Revolut Terminal at a Glance
Verdict
If you already run Revolut Business, the Terminal is close to a no-brainer: £169 of hardware, a genuinely low 0.8% + 2p rate, a built-in printer, and takings that land in the same account as your banking. The catch is the mandatory Business plan.
You can’t use the Terminal without a paid Revolut Business plan (from £10/month), and sole traders can’t open one at all. For anyone outside the Revolut ecosystem, a no-monthly-fee rival like Square Terminal usually works out simpler.
Our take: a buy for Revolut Business users, a maybe for everyone else.
Best For
UK limited companies running a fixed retail or hospitality counter who are already on Revolut Business, want a standalone device with a printer, and take enough Amex that the Reader’s lack of Amex acceptance is a problem.
Not Ideal For
UK sole traders, who aren’t an eligible entity type for Revolut Business and get pushed to Revolut Pro instead. Nothing to do with the hardware: it is the entity rule that stops you, and no amount of turnover gets you round it.
Low-volume sellers who don’t want a £10/month plan just to access the card rate. If you only need occasional mobile payments, the £49 Reader or a no-monthly-fee rival is the better buy.
The catch is the mandatory monthly plan. It won’t suit a sole trader.
Key Facts
£169 + VAT hardware. 0.8% + 2p in person (all plans). Amex 1.7% + 2p in person. Standalone 4G eSIM and Wi-Fi with built-in printer. Requires Revolut Business (from £10/month). Next-day settlement including weekends; 7-day hold on first payout. No contract.
What Is the Revolut Terminal?
The Revolut Terminal is Revolut’s premium standalone card machine. Unlike the £49 Revolut Reader, which is a Bluetooth device that pairs with a phone, the Terminal is a complete all-in-one unit: touchscreen, built-in receipt printer, and its own connectivity.
It runs on a built-in multi-network eSIM (4G, with 3G and 2G fallback) plus Wi-Fi, so it works on its own without a paired smartphone. The battery is rated for 10+ hours, enough for a full trading day.
If your counter is slammed on a Saturday lunch and the venue Wi-Fi drops, the Terminal stays online over 4G and your queue keeps moving. That’s the practical case for standalone connectivity.
Revolut also lists a cheaper Lite Terminal at £129 + VAT. The standard all-in-one Terminal reviewed here is £169 + VAT. For most counters, the standard model is the one to get.
Fees and Costs
Card Payment Fees
The in-person rate is 0.8% + 2p for UK and European consumer Visa and Mastercard. That’s among the lowest in-person rates available without a rental contract.
Amex costs 1.7% + 2p in person, and the Terminal does accept Amex (the Reader does not). International and commercial cards cost 2.6% + 2p.
When a customer pays with a premium corporate card, you’ll feel that 2.6% on the margin, so factor your card mix in. On UK consumer debit, you pay the headline 0.8% + 2p. That covers most takings.
We’d call the 0.8% + 2p genuinely competitive. It undercuts every flat-rate rival on this page for the cards most UK businesses take most often.
One thing worth knowing: the rate does not drop if you upgrade your Revolut Business plan. Whether you’re on the £10 Basic or the £125-a-month Scale plan, the card rate is identical. Higher plans add banking features, not cheaper processing.
We’ll say it plainly: paying more buys you nothing at the till. We flag it because SumUp and Zettle both cut the processing rate on their paid tiers, and a lot of buyers assume Revolut works the same way.
Hardware Costs
The Terminal is £169 + VAT, bought outright with no rental option. That’s more than the £49 Reader, and slightly more than the £149 Square Terminal. You’re paying for the standalone connectivity and the printer. We’d say that premium is fair for a fixed counter.
Monthly Fees and Contract Terms
There’s no contract on the Terminal itself: you can stop using it any time. But you must hold a Revolut Business account, which starts at £10/month for Basic. The free Business plan was discontinued in March 2025.
Read the tiers above Basic carefully, because we didn’t, first time round. Revolut advertises Grow at £30 and Scale at £90, but those are annual-equivalent prices, and you only pay them by committing to a full year (£360 and £1,080 up front).
Month to month, Grow is £35 and Scale is £125. The headline figure is the discounted one, which is a sharp piece of presentation on a page most buyers skim. The catch is the billing term, not the tier.
For the Terminal, none of this usually matters: Basic at £10 is flat, it has no annual discount, and it is the tier that unlocks the card rate. Basic is the number that decides the comparison.
Square Terminal has no monthly fee at all. On a worked example, if you take £4,000 a month, Revolut’s 0.8% + 2p saves you around £38 against Square’s 1.75%, comfortably more than the £10 Basic plan costs you.
The break-even sits at roughly £1,100 a month in card takings, at a typical £40 sale. That is well below the £1,500 to £2,000 the comparison sites keep quoting, which writes Revolut off for a whole band of small shops that would be better off on it.
Below £1,100, the plan costs you more than the rate saves, and Square is cheaper. Above it, Revolut is ahead and stays ahead. That’s the trade-off, and it is a lower bar than most buyers have been told.
Other charges to watch. Online and card-not-present transactions cost more (1% + 20p for UK personal cards). Chargebacks are handled within the Revolut Business framework. There are no separate refund fees.
Payouts and Settlement Times
Standard Settlement Times
Takings settle to your Revolut Business balance next day, within 24 hours, including weekends after your first payout. Because the money lands in the same account you bank with, there’s no separate transfer step at the end of the day.
Faster Payout Options
Within the Revolut ecosystem, funds are effectively available in your business account as soon as they settle. There’s no premium instant-payout fee because the settlement already lands in your Revolut balance. We’d rate that a real edge over processors that charge for instant access.
Payout holds. New accounts face a 7-day hold on the first payout for risk checks. If you have suppliers to pay or staff wages due that first week, plan around it: your opening takings stay locked until the hold clears. It’s one-time, not ongoing.
Revolut Terminal Features
Accepted Payment Types
Visa, Mastercard, and Amex in person, plus contactless, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. The Terminal also supports Revolut Pay, where a customer scans a QR code on the screen and pays from their Revolut app.
The Amex acceptance is the real upgrade over the Reader. If you run a restaurant or B2B counter where customers expect to pay by Amex, the Reader would have turned those cards away at the till.
The Terminal takes them. For an Amex-heavy venue, that’s the best reason to pay the extra £120.
Connectivity and Portability
The Terminal’s defining feature is that it works on its own. Built-in 4G eSIM plus Wi-Fi means no paired phone, no Bluetooth dropouts, and no flat-phone-battery taking your till offline mid-service.
Accessories. The printer is built in, so there’s no separate printer dock to buy (unlike Zettle, where the printer dock is an extra). A charging dock keeps it topped up at the counter.
Battery Life and Reliability
Rated for 10+ hours of continuous use, the Terminal covers a full shift on one charge. For a market trader or pop-up without a fixed power point, that matters: you can trade all day and dock it overnight. We’d rate the battery and standalone 4G as the standout hardware features.
App, Dashboard and Reporting Features
App Features
The Terminal is managed through the Revolut Business app and dashboard. If you already use Revolut Business for banking, expenses, or FX, the Terminal slots into the same interface: one login, one balance, one set of reports.
Reporting and Analytics
Transaction-level reporting, daily takings, and settlement history sit in the Revolut Business dashboard alongside your banking.
When your quarter-end VAT return needs card takings broken out, or your accountant asks for the month’s settlement history, it’s one export from one place. We’d rate that single-account reconciliation as the Terminal’s quietest but most useful advantage for a business already on Revolut.
Integrations
Revolut Business connects to accounting tools and offers a wider payments suite (Payment Gateway, Payment Links, Tap to Pay on iPhone, Pay by Bank). The Terminal is the in-person piece of that suite.
Accounting software. Revolut Business integrates with major accounting platforms; confirm your specific package (Xero, QuickBooks) at sign-up if reconciliation automation matters to your workflow.
Security, Compliance and Chargebacks
Payment Security and PCI Compliance
The Terminal is PCI DSS compliant, and Strong Customer Authentication is handled under PSD2 where it applies. As a merchant, you’re not handling raw card data: the Terminal and Revolut’s platform carry the compliance burden.
Fraud Checks and Account Holds
Revolut runs automated risk checks on merchant accounts. The 7-day first-payout hold is part of this. Established accounts can occasionally face additional reviews if transaction patterns change sharply, so keep your business details current to avoid avoidable holds.
Chargeback Handling
Chargebacks and disputes are managed through the Revolut Business dashboard. You respond with evidence through the same interface, and the outcome reflects in your balance.
Revolut Bank UK Ltd has been a fully authorised bank since 11 March 2026, the day the PRA lifted the mobilisation restrictions on a licence granted back in July 2024, and balances held with that entity are FSCS-protected up to £120,000.
Check which entity your terms actually name rather than taking the bank badge at face value: Revolut is still phasing the rollout, so a new signup can land on the Revolut Ltd e-money side for a while.
You want to know which of the two you hold before a dispute or a hold lands, because safeguarded is not the same promise as FSCS-protected, and a counter business that learns the difference the hard way pays for it.
Who the Revolut Terminal Is Best For
Best Business Types
UK limited companies and partnerships already running Revolut Business, particularly fixed-counter retail and hospitality venues that need a printer and want one device that handles the whole transaction without a paired phone.
Best Sales Environments
Fixed counters: cafes, shops, bars, salons. Also pop-ups and markets where the standalone 4G and full-shift battery let you trade without a power point or a paired phone.
When you pay your staff wages out of the same Revolut account that takings land in, and your rent leaves from there too, the single-balance setup keeps your day-to-day cash in one view. We’d weight that convenience heavily if you already bank with Revolut.
When to Consider Alternatives
If you’re a sole trader, you can’t open Revolut Business, so the Terminal is off the table. Look at Square or SumUp.
If you take low volumes and don’t want a monthly plan, a no-monthly-fee terminal saves you the £10+/month. And if you don’t need a printer or standalone connectivity, the £49 Reader gives you the same 0.8% + 2p rate for less outlay.
Customer Support and Reviews
Support Channels
Revolut support is app-first: in-app chat is the primary channel, with limited phone support. If your card machine freezes mid-service on a Friday evening and you need a person on the phone now, we’d flag that as the weakest part of the package. Weigh it before you commit.
Customer Review Themes
Positive reviews focus on the low rate, the convenience of takings landing in the same account as banking, and the standalone hardware. We read the pattern clearly: businesses already inside the Revolut ecosystem are the happiest, because the Terminal removes friction they were already living with.
Common Complaints
The recurring complaints are the mandatory Business plan, the 7-day first-payout hold catching new accounts off guard, and support responsiveness when an account issue arises. None of these are unique to the Terminal. They come with Revolut Business itself.
Revolut Terminal Alternatives
Three standalone terminals are the credible alternatives, and the Revolut Business requirement is what tips the decision.
Revolut Terminal vs Square Terminal
Square Terminal is £149 with a built-in printer, no monthly fee, and a flat 1.75% rate. It’s the most direct rival. The trade-off is clean: Revolut wins on rate, Square wins on no monthly commitment.
Above roughly £1,100 a month in card takings, Revolut’s lower rate covers the £10 plan and then some. Below that, Square is cheaper overall. Run your own numbers; that’s the whole decision.
We’d push that £1,100 line hard, because the £2,000 figure repeated elsewhere writes Revolut off for a whole band of small shops and cafes that would actually be better off on it.
Revolut Terminal vs Zettle Terminal
Zettle’s Terminal is £149 (or £199 with the printer dock) at a flat 1.75%, no monthly fee, backed by PayPal. Like Square, it wins for low-volume sellers who don’t want a monthly plan.
It suits businesses already taking PayPal online and wanting their card takings in the same place. Revolut wins on rate at volume and on the built-in printer. With Zettle the printer is a bolt-on dock.
Revolut Terminal vs SumUp
SumUp’s Solo with printer is the cheapest hardware at around £98, with a 1.69% pay-as-you-go rate or 0.99% on the £19/month SumUp One plan.
SumUp suits the smallest sellers and sole traders, who can’t use Revolut Business at all. For businesses that do qualify, Revolut’s 0.8% + 2p still undercuts SumUp’s pay-as-you-go rate. That’s the deal.
Final Verdict: Is the Revolut Terminal Worth It?
For a business already on Revolut Business, the Terminal is close to a no-brainer, and unlike the Reader it accepts Amex in person. The plan you’re already paying for absorbs the only recurring cost.
When you reconcile the day’s card takings against your bank balance at close, they’re already in the same place. No export, no transfer, no waiting on settlement from a separate processor. For a small operator doing their own books, that saves real time.
For everyone else, the maths is closer, though it favours Revolut sooner than you have probably been told. The mandatory £10/month Basic plan means a no-monthly-fee rival like Square Terminal is simpler and cheaper, but only below roughly £1,100 a month in takings.
Clear £1,100 and Revolut is the cheaper machine. And if you’re a sole trader, the decision is made for you: your entity type shuts the door, whatever your takings.
We’d buy the Terminal if you’re a Revolut Business limited company with a fixed counter and meaningful card volume. We’d look at Square Terminal first if you want a standalone machine without committing to a monthly banking plan. That’s the call.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Revolut Terminal cost?
The Revolut Terminal is £169 + VAT, bought outright with no rental option. On top of the hardware, you need a paid Revolut Business plan: Basic is £10/month flat. Grow is £35/month billed monthly (£30/month if you pay for a year up front) and Scale is £125/month billed monthly (£90/month annually), but neither buys you a lower card rate. The in-person processing rate is 0.8% + 2p across all plans. There is also a cheaper Lite Terminal at £129 + VAT.
What’s the difference between the Revolut Terminal and the Revolut Reader?
The Reader (£49) is a Bluetooth device that pairs with your phone and has no screen, printer, or Amex acceptance. The Terminal (£169) is standalone: it has its own 4G and Wi-Fi, a touchscreen, a built-in printer, and accepts Amex in person. Both charge the same 0.8% + 2p rate and both require a Revolut Business plan.
Can sole traders use the Revolut Terminal?
Not in the UK. Revolut Business accepts limited companies, LLPs, and partnerships only, and sole traders are not an eligible entity type. That is an entity rule, not a hardware restriction, so no plan or turnover gets you round it. UK sole traders are directed to Revolut Pro, a separate account in the personal Revolut app with no subscription fee. If you trade as a sole trader and want a standalone terminal, Square Terminal or SumUp are more straightforward options.
How quickly do I get paid with the Revolut Terminal?
Takings settle to your Revolut Business balance next day within 24 hours, including weekends, with no separate transfer step. New accounts face a one-time 7-day hold on their first payout for risk checks, so plan for that first week of takings being inaccessible at launch.
How We Reviewed the Revolut Terminal
We set the Revolut Terminal up on a Revolut Business account, ran chip, contactless and Amex sales through it, printed receipts, and timed the first payout against the 7-day hold.
Terminal pricing and plan rules were checked against revolut.com and the Revolut Business documentation in June 2026, and cross-read against the Help Centre and Trustpilot.
Competitor pricing for Square, Zettle, and SumUp is taken from each provider’s published UK pricing page as of June 2026.
BusinessExpert has an affiliate relationship with Revolut Business. It does not affect our verdict, our rates, or who we say the Terminal suits. See our editorial policy.