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Best Mobile Card Machine for Small Business 2026
Updated July 2026
Exclusive Rates From as Low as 0.26%
Small businesses that work on the move, whether that is a market trader, mobile beautician, plumber, or sole trader visiting clients, face a straightforward problem: you need to take card payments wherever you are, without being tied to a fixed terminal or a lengthy contract. The wrong mobile card machine costs you money in fees and loses you sales when it fails at the wrong moment.
Key Takeaways
- ✓ SumUp One is the cheapest flat-rate option for low-volume sellers, charging 0.99% per transaction on its £19/month plan, compared to 1.69% pay-as-you-go.
- ✓ Square charges 1.75% per transaction with no monthly fee, making it the best zero-commitment choice for seasonal or occasional traders.
- ✓ Zettle by PayPal settles funds to your PayPal account the next working day, which helps small businesses manage cash flow without a separate merchant account.
- ✓ Mypos Go charges 1.75% per transaction and includes a built-in SIM, so you are not reliant on your phone's hotspot in areas with patchy Wi-Fi.
- ✓ For most small businesses taking under £5,000 a month, a pay-as-you-go reader with no monthly fee will cost less overall than any subscription plan.
What Does a Small Business Need from a Mobile Card Machine?
The single biggest practical requirement is battery life. A market trader or mobile tradesperson cannot plug a reader into the mains mid-shift. The Square Reader lasts around eight hours of active use on a single charge, while the SumUp Air manages roughly 500 transactions per charge. If you work long days outdoors, look at whether the reader has USB-C charging, which means you can top it up from a power bank between jobs.
Connectivity matters just as much as battery. Most portable readers connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth, which means a dead phone or a poor mobile signal can stop payments entirely. Some devices, such as the Mypos Go, carry their own built-in SIM and can switch between mobile networks automatically. For tradespeople working in basements or rural areas, a standalone SIM-enabled reader is worth the slightly higher hardware cost.
Fee Comparison: Best Options for Small Business
| Provider | Transaction Fee | Monthly Cost | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square | 1.75% per transaction (all UK cards) | £0 | Best no-contract option for low or irregular volume |
| SumUp One | 0.99% per transaction | £19 | Best value if you take over £2,100/month consistently |
| Zettle by PayPal | 1.75% per transaction (drops to 1% at high volume) | £0 | Good for PayPal users and those who want next-day settlement |
| Mypos Go | 1.75% per transaction | £0 | Best for traders who need a standalone SIM rather than phone tethering |
Our Top Pick for Small Business
Square is the strongest all-round mobile card machine for most small businesses in the UK. There is no monthly fee, no minimum volume requirement, and no fixed contract. You pay 1.75% per transaction on all UK Visa, Mastercard, and American Express cards. At £3,000 monthly card turnover, that works out at roughly £52.50 in fees. The reader itself costs £19 plus VAT, and you can start taking payments within a day of ordering.
The Square app doubles as a lightweight point-of-sale system, letting you create products, apply discounts, and issue digital receipts without paying extra. Settlement lands in your linked bank account within one to two business days as standard. The hardware is compact enough to carry in a jacket pocket, and the battery handles a full working day without needing a recharge.
The honest weakness is that Square's transaction rate of 1.75% is not the cheapest available. If your monthly card turnover regularly exceeds £2,100, SumUp One's 0.99% rate would save you money even after the £19 monthly subscription. You can read the full breakdown in the Square review on Compare Card Fees.
Runner-Up Options
SumUp One
SumUp One makes financial sense once your monthly card volume clears £2,100. At that point, the 0.99% rate with a £19 monthly fee becomes cheaper than Square's 1.75% with no monthly fee. At £5,000 a month, SumUp One costs around £68 in total (fees plus subscription) versus £87.50 with Square. The SumUp Air reader charges via USB-C and pairs reliably via Bluetooth. The main drawback is that you are locked into a rolling monthly commitment rather than a truly pay-as-you-go model. See the full SumUp review on Compare Card Fees for a complete cost breakdown.
Zettle by PayPal
Zettle suits small businesses that already use PayPal for invoicing or online sales, since your card and PayPal takings sit in a single account. The transaction rate is 1.75% across all UK cards with no monthly fee, and the first Zettle Reader 2 is available for £29 plus VAT. Settlement is next working day into your PayPal balance, which you can then transfer to your bank. The downside is that PayPal's customer support has a patchy reputation, and disputes involving frozen funds are a recurring complaint from UK sellers. Read the Zettle by PayPal review on Compare Card Fees before committing.
How Compare Card Fees Can Help
Compare Card Fees is a free, independent advisory service that has helped UK businesses find better card payment deals since 2012. If you are unsure which mobile card machine fits your monthly volume and working pattern, our team can match you with the right provider based on your actual turnover, card mix, and contract preferences. There is no obligation and no cost to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest mobile card machine for a small business in the UK?
The cheapest entry-level option is the Square Reader at £19 plus VAT with no monthly fee, charging 1.75% per transaction. For businesses taking more than £2,100 a month by card, SumUp One's 0.99% rate with a £19 monthly fee works out cheaper in total fees over the course of the month.
Do I need a merchant account to use a mobile card machine?
No. Most mobile card machine providers, including Square, SumUp, and Zettle, act as payment facilitators. They handle merchant account setup on your behalf, so you can start taking payments without applying for a traditional merchant account through a bank. Settlement typically arrives within one to two working days.
Can I take card payments without a Wi-Fi or phone signal?
Most Bluetooth readers require your smartphone to have a mobile data connection to process payments. Mypos Go is an exception, as it has its own built-in SIM and can process transactions independently of your phone. For tradespeople working in basements or rural locations, a SIM-enabled reader is the more reliable choice.
Is a mobile card machine suitable for a sole trader?
Yes, and it is often the most practical option. Square and SumUp both accept sole trader applications with no minimum monthly volume. You apply with your personal details and a UK bank account. Most sole traders are approved within 24 hours and can begin taking payments the same day their reader arrives.
What happens if my mobile card machine loses connection mid-payment?
If the connection drops before the payment is authorised, the transaction will not complete and the customer is not charged. Some providers, including Zettle, offer offline mode for low-value contactless payments, which queue transactions and process them once connectivity is restored. This carries a small risk if the card is later declined.
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