Cheapest card payment machines: device costs, fees and which suits your business

# Quick summary Small businesses define "cheapest" in several ways: lowest upfront device cost, lowest monthly fee, or lowest per-transaction rate. This guide compares the options that appear in Small Business UK's roundup, showing where the costs sit and the business types each suits.

# How pricing structures differ

• Buy the device outright and pay per-transaction. Good if you process a modest number of sales and want no ongoing contract.
• Monthly subscription or rental that reduces per-transaction fees. Can be cheaper for steady, higher-volume sellers.
• Bespoke/custom pricing for businesses with high turnover. Providers will quote lower rates once you pass a revenue threshold.

Decide whether you care more about cashflow (lower upfront cost) or long-term unit economics (lower transaction rate).

• Best for: businesses that already use Tide Business accounts or want flexible plan choices.

• Device cost: standard £99 + VAT, currently promoted at £49 + VAT.

• Device: standalone Terminal 1x with large touchscreen, thermal printer, and included Zeller POS Lite.
• Best for: sellers who want a full standalone terminal (4G/Wi‑Fi) without rental.

• Device cost: rental model £15–£22 per month (dependent on tariff).

• Best for: merchants who expect higher volumes and want access to a major payments network with dashboard reporting.

• Best for: businesses that want negotiated pricing and advanced POS features like inventory, split payments and reporting.

• Device cost: none for its terminal offering.

• Best for: businesses that value predictable, flat transaction pricing and daily payouts.

• The article also lists Square Reader, Revolut, MyPOS Go, Tyl by NatWest, Barclaycard Anywhere, SumUp Solo Lite and PayPal as market options. Specific rates and device pricing for these are in the full source.

# How to choose

• Low-volume sellers or occasional traders: favour low upfront cost or free rental trials and accept slightly higher per-transaction fees.

• High-volume sellers: seek bespoke pricing (Worldpay, Takepayments or Flatpay's custom tiers) — negotiate for lower rates.
• Need for standalone hardware and receipts: pick a terminal like Zeller's Terminal 1x rather than a phone-connected reader.

# Practical next steps

1. 1Estimate monthly card turnover and average transaction value. 2. Model total monthly cost under each provider: (device amortisation + monthly fee + transaction fees). 3. Ask providers for custom quotes if turnover is substantial. 4. Check payout timing and extra features (POS, reporting, printer) that affect daily operations.