The best card machine in the UK depends on how you trade, and the offer behind the reader matters as much as the reader itself. This guide compares terminals by ownership, fees, minimum billing, receipts and settlement, in the plain terms most quotes avoid, so you can compare any provider properly. Including us.
24 hrs
approval, once documents are in
150+
currencies processed
4.4
Trustpilot rating
2010
processing payments since
On this page The lineup · Comparing offers, not just readers · The minimum billing trap · Choosing by monthly volume · FAQs
Five ways to take payment in person, from an app on your own phone to the flagship Android terminal. Every one is settled the next working day, backed by the same UK team, and none carries a minimum monthly billing charge.
*Subject to approval. Rates are agreed individually against your turnover and risk profile.
Two identical terminals can cost different amounts to run, because the commercial structure underneath decides what you actually pay. These are the five lines worth checking in any quote, and our answer to each of them.
A minimum monthly billing or minimum service charge means you must generate a set amount of transaction fees each month, or you pay the difference. It is the easiest line in a quote to miss, and it quietly changes what your card machine really costs.
Here is the maths. On a rate of 0.3%, a £15 monthly minimum means £5,000 of card sales every single month just to break even on it. Trade less than that and the difference is charged whether you sold anything or not, which is why the line deserves a careful read in any quote.
Every eCom Pay terminal ships with £0 minimum billing and one transparent monthly software fee covering security and compliance, with nothing else underneath. The question that cuts through every quote is the one we are happy to answer first. What do I pay in a quiet month?
Get the offer in plain termsKeep standing costs at their lowest. SoftPOS turns your NFC Android phone into a card machine with nothing extra to buy, the Lightweight Virtual Terminal takes phone and Pay by Link payments from any browser, and the PAX A80 covers a fixed counter with a printer built in.
This is where tailored rates and one fixed software fee start working harder than a flat pay as you go percentage. The Handpoint HiLite is the portable pick, bought outright with £0 minimum billing.
The PAX A920 Pro is the flagship. Touchscreen, printer, barcode scanner, all day battery and the full pre authorisation suite, with fees from 0.3%*.
One call maps your real numbers against the range. A specialist agrees your rates against your actual turnover and reviews them as you grow, so the terminal you choose today does not box you in tomorrow.
Fair. So here is what UK merchants say after switching to eCom Pay, in their own words.
It was such a pleasure working with eCom Pay for my company, very straightforward to set up and the team were so helpful. No hidden fees, cost efficient, and from using other platforms before I can say this has been the best so far.
Verified merchantvia Trustpilot
We found eCom Pay to be a simple, efficient payment system to integrate, with a lot of support behind it. Would recommend them over competitors who charge far too much.
Verified merchantvia Trustpilot
Great customer service from eCom Pay. Needed a card reader for my business, they had me set up fast and gave me better rates than the last company. Highly recommend.
Verified merchantvia Trustpilot
Super impressed with eCom Pay. The transaction fees are competitive, and I love that my customers have multiple payment options, which has noticeably improved my sales.
Verified merchantvia Trustpilot
Good service from eCom Pay. The card machines are reliable and easy to use. I like that there are no hidden fees and everything is explained upfront.
Verified merchantvia Trustpilot
Would highly recommend. Easy, simple, and always answers when I need help. The best payment gateway I have come across, with a wide variety of packages available.
Verified merchantvia Trustpilot
The best card machine is the one whose offer suits your trading, not just the nicest hardware. For counters we rate the PAX A920 Pro and PAX A80, for trading on the move the Handpoint HiLite, and for micro merchants SoftPOS on your own phone. The offer behind the reader matters as much as the reader.
It depends entirely on the offer structure. At eCom Pay you buy the terminal outright, pay one transparent monthly software fee, and there is £0 minimum billing.
Yes, every card machine provider charges a transaction fee, usually a percentage of each sale. What varies is how it is set. At eCom Pay a specialist agrees your rates individually against your actual turnover, from 0.3%*, subject to approval, and reviews them as you grow.
It is a set amount of transaction fees you must generate each month, or you pay the difference. A £15 minimum on a 0.3% rate means £5,000 of card sales every month just to avoid the charge. It is a line worth understanding in any quote, and eCom Pay does not charge one at all.
Yes. At eCom Pay every terminal, from the Handpoint HiLite to the PAX A920 Pro, is sold outright, so the hardware is yours from day one. You pay one transparent monthly software fee that covers security and compliance, and nothing else.
Yes. SoftPOS turns an NFC enabled Android phone into a card machine with nothing extra to buy, taking contactless cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay. It suits micro merchants, mobile trading and backup acceptance alongside a main terminal.
Settlement is paid into a UK bank account held in your business or trading name, with funds arriving the next working day. Our team confirms exactly what underwriters need for your setup, whether you are a limited company, a partnership or a sole trader.
Your account is approved in 24 hours once your documents are in, because experienced underwriters handle it directly rather than leaving it in a queue. Your specialist confirms hardware delivery timing when you order.
No, surcharging consumers for paying by consumer debit or credit card has been banned in the UK since 2018. You can set a minimum spend for card payments, but you cannot add a fee for choosing card. Building your card costs into your pricing is the compliant route.
Start from your monthly card volume. Under about £2,500 a month, SoftPOS or the PAX A80 keep your standing costs lowest. Above that, the Handpoint HiLite or PAX A920 Pro with tailored rates work harder for you. A specialist will map this against your real numbers on one call.
Written by the eCom Pay team. Reviewed August 2026. Last updated August 2026.
Ownership, minimum billing, rate, settlement and support. Five lines decide what a card machine really costs, and we are happy to be held to all five.
See the range: PAX A920 Pro, PAX A80 and the Handpoint HiLite.