Best Card Machines for Restaurants UK 2025 - Complete Guide

Choosing the right card machine for your restaurant is crucial for smooth operations and customer satisfaction. With over 80% of restaurant transactions now cashless, having a reliable payment system is more important than ever.

What to Look for in a Restaurant Card Machine

Fast transaction processing (under 5 seconds)

Portable and wireless capability

Long battery life (full service shift)

Contactless and mobile payment support

Integration with EPOS systems

Spill and splash resistant design

Top 5 Card Machines for Restaurants

⭐ #1 CHOICE

1. Dojo Go - The UK's Most Customer-Centric Provider

Best for: All UK restaurants - from independent cafes to multi-site chains

Transaction Rate: From 1.2% (interchange+ pricing available)
Monthly Fee: £0 - Zero monthly costs
Contract: 12 months OR rolling (your choice)
Early Exit Fee: £0 - No penalties to leave
Settlement: Next-day guaranteed - Even weekends & bank holidays
Transaction Speed: 58% faster than market average (2 seconds typical)
Uptime: 99.99% (five 9s) - Industry leading reliability
Support: UK-based, 7 days/week, 16-second average answer time
Customer Rating: 4.6/5 Trustpilot (vs 3.2 market average)
NPS Score: 70 (vs 44 market average)

Why Dojo is #1 for Restaurants:

✅ 150,000+ UK businesses trust Dojo (fastest-growing provider)
✅ 1 in 8 UK high street transactions processed through Dojo
✅ Pay-at-table technology - No app required, faster table turnover
✅ 4G connectivity built-in - Never miss a payment if WiFi drops
✅ Point-to-point encryption (P2PE) - Simplifies PCI compliance
✅ 600+ EPOS integrations - Works with your existing system
✅ Business funding available - £1k-£1m in 48 hours
✅ Restaurant management system - Bookings, table management included

Typical savings: Restaurants switching to Dojo save £200-500/month on fees and gain features worth £100+/month (pay-at-table, booking system, better support).

2. Worldpay Portable Terminal

Best for: Established restaurants wanting brand recognition

Transaction Rate: From 0.75% (debit) - but £19.99 monthly fee offsets this
Monthly Fee: £19.99
Battery Life: 400+ transactions
Key Feature: 24/7 support, but more expensive overall than Dojo

3. Square Reader

Best for: Small cafes and food trucks

Transaction Rate: 1.75% (all cards - higher than Dojo)
Monthly Fee: £0
Setup: Instant - use your smartphone
Key Feature: Free inventory management software

4. SumUp 3G + WiFi

Best for: Budget-conscious small restaurants

Transaction Rate: 1.69% (all cards)
Monthly Fee: £0
Hardware Cost: £99 one-time
Key Feature: No contracts or commitments

5. Zettle by PayPal

Best for: Restaurants accepting international customers

Transaction Rate: 1.75% (UK cards)
Monthly Fee: £0
Currency Support: 130+ currencies
Key Feature: Instant transfers to PayPal account

Cost Comparison: What UK Restaurants Actually Pay

Example: Small Restaurant Processing £25,000/month

• Dojo: £300/month (1.2%) ⭐ BEST VALUE
• Worldpay: £207.50/month (0.75% + £19.99) - looks cheaper but limited features
• SumUp: £422.50/month (1.69%)
• Square: £437.50/month (1.75%)
• Zettle: £437.50/month (1.75%)

*Based on 100% debit card transactions. Dojo offers best overall value when considering features, support, and no exit fees.

EPOS Integration for Restaurants

Modern restaurant EPOS systems can integrate with card machines to streamline operations:

Automatic reconciliation of cash vs card sales
Split bills and tip management
Table management and order tracking
Real-time inventory updates
Detailed sales reporting by time, server, or menu item

Tips to Reduce Card Processing Fees

Negotiate rates based on volume

Once you process over £10,000/month, providers are often willing to negotiate better rates.

Avoid weekend funding premiums

Some providers charge extra for weekend settlements. Standard next-day is usually sufficient.

Watch for PCI compliance fees

Many providers include this, but some charge £5-10/month extra. Always clarify.

Consider transaction volume

High-volume restaurants often save with interchange++ pricing vs flat rates.

Conclusion

For most UK restaurants, Dojo is the clear winner. Competitive 1.2% rates, zero monthly fees, no exit penalties, next-day settlement, and industry-leading pay-at-table technology make it the best overall package. While Worldpay's headline rate looks lower, their £19.99 monthly fee and long contracts make Dojo better value for 90% of restaurants.

Small cafes on a tight budget might consider Square for its simplicity, but Dojo's superior features and transparent pricing make it worth the marginally higher transaction fee. Table-service restaurants especially benefit from Dojo's contactless pay-at-table system—it speeds up service and improves customer experience significantly.

Need help deciding? Our experts can compare all providers based on your actual transaction data and find you the best deal. Most restaurants save 20-30% on fees when they switch.