A mobile card payment machine has its own mobile connection, its own screen and its own battery, so it works wherever there is coverage without a phone beside it. That independence is what separates it from a Bluetooth reader, and it is what the extra hardware cost buys. Published prices for standalone portable machines start at 39 pounds excluding VAT.
Independence from the phone
A Bluetooth reader is only as reliable as the paired phone: its signal, its battery, its notifications. A machine with its own SIM removes all three, which is why mobile trades and market traders pay for it. It also means staff are not handing the owner's phone to customers, which matters more than it sounds on a busy stall.
Battery and the length of a real day
A machine that lasts a four hour demo may not last a ten hour market. Ask for the transaction count on a full charge rather than the hours, because standby is not the same as working. The ruggedised models cost more largely because of the battery and the case, and for anyone trading outdoors that is where the money should go.
What it costs to run
The same account rates as any other terminal: 0.79% to 1.75% on the published shelf, several with a fixed pence element. Mobile machines do not carry a mobility surcharge at any provider read here, though some plans price tap to pay on a phone differently from a physical reader. Check the row that matches how you will actually take the payment.
Questions people ask about mobile card payment machine
How much is a mobile card payment machine?
Published standalone portable machines start at 39 pounds excluding VAT and run to 179 pounds excluding VAT for ruggedised models. Bluetooth readers that depend on a phone start lower, from 11 pounds plus VAT.
Do mobile card machines need a SIM contract?
Providers that sell standalone machines usually include the connectivity rather than asking you to supply a SIM. Confirm whether data is included and whether there is a fair use limit before buying.
Do mobile machines cost more to run?
Not at the providers read here. The account rate is the same whichever terminal you use, though tap to pay on a phone is priced separately by some providers.