Best Card Machines for Retail Shops UK 2025: Top 10 Compared

Why Retail Shops Need the Right Card Machine

In 2025, 87% of UK retail transactions are cashless according to UK Finance, with the average retail shop processing over £4,000 in card payments weekly. Choosing the right card machine can save your retail business £1,200-£2,400 annually in processing fees.

For retail shops and convenience stores, the ideal card machine must handle:

• High transaction volumes - 50-200+ transactions daily
• Speed - Quick processing to reduce queue times
• Reliability - 99.9% uptime during peak trading hours
• Contactless payments - Now 73% of all card transactions (UK Finance)
• Low fees - Especially important for low-value transactions

Top 10 Card Machines for Retail Shops (2025 Comparison)

1. Dojo - Best Overall for Retail

Rating: 9.2/10

Dojo has emerged as the leading choice for UK retail shops in 2025, offering transparent pricing and no monthly fees for basic plans. With over 80,000 UK businesses using Dojo, they've optimized specifically for high street retail.

Pricing:

• Transaction fee: 0.9% + 9p per transaction
• Monthly fee: £0 (basic plan) or £14.50 (advanced features)
• Terminal: Free on 12-month contract
• Setup: £0

Key Features for Retail:

• Next-day settlement (funds in your account within 24 hours)
• Contactless up to £100 limit
• Integrated with major retail POS systems (Lightspeed, Shopify POS)
• Offline mode - process up to 100 transactions without connection
• Stock management integration
• Multi-currency support for tourist areas

Ideal for: Independent retailers, convenience stores, gift shops processing £3,000-£50,000 monthly.

2. Square - Best for Modern Retail

Rating: 8.8/10

Square combines card processing with powerful free retail POS software, making it ideal for shops wanting an all-in-one solution. Over 40,000 UK retailers use Square for its simplicity and transparency.

Pricing:

• In-person: 1.75% per transaction
• Online: 2.5% + 25p
• Monthly fee: £0
• Card reader: £19-£269 one-time purchase

Key Features:

• Free POS software with inventory management
• Customer directory and loyalty programs
• Sales analytics and reporting
• Multi-location support
• Automatic tax calculations
• E-commerce integration

Ideal for: Tech-savvy retailers, multi-channel shops, businesses wanting free POS software.

3. SumUp - Best Budget Option

Rating: 8.5/10

SumUp offers the lowest entry cost with no monthly fees and a simple 1.39% flat rate. Perfect for smaller retail shops with lower transaction volumes. Used by over 250,000 UK businesses.

Pricing:

• Transaction fee: 1.39% flat rate (no per-transaction fee)
• Monthly fee: £0
• Card reader: £19 (Air model) or £99 (countertop)
• No contract required

Key Features:

• No monthly fees or minimums
• Same-day settlement available
• Free SumUp app for iOS/Android
• Invoice creation and email receipts
• Works offline with Bluetooth

Ideal for: Small shops, market stalls, seasonal retailers processing under £5,000 monthly.

4. Zettle by PayPal - Best for PayPal Users

Rating: 8.4/10

If your retail shop already uses PayPal for online sales, Zettle provides seamless integration with competitive 1.75% rates and access to PayPal's buyer network.

Pricing:

• Transaction fee: 1.75% per transaction
• Monthly fee: £0
• Card reader: £29 (portable) or £179 (terminal)

Key Features:

• Instant access to PayPal funds
• Unified reporting with PayPal sales
• Loyalty card integration
• Stock and product library management
• Next-day bank transfers

Ideal for: Retailers with existing PayPal accounts, omnichannel sellers.

5. Worldpay - Best for High-Volume Retail

Rating: 8.3/10

Worldpay (now part of FIS) processes over £200 billion annually in the UK and offers custom rates for shops processing over £10,000 monthly. Enterprise-grade reliability with 99.99% uptime.

Pricing (Indicative):

• Transaction fee: From 0.75% (negotiable based on volume)
• Monthly fee: £15-£25
• Terminal: Free on contract or £15-£25 monthly rental
• Minimum contract: 12-24 months

Key Features:

• Dedicated account manager
• 24/7 UK support
• Advanced fraud protection
• Multi-location management
• Integration with major EPOS systems (Retail Pro, NCR)
• Chargeback protection

Ideal for: Established retailers, chains, high-volume shops processing £20,000+ monthly.

6. Barclaycard - Best for Barclays Customers

Rating: 8.0/10

Barclaycard Payments offers preferential rates for existing Barclays business banking customers and same-day settlement into your Barclays account.

Pricing:

• Transaction fee: From 1.0% (varies by business)
• Monthly fee: From £10
• Terminal: Free on contract

Key Features:

• Same-day settlement to Barclays account
• Integrated banking view
• Fraud monitoring
• PCI compliance support

Ideal for: Barclays business account holders, established retailers.

7. Elavon - Best for Grocery & Convenience

Rating: 7.9/10

Elavon specializes in grocery and convenience store solutions with EBT support and lottery terminal integration capabilities.

Pricing:

• Transaction fee: Negotiable (typically 0.9-1.2%)
• Monthly fee: £15-£20
• Terminal: £150-£300 or rental options

Key Features:

• Specialized grocery store features
• Lottery terminal integration
• Age verification prompts
• Bulk discount calculations

Ideal for: Grocery stores, convenience shops, newsagents.

8. Lloyds Cardnet - Best for Lloyds Customers

Rating: 7.8/10

Lloyds Cardnet provides integrated banking solutions for Lloyds business customers with competitive rates and same-day settlement.

Pricing:

• Transaction fee: From 0.95%
• Monthly fee: £12-£18
• Terminal: Free on contract

Ideal for: Lloyds banking customers, traditional retailers.

9. Revolut Business - Best for Tech-Forward Shops

Rating: 7.7/10

Revolut offers app-based card acceptance perfect for shops wanting modern, flexible payment solutions integrated with business banking.

Pricing:

• Transaction fee: From 1.0%
• Card reader: £39
• Business account: From £0/month

Key Features:

• Instant access to funds
• Multi-currency support (28 currencies)
• Integrated business account
• Expense management

Ideal for: Tourist-heavy areas, international customers, modern retailers.

10. Takepayments - Best for Independent Retailers

Rating: 7.5/10

Takepayments focuses on independent retailers with transparent pricing and UK-based customer support. No exit fees make switching risk-free.

Pricing:

• Transaction fee: From 1.1%
• Monthly fee: £15
• Terminal: £99 or £12/month rental
• No exit fees

Ideal for: Independent shops wanting flexibility, no long contracts.

How Much Do Card Machines Cost for Retail Shops?

Based on 2025 market data, here's what retail shops typically pay:

Key Features Retail Shops Should Look For

1. Fast Transaction Processing

Average processing time matters. In busy retail environments, a 3-second transaction vs. a 6-second transaction can mean serving 2x more customers during peak hours. Look for terminals processing in under 3 seconds.

2. Contactless Payment Support

With the UK contactless limit now at £100, ensuring your card machine supports the latest limits is essential. 73% of retail transactions under £100 are now contactless (UK Finance 2024 data).

3. Offline Payment Capability

Internet outages happen. Terminals with offline mode (like Dojo, which stores up to 100 transactions) ensure you never turn away a sale. Critical for shops in areas with unreliable connectivity.

4. Integration with Stock Systems

Modern card machines should integrate with your EPOS/stock management system. This eliminates double-entry, reduces errors, and provides real-time stock visibility.

5. Receipt Options

Environmental concerns and cost savings make digital receipts increasingly popular. Look for terminals offering email and SMS receipt options alongside traditional paper.

How to Choose: Decision Framework

Real Cost Examples (2025 Data)

Scenario 1: Small Convenience Store

• Monthly card sales: £8,000
• Average transaction: £12
• Transactions per month: ~667

Cost Comparison:

• Dojo: £72 + (£0.09 × 667) = £132/month
• Square: £8,000 × 1.75% = £140/month
• SumUp: £8,000 × 1.39% = £111/month

Winner: SumUp (saves £21-£29/month = £252-£348 annually)

Scenario 2: Busy High Street Shop

• Monthly card sales: £25,000
• Average transaction: £18
• Transactions per month: ~1,389

Cost Comparison:

• Dojo: £225 + (£0.09 × 1,389) = £350/month
• Square: £25,000 × 1.75% = £438/month
• Worldpay: (£25,000 × 0.85%) + £20 = £233/month (negotiated)

Winner: Worldpay (saves £117-£205/month = £1,400-£2,460 annually)

Common Mistakes Retail Shops Make

How to Switch Card Machine Providers

Switching is easier than most retailers think. The process typically takes 1-2 weeks:

1. Compare quotes - Use MerchantSwitch to get 3-5 quotes (free, 24 hours)
2. Choose provider - Consider total cost, features, support
3. Apply - Online application takes 10-15 minutes
4. Approval - Usually within 24-48 hours
5. Receive terminal - Delivered within 3-5 working days
6. Setup - Most terminals are plug-and-play
7. Cancel old provider - Give 30 days notice (check your contract)

Important: Check your current contract for exit fees before switching. Most modern contracts have minimal or no exit fees.

FAQs - Card Machines for Retail Shops

2025 Retail Payment Trends

Key trends affecting retail card machine choice in 2025:

• Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) - Clearpay, Klarna integration now available
• QR code payments - Growing among younger customers
• Cryptocurrency - Still under 1% of retail but growing
• Biometric payments - Fingerprint/facial recognition emerging
• Account-to-account - Direct bank transfers (lower fees than cards)

Conclusion: Which Card Machine Should You Choose?

For most UK retail shops in 2025, Dojo offers the best overall value with transparent 0.9% + 9p fees, no monthly costs, and free terminal. However:

• If processing under £3,000/month → Choose SumUp
• If you need free POS software → Choose Square
• If processing over £50,000/month → Negotiate with Worldpay
• If you bank with Barclays or Lloyds → Use their integrated solutions

Don't settle for your first quote. Comparing providers can save your retail shop £1,200-£2,400 annually - money that goes straight to your bottom line.