What is a payment terminal? How card machines work
By SendPay Business · · 2 min read
- 1Your card appears in your app
- 2Tap it to pay in a shop
- 3See every payment as it happens
A payment terminal, or card machine, is the device a customer taps, inserts or swipes their card on to pay in person. It reads the card securely and sends the payment for approval.
The main types
- Countertop terminals connected to a till or the internet.
- Portable terminals that move around a shop or restaurant.
- Mobile card readers that pair with a phone or tablet.
- Tap to pay apps that turn a phone into a reader.
How a payment goes through
The terminal reads the card, asks the card issuer to approve the payment through the card scheme, and shows the result in seconds. The money reaches the business later, when the payment settles.
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Colour
What it does
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What they cost
Costs can include buying or renting the device, a fee on each payment, and sometimes a monthly charge. Compare the total over a year, not just the headline rate.
Where SendPay fits
SendPay does not sell card machines. For businesses that don't need one, SendPay platforms include payment links and invoicing under your own brand, powered by licensed partners.
How it works
Your own money app- 1Name it and pick your colours
- 2Choose what it does
- 3Launch when you are ready
Why sign up
Create your free SendPay account
It's all about creating your own financial platform with ease. Start with a free account today.
- 🪪A free business accountOpen it in about a minute with your business name, email, password and mobile. No card and no documents to start.
- 💳Get paid from day oneTake card payments, and share your own payment link and invoices so customers pay in a click.
- 🌐A free business websiteFree to build, free to publish and free to keep, with unlimited visits.
- 🚀Your own financial platformDesign and preview your whole platform free, then launch when you are ready.
SendPay Business is a technology company, not a bank. Accounts, cards and payments are powered by licensed partners.
Questions people ask
How do I compare card machine deals?
Put both deals and your takings into the free calculator to see the yearly cost.
Card machine cost calculator →Read next
Spotted a mistake or something out of date? and we'll fix it. How our guides are made
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. SendPay Business is a technology company, not a bank, and does not take deposits; regulated services on the platforms are provided by licensed partners. Other companies named in this guide are reference points only and are not affiliated with SendPay Business.