Table: sorted by transaction cost, promoted deals first
Portable card machines have made it even easier for businesses such as restaurants to accept credit and debit card payments from customers. Queuing up at a till point to pay by card is no longer a requirement, since portable card machines can easily be taken to customers at the table.
What is a portable card machine?
A portable card machine is a lightweight card reader that can easily be carried around by staff. It can be suitable for businesses with multiple points of sale or those that wish to take the machine straight to the customer.
Portable card machines can be convenient for both businesses and customers. After all, if you run a café, customers can pay their bill without needing to leave the table.
Portable devices tend to have a long battery life, so you don’t need to constantly charge them, and they often include a printer, enabling you to easily hand receipts to customers.
Examples of portable card machines
Some examples of portable card machines include Square Terminal, Paymentsense portable card machine, and the Handepay portable card reader.
Top 10 best portable card machines
Square Terminal
Paymentsense portable card machine
Handepay portable card machine
Dojo Go
Takepayments A920 card machine
Tyl by NatWest Clover Flex
Barclaycard Payments Smartpay Touch
Ingenico AXIUM DX4000 Portable
Tide Card Reader Plus
Verifone V400m
How do portable card machines work?
Portable card machines usually use a Wi-Fi connection so you can take payments wherever your customers are. They can typically be used within a 50- to 100-metre range when using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Some devices might also include mobile SIM connectivity, so you can still use your device when Wi-Fi connectivity isn’t available.
Customers can pay using their debit or credit card by inserting their card into the device and entering their PIN or by paying contactlessly. Many card readers also accept payments with Google Pay, Apple Pay and Samsung Pay. Payments are usually transferred into your bank account within 1 to 3 working days.
Portable card machines usually come with a base or dock to charge up your machine when needed. Many also include a printer, so you can print out receipts, and some will link to your mobile phone or laptop to help you keep track of transactions.
Why use a portable card machine?
Portable card machines can be ideal if you want your customers to be able to pay where they are rather than paying at a fixed till point. This can be particularly beneficial if you’re a restaurant with outdoor seating, but you might also find it useful if you run a hair salon, florist or guest house, for example.
Using a portable card machine means you don’t need to worry about any wires getting in the way when you take payments and ensures you don’t lose out on sales if your customers don’t carry cash.
Portable card machine costs
Exact costs depends on the provider you choose and whether you pay an upfront cost or a monthly rental fee.
Upfront costs can range between £79 to £179, while monthly rental fees might be around £25 to £30 plus VAT. So you’ll need to compare carefully.
On top of this, you’ll usually pay transaction fees of around 1.5% to 2%, depending on the device. If you accept Amex payments, the fee is often higher.
If you’ve paid for your card reader upfront, transaction fees are often fixed. But if you’re renting your card reader, transaction fees might depend on your sales volumes, contract length and size of business.
In addition, you might need to pay:
Chargeback costs. A fee might apply if a customer disputes a transaction and the card payment is returned.
Refund costs. Some card readers charge you for refunding a customer for a purchase.
Set-up fees. In some cases, a set-up fee will be charged.
Early exit fee. If you’re tied into a contract and want to leave early, you might be hit with a penalty fee.
Shipping costs. Some providers charge a small fee for sending out the device.
Pros and cons of portable card machines
Pros
Easy to carry round with you to take card payments from customers
Immediate and secure transactions
Range of models and features to choose from
Lightweight and convenient
Cons
You’ll need to pay a range of fees
Delay in receiving funds compared to cash
Who are portable card machines best for?
Portable card machines are a good option for any business that doesn’t want a fixed till point and has an accessible Wi-Fi signal. This might include:
Restaurants
Bars
Cafés
Hair salons
Beauticians
Florists
Takeaway restaurant
Convenience stores
What is the best portable card machine for small businesses?
There’s no one best portable card machine. Instead, you’ll need to compare the different devices to consider what works best for you.
Look at factors such as the overall cost, the features the device offers, connectivity and range and which card payments it accepts.
How to compare portable card machines
When comparing portable card machines, it’s worth considering the following:
Costs. Look at whether you’ll pay an upfront fee for the device or a monthly rental cost. Also, consider whether transaction fees are fixed or based on your business size and volume of sales.
Contract length. Will you be tied into a contract, and if so, for how long?
Payment methods. Check whether the card reader can accept chip-and-PIN and contactless payments as well as Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay.
Battery life. Check how many transactions the card reader can carry out before it needs to be recharged.
Warranty period. Many devices come with a warranty, but check how long this lasts for.
Settlement period. Check how long it takes for money from a transaction to reach your account. This is typically 1 to 3 working days.
Features. If you need a printer, make sure your card reader has one.
Wi-Fi range. Check that the Wi-Fi range is sufficient for your needs.
Bottom line: Are portable card machines any good?
Portable card machines can be a useful way for businesses to accept card payments without the need for customers to spend ages queuing at the till.
As well as making the payment process more convenient for the customer, it also enables staff to multi-task – they can take payments on the go while also dealing with other customer queries, making your business more efficient.
However, it’s important to compare fees and features carefully to be sure you choose the right card reader for your business.
Frequently asked questions
No, portable card machines are designed to accept card payments from customers in person. You will need to use a virtual terminal to take payments over the phone.
Yes, some portable card machines accept Amex payments, but not all, so make sure you check.
A portable card machine uses Wi-Fi to connect to the Internet to process payments from a 50- to 100-metre range. This makes it good for businesses such as restaurants.
A mobile card reader, on the other hand, is designed for businesses on the go, such as taxi drivers and mobile hairdressers. It can use Wi-Fi hotspots or 3G/4G technology to connect to a GPRS signal in your location.
We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables has the source: Moneyfacts Group PLC. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.
Rachel Wait is a freelance journalist and has been writing about personal finance for more than a decade, covering everything from insurance to mortgages. She has written for a range of personal finance websites and national newspapers, including The Observer, The Mail on Sunday, The Sun and the Evening Standard. Rachel is a keen baker in her spare time. See full bio
Find out how Square card readers work to see if they are right for you and your business.
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