Best Card Readers With No Monthly Fee (UK)

Pay-as-you-go readers with no monthly rental - you buy the reader once and pay a percentage per sale, with nothing to pay in the weeks you don't trade. Best for lower or seasonal volume, where a monthly fee wouldn't pay for itself.

Last updated: 25 June 2026

No monthly fee isn't the same as cheapest

If you take serious card volume, a provider with a monthly fee and a lower transaction rate can work out cheaper. Run your numbers through the fee calculator before you decide.

SumUp

4.4

Dead simple and cheap to start - but you may outgrow it.

Best for

Market stallsTradespeopleMobile sellers

Monthly fee: £0
Transaction fee: from 0.99% (Payments Plus) / 1.69% standard
Contract: No contract (pay-as-you-go)
Payouts: 1–2 working days (next-day option)

Cheap, low-commitment hardware
Avoid if: You need a full till, staff logins or deep reporting.

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Square

4.5

The easiest all-rounder for most small businesses.

Best for

CafésSmall retailService businesses

Monthly fee: £0 (paid POS tiers available)
Transaction fee: 1.75% in-person (no monthly/setup fee on standard)
Contract: No contract (pay-as-you-go)
Payouts: Next working day (instant transfer for a fee)

Genuinely good free POS app
Avoid if: You're chasing the absolute lowest rate at high volume.

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PayPal Zettle

4.2

Tidy and cheap if you already live in the PayPal world.

Best for

PayPal usersSmall retailersMobile sellers

Monthly fee: £0
Transaction fee: 1.75% card & contactless
Contract: No contract (pay-as-you-go)
Payouts: 1–2 working days (into PayPal/bank)

No monthly fee for the basic POS app
Avoid if: You want a deep POS ecosystem or don't use PayPal.

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myPOS

4.0

Handy if same-day cash flow beats brand familiarity.

Best for

Instant access to fundsInternational paymentsMobile traders

Monthly fee: £0 on entry plans
Transaction fee: Card-present from 1.10% + 7p (lower-turnover tier)
Contract: No fixed contract on standard plans
Payouts: Instant settlement to myPOS account

Instant access to your money via a built-in account
Avoid if: You want the most familiar UK high-street name.

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Who a no-monthly-fee reader suits

Market traders, mobile sellers, salons, pop-ups, new businesses and anyone with quiet or seasonal months. You keep costs tied to sales, not a standing charge. Taking thousands a week? It's worth comparing a lower-rate plan too - and if you just want to dodge a long tie-in, see our no-contract card machines guide.

Compare all card machines Work out what you'd pay

No-monthly-fee card readers: FAQs

Which card readers have no monthly fee in the UK?

SumUp, Square, PayPal Zettle and entry myPOS plans all offer card readers with no monthly fee. You buy the reader once, then pay a percentage per transaction - nothing in the months you don't trade.

Is a no-monthly-fee card reader actually the cheapest?

Not always. No monthly fee is cheapest for lower or seasonal volume. Once you take serious volume, a provider with a monthly fee but a lower transaction rate can work out cheaper overall. Compare the all-in cost at your real turnover.

What's the cheapest card reader with no monthly fee?

SumUp's Air is one of the cheapest to buy (from £19 + VAT) with no monthly fee, and its Payments Plus plan starts from 0.99% on domestic cards. Square and Zettle readers are similarly priced at a flat 1.75%.