Portable is used for two different products. A pocket reader that pairs to a phone is portable in the sense that it fits a pocket. A machine with its own screen, keypad, printer and SIM is portable in the sense that it works alone. The first starts at 11 pounds plus VAT; the second at 39 pounds excluding VAT.
Reading a spec sheet honestly
Look for three words: standalone, SIM and battery. Standalone means it works without a paired device. SIM means it carries its own data connection rather than borrowing wifi. Battery figures are usually given in hours of standby rather than transactions, so ask for the transaction count on a full charge, which is the number that matters at a market.
Receipt printing, and whether you need it
Machines with built in printers cost more and remove the need for a customer's email address. Trades that hand over a receipt on the doorstep want one; a market stall selling coffee usually does not. Digital receipts by text or email are standard everywhere on this shelf, so a printer is a convenience rather than a requirement.
What portable costs to run
Nothing extra. Every provider read here charges its standard in-person rate whichever terminal you use, from 0.79% to 1.75% on the published shelf. The only cost specific to portability is the hardware, and the myPOS range prices that step from 39 pounds excluding VAT to 179 pounds for the ruggedised model.
Questions people ask about portable card machine uk
How much is a portable card machine in the UK?
Standalone portable machines are published from 39 pounds excluding VAT to 179 pounds excluding VAT. Pocket readers that depend on a paired phone start at 11 pounds plus VAT.
Does a portable card machine need wifi?
Only if it has no SIM of its own. Machines with built in mobile data work wherever there is coverage. Pocket readers use the paired phone's connection instead.
Do portable card machines print receipts?
Some do and some send them digitally. Printing costs more in hardware and suits doorstep trades; digital receipts are standard across every provider read here.