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Card payments in person
“Take card payments at my shop or market stall”
1 of 2
For taking cards face to face, the fee on each sale matters more than any feature list, since none of these picks charges a monthly fee to start. SumUp and Zettle by PayPal suit stalls and pop-ups: buy a reader once, pay per transaction. Square goes further with appointments, an online store and one shared stock list, but it is not available in Germany or Italy. Pick by country first, then by how much you sell online too.
Side by side
Price, free plan, ease of use and the team size each one suits.
ToolPriceEase of useTeam size
Why these picks
Independent reviews, facts checked at the source, and our own use.
- Ranked from independent reviews
We score how often and how high each tool appears in independent best-of reviews.
- Facts checked at the sourcePrices last checked 2 Oct 2026
Prices, free plans and offers come from each provider's own website, checked every week by our software and reviewed by us.
- Nobody pays for a place
The order comes from the reviews and the facts. Offers are only the providers' own.
Head to head
Pairs people weigh up that include one of these picks.
Rules that apply
The rules, the dates, and which of these tools support them.
Questions
What people ask about card payments in person.
Can I take card payments on my phone without buying a reader?
SumUp lets you take tap-to-pay payments straight on your phone, so a reader becomes optional. That works well for a trader who takes a few contactless payments a day. If you serve a queue at a busy stall, a dedicated reader is quicker and keeps your phone free. Square and Zettle both sell their own readers alongside their apps.
Is there a monthly fee for a card machine?
Square, SumUp and Zettle by PayPal all start with no monthly fee. You pay a percentage on each card sale, and with SumUp or Zettle you buy the reader once. Square adds optional paid plans for advanced features if your business grows. Check the transaction rate in your own country before you order, since that is where the cost sits.
I already sell on PayPal online. Should I use Zettle in the shop?
Zettle is PayPal's own card reader and till app, so it fits naturally if your online sales already run through PayPal. Customers can pay by card or with a phone wallet. If you want one stock list across a web shop and the counter, Square links both, though not in Germany or Italy. SumUp also offers a free online store and payment links.
Which card reader works in Spain, Germany and Italy?
SumUp works across Spain, Germany, France, Italy and the UK. Zettle by PayPal covers Spain, Germany, France, Italy and the UK as well. Square runs in the UK, France, Spain and the US, but not in Germany or Italy, so a stall in Munich or Milan needs one of the other two. Pick the one whose rates are lowest in your market.
Can I send an invoice or payment link from the same app?
SumUp sends payment links and invoices from the same account you use at the counter. Square also covers invoices, plus appointments for service businesses such as salons. That helps when a customer wants to pay a deposit before visiting. Zettle focuses on face-to-face payments and a simple till.