takepayments Card Machines Review UK
takepayments takes a more traditional, service-led approach than pay-as-you-go readers such as Square or SumUp. You get tailored pricing, a 12-month card-machine contract, next-working-day settlement where eligible and support seven days a week.
See how takepayments compares for your turnover
Because takepayments uses tailored pricing, the most useful comparison is based on your actual card volume, transaction values and payment requirements.
What is takepayments?
takepayments is a UK payment-services provider focused heavily on small and independent businesses. Rather than publishing one flat transaction rate for everyone, it builds a pricing package around factors such as your turnover, business type and the way you take payments.
That makes it quite different from providers such as Square and SumUp. With those services, a business can generally buy a reader and know the standard percentage before signing up. With takepayments, the emphasis is on speaking to a payment consultant, discussing your requirements and receiving a tailored quote.
The company can arrange countertop, portable and mobile card machines, as well as online payments, payment links and Virtual Terminal phone payments. It also helps arrange a merchant account through a nominated acquiring partner, so there is an acquiring relationship behind the card-machine service.
In simple terms
takepayments is best thought of as a managed merchant-service package rather than a self-service card reader. You get a card machine, tailored transaction pricing and more human support, but you also need to compare the full contractual and acquiring costs carefully.
For businesses wanting a broader introduction to how this works, see our merchant accounts guide and our comparison of payment processing companies.
Is takepayments a good choice for UK SMEs?
It can be a strong fit if you prefer a managed service, want a relatively short 12-month terminal contract and value having support available seven days a week.
Best for businesses that want service as well as a card machine
takepayments is less transparent than flat-rate providers because there is no single public transaction percentage to compare. The upside is that pricing can be tailored to your turnover and card-payment profile.
That can work well for established small businesses, restaurants, retailers and merchants switching from another provider. The key is to get the complete quote in writing and compare it against alternatives.
Independent retailers, hospitality businesses and established SMEs that want a managed card-machine service with personalised pricing.
What we like
- 12-month machine contract
- Support available seven days a week
- Next-working-day settlement available
- Countertop, portable and mobile machines
- Online, pay-by-link and phone-payment options
What to watch
- No universal public transaction rate
- Separate acquiring-bank agreement is required
- Terminal rental and processing charges need comparing together
- Next-day settlement is subject to acquirer approval and cut-off rules
Alternatives worth comparing
- Card machine providers
- Best card machines for small businesses
- Dojo for hospitality
- Worldpay for traditional acquiring
What payment hardware does takepayments offer?
takepayments covers the three main ways UK small businesses take face-to-face payments: fixed at the till, around the premises and out on the road.
| Type | How it connects | Best for | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Countertop | Fixed connection at the till | Shops, reception desks and fixed checkout points | Simple choice when payments happen in one place |
| Portable | Wi-Fi / wireless around premises | Restaurants, cafés, bars and table service | Lets staff take the terminal to the customer |
| Mobile | 4G mobile network | Tradespeople, taxis, mobile services and events | Designed for taking payments away from a fixed premises |
| takepayments plus / Android terminals | Connected smart terminal | Businesses wanting reporting and additional functions on the device | Pricing and package should be compared with standard terminal options |
Countertop, portable or mobile: which should you choose?
A countertop terminal is the simplest option if every customer pays at the same till. A portable terminal makes more sense when staff move around the premises, particularly in hospitality. A mobile terminal uses a mobile connection, making it more suitable for tradespeople, taxis, events and other businesses that take payments away from a fixed location.
For a wider comparison, see our mobile card reader guide, hospitality card-machine guide and card machines for taxi drivers.
Want takepayments to price your business?
The provider’s rates are tailored, so the useful question is what your complete package would cost based on your turnover and card mix.
takepayments pricing and fees
takepayments does not publish one standard processing percentage because pricing is personalised around the business. The company says it considers your business type, current or expected card turnover and the payment solution you need.
That means you should ask for more than one headline rate. A useful written quote should show:
- transaction rates by card type
- any fixed pence-per-transaction charges
- terminal rental
- minimum monthly service charges, if applicable
- PCI-related costs
- refund and chargeback charges
- online or Virtual Terminal fees if you need remote payments
- what happens at renewal and cancellation
takepayments says it does not charge a setup fee, and its current card-machine proposition advertises a 12-month machine contract. The processing agreement with the nominated acquiring bank is separate, so read both sets of commercial terms.
Why tailored pricing can be good or bad
A tailored quote can beat a flat-rate reader for the right business, especially at higher turnover. But it also makes comparison harder. Use your current processing statement or expected transaction profile and ask competing providers to quote on the same basis.
Does takepayments require a merchant account?
Yes. takepayments says it will help arrange a merchant account with one of its partnered acquirers. The merchant account is separate from your normal business bank account and is part of the infrastructure used to process and settle card transactions.
This is an important difference from the simpler bundled experience many users associate with Square or SumUp. Our merchant accounts guide explains the distinction in more detail.
Next-working-day settlement
takepayments advertises next-working-day settlement for eligible customers. This can be useful if cash flow matters and you want card takings reaching your bank account quickly.
There are conditions. Settlement is subject to the nominated acquirer’s approval and terms, and your terminal’s banking-window process needs to be completed before the relevant cut-off time. Ecommerce, pay-by-link and Virtual Terminal transactions can have different settlement timescales.
Online payments, payment links and phone payments
takepayments is not limited to physical card machines. The provider also offers several ways to take remote payments.
Payment gateway
A payment gateway lets customers pay through your website. Businesses comparing ecommerce options should also read our online payment gateway guide.
Pay by link
Payment links can be sent to customers without building a full ecommerce checkout. They can be useful for deposits, invoices and businesses selling remotely.
Virtual Terminal
Businesses taking mail-order or telephone-order payments can enter card details into a secure Virtual Terminal. This is useful for businesses that regularly collect payment over the phone.
See our wider guide to accepting card payments for the different ways a small business can take payment.
Contactless and digital wallets
takepayments’ current card machines support contactless as well as major debit and credit cards. The provider also lists Apple Pay and Android/Google wallet support across its terminal range.
The standard UK contactless card limit is now £100, not the £30 figure that appeared in the old version of this review. Mobile-wallet payments can behave differently because the customer may authenticate on their device.
takepayments for restaurants, cafés and pubs
Hospitality is one of the clearer use cases for takepayments. Portable machines let staff bring payment to the table, while mobile-connected terminals can help venues with outdoor service or connectivity requirements.
The right comparison is not only the transaction rate. Look at terminal responsiveness, replacement support, settlement, gratuity handling and integration with your EPOS system.
Our card machines for hospitality guide explains the main buying criteria.
takepayments for retailers
Retailers with one or more fixed checkout points can use countertop or smart terminals. A retailer should ask whether the chosen terminal integrates with its till or EPOS setup and how additional machines are priced.
If you are still deciding between different hardware models and providers, compare our card machine providers.
takepayments for mobile and self-employed businesses
Mobile 4G terminals can suit tradespeople, taxi drivers and other businesses that collect payment at the customer’s location. This is different from a low-cost app-connected reader because the machine is part of a managed merchant-service contract.
See our guides to card machines for sole traders and mobile card readers before deciding which model better fits your business.
Already processing cards elsewhere?
Use a recent processing statement when comparing takepayments. It gives competing providers the information needed to price your actual card mix rather than relying on a headline rate.
Customer service and reviews
takepayments places significant emphasis on service. Its website says customer support is available seven days a week, alongside a Welcome Team that helps new merchants get up and running.
When checked in September 2026, the company’s main Trustpilot profile displayed a 4.8/5 rating from around 67,000 reviews. The review summary is strongly positive about helpful support and setup, although some reviewers also raise concerns around contract clarity, technical issues and cancellation experiences.
That balance matters. A high review score is a useful signal, but you should still read the commercial agreement yourself and make sure the rates and cancellation terms you were quoted are written down.
PCI DSS and payment security
takepayments’ terminals are designed for secure card acceptance, but businesses still need to understand their PCI DSS responsibilities. The provider can help customers through the compliance process.
Our PCI DSS guide explains what card-accepting businesses need to consider.
takepayments vs Square or SumUp
Square and SumUp are easier to compare at first glance because they publish standard pay-as-you-go rates. takepayments is more service-led and uses personalised pricing.
For a very small or irregular-volume business, a bought-outright reader may be simpler. For an established shop, restaurant or business processing meaningful card turnover, takepayments’ tailored quote and managed support can become more attractive.
Compare the options in our payment processing companies guide and best card machines for small businesses.
Questions to ask before signing
- What is our transaction rate for each card type?
- Are there any fixed authorisation or pence-per-transaction charges?
- What is the monthly terminal rental?
- Is there a minimum monthly service charge?
- Which acquiring bank will process our transactions?
- What is the exact minimum term for each agreement?
- What happens at the end of the 12-month machine contract?
- What are the cancellation and renewal terms?
- When will weekday and weekend takings settle?
- What support is available during our actual trading hours?
Frequently asked questions
How much does takepayments cost?
takepayments uses tailored pricing rather than one universal public transaction rate. Your quote can depend on business type, turnover, card mix and the terminal or payment services you need.
How long is a takepayments contract?
The current card-machine proposition advertises a 12-month machine contract. Card processing also requires a separate agreement with a nominated acquiring bank, so check the terms of both agreements.
Does takepayments offer next-day settlement?
Next-working-day settlement is available to eligible customers subject to acquirer approval, terms and the relevant terminal banking cut-off.
Can takepayments accept payments over the phone?
Yes. takepayments offers a Virtual Terminal for mail-order and telephone-order card payments.
Does takepayments support online payments?
Yes. Options include a payment gateway and payment links as well as face-to-face terminals.
Is takepayments good for restaurants?
It can be a strong option because portable terminals, managed support and tailored pricing suit many hospitality businesses. Compare the complete quote with Dojo, Square and other hospitality-focused providers.
Ready to price takepayments?
Check takepayments’ current offer directly, or compare several providers using the same card-turnover information.
Final verdict
takepayments is a credible option for UK small businesses that want more support and a more traditional merchant-service relationship than a basic pay-as-you-go reader provides. The 12-month machine contract is relatively short, support is available seven days a week, and the service covers face-to-face, online and phone payments.
The main drawback is pricing transparency. Because rates are tailored, you cannot know from the website alone whether takepayments will be cheaper than Square, SumUp, Dojo or another acquirer. Get the full quote, check the separate acquiring agreement and compare the effective monthly cost before signing.
