Card terminal for a business: how to choose
Updated
In short (16 October 2026): The lowest effective card fee without a monthly fee (on a €25.00 purchase) is 1.49%: SumUp; cheapest card reader €39.00: SumUp (Solo Lite), myPOS (myPOS Go 2). Full comparison: card terminal comparison.
Contents
Prices and cost calculator: compare all providers and calculate your own cost on the page Card terminal comparison. This guide explains what is worth understanding when you choose.
Choosing a card terminal is not just about the price of the device. The cost is made up of the device, the monthly fee, the percentage and fixed fee on card payments and how and to which account the money is settled. Below is an extract of the comparison, and the full table can be sorted on the comparison page.
| Provider | Domestic cards | Monthly fee | Device | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revolut Business | 0.80% + €0.02 | €10.00 | from €139.00 | prices excl. VAT; Not suitable for sole traders; Requires a Revolut Business subscription (Basic, €10.00/month) |
| Nets (Nexi) | 1.00% | €20.00 | rent included in the monthly fee | VAT basis not available; The monthly fee includes the terminal, do not add the rent separately |
| Worldline (Nordea) | 1.10% (fixed fee not available) | €29.90 | rent included in the monthly fee | VAT basis not available; The monthly fee includes the terminal, do not add the rent separately; Final price according to the quote |
| Stripe Terminal | 1.40% + €0.10 | €0 | from €59.00 | prices excl. VAT; Developer tool: requires an integration or a point-of-sale system |
| SumUp | 1.49% | €0 | from €39.00 | prices excl. VAT; 0.79% requires a Maksut Plus subscription (€19/month) |
| myPOS | 1.69% + €0.05 | €0 | from €39.00 | prices excl. VAT; Settlement first to a myPOS account; transfer to your own bank €4 per transfer |
| Viva.com (Viva Wallet) | 1.69% | €4.99 | from €49.00 | prices excl. VAT; Settlement to a Viva.com account with a Greek (GR) IBAN; transfer to your own bank €0.25 |
| Zettle (PayPal POS) | 1.95% | €0 | from €79.00 | prices excl. VAT; first reader €29 for new customers |
The table is an extract. Full comparison, sorting and cost calculator: card terminal comparison. The order is based only on the percentage for domestic cards, not on the total cost.
What should I compare when choosing a terminal?
- Card payment price: the percentage and any fixed fee on each payment. On small purchases the fixed fee weighs more, and on large sales the percentage.
- Monthly fee and device: with some providers the terminal is bought for a one-off price, and with others it is rented and the rent is included in the monthly fee, so it is not counted twice.
- Settlement: the money can come straight to the business account or first to the provider's own account, from which the transfer to your own bank account may cost money.
- Contract term and VAT: a fixed-term contract ties you in, and prices may be with or without VAT.
- Tap to Pay: you can take payments on a phone without a reader, but there is a restriction with Finnish cards, described in the comparison.
The terminal and card acquiring are different things
Through a bank, accepting cards requires both a payment solution and a card acquiring agreement. Many providers aimed at small businesses sell the device and card processing together. Read the guide MobilePay for business to see how accepting cards works and what the EU interchange fee caps mean.
Where should I start?
- Estimate your monthly card sales and average purchase.
- Enter them in the card terminal calculator.
- Check the terms, contract term and VAT basis on the chosen provider's page.
- Also compare the price of the business account, because the settlement usually ends up there.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Who offers a card terminal for a business?
In October 2026, Pankkitutka's comparison includes 8 card terminal providers: SumUp (1.49%, device from €39.00), Zettle (PayPal POS) (1.95%, device from €79.00), Nets (Nexi) (1.00%, device rent included in the monthly fee), Viva.com (Viva Wallet) (1.69%, device from €49.00), myPOS (1.69% + €0.05, device from €39.00), Revolut Business (0.80% + €0.02, device from €139.00), Stripe Terminal (1.40% + €0.10, device from €59.00) and Worldline (Nordea) (1.10% (fixed fee not available), device rent included in the monthly fee). Among business account providers, those offering their own terminal according to the data are Revolut Business and SumUp. The full comparison is on the card terminal comparison page.
Do I need a separate card acquiring agreement with a card terminal?
With some providers the device and card processing are sold together without a separate agreement. When you buy through a bank, you need both a payment solution and a card acquiring agreement. Check the terms with the provider.
What should I compare when choosing a card terminal?
The device price, monthly fee, the percentage and fixed fee on card payments, the settlement time and which account the money goes to. Also compare the VAT basis and the contract term.