UK card machine rates compared
Pay-as-you-go card readers in the UK charge a flat 1.75% per transaction with no monthly fee. Traditional acquirers price each business individually, typically adding a £10 to £60 monthly fee in exchange for lower per-transaction rates. Which side of that trade wins depends almost entirely on your monthly card volume.
Rates and contract terms checked July 2026 · Based on providers' published pricing
| Provider | Transaction fee | Monthly fee | Setup fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worldpay | Bespoke rates | £15-50 | £0-200 |
| Dojo | Bespoke rates | £0-20 | £0 |
| Barclaycard Payments | Bespoke rates | £20-60 | £50-150 |
| Zettle by PayPal | 1.75% fixed | £0 | £0 |
| Elavon | Bespoke rates | £15-50 | £50-200 |
| Lloyds Cardnet | Bespoke rates | £20-50 | £50-150 |
| Revolut Business | Bespoke rates | £0-25 | £0 |
| Tyl by NatWest | 1.75% fixed | £0 | £0 |
| Teya (formerly Saltpay) | Bespoke rates | £10-30 | £0-50 |
| Trust Payments | Bespoke rates | £15-40 | £0-100 |
| Worldline | Bespoke rates | £20-60 | £100-300 |
| Adyen | 1.0-2.0% + interchange | Custom pricing | Contact for quote |
| Global Payments | Bespoke rates | £15-50 | £50-250 |
| EVO Payments | Bespoke rates | £12-35 | £0-100 |
| AIB Merchant Services | Bespoke rates | £18-45 | £50-150 |
"Bespoke rates" means the provider prices each business individually based on turnover, sector and card mix. Figures are providers' published or typical advertised pricing, checked July 2026. Rates change; always confirm with a current quote.
What 1.75% flat actually costs per year
The arithmetic on the published flat rate, before any monthly fees:
| Monthly card takings | Cost at 1.75% / month | Cost / year |
|---|---|---|
| £2,500 | £44 | £525 |
| £5,000 | £88 | £1,050 |
| £10,000 | £175 | £2,100 |
Above roughly £4,000 to £5,000 a month, a negotiated rate with a monthly fee usually works out cheaper than 1.75% flat. Below that, the no-monthly-fee readers tend to win. That crossover is the single most useful thing to know before you sign anything.
Methodology
We track the published and typical advertised pricing of 15 UK card machine providers and re-check it periodically (last check: July 2026). Flat published rates are stated exactly. Where a provider prices individually, we say so rather than invent a number. Worked examples are pure arithmetic on the stated rates. No provider pays for placement on this page.
Spotted an out-of-date figure? Email hello@merchantswitch.com and we'll correct it.
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