In this review, we are going to take a look at the market leaders for mobile credit card readers, these devices are making it far easier for smaller businesses to accept card payments. These machines can operate independently and do not require a 1) Merchant Account, 2) PDQ machine rental, or 3) PDQ machine. These are great offerings for small businesses but can charge considerably more than dedicated payment processing companies. Therefore, it’s worth considering the options below and comparing them with dedicated payment processors to find the best route for your business.
iZettle Mobile Card Reader PayPal Here SumUp (Payleven) WorldPay Zinc SmartTrade App Best Credit Card Machine for Your Business?
iZettle Mobile Card Reader
The iZettle is an extremely popular card payment machine for small business owners within the UK. It is a versatile, compact and easy to use mobile card payment machine that has a lot to offer with minimal costs.
iZettle Credit Card Machine Features
- Accepts multiple payment forms; chip & pin, magstripe and contactless including Apple Pay and Samsung Pay
- 8 hour usage time
- 1-2 hour charge time
- Very fast contactless payments (within 5 seconds)
- Works alongside free app
- Connects through Bluetooth
- Sends SMS or email receipts
iZettle Machine Costs
The cost of purchasing an iZettle card reader is currently £59 + VAT. This makes it a very affordable option and one of the lowest cost machines available. Aside from the cost of actually buying the reader there are no set up costs.
iZettle Transaction Fee Costs
POS credit card terminals vary greatly in the transaction fees they charge. iZettle offers one of the lowest charges in the industry with a flat rate fee of 1.75% per transaction.
A transaction made using the iZettle must be £1 or more but cannot be more than £5,000 for chip & pin payments processed by business account holders.
Setup and Reoccurring Monthly Fees
There are no setup or monthly fees with the iZettle. There is also no contract meaning you can use iZettle for however long you like without worrying about fees and fulfilling the contract requirements. Aside from buying the card reader, there are no further fees to worry about which is what makes this a great option for small businesses.
The GO PLUS account is available for £20 a month and is the premium account version you can opt in for if you feel it will benefit your business.
Add-ons for iZettle
Once you have the card reader, you are required to download the iZettle app (which is available for Android and iPhone) in order for the system to work. Everything else in addition to this is optional but can increase the versatility and functionality of your system. The add-ons include:
- Receipt printer
- Scanners for barcodes
- Cash drawer
- Stands
- Store kits
iZettle Card Reader Summary
As you can see, the iZettle card reader is an excellent option for small businesses who want to begin accepting payments via card. They offer low fees, are transparent and you don’t have to sign any contracts to use their services. The iZettle accepts the greatest variety of payment cards and offers versatility that businesses can benefit from.
Want to know more about the iZettle? Visit their website here.
PayPal Here
PayPal is well-known, respected and frequently used around the world for online payments. Realizing the need for card machine solutions for smaller businesses, they launched the PayPal Here mobile card reader. Let’s take a look how it fairs.
PayPal Here Credit Card Machine Features
- No monthly fees
- Accepts multiple card types; chip & pin, swipe, contactless as well as Apple Pay and Android Pay.
- Requires a PayPal business account
- Payments reach your account within seconds
- Works with a free mobile point-of-sale PayPal Here app
PayPal Here Machine Costs
The PayPal Here reader costs £62.50 + VAT, only slightly more than the iZettle reader.
PayPal Here Transaction Fee costs
The PayPal transaction fees work in a different way to the iZettle, the PayPal Here fees start at 2.75% but can drop as low as 1.5%. If you are processing at least £1,500 per month you qualify for their merchant rate which is offered in a blended fee structure or an interchange plus fee structure. The two structures are very similar making it difficult to know which offers the best benefits.
The iZettle offers lower fees for the majority of users in a far simpler structure.
Setup and Reoccurring Monthly Fees
There are no setup or monthly fees when using PayPal Here, there is also no contract. However, you are required to have a PayPal business account in order to use the reader.
Add-ons for PayPal Here
Although PayPal Here is a wireless credit card terminal that works with just the app, there are a range of add-ons you can buy in order to increase the functionality or versatility of the device:
- Desk Stand
- Taxi Cab Bundle
- Fast charge cradles
- Retail Stands
PayPal Here Card Reader Summary
PayPal Here may be the best card payment machine option for businesses who already have a Paypal Business Account and use PayPal frequently. It allows integration with your PayPal Business Account so all of your payments are managed and tracked in one place. The features are similar to the iZettle although the iZettle is cheaper and the transaction rates are likely to be lower than when using PayPal Here.
Want to know more about PayPal Here? Visit their website here.
SumUp (Payleven)
SumUp recently purchased payleven which had their own credit card machine available but this review is focused on the wireless card machine SumUp Air. This card machine may be an ideal option for small businesses who are processing a low number of card payments.
SumUp credit card machine features
- Accepts chip & pin card payments as well as contactless, Apple Pay and Android Pay
- Accepts international card payments
- Only allow one account and one card reader
- Quick, easy, online sign up
SumUp Machine Costs
The SumUp Air costs £59 + VAT to buy which is the same as the iZettle reader.
Sum Up Transaction Fee Costs
SumUp offers a transaction fee of 1.85%, coming a very close second for the cheapest fee after the iZettle 1.75% transaction fee.
Setup and Reoccurring Monthly Fees
There’s no setup or monthly fees related to using the SumUp Air reader. There is also no contract to sign, the purchase of a reader includes free:
- Delivery
- App
- Reporting dashboard
- Support services via phone and email
Add-ons for SumUp
SumUp do not offer any add-on products for their portable card payment machine, however, if you are in need of a receipt printer they do have a list of compatible options.
SumUp Card Reader Summary
SumUp offers businesses an affordable and low-cost way to accept card payments, the transaction fees are slightly higher than the iZettle and there are no add-on opportunities with the SumUp reader. The SumUp is best suited to sole merchants as the one account, one reader allowance means it may not be the best option for businesses with several members of staff.
Want to know more about SumUp? Visit their website here.
WorldPay Zinc
Of all the credit card processing companies, WorldPay is the largest within the UK so it is no surprise they offer a mobile card payment machine suitable for small businesses. The WorldPay Zinc allows for phone and face-to-face transactions but unfortunately does not have the ability to accept contactless payments.
WorldPay Zinc Credit Card Machine Features
- Accepts chip & pin card payments
- Compatible with Apple phones and tablets as well as Android phones and tablets.
- Able to take face-to-face and phone payments
- Issues receipts via SMS or email
WorldPay Zinc Machine Costs
The WorldPay Zinc costs £39.99 incl. VAT to buy making it the cheapest option of the readers we are reviewing.
WorldPay Zinc Transaction Fee Costs
There are two options available with the WorldPay Zinc, the first offers no monthly fee and a 2.75% fee per transaction. The second option offers a £5.99 monthly fee and a 1.95% fee per transaction.
Setup and Reoccurring Monthly Fees
There are no setup or reoccurring fees with the WorldPay Zinc unless you opt for the £5.99 monthly fee account that reduces the transaction rate to 1.95% (compared to the standard, no monthly fee rate of 2.75%). There are also no contracts or longterm commitments made when using the WorldPay Zinc.
Add-ons for WorldPay Zinc
To use WorldPay Zinc you will need the card reader and the free app. There is also an online portal where phone orders will be processed. Aside from this there are no add-ons available. However, if you require receipt print outs you are able to use a Bluetooth printer that is connected through your phone.
WorldPay Zinc Card reader summary
The WorldPay Zinc handheld credit card processing device is a basic but effective option for small businesses, although, it is worth remembering that this machine does not accept contactless payments but does accept phone payments. If these are features that match with your business operations then it is a great option.
Want to know more about WorldPay Zinc? Visit their website here.
SmartTrade App
SmartTrade App is a completely different solution to the ones reviewed above as it does not require a card reader. The smartphone app works by simply scanning your customers card, you can do a lot with this app but is it right for your business? Let’s take a closer look.
SmartTrade App Features
- Does not need a credit card reader to work
- Option to roll the per card transaction costs into the customer’s bill
- Accepts most major cards including Visa, Amex and Mastercard
- Allows you to send paperless quotes & professional invoices
- Accepts payments face-to-face, via phone and through email paylinks
SmartTrade App Machine Costs
As there is no machine to purchase, there are no upfront costs to pay. You can also receive the first 30 days you use their service for free as a trial period.
SmartTrade App Transaction Fee Costs
There are multiple plans available which impact the transaction fees you can expect to pay. The lowest option is 1.75% + 20p up to 2.15% + 20p. The other option available brings the transaction to 0% as you can include the fees on the customer’s bill.
Setup and Reoccurring Monthly Fees
There are three available plans with the SmartTrade App, as we mentioned earlier they currently offer a free trial for 30 days. After the free 30 days, there are 3 available plans to choose from:
- Sole Trader: This is suitable for 1 user, costs £9.99 per month and has a transaction fee of 2.15% + 20p fee.
- Business: This is suitable for up to 15 users, costs £26.99 per month and has a transaction fee of 1.85% + 20p fee.
- Enterprise: This is suitable for up to 50 users, costs £89.99 per month and has a transaction fee of 1.75% + 20p.
The contract you choose can be cancelled at any time.
Add-ons for SmartTrade App
There are no add-ons for the SmartTrade App. The product is standalone and can be accessed via smartphone or through a web browser. There is also an online dashboard for easier management of payments and the app can also easily integrate with accounting packages such as Quickbooks credit card processing.
SmartTrade App Summary
The SmartTrade App certainly catches the attention of business owners who want to continue operating without credit card readers. It allows credit card processing face-to-face, on the phone and via email paylinks without the more traditional card payment terminal. There is a 0% fee card payment option which may sway users. However, the monthly plans and transaction fees may be off-putting for some businesses especially with the other available options.
Want to know more about SmartTrade App? Visit their website here.
Best Credit Card Machine for Your Business?
- iZettle – The best overall product. Fantastic card reader; affordable & versatile.
- PayPal Here – Ideal for PayPal integration.
- SumUp – The easiest for getting started with a card reader.
- WorldPay Zinc – Great option for businesses who require phone payments or are looking for a trusted company with lots of history to work with.
- SmartTrade App – This is best if you are looking for an option with no fees and no card reader.
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