Compare Paymentsense card readers

Barclaycard Payments Smartpay Touch

£29 a month + VAT

• Card reader & online portal
• Low transaction fees
• Free Accounting plan

Designed to help simplify business admin

Go to site

The Paymentsense range

Sort by:

Name	Product	Initial cost	Monthly cost	Transaction cost	Contract	Networks	Key benefits	Link
Paymentsense Mobile Paymentsense Mobile		£0	Subject to status	Subject to status	Rolling monthly contract			Read review View details		loading Fetching your data...
Paymentsense Portable Paymentsense Portable		£0	Subject to status	Subject to status	Rolling monthly contract			Read review View details		loading Fetching your data...
Paymentsense Countertop Paymentsense Countertop		£0	Subject to status	Subject to status	Rolling monthly contract			Read review View details		loading Fetching your data...

loading

CompareClear

What is Paymentsense?

Cash is on its way out, and physical cards might be heading the same way. According to UK Finance, a third of all debit card payments are now contactless. With a contactless card reader, you could make more sales, save time and cut the hassle of getting paid in cash.

Paymentsense provides more than 70,000 businesses with card machines and remote payment solutions. Should you join them? We uncover what you need to know about the Paymentsense range.

More about Paymentsense card readers

Below are the key features for each of the Paymentsense card readers:

Portable

• 100m range with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
• No upfront cost
• Accepts all cards, plus contactless and mobile payments
• Payout is next working day
• Monthly price varies
• 30-day rolling contracts

Mobile

• Built-in SIM works on 3G/4G
• No upfront cost
• Charged battery lasts all day
• Accepts all cards, plus contactless and mobile payments
• Payout is next working day
• Monthly price varies
• 30-day rolling contracts

Countertop

• Connect via Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi
• No upfront cost
• Charged battery lasts all day
• Accepts all cards, plus contactless and mobile payments
• Payout is next working day
• Monthly price varies
• 30-day rolling contracts

How to order a Paymentsense card machine

On the Paymentsense website, you can complete a form to get a free online price quote. You’ll find a number on the website if you prefer to get a quote over the phone.

Someone from Paymentsense will call you with a price, but don’t be tempted to order right away. Compare the price against other card reader brands to make sure you’re getting the best deal as well as all the features you need. Then you can order by email or phone. Your card reader should be with you in 3 days.

Pros and cons

Our verdict

We love the simplicity of Paymentsense’s range of products. No complicated names or model numbers: just 3 options, Mobile, Portable or Countertop, making it easy to select the one you need.

Wondering about the difference between “Mobile” and “Portable”? It’s easy: the Portable model is for carrying around inside your place of business, e.g. to individual restaurant tables. The Mobile one is for use on the go.

What’s not so great is the opacity of the pricing. Monthly fees vary depending on several factors including the turnover of your business, how many card readers you use and the cards accepted. For example, it’s usually more expensive to accept Amex.

To find out what a Paymentsense merchant account would actually cost your business each month, you have to hand over some details about your business. That’s not a major hassle, but it’s not ideal when you’re trying to compare prices across multiple brands.

What’s more, a lack of transparency around fees seems to be a bit of a theme. Although most customers seem to love their Paymentsense card readers (79% of its Trustpilot reviews are 5*), some negative reviews refer to hidden charges. See below for more.

Paymentsense seems to value customer service, with a 24/7 UK call centre that customers seem to appreciate. If you’re all about having that ongoing relationship with a supplier, you might like the Paymentsense approach. If you’re thinking of switching from another provider, Paymentsense could even cover your cancellation fees up to £3,000.

Paymentsense reader customer reviews

Over on Trustpilot, Paymentsense has a rating of “excellent” (updated December 2022), with an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars based on almost 7,000 reviews. The positive reviews rave about good customer service. Around 1 in 10 reviews are negative and refer mostly to hidden payments and difficulties that come up when trying to end the contract.

Frequently asked questions

• How do I use my Paymentsense reader?

  Customers can

  • Insert a card to enter their PIN
  • Tap a contactless card
  • Tap a contactless device (phone or watch) to pay with Apple, Google or Samsung Pay.

• How do I activate my Paymentsense card machine?

  Paymentsense will send you instructions and a set-up guide along with your card reader, and you can call customer support 24/7 if you’re having trouble.

• How do I reset my Paymentsense card machine?

  For instructions, call Paymentsense on 0800 103 2959.

• Do Paymentsense card readers accept Amex?

  Yes, you can use your Paymentsense machine to accept card payments by all major debit and credit cards, including Visa, Mastercard and American Express.

• Who owns Paymentsense?

  George Karibian and Jan Farrarons, who founded Paymentsense in 2008, own the company.