As more and more of us switch to paying by card rather than cash, card readers have become an increasingly important investment for businesses. Our review takes a closer look at the card readers on offer from Tyl.
Table: sorted by transaction cost, promoted deals first
What is Tyl?
Founded in 2018, Tyl is a card payments provider that is backed by NatWest. It aims to help make card payments easier for businesses and customers and offers a quick and easy set-up process.
Tyl offers 4 different types of card readers to suit different business requirements. You can choose from an all-in-one card reader, a portable card reader, a countertop machine or a pocket card reader. Each has a different pricing plan.
Tyl also offers a loyalty programme that you can set up through your Tyl Portal. This enables customers of your business to earn points through Tyl when they shop with you. The more they visit your business and the more they spend, the more points they earn. You will be able to choose the reward for your customers, whether that’s a free coffee or complimentary hair treatment, whatever suits you and your business. You can also set the points threshold to earn this reward.
More about Tyl card readers
Below are the key features for each of the Tyl card readers:
All in one – Clover Flex
Compact, mobile point of sale system
Available as Wi-Fi only or Wi-Fi and 4G
Monthly fee of £14.99 plus VAT for Wi-Fi only
Monthly fee of £16.99 plus VAT for Wi-Fi and 4G
Long battery life of 8 hours with just one charge
Accepts tips and offers cashback
Print, email or text customer receipts
Offers employee and inventory management
Finger-print recognition system to protect your business
Portable – Ingenico Move
Pocket-sized portable card machine to take payments on the move
Available as Wi-Fi or 3G
Monthly fee of £19.99 plus VAT for Wi-Fi only
Monthly fee of £21.99 plus VAT for 3G only
8-hour battery life
Accepts tips and offers cashback
Print customer receipts
Countertop – Ingenico Desk
Countertop machine that plugs in and stays put
Ethernet connection required
Monthly fee of £13.99 plus VAT
Accepts tips and offers cashback
Print customer receipts
Pocket – PAX
Simple, portable card machine that’s the size of a small smartphone
Monthly hire fee of £6.99 plus VAT or buy outright for £75 plus VAT
Takes payments over 3G/4G, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
Up to 8 hours of battery life
Email customer receipts (no printer)
How to order a Tyl card machine
To order a Tyl card machine, you will first need to get a quote online. Simply fill in a few details about yourself and your business and once you’ve been approved, you should receive your card machine within 48 hours. You can then start to take payments and monitor your sales and settlements on the Tyl Portal for no extra cost.
Pros and cons
Pros
Range of card readers to suit different businesses and connectivity requirements
Different pricing options to choose from
Easy to track sales through the Tyl Portal
Card machine hire fees waived for new customers for 3 months
Reward programme available
Cons
Transaction fees apply on top
You’ll need to get a personalised quote for a full idea of pricing
Our verdict
If you’re looking for a card reader for your business, Tyl offers a range of card readers to suit different business types. Whether you want a countertop card reader for a shop or you’re looking for something more portable, Tyl offers a solution. It also wins points for its loyalty programme.
However, the one big thing to watch out for is the cost. As well as monthly hire fees, there are also transaction fees to consider. It’s important to work out exactly how much a Tyl card reader could cost your business and compare it to other options out there before making your final decision.
Tyl reader customer reviews
Tyl by NatWest scores highly on the review site Trustpilot, with a rating of 4.8 out of 5 based on 460 reviews (updated November 2022). This is considered an “excellent” rating overall.
A total of 94% of customers gave Tyl an “excellent” rating, with positive comments focusing on the professional and helpful customer service as well as the fast and efficient set-up process. However, a few customers commented that the card machines were not reliable and had issues taking payments.
Frequently asked questions
Depending on the card machine you choose, it will connect to 3G/4G and/or Wi-Fi, or it will connect with an ethernet cable. Customers can then use their credit card or debit card to make payments, and they can also pay via Apple Pay and Google Pay.
When you receive your card reader, you’ll be emailed 3 codes, 1 of which is your “activation” code. Simply use the activation code to activate your card machine. You will find the steps to get started in the guide included in the card reader’s box.
Yes, Tyl card readers accept Amex payments as well as Visa and Mastercard. However, you will need to let Tyl know if you want to accept Amex payments as fees can differ and this will need to be built into your quote.
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
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