Mobile reader Free, quick comparison
Mobile card reader comparison
Compare pocket-sized card readers for mobile traders, market stalls and tradespeople — no contract, no line rental, paid for as you sell.
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Mobile reader
Mobile readerZettle Reader 2
Mobile readerSquare Reader (contactless + chip)
£19
one-off cost
1.75%
per transaction
Contract: None
Payout: Next working day
Free POS app included
Deal tables sorted by upfront cost (low to high)
Rates shown are indicative and depend on your card turnover, average transaction value and business type. Final pricing is confirmed by the provider after your quote.
What is a mobile card reader?
A mobile card reader is a small battery-powered device that takes chip, contactless and mobile wallet payments wherever you are. Most pair with a free app on your phone or tablet; all-in-one models work on their own SIM.
There's no phone line, no engineer visit and usually no contract — you buy the reader once and pay a percentage of each sale.
Why use a mobile card reader?
Get paid on the spot
Taking payment at the door or the stall removes invoice chasing and late payment entirely.
Almost no fixed cost
Most readers cost £19–£79 once, with no monthly fee — so quiet months cost you nothing.
Trade anywhere
Markets, fairs, customers' homes, festivals — anywhere with a mobile signal becomes a till point.
What to check before you buy a reader
Transaction rate
Pay-as-you-go readers sit around 1.69%–1.75%. Plans with a monthly fee can drop under 1% at higher volume.
Battery life
Look for a full trading day — 8 to 12 hours or roughly 100 transactions between charges.
Connectivity
Bluetooth readers need your phone; all-in-one models include their own SIM so a flat phone doesn't stop trading.
Payout speed
Next-working-day settlement is standard; a few providers offer instant transfer for a small fee.
App and features
Free POS apps add itemised sales, tipping, refunds, staff accounts and digital receipts.
Security
The reader should be PCI PTS approved — card data never touches your phone or your app.
How does a mobile card reader work?
You create an account with the provider, pass ID and business checks, and link your business bank account.
The reader arrives by post, usually within two to three working days.
You pair it with the free app over Bluetooth, or switch it on if it's an all-in-one model with its own SIM.
Enter the amount, the customer taps or inserts their card, and the money lands in your bank account the next working day.
Who are mobile card readers best for?
Tradespeople, mobile hairdressers, dog groomers, driving instructors and anyone invoicing small jobs on site.
Market traders, food vans and pop-up stalls who need to trade anywhere without a fixed till.
Established shops taking more than around £10,000 a month on cards will usually save more with a contracted terminal instead.
How do I choose the best mobile card reader?
If you take under about £3,000 a month on cards, a pay-as-you-go reader with no monthly fee almost always wins — the flat rate costs less than a plan you'd underuse. Above that, run the maths on a monthly plan with a lower percentage. And if you don't want to depend on your phone battery, pay a bit more for an all-in-one reader with its own SIM.
How can I save money with a mobile card reader?
Buy the reader outright rather than renting, take advantage of first-order discounts, and use the free POS app instead of a paid EPOS subscription. Keep an eye on your monthly card turnover — once it's consistently high, ask your provider to review your rate or compare a contracted deal.
Considering a mobile card reader:
These guides might help.
How card processing fees work
Interchange, scheme and acquirer fees explained — and how to spot the ones you can cut…
Choosing a merchant account
What UK providers check, how long approval takes and when an ISO beats a bank…
PCI DSS made simple for small firms
The compliance basics every business taking card payments has to meet…
FAQs
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Written by the Grow Your Business payments team · Updated on 21 March 2026