The Cheapest Card Payment Machine In the UK?
- MJ Allen
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Why “best value” beats “no-contract” every time
Are you trying to find the cheapest card payment machine, the best card reader, or the lowest card processing fees in the UK? The search can quickly become confusing: low upfront hardware costs, pay-as-you-go models, flat rates, introductory offers, and “free” terminals tied to higher per-transaction fees. What really matters is not the cheapest device you can buy today, but the lowest overall monthly cost—so you keep more from every sale and can reinvest in growing your business.
This article provides a straight-talking comparison of leading UK options. We cover Accepted Payments, SumUp, Dojo, PayPal, Zettle, Worldpay, and Clover using the latest publicly available pricing. We also explain why many serious small businesses choose a low-rate, fixed contract model over pay-as-you-go. Spoiler: Accepted Payments are markedly cheaper if you take cards regularly because of its ultra-low percentages. Even with a three-year term, the savings add up.
Why Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is what really counts
The actual cost of a card machine equals:
(Transaction fees × your card takings) + monthly/annual fees + extras (settlement upgrades, PCI, etc.)
For businesses doing consistent card volume, the percentage fee dominates TCO. Saving 0.7%–1.3% on every sale dwarfs a modest monthly terminal rental. This trade-off is at the heart of the low-rate, contract-based model.
Accepted Payments at a glance
Accepted Payments is built for UK small businesses that want low, transparent fees and real support:
Rates: 0.40% on debit and 0.80% on credit (fixed for 3 years).
Terminal rental: £19.99/month.
Contract: 36 months, with rates fixed for stability.
Settlement: Standard 2-day; next-day available for £3/month.
Hardware: Modern Android terminals (e.g., PAX A920 Pro) with Wi-Fi/4G and long battery life.
Support: UK-based, human support; next-day swap-outs for faulty devices.
Accepted Payments positions itself as “The Small Business Champion.” It intentionally keeps rates public and straightforward. There’s no tiered pricing or “call for a quote” hoops.
Competitor snapshot:
Pricing changes frequently; here are representative, public figures at the time of writing (October 2025)
SumUp: Pay-as-you-go; 1.69% per card-present transaction, no monthly fee.
PayPal Zettle: Pay-as-you-go; 1.75% per card-present transaction, no monthly fee.
Dojo: £39.99/month covers up to £3,999 turnover; 1% flat rate for sales above £4,000/month (plan varies).
Worldpay: Custom pricing and terminal hire, typically for >£75k annual turnover.
Clover: Up to 1.49% flat rate plus from £9.99/month service fee (T&Cs apply).
Note: Your exact quote may vary based on your sector, volumes, risk profile, and mix of debit/credit cards. Always confirm current pricing directly with providers.
Accepted Payments | 36-month contract, low % | 0.40% debit / 0.80% credit | £19.99 terminal | Next-day settlement option £3; fixed rates for 3 years. Accepted Payments |
SumUp | PAYG | 1.69% | £0 | Simple, no contract. SumUp - A Better Way to Get Paid |
PayPal Zettle | PAYG | 1.75% | £0 | Reader from £29 for new users. zettle.com |
Dojo | Bundled | 1% above £4k/mo; £39.99 covers up to £3,999 | £39.99 (entry plan) | Contract terms vary; check the small print. dojo.tech |
Worldpay | Custom | Tailored | Terminal hire; custom | Common with mid-volume retailers. worldpay.com |
Clover | Flat-rate + fee | up to 1.49% | from £9.99 | T&Cs apply. Clover |
Worked examples: why low percentages usually win
Let’s compare realistic small-business scenarios. (Illustrative only; VAT ignored; assume all card-present transactions.)
Scenario A: £10,000/month card takings (70% debit, 30% credit)
Accepted Payments
Fees = (0.40% × £7,000) + (0.80% × £3,000)
= £28 + £24 = £52
terminal £19.99 → £71.99/month (or £74.99 with next-day settlement)
SumUp (1.69%)
Fees = £169 (no monthly) → £169/month
PayPal Zettle (1.75%)
Fees = £175 (no monthly) → £175/month
Dojo
If you have a turnover above £4k, the headline rate is 1% → £100; plan/other fees may apply.
Clover (1.49% + £9.99)
Fees = £149 + £9.99 = £158.99/month (T&Cs).
Key takeaway: After accounting for terminal rental, Accepted Payments consistently delivers the lowest monthly cost compared to PAYG brands at this turnover level, resulting in annual savings for your business.
Scenario B: £20,000/month card takings (60% debit, 40% credit)
Accepted Payments
(0.40% × £12,000) + (0.80% × £8,000) = £48 + £64 = £112
terminal £19.99 → £131.99–£134.99/month (depending on settlement)
SumUp: 1.69% × £20,000 = £338.
PayPal Zettle: 1.75% × £20,000 = £350.
Dojo: 1% headline = £200 (plan specifics vary).
Clover: 1.49% = £298 + £9.99 = £307.99.
As your card volume grows, the low-rate contract model increases monthly savings significantly compared to pay-as-you-go models.
If you process cards regularly, a low percentage with a modest monthly fee is typically the cheapest overall. This is true even compared to “free” or “no-contract” readers.
“But it’s a 3-year contract…” — why that can be a strength in 2025
Many owners are rightly cautious about contracts. However, contracts can fix your rates and give cost predictability. This is useful when inflation and interchange-driven pricing trends move around. Accepted Payments fixes its 0.40%/0.80% rates for 36 months.
This helps you forecast margin and cash flow.
Pay-as-you-go can be fine if your takings are sporadic or tiny (e.g., seasonal pop-ups with <£1,000/month).
But once you’re taking consistent card revenue, a lower rate usually outweighs the rental. The savings scale as you grow.
Beyond price: the “service tax” most people forget
Chasing the absolute cheapest headline can backfire if you lose hours to downtime or poor support. Accepted Payments emphasises:
Real people, UK support, 9–6 seven days a week.
Next-day terminal replacements if things go wrong.
A920-class hardware with Wi-Fi/4G, long battery and EPOS integrations — critical for busy shops, cafés and service businesses.
Those touches reduce the 'service tax.' This includes lost sales, staff frustration, and time on hold. These costs never appear on a pricing page.
The bigger picture: revitalising the UK high street
The economics of card fees matter more than ever. UK high streets have faced sustained pressure, with thousands of closures in recent years and negative net closure rates on many high streets. PwC reported a -1.5% net closure rate on high streets in the first half of 2024. This highlights the continued strain bricks-and-mortar retailers face. PwC Major outlets reported a 'drab December,' with footfall down ~2.2% year-on-year in December 2024. This is according to BRC–Sensormatic data reported by The Guardian. The Guardian
In this climate, every basis point saved on card processing counts. Accepted Payments advocates for small shops, explicitly targeting lower fees so independent retailers can retain more margin and reinvest in staff, product range, local marketing, and digital presence. This means they keep more money instead of surrendering it to card costs. The brand’s messaging centres on being a small-business champion, with transparent rates you can see up-front.
How to decide: a simple checklist
Estimate monthly card takings. Low-rate contract models tend to win on TCO if you consistently process a few thousand pounds or more.
Know your mix. Debit vs credit matters; Accepted Payments’ split rates (0.40%/0.80%) particularly reward debit-heavy businesses.
Add all fees. Include terminal rental, settlement upgrades, and any platform/PCI fees the provider charges. (Zettle/SumUp have no monthly fees; Dojo has plan fees; Clover has monthly service fees; Worldpay is custom.)
Stress-test service. Can you get a human quickly? How fast is terminal replacement? Accepted Payments offers next-day swaps and UK support.
Forecast 3 years. Multiply the monthly difference across 36 months. That’s often thousands saved versus flat-rate PAYG.
Consider growth. If you’re investing in stock, staff or marketing, lower fees free up the budget you need.
Why Accepted Payments is often the best value for UK small businesses
When your goal is to minimise ongoing cost (not just the upfront price of a card reader), Accepted Payments makes a strong case. Its market-leading low rates and fixed pricing help small businesses save.
Market-leading low rates you can see publicly (0.40% debit / 0.80% credit).
Predictable, fixed pricing for 36 months — helpful for planning.
Modern hardware and integrations with next-day swaps if there’s a problem.
Small-business focus and UK-based support align with a mission to help keep the UK high street alive. The goal is to shave recurring costs that add up with every tap.
In head-to-head comparisons, the percentage gap versus pay-as-you-go brands (e.g., 1.69% or 1.75%) is so large that the modest rental is more than offset. This delivers lower total cost month after month.
If your priority is the cheapest card processing over time — not just the cheapest gadget — then a low-rate, contract-based approach like Accepted Payments is usually the best card reader for small businesses in the UK regarding value. You’ll save money monthly, gain service you can rely on, and put the difference back into what matters: new customers, better stock, stronger marketing, and a more resilient high street.
Next step: Run your numbers against the examples above. If your monthly card takings are steady, the maths typically favours Accepted Payments — and your P&L will show it.
You can use our free and easy calculator to see how much you will save each month and over the term of the 3-year contract. The results will blow your mind!