What is tap to pay on a phone? Taking cards without a card machine
By SendPay Business · · 2 min read
Tap to pay on a phone, sometimes called SoftPOS, turns a compatible smartphone into a contactless card reader. The customer taps their card or phone on the seller's phone, and a payment provider's app processes it, with no separate card machine.
How it works
- The seller signs up with a payment provider that supports tap to pay and installs its app.
- They enter the amount, and the customer taps a contactless card or phone wallet on the seller's phone.
- The provider approves the payment and pays the money out to the seller's account.
What you need
A recent phone with NFC that the provider supports, the provider's app, and an account with that provider. Fees are usually a percentage of each payment.
The limits
It only takes contactless payments, so there's no chip and PIN slot. Bigger payments may need the customer to confirm on their own device, and not every phone model is supported.
Other ways to get paid without a card machine
SendPay doesn't sell card machines or tap to pay apps. SendPay platforms let businesses send payment links and invoices that customers pay on their own phone, under your own brand and powered by licensed partners.
Build it
Create your own financial platform.
Pick a template, name it, brand it, preview every page before you pay. Your brand, your users, your fees.
Build my platform →Questions people ask
What does a card machine really cost?
Compare two deals on price, fees and monthly charges.
Card machine cost calculator →Read next
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. PayPal, Patreon and Substack are named as reference points only and are not affiliated with SendPay Business.