Tap to Pay turns your phone into a contactless reader — no separate machine. It's brilliant for some businesses and not enough for others.
How it works
With a supported app — SumUp, Square and Zettle all offer it — customers tap their card, phone or watch on your phone. There's nothing else to buy. Our Tap to Pay guide covers the basics.
Who it's great for
Tradespeople, mobile sellers and pop-ups love it as a zero-hardware option — see best card readers for tradespeople. It's also a handy backup even if you own a reader.
Where you'll still want a reader
Busy counters, tipping prompts and standalone use (no phone tied up) are still better on a dedicated machine. Compare both on the card machine page.
