1.69% pay-as-you-go; Payments Plus is also listed as an option | Standalone reader with built-in 4G and unlimited data, according to SumUp’s comparison page. |
| myPOS Go 2 | £29 (SumUp comparison page) | 1.1% plus 0.7p for domestic consumer cards; other card types cost more | Standalone reader. Review the account and transfer terms as well as the card fee. |
| Barclaycard Smartpay Anywhere | £29 plus VAT (SumUp comparison page) | 1.6% below £200,000 annual turnover, according to the comparison page | The comparison page describes this as a contract-free entry option; other pricing may be custom. |
| Teya Start | £69–£179 (SumUp comparison page) | 1.59% on consumer cards with £0/month, according to the comparison page | A £29.99 minimum activity fee applies if monthly turnover falls below £2,500, according to the comparison page. |
| Square Terminal | £149 plus VAT (SumUp comparison page) | 1.75% card-present rate, according to the comparison page | Standalone option using Wi-Fi or Ethernet rather than mobile data, according to the comparison page. |
| Dojo terminal | Purchase from £149–£239 plus VAT, or rental from £15–£20 plus VAT/month (SumUp comparison page) | Quote-based; the comparison page describes a 1.2% blended rate below £100,000 annual turnover | Eligibility and contract terms matter; some Fix terms are described as legacy and are not necessarily available to new customers. |
| SumUp Terminal | £135 on SumUp’s comparison page; £169 on its product page | 1.69% pay-as-you-go is listed | All-in-one device with receipt printer and POS features. SumUp’s pages show different prices, so confirm the checkout price. |
Prices in the table are attributed to SumUp’s comparison page unless another source is specified; its competitor entries are not each verified against that competitor’s own tariff. Square’s card-present rate is verified on Square’s official UK support page. SumUp’s own pricing page lists a 1.69% in-person rate for payments other than SumUp card payments and a £19/month Payments Plus subscription.
#1 Best Overall
- With Square Terminal, you can ring up sales, accept payments, and print receipts, all with one device. Use it at the counter or ring up customers anywhere in your store.
- Accept all major credit and debit cards and pay one low rate with no hidden fees and no long-term contracts.
- Process chip cards in just two seconds.
- Get your money as soon as the next business day.
- Use it cordlessly with the built-in battery, designed to last all day.
Choose between a phone-paired reader and a standalone terminal
Phone-paired readers
SumUp Solo Lite and Square Reader connect to a smartphone over Bluetooth. They can keep the hardware cost down, but require a compatible phone and a working connection through the phone. That setup may be practical for occasional sales or a mobile business that already carries a phone.
Standalone machines
SumUp Solo is listed as a standalone reader with built-in 4G; SumUp’s comparison page says it includes unlimited data. Square Terminal is a standalone alternative, but the comparison page specifies Wi-Fi or Ethernet rather than mobile data. A standalone device can be worth the higher purchase price if you do not want payment acceptance to depend on a staff member’s phone.
Rank #2
- Get your money as soon as the next business day.
- Get set up quickly with no long-term commitments. Download the Square Point of Sale app for free, create an account, and start taking payments anywhere.
- Run your business all in one place with the free Square Point of Sale app. Track your sales, manage inventory, accept tips, send receipts digitally, and more.
- Works with Apple devices with a Lightning connector.
For a shop or business that needs receipts or POS functions, SumUp describes Terminal as an all-in-one device with a receipt printer and POS features. Its comparison and product pages list different prices, so verify the price shown when you buy.
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Start with an estimate of monthly card turnover, average transaction size and card mix. Then compare the cost of the same expected sales under each provider’s actual terms. A percentage rate alone is not enough: fixed pence fees, card-type surcharges, minimum charges and transfer costs can change the result.
Rank #3
- With Square Handheld, you can accept payments, take tableside orders, or scan barcodes anywhere. With a slim design and comfortable grip, the POS is easy to carry in your palm or pocket. Square Handheld is designed to withstand water splashes and dust. Add an optional protective case for accidental drops. A long-lasting battery and offline payments let you keep selling.
- Slim, pocketable, and lightweight so you can accept payments wherever your customers are.
- Take tableside orders, bust lines, or use the built-in barcode scanner, all with one sleek device.
- A battery that can power through your shift and offline payments let you keep selling, even if your internet is down.
- Accept all major credit and debit cards and pay one simple rate with no hidden fees and no long-term contracts required.
- Hardware: compare the upfront price including VAT. Some listed prices above exclude VAT, while others do not state an added VAT charge.
- Transaction fees: check the rate for in-person payments and whether a fixed pence charge also applies. Confirm rates for consumer, business, premium, international and American Express cards if you accept them.
- Monthly and minimum charges: include any subscription, minimum-activity fee, rental or setup cost. A no-monthly-fee plan can be preferable when sales are occasional, even if its rate is higher.
- Contract and payout terms: check contract length, cancellation costs, eligibility for advertised rates, and any payout, authorisation or account-transfer fees.
- Features and connectivity: include the cost of a phone if required, and check whether you need mobile data, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, printed receipts, POS integration or particular payout timing.
For a subscription, compare the monthly saving on fees for the transactions actually eligible for the lower rate with the monthly subscription price. SumUp lists Payments Plus at £19 a month and 0.99% on its comparison page, but the retrieved pricing page does not show all Payments Plus category rates. Do not assume the listed rate applies to every card type or use it to calculate a definitive break-even without checking the current terms.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check fees for the way customers pay
A machine’s in-person rate does not necessarily apply to online, keyed or invoice payments. Square’s UK support page, accessed 4 October 2026, lists 1.75% for card-present transactions, 2.5% for keyed payments and recurring payments facilitated by links, invoices or a virtual terminal, and 1.4% plus 25p for UK cards on specified online products. It also lists an additional 1.5% for cards issued in a different country. Square says it has no minimum monthly transaction requirement.
Rank #4
- An intuitive interface to easily accept payments and manage your sales.
- Strong, reliable Wi-Fi connection. Free SIM card and mobile data so you can process payments anywhere.
- Great battery capability with an additional charging station.
- A truly portable device. Stay in control of your business, wherever you go.
- Support when you need it. Get in touch with our US-based support through phone, email and chat.
Square’s UK pricing page says standard external bank transfers take one to two working days. Check its live pricing and supported card schemes before signing up, especially if online or keyed payments are a significant part of your sales.
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Quick Recap
Best Value
- Accept all major credit and debit cards and pay one low rate
- No hidden fees and no long-term contracts
- Mobile card reader that accepts payments anywhere & anytime
- Use the free SumUp App on your smartphone or tablet to start accepting transactions
- Simply pay 2.6% +10 per in-person transaction
A practical shortlist
- Choose a low-cost phone-paired reader if your priority is keeping the upfront spend down and you already have a suitable smartphone. Compare the VAT-inclusive hardware price and your likely transaction fees.
- Consider a standalone reader if you need to take payments without relying on a phone. Check whether it has mobile data or needs Wi-Fi or Ethernet at your location.
- Compare a paid plan only against your own sales if your turnover is steady enough to make a monthly fee worthwhile. Confirm which card types qualify for the lower rate.
- Request a full written quote for quote-based or rented terminals. Compare recurring rental, contract length, rate eligibility, minimum charges and termination terms—not just the headline transaction rate.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
