PDQ Terminals UK 2026: Costs, Types and Best Options for Small Businesses

Updated August 2026. PDQ is an old-fashioned term for a card machine, but plenty of UK business owners still use it. If a provider offers you a PDQ terminal today, you are normally choosing between a countertop, portable or mobile card machine that accepts Chip & PIN, contactless and mobile wallets.

The machine itself is only one part of the decision. The bigger cost is usually the merchant-service agreement behind it. A free terminal with an expensive contract can cost more than buying a £19 or £25 reader outright.

What does PDQ mean?

PDQ originally stood for “Process Data Quickly”. In everyday business language it simply came to mean the card terminal sitting on the counter or being carried to the customer.

Modern machines are much more capable than older PDQ equipment. They can connect over Ethernet, Wi-Fi or 4G, accept contactless wallets, integrate with EPOS and support functions such as tipping, pre-authorisation and digital receipts.

1. Countertop PDQ terminals

A countertop terminal stays at a fixed till. If you are also replacing the till itself, compare our EPOS systems guide before choosing hardware. It is usually the best fit for a shop, reception desk, takeaway counter or other business where the customer always pays in the same place.

The biggest advantage is reliability. A wired connection removes some of the battery and wireless issues that come with portable devices. The downside is obvious: the customer has to come to the terminal.

For a small retail shop with one till, that is often exactly what you want.

2. Portable PDQ terminals

A portable terminal is designed to move around the premises. For hospitality-specific requirements, see our card machines for hospitality guide. Restaurants use them for pay-at-table, pubs use them around the bar and beer garden, and salons can take payment at the chair.

Look for strong Wi-Fi, sensible battery life and a provider that can replace a failed device quickly. If your business depends on card payments during evenings and weekends, support hours matter.

3. Mobile PDQ terminals

Mobile terminals include 4G or another mobile data connection. If taking payments away from a fixed premises is the main requirement, compare our mobile card reader guide. so they can take payments away from a fixed premises. They suit builders, electricians, delivery businesses, events, markets and other businesses on the move.

The practical question is network coverage. A mobile terminal is only useful if it can connect where your customers actually are. Businesses working in rural areas should ask which network or roaming arrangement the terminal uses.

PDQ terminal pricing in 2026

There is no reliable industry-wide “average PDQ rental” that we would use for a buying decision. Providers structure deals differently. Some sell the device and charge a flat transaction rate. Others rent the terminal and offer personalised merchant pricing.

Use live provider quotes rather than an old article claiming every terminal costs £15 to £40 a month.

Square: simple purchased-hardware benchmark

Square Reader currently starts at £19 + VAT and charges 1.75% for standard UK card-present transactions. Standard Square POS software has no monthly fee.

Square is useful as a benchmark even if you ultimately choose another provider because it gives you a simple “no traditional terminal rental” cost to compare against.

See Square

takepayments: tailored traditional terminal deal

takepayments currently advertises a 12-month card-machine contract. Pricing is tailored to the business rather than displayed as one universal public transaction percentage. It also advertises next-working-day settlement subject to the acquirer’s approval, cut-off and terms.

That model can suit an established SME that wants provider-led onboarding, dedicated terminal support and a price based on its actual turnover and card mix.

See takepayments

Worldpay: mainstream acquiring benchmark

Worldpay’s current mobile-card-machine offer uses an 18-month contract. Its current Simplicity tariff shows 1.50% for Mastercard and Visa, with different fees applying to some other card types. The offer currently advertises £0 monthly terminal hire under its promotion, but the agreement terms still matter.

This is a good example of why “free terminal” does not mean “no contract”. Compare the full cost over the minimum term.

Read our Worldpay review.

Dojo for businesses where payments are mission-critical

Dojo currently publishes a 1.2% blended rate for businesses below £100,000 annual card turnover, with custom pricing above that level. Its proposition is particularly relevant to busy hospitality and retail businesses that need portable connectivity, EPOS integration and fast settlement.

Dojo can include device and plan costs, so ask for the complete quote rather than comparing 1.2% directly with a simple flat-rate reader.

Read our Dojo review.

What could a percentage difference cost?

Suppose your business processes £10,000 a month in card sales and every transaction qualified for the headline rate.

The illustration excludes terminal rental, pence fees, premium-card charges and other services. It simply shows why a larger business should not choose based on hardware price.

Questions to ask before signing a PDQ contract

• What is the rate for UK consumer Visa and Mastercard?
• What do you charge for Amex, international and commercial cards?
• Is there a pence authorisation fee?
• How much is the terminal itself?
• How long is the minimum agreement?
• What happens if I close or sell the business?
• Are there PCI-related or service fees?
• When do weekend takings settle?
• What support is available outside office hours?
• How quickly will a failed machine be replaced?

Should you buy a used PDQ terminal?

Only after checking with your payment provider. Merchant terminals need the correct software, security configuration and acquiring relationship. A used device can be impossible to board even if it powers on perfectly.

Get written confirmation that the provider supports the exact model and serial-number range before spending money.

Do you still need a terminal at all?

Some businesses can now use Tap to Pay on a compatible phone. This is especially useful for occasional or mobile payments.

A physical terminal still makes sense when staff share the device, you need Chip & PIN, customers expect a conventional card machine, or payment volume is high enough that handing around a phone becomes inconvenient.

How often should you review your PDQ deal?

Do not leave a merchant-services agreement untouched for years. Review it when the minimum term ends, when card turnover changes materially or when your average transaction value shifts. Ask the current provider for a fresh pricing breakdown and compare it with at least one alternative using the same recent card statements.

A business that has grown from £3,000 to £20,000 monthly card turnover may have much more negotiating power than it had when the original contract was signed. Equally, a business whose turnover has fallen may be better served by a low-fixed-cost pay-as-you-go setup.

Related Quotehunt guides

• Best card machines for small businesses
• Card machines for sole traders
• How to accept card payments
• Contactless payments guide
• Payment processing companies

Our verdict

For a micro-business starting from scratch, compare a simple purchased reader such as Square or SumUp before entering a terminal contract. If your business processes several thousand pounds a month, add takepayments, Worldpay and Dojo to the quote list.

The best PDQ terminal is not the cheapest device. It is the package that gives you reliable payments at the lowest sensible total cost for your turnover, card mix and operating hours.

More help choosing

See our card machine providers guide, mobile card reader guide, credit card processing guide and PCI DSS guide.