Best Portable Card Machines at a Glance
The best portable card machine for your business depends on how far you roam and how many payments you take. Mobile traders and market stallholders need all-day battery life and 4G connectivity; hospitality businesses taking tableside payments need a reliable range from the till. This guide covers six of the strongest options available to UK businesses in 2026, with verified transaction rates and honest trade-offs.
- SumUp Solo — Best for sole traders and market traders
- Square Reader — Best for occasional or low-volume sellers
- Zettle Reader 2 — Best for PayPal users and small retailers
- myPOS Go 2 — Best for instant settlement
- Dojo Go — Best for fast-paced hospitality
- TakePayments Portable — Best managed service for growing businesses
Full Comparison Table: Best Portable Card Machines
| Provider | Transaction fee | Monthly cost | Battery life | Connectivity | Settlement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SumUp Solo | 1.69% | £0 | Up to 12 hrs | 4G + Wi-Fi | 1–3 days |
| Square Reader | 1.75% | £0 | ~8 hrs | Bluetooth + Wi-Fi | 1–2 days |
| Zettle Reader 2 | 1.75% | £0 | ~8 hrs | Bluetooth + Wi-Fi | 1–2 days |
| myPOS Go 2 | 1.10% + £0.07 | £0 | Up to 18 hrs | 4G + Wi-Fi + Bluetooth | Instant |
| Dojo Go | 1.2% (typical) | £20–£25 | All-day (>10 hrs) | 4G + Wi-Fi | Next day |
| TakePayments | Quoted on volume | From £15 | Full shift | 4G + Wi-Fi | Next day |
Transaction rates correct as of May 2026. Dojo and TakePayments rates are indicative — final rates depend on monthly volume.
Best Portable Card Machines
Best for Sole Traders and Market Traders: SumUp Solo
The SumUp Solo is a standalone 4G card machine — it has its own SIM, so you are not dependent on a phone signal or a companion app. It accepts contactless, chip and PIN, and magstripe payments, and includes a receipt printer in the dock version. At 1.69% per transaction with no monthly fee, it undercuts most competitors on rate while offering better hardware independence than Bluetooth readers.
Battery life is quoted at up to 12 hours, which covers a full market day. SumUp settles to most UK bank accounts within one to three business days. There is no long-term contract.
The main limitation is that SumUp’s analytics and inventory tools are basic compared with Square. If you outgrow it, switching costs are low because there is no lock-in.
Best for Occasional or Low-Volume Sellers: Square Reader
The Square Reader is a compact Bluetooth device that pairs with the Square Point of Sale app on a phone or tablet. At £19 for the card reader (one-off cost) and 1.75% per transaction with no monthly fee, it is the lowest-friction entry point for businesses that take payments infrequently. Square settles funds in one to two business days.
The reader depends on a phone for connectivity, which means it will not work if your phone battery dies or you are in a signal dead zone. But for pop-ups, craft fairs, and part-time traders, the app ecosystem — inventory, invoicing, team management — adds genuine value beyond card taking.
View Square Reader on Square →
Best for PayPal Users and Small Retailers: Zettle Reader 2
The Zettle Reader 2 (now owned by PayPal) charges 1.75% per transaction with no monthly fee. Like Square, it uses Bluetooth to connect to a phone. The hardware is slimmer and faster than the original Zettle, and the point of sale app integrates directly with PayPal business accounts — useful if your online store already settles to PayPal.
Battery life is around eight hours. The first reader costs £29; replacements are £59. Zettle settles in one to two business days. Feature depth is slightly behind Square, but the PayPal integration makes it a natural fit if you already use that ecosystem.
Best for Instant Settlement: myPOS Go 2
The myPOS Go 2 is a 4G card machine with a built-in SIM, an 18-hour battery, and — its defining feature — instant settlement to a dedicated myPOS business account. Funds land immediately after each transaction, not the next day. The account comes with a Visa business debit card so you can spend directly.
Transaction fees are 1.10% + £0.07 per transaction. There is no monthly fee, but there is a £3.99 monthly account maintenance fee after the first year. The device costs around £49.
Instant settlement is the killer feature for businesses that need cash flow on the day — market traders, pop-up food sellers, or anyone who restock from the day’s takings. The trade-off is that myPOS is less integrated with mainstream accounting software than Square or SumUp.
Best for Fast-Paced Hospitality: Dojo Go
Dojo Go is a purpose-built 4G card machine aimed at hospitality and retail businesses with higher transaction volumes. It is not sold to individuals — there is a short application process and a monthly rental of around £20–£25. In return, you get next-day settlement, a machine built for sustained all-day use, and a transaction rate that drops with volume (typically around 1.2% for businesses processing £10,000 or more per month).
The device is fast: payment processing takes under a second, which matters when you are turning tables at pace. Customer support is UK-based and available around the clock. Dojo is not the cheapest option for low volumes, but for any business taking more than £5,000 a month, the volume pricing makes it competitive.
Best Managed Service for Growing Businesses: TakePayments Portable
TakePayments offers a portable card machine on a monthly rental, with rates quoted based on your expected volume. The device connects via 4G and Wi-Fi, and settlement is typically next business day. Monthly costs start around £15 and transaction rates are negotiated — businesses processing £15,000 or more per month often see rates below 1%.
TakePayments includes a UK account manager, 24/7 phone support, and free terminal replacement if a device fails. For businesses that want to hand the payment infrastructure to a specialist and focus on operations, it is a strong option.
View TakePayments portable readers →
Portable Card Machines Compared
SumUp Solo
The Solo is SumUp’s most capable hardware: a standalone 4G device with its own SIM, a colour touchscreen, and a built-in receipt printer in the dock version. It charges via USB-C. The transaction rate of 1.69% is the lowest among no-contract readers in this comparison. SumUp’s app covers basic reporting, VAT, and tip prompts. Customer support is email and live chat — no dedicated account manager unless you are on a high volume plan.
Square Reader
Square Reader is a Bluetooth accessory that requires a paired phone or tablet. The hardware is minimal; the value is in the app. Square’s free POS tier covers unlimited items, basic inventory, and digital receipts. Square for Retail and Square for Restaurants add advanced stock management and table management respectively, but both require a paid plan (from £49/month). The 1.75% rate applies to all card-present transactions; online payments are slightly higher.
Zettle Reader 2
Zettle Reader 2 is thinner than the original and faster at processing. The app is clean and well-designed, with basic inventory and reporting. The main differentiation from Square is the PayPal settlement integration: if you use PayPal for e-commerce, Zettle ties your in-person and online sales together. The main weakness is that the Zettle app has fewer third-party integrations than Square.
myPOS Go 2
The Go 2 has a 5.5-inch colour touchscreen, a built-in thermal printer, and a 5200mAh battery for up to 18 hours of use. It accepts all major UK card schemes and supports contactless payments up to £100. The instant settlement to a myPOS account is the headline feature. There is no traditional bank account integration for automatic transfers — you transfer funds from the myPOS account to your bank manually or on a schedule.
Dojo Go
Dojo Go has a fast 2.4GHz ARM processor, an all-day battery, and a paper roll printer. The machine is built for volume: it can handle tap-and-go payments in under a second. Dojo’s dashboard gives real-time transaction data, daily settlement reports, and chargeback management. Integration with Lightspeed, Epos Now, and other EPOS systems is available. The minimum contract is typically 12 months.
TakePayments Portable
TakePayments machines come from major terminal manufacturers (Ingenico, Verifone) and are fully PCI DSS compliant. The company specialises in mid-market businesses and offers bespoke rate negotiation. Rates below 0.8% are achievable for businesses processing £30,000+ per month. The onboarding process takes two to five days. All plans include a dedicated account manager and hardware swap guarantee.
How to Choose a Portable Card Machine
The right device comes down to three factors: connectivity, volume, and settlement speed.
Connectivity. If you trade away from Wi-Fi — at markets, events, or on-site — you need a 4G device with its own SIM. SumUp Solo, myPOS Go 2, Dojo Go, and TakePayments all have this. Square Reader and Zettle Reader 2 rely on your phone’s internet connection.
Volume. Under £3,000 per month: SumUp Solo or Square Reader give the best value with no monthly fees. Between £3,000 and £15,000: compare Dojo Go’s monthly fee against SumUp’s flat rate — the crossover depends on your average transaction size. Above £15,000: TakePayments or Dojo Go with negotiated rates.
Settlement speed. If cash flow is a priority — because you restock from the day’s takings or pay staff from daily receipts — myPOS Go 2 is the only reader in this comparison with genuine instant settlement. Everyone else is next-day at best.
Portable Card Machine Fees and Costs to Watch
Transaction fees. Flat-rate providers (SumUp, Square, Zettle) charge the same percentage regardless of card type. This means you pay the same whether a customer uses a basic debit card or a premium rewards credit card. Acquirers (Dojo, TakePayments) often use interchange-plus pricing at higher volumes, which can be cheaper for debit-heavy businesses but harder to predict.
Hardware cost. Square Reader (£19) and Zettle Reader 2 (£29) are the cheapest entry points. SumUp Solo is around £99, myPOS Go 2 around £49. Dojo Go and TakePayments devices are rented, not purchased.
Contract terms. SumUp, Square, Zettle, and myPOS are all no-contract. Dojo Go typically requires a 12-month minimum. TakePayments contracts are typically 12–36 months, with rates decreasing on longer terms.
Refund fees. Some providers charge a processing fee on refunds. SumUp does not return the transaction fee when a sale is refunded. Square returns the fee on refunds. Check your provider’s policy before committing.
Chargeback fees. Dojo and TakePayments manage chargebacks as part of the service. SumUp and Square charge a fee per chargeback if one is raised by a customer’s bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most providers require a UK bank account for settlement but not a business-specific one. Square, SumUp, and Zettle will settle to a personal account. Dojo and TakePayments typically require a business current account. myPOS settles to its own e-money account — you then transfer to whichever account you choose.
No — all card machines require some form of internet connection to authorise payments in real time. SumUp Solo, myPOS Go 2, Dojo Go, and TakePayments devices have built-in 4G SIMs, so they work wherever there is a mobile signal. Square Reader and Zettle Reader 2 use Bluetooth to connect to your phone, which then provides the internet connection.
The standard UK contactless limit is £100 per transaction, which applies to all the card machines in this guide. Higher-value payments require chip and PIN. Apple Pay and Google Pay have no contactless limit — authentication is handled by the customer’s device biometrics.
Settlement times vary by provider. myPOS Go 2 settles instantly. Dojo Go and TakePayments settle next business day. SumUp, Square, and Zettle typically settle in one to two business days. Weekend transactions may take until Tuesday or Wednesday to clear with some providers.
Most flat-rate providers impose a daily or monthly processing cap, particularly in the early months of an account. SumUp and Square both have internal risk limits that may flag unusually large transactions. If you regularly take payments above £5,000 in a single transaction, contact your provider in advance — or consider a managed service like Dojo or TakePayments, which are better set up for variable large transactions.
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