Ranked · Business
Best card payment terminals for small businesses in 2026
The best card readers and payment terminals for small businesses in Germany and the EU in 2026, from SumUp and PayPal to myPOS, Mollie and Tap to Pay on your phone.
Bitezine Editorial TeamRankings, reviews & guides 9 min read
AI generatedThe best card payment terminal for a small business is the one that gets you paid quickly without locking you into a contract you do not need. In Germany, card payments have overtaken cash in many shops, and customers now expect to tap a card, phone or watch at market stalls, salons and food trucks as well as in stores. A mobile card reader or a smart terminal costs little to start with, and some providers now let you accept payments on your own smartphone.
For this ranking we compared the card readers and terminal providers that appear most often in German and European comparisons, then checked each provider's current German or EU product pages. We looked at the hardware range, whether a device works standalone or needs a phone, Tap to Pay support, payout speed, extra business tools such as POS software and invoices, and how flexible the contract is. Transaction fees change often, so we describe pricing models rather than quoting rates.
At a glance
#1 · Best for Most small shops, cafés and service businesses
SumUp
Best all-round card reader range
SumUp covers every stage of a small business with three devices: the Solo Lite reader that pairs with your smartphone, the standalone Solo, and the compact Terminal that works as a handheld point of sale. Tap to Pay on your phone is also available. Payments tie into SumUp's free POS app, online payments, invoices and a business account.
- Solo Lite, Solo and Terminal devices
- Tap to Pay on your phone
- No monthly fee on pay-as-you-go
- POS software, payment links and invoices
- Business account and instant financing options
- Type
- Mobile readers and standalone terminals
- Pricing
- One-off hardware, fee per transaction
- Based in
- London, UK
#2 · Best for Retailers already selling with PayPal
PayPal Point of Sale (Zettle)
Best for PayPal users
Zettle by PayPal is being renamed PayPal Point of Sale and now sells the PayPal Reader, a card reader with a large touchscreen that connects via USB-C or Bluetooth. The free POS app handles sales tracking and a German fiscal-compliant cash register setup, and you can also take contactless payments on your phone with Tap to Pay.
- PayPal Reader with touchscreen
- Tap to Pay on iPhone and Android
- Free POS app with sales reports
- Fiscal-compliant register option
- Integrations with shop and accounting tools
- Type
- Card reader plus POS app
- Pricing
- One-off hardware, fee per transaction
#3 · Best for Businesses that need cash flow fast
myPOS
Best for instant payouts
myPOS pairs its card terminals with a business account, IBAN and debit card, so card takings can be available within seconds. The range includes the compact myPOS Flex smart terminal and the everyday myPOS Ultra, and myPOS Glass turns a smartphone into a contactless terminal. It serves more than 400,000 businesses across Europe and offers round-the-clock support.
- Instant settlement to the myPOS account
- Flex and Ultra terminals
- Tap to Pay with myPOS Glass
- IBAN and business debit card included
- 24/7 customer support
- Type
- Smart terminals plus business account
- Pricing
- One-off hardware, fee per transaction
#4 · Best for Webshops opening a physical store or pop-up
Mollie
Best for online and in-store sellers
Mollie started as an online payment provider and now covers in-person payments with the same dashboard. Its Tap terminal is always online over 4G or Wi-Fi, has a front-facing NFC reader and sends digital receipts by QR code or email. Larger mobile and fixed PAX terminals, plus Tap to Pay on iPhone and Android, complete the lineup.
- Tap terminal with 4G and Wi-Fi
- Mobile and fixed PAX terminals
- Tap to Pay on iPhone and Android
- One dashboard for online and in-person sales
- Digital receipts by QR code or email
- Type
- Terminals and phone payments
- Pricing
- Hardware purchase, monthly fee on PAX models
- Based in
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
#5 · Best for Businesses that want payments and banking together
Viva.com
Terminal app plus a real bank
Viva.com calls itself a tech bank for businesses and operates in 29 European countries. Its Terminal app enables Tap to Pay on iPhone and Android devices, and it works with a wide range of hardware from more than 450 technology partners. Merchants also get bank accounts, card issuing and financing on the same platform.
- Tap to Pay via the Viva.com Terminal app
- Works with many third-party terminals
- Business accounts and cards
- Financing options
- Available in 29 European countries
- Type
- Software terminal plus hardware options
- Pricing
- Fee per transaction
- Based in
- Athens, Greece
#6 · Best for Businesses with their own software or webshop
Stripe Terminal
Best for custom checkout setups
Stripe Terminal brings Stripe's online payment platform to the counter. It suits businesses and software makers that want to build their own point of sale and manage online and in-person payments, customers and reporting in a single account. It needs more technical setup than plug-and-play readers.
- Unified online and in-person reporting
- Developer tools for custom POS
- Pre-certified card readers
- Tap to Pay support
- Works with Stripe Billing and Invoicing
- Type
- Developer-focused terminals
- Pricing
- Fee per transaction
#7 · Best for Established shops and restaurants
Nexi
Best contract terminals for retail
Nexi is one of Europe's largest payment companies and offers complete terminal packages, cash register solutions and a SoftPOS app for smartphones in Germany. It focuses on retail, hospitality and beauty businesses, with partner programmes for till system providers. It is a good fit once your card turnover is steady enough to justify a contract.
- Complete terminal packages
- Nexi SoftPOS smartphone payments
- Cash register integrations
- Financing based on future card sales
- Service hotline
- Type
- Contract terminals and SoftPOS
- Pricing
- Contract plans with fixed rate options
#8 · Best for Sparkasse customers and healthcare practices
PAYONE
Trusted partner of the savings banks
PAYONE is a German payment provider backed by Worldline and the savings banks, and it handles card acceptance for many Sparkasse business customers. It offers card readers and apps, complete POS packages and online payment solutions tailored to healthcare, gastronomy, retail, services and hotels, with an online tariff finder.
- Card readers, apps and POS packages
- Industry packages for practices, hotels and restaurants
- E-commerce payment options
- Accessory shop and customer portal
- Close ties to Sparkassen
- Type
- Contract terminals and apps
- Pricing
- Tariff plans
- Based in
- Frankfurt, Germany
#9 · Best for Fast-growing retail chains
Adyen
Best for multi-store growth
Adyen is the payment platform behind many large retailers and brands, with one system for online, in-app and in-store payments. It is overkill for a single market stall, but growing chains appreciate the unified reporting, wide range of payment methods and terminals that work across countries.
- Unified commerce across channels
- Wide range of local payment methods
- Terminals for multi-country retail
- Detailed reporting and risk tools
- Type
- Enterprise payment platform
- Pricing
- Custom, per transaction
- Based in
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
#10 · Best for Occasional sellers and mobile services
Tap to Pay on iPhone
Cheapest way to start
If you only take the occasional card payment, you may not need any hardware. Tap to Pay on iPhone lets a supported iPhone accept contactless cards, Apple Pay and other digital wallets through a payment provider's app, such as SumUp, PayPal, Mollie or Viva.com. The provider handles fees and payouts; Apple provides the secure technology in the phone.
- No extra hardware needed
- Works with contactless cards and wallets
- Available through several payment apps
- PIN entry supported on the phone
- Type
- Phone-based contactless payments
- Pricing
- Provider's per-transaction fees
How to choose
First decide whether you want a card reader that pairs with your phone, a standalone terminal with its own SIM or Wi-Fi, or no hardware at all. Tap to Pay on iPhone or Android turns a phone into a contactless terminal and suits occasional sales. A Bluetooth reader like SumUp Solo Lite is cheap and small. A standalone smart terminal is better for busy counters, because staff do not need to hand over a phone and many models print or email receipts.
Next compare the pricing model. Pay-as-you-go providers charge a percentage per transaction with no monthly fee, which works for low or seasonal volumes. Contract providers such as Nexi and Payone often combine a monthly fee with lower rates, which pays off once your card turnover is steady. Check girocard support if many customers pay with German debit cards, how fast payouts arrive, and whether the terminal connects to your till system for GoBD-compliant records.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best card reader for a small business in Germany?
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SumUp is the most common choice for small businesses because its readers are inexpensive, there is no monthly fee on the basic model, and setup takes minutes. PayPal's reader (formerly Zettle) is a close alternative, while myPOS suits businesses that want instant payouts and a linked business account.
Can I accept card payments on my phone without a terminal?
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Yes. Tap to Pay on iPhone and on Android lets you take contactless card and wallet payments directly on a supported phone. SumUp, PayPal Point of Sale, myPOS (myPOS Glass), Mollie, Viva.com and Nexi (SoftPOS) all offer this in Germany.
SumUp vs Zettle: which is better?
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Both charge per transaction and offer free POS apps. SumUp has a wider hardware range, from the Solo Lite reader to the Solo and Terminal devices, and adds a business account. Zettle is becoming PayPal Point of Sale, with the new PayPal Reader, and suits businesses already using PayPal.
Is there a card terminal without a monthly fee?
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Yes. SumUp, PayPal Point of Sale and myPOS offer hardware you buy once and use with pay-as-you-go transaction fees. Mollie sells its Tap terminal outright, while its larger PAX terminals carry a monthly charge per active device.
Do mobile card readers accept girocard?
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Many do, but check before you buy. Most mobile readers accept Visa, Mastercard and the girocard co-badged debit cards common in Germany, and traditional providers such as Payone and Nexi have long supported girocard. Look for girocard in the provider's list of accepted payment methods.
What terminal do I need for a market stall or food truck?
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Choose a standalone terminal with its own mobile data connection, such as SumUp Solo, myPOS Ultra or Mollie's Tap terminal, so you do not depend on phone tethering or venue Wi-Fi. A long battery life and a front-facing contactless reader help at busy stalls.
How fast do I get my money from card payments?
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It depends on the provider. myPOS promotes instant payouts to its own account, while most others pay out to your bank account within one to a few business days. Faster payouts sometimes require the provider's business account.
For most small businesses in Germany, SumUp or PayPal's reader is the easiest place to start, with no monthly fee and quick setup. myPOS and Viva.com add fast payouts and a business account, Mollie and Stripe suit shops that also sell online, and Nexi or Payone are worth a quote once your card turnover grows. Whichever you choose, test the device at your actual counter or stall before you roll it out.
How we research: We compare each product on the same criteria, using makers’ documentation, independent reviews and owner feedback, and re-check the list when products change.
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Bitezine Editorial Team
Rankings, reviews & guides
Our editors research every piece from makers’ documentation, independent tests and owner reports, and update it when products change.
