Written by Tatiana Lebreton Reviewed by Oliver Simpson Updated on 13 April 2026 On this page How Much Does Barclaycard Cost? How Do Barclaycard's Card Machines Compare? Barclaycard Key Features How Is Barclaycard's Customer Support? What Kind of Business Is Barclaycard Best for? How Does Barclaycard Compare With Competitors? How Did We Review Barclaycard? Verdict: Is Barclaycard Right For You? FAQs Expand All providers have been tested by our Research team. By requesting a quote or clicking a link, we can match you with a potential supplier, and we may earn a small commission for this referral. Learn more. Barclaycard is a payment processing services provider operated by Barclays, making it a great option for small to medium businesses that already bank with Barclays.It offers five different card machines, and based on our research, its Smartpay Touch card machine stands out as one of the best card machines for small businesses, thanks to its intuitive EPOS features, touchscreen interface and ease of use.What sets Barclaycard apart from other providers is that it offers both contract-based and contract-free options and a low fixed transaction fee of 1.6% or custom fees depending on business card turnover. This versatility makes it suitable for a wide range of businesses, from established retail stores and cafés, to seasonal vendors and tradespeople. Barclaycard Review: Key Takeaways Flexible card machines: Barclaycard offers five card machines, with options ranging from contract-free to monthly rental, suitable for both in-store and on-the-go payments.Low fees: In-person transaction fees start at a fixed 1.6% for businesses under £100,000 annual card turnover, with custom fees for larger businesses.Payment options: Barclaycard supports contactless, chip and PIN, and mobile wallet payments, though it lacks tap-to-pay via mobile app.Security: Fully PCI compliant and ISO 27001 certified, Barclaycard includes fraud prevention monitoring, though PCI compliance fees apply.EPOS functionality: The Smartpay Touch provides basic EPOS features like product listings, stock management, and sales reporting, while other machines integrate with third-party EPOS systems.Trusted provider: Barclaycard is operated by Barclays, making it a secure and reliable option for businesses that already bank with Barclays.Read on to learn if Barclaycard is a good option for your business, based on our research and testing across five main areas of investigation — hardware, software, pricing, ease of use, and help and support options — and 23 subcategories.Jump down to our methodology section to learn more about the way we research and review providers like Barclaycard. Barclaycard 4.6 Fees 1.6% or custom Get Quotes Suitable for Businesses who bank with Barclays and need to take in-person payments Owners that want to minimise upfront costs Businesses that want active fraud monitoring Not suitable for Merchants who don't want to bank with Barclays Owners that want to integrate a full EPOS till system Businesses that need offline payments Pricing See more See less Card machine nameCard machine costsTransaction feeMonthly account fee Barclaycard Flex £15/month + VAT 1.6% or custom None Smartpay Anywhere £29 + VAT (one-off cost) 1.6% or custom None Smartpay Touch £29/month + VAT 1.6% or custom None How Much Does Barclaycard Cost?Barclaycard’s pricing is built around its card machines. It offers five card machines, four of which come with contracts and monthly rental fees, and one of which is contract-free and can be purchased upfront:Card machineHardware priceTransaction feeContract lengthBarclaycard Flex£15 + VAT/month1.6% or custom18 monthsSmartpay Touch£29 + VAT/month1.6% or custom12 monthsSmartpay Anywhere£29 + VAT one-off fee1.6% or customNo contractBarclaycard Countertop£16 + VAT/monthCustom18 monthsBarclaycard Portable£18 + VAT/monthCustom18 monthsFixed transaction fees for smaller businesses: All businesses that receive less than £100,000 in annual card turnover pay a fixed in-person transaction fee of 1.6%. Businesses that earn above that amount get access to custom transaction fees, which will likely be lower than the advertised fixed fee.Custom rates for larger businesses: Barclaycard offers bespoke transaction rates for higher-volume merchants making over £100,000 annually. This makes it a strong option for established businesses looking to negotiate better rates as they scale.Affordable fees: Barclaycard’s fixed transaction fee is below the national average of 1.75%, and less than what other competitors with fixed fees charge, such as Square (1.75%) or SumUp (1.69%). However, competitor Tyl by NatWest charges an even lower fee of 1.39% + £0.05.Card machine pricing: When we look at rental fees, Barclaycard’s cheapest card machine, the £15 per month Flex, costs less per month than Worldpay’s cheapest machine (£20 per month), but more than Tyl by NatWest’s (£9.99 per month). The only card machine Barclaycard sells upfront, the £29 Smartpay Anywhere, costs less than a lot of competitors. SumUp’s cheapest card machine costs £25, while Revolut’s costs £49.Does Barclaycard have any hidden fees?Barclaycard has a few hidden fees. These include:PCI compliance: Barclaycard charges between £4.80 and £15 + VAT per month.Account fee: Pay-as-you-go businesses are likely to pay nothing, while those on a contract could be subject to a small fee.Added features: Businesses that choose to use other payment processing services, such as an online payment gateway or virtual terminal, are likely to pay monthly fees and higher transaction fees than they would for in-person payments.If you prefer a provider that’s upfront about all its payment processing products, we recommend Square or Worldpay. You can also see our recommendations for the best online payment systems if your business is ecommerce focused.Barclaycard’s hidden fees are quite standard for a mainly contract-based provider, and competitors takepayments and Worldpay charge similar fees.There are also things you don’t pay for with Barclaycard. For example, Barclaycard doesn’t charge contract cancellation fees, and it covers up to £3,000 of your exit fees when you switch to Barclaycard from another provider. How Do Barclaycard’s Card Machines Compare?Barclaycard offers five card machines, all of which come with Wi-Fi and 4G connectivity, meaning they can be used within an establishment and on the go. It’s rare for a provider to offer 4G connectivity on all its card machines (SumUp and Tyl only offer it on one), making Barclaycard well-suited to businesses that operate outside of Wi-Fi networks.The Barclaycard Flex and the Smartpay Touch, come with monthly rental fees, ranging from £15 to £29 per month + VAT, while the Smartpay Anywhere can be purchased upfront for £29 + VAT.The Countertop (£16 per month + VAT) and Portable (£18 per month + VAT) also come with monthly fees and an 18-month contract, offering additional flexibility for businesses needing portable or semi-mobile payment solutions.Feature / Card MachineBarclaycard FlexSmartpay TouchSmartpay AnywhereBarclaycard CountertopBarclaycard PortableImagePrice£15/month + VAT£29/month + VAT£29 one-off + VAT£16/month + VAT£18/month + VATContract length18 months12 monthsZero contract18 months18 monthsConnectivityBluetooth, Wi-Fi, 4GWi-Fi, 4GWi-Fi, 4GWi-Fi, 4GWi-Fi, 4GKey featuresLarge PIN pad, built-in receipt printer, accepts contactless and chip and PIN, no online portal, integrates with third-party EPOSTouchscreen, built-in receipt printer, accepts contactless and chip and PIN, mini EPOS (product listings, stock, appointments, sales reporting)Compact with button PIN pad, accepts contactless and chip and PIN, connects to online portal, no receipt printerPortable terminal for counter/customer-side payments, plug-and-play, secure card acceptance, next-day settlementCompact, accepts contactless and chip and PIN, connects to online portal, portable for on-the-go useBest forBusinesses that only need a simple card reader and use third-party EPOSSmall retailers, cafés, service providers needing basic EPOS featuresTradespeople, seasonal vendors, market sellers, or new businesses needing flexibilityRestaurants, pop-up stalls, mobile sales teams, or businesses that want checkout closer to customersBusinesses needing mobility and flexibility with a reliable card machine at a fixed monthly cost Our experience using the Smartpay Touch We tested Barclaycard’s Smartpay Touch EPOS card machine to see if it was worth the money.In general, we found it easy to use and navigate and appreciated that we were able to categorise products, which sped up order processing by making them easy to find.We also found the card machine relatively light and easy to hold, despite its size, which wasn’t the case for all the large card machines we tested (Square and Dojo equivalents were less ergonomic). This quality makes it well suited to both counter service and table service.However, there were aspects we didn’t like about the Smartpay Touch. For one, we found the refund process a little convoluted. There were a lot of steps to complete, including selecting a refund reason, and noting whether the refund was partial or full. This made us worry that already unhappy customers might lose patience.Additionally, we found the Smartpay Touch’s touchscreen a little unresponsive, especially compared with competitors like SumUp or Square. This meant we often had to click twice on a function and slowed down our work. What Are Barclaycard’s Key Features?Barclaycard provides a range of payment options, EPOS integrations, reporting features and security safeguards. In this section, we break down which key software features you can access when using Barclaycard.Payment options: Barclaycard card machines accept a range of payment options, including contactless and chip and PIN payments from Visa, Mastercard and Amex, as well as mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay. Additional products, including an online payment gateway, virtual terminal and invoicing tool, are also available separately. However, unlike providers such as Square or Tyl by NatWest, Barclaycard does not offer tap-to-pay via its mobile app.EPOS integration: Barclaycard offers a handheld EPOS device, the Smartpay Touch, which comes with basic EPOS features such as product listings. While it doesn’t offer a fully-fledged native EPOS system, including hardware and software, Barclaycard card machines can integrate with top EPOS providers like Epos Now and Touch Bistro.Reporting: While Barclaycard’s cheapest option, the Barclaycard Flex, doesn’t come with any reporting tools, the Smartpay Touch and Smartpay Anywhere both come with an array of reporting tools, including daily sales reports, reports on best-selling items and employee performance, and reports on discount success. Barclaycard offers more reporting tools than competitors Tyl by NatWest and Stripe. However, takepayments, Worldpay and Square offer similar features.Security and compliance: Barclaycard is fully PCI compliant, and has an ISO 27001 certificate, which means Barclaycard meets some of the highest international data security standards. (However, unlike providers like Tyl by NatWest it charges businesses between £4.80 and £15 per month for the features). Barclaycard also has excellent fraud prevention measures, with a dedicated fraud prevention team that monitors all transactions and flags suspicious activity 24/7. How Is Barclaycard’s Customer Support?Barclaycard’s customer support could be improved. While it offers a customer support phone line and email address, live support is only available from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.Most Barclaycard competitors offer live customer support on the weekend as well, such as takepayments and Tyl by NatWest, while some even offer 24/7 support, such as Worldpay. This works out better for retailers and other service workers, whose busiest times are usually on the weekends. What Kind of Business Is Barclaycard Best For?Barclaycard is best suited to small and medium-sized businesses, particularly those already banking with Barclays, while businesses that need an all-in-one EPOS system, fast omnichannel setup, or fully transparent, pay-as-you-go pricing may be best opting for a competitor.Learn more about which types of businesses Barclaycard is best for below.Barclaycard is ideal for:Small to medium businesses banking with Barclays – If you’re an existing Barclays customer, Barclaycard offers a seamless extension of your banking setup, making payments and account management more straightforward under one provider.Startups and new in-person sellers – With contract-free options available, newer businesses can get started with Barclaycard without long-term commitments. This makes the platform better suited to new sellers than providers that only offer longer-term agreements, such as Worldpay or takepayments.Established cafés, retail shops and service providers – Businesses with steady in-person transactions can benefit from custom transaction rates and more tailored plans as they grow. Compared with the flat fees offered by providers like Square and PayPal, this offers a more cost-effective way to bring down costs over time.Barclaycard is not ideal for:Businesses needing an all-in-one EPOS system – Unlike providers like Clover and Square, Barclaycard doesn’t offer a built-in EPOS solution. This makes the system less ideal for businesses looking to utilise integrated payments, inventory and sales tracking in one system.Online-first or omnichannel businesses – If you want to quickly set up online, over-the-phone and in-person payments in one place, Barclaycard can feel more limited than many competitors. Providers like Worldpay and takepayments are stronger here, as they offer full omnichannel solutions.Businesses after transparent pricing – Since some of Barclaycard’s services require quotes and contracts, it may not appeal to those who prefer quick sign-up and clear, upfront fees. Simpler, pay-as-you-go providers like Square or PayPal may be a better fit, offering flat-rate pricing and simple rates. How Does Barclaycard Compare With Competitors?Based on our in-depth research, Barclaycard sits somewhere in the middle of the UK payments market, offering more flexibility than traditional providers like Worldpay and takepayments, but fewer built-in features than all-in-one platforms like Square and Clover.One of its biggest advantages is its mix of pricing options, including both fixed and custom transaction rates, which makes it suitable for a wider range of businesses. However, unlike Square and Clover, it doesn’t offer a fully integrated EPOS system with tools like inventory management, staff tracking, and built-in reporting.Square, in particular, stands out for its all-in-one ecosystem, combining payments, POS, and even a free online store, making it a stronger choice than Barclaycard for omnichannel businesses.Learn more about the user-friendly payment processing service in our in-depth Square review.Barclaycard offers a similar contract-based approach to providers like Worldpay and takepayments. Yet, Worldpay is often better suited to larger or high-volume businesses that can negotiate lower bespoke rates, while takepayments is known for competitive pricing and strong customer support for smaller merchants.Barclaycard strikes a balance between the two — making it a strong option for established businesses that want a trusted provider with adaptable pricing. 0 out of 0 backward forward Monthly fee Hardware cost Transaction fee Native EPOS system? Contract length Invoicing tool Barclaycard takepayments Worldpay Clover Square Tyl by NatWest Custom (from £15) Custom (£0-£20/month) Custom (£15-£40/month depending on contract) From £0/month None None From £15/month + VAT From £25 + VAT/month From £17.50 + VAT/month Contact for quote From £19 + VAT From £13.99/month 1.6% or bespoke Custom (0.3%-2.5% depending on card and sales volume) Custom (0.75%–3% depending on card and transaction volume) Custom (as low as 0.2%) 1.75% in-person1.4% + £0.25 online2.5% keyed-in and invoices 1.39% + £0.05 – 1.99% + £0.05 or custom rates 12 months 12 months 18 months Zero contract and up to 4-year contract options Zero contract Zero contract and 12-month options How Did We Review Barclaycard?To bring you our reviews, we tested and researched 18 payment services providers, assessing them across five main areas of investigation and 23 subcategories. These included ease of use, the quality and feel of hardware, and the price of products and services.Here’s what we looked at:Hardware: We looked at the size, weight and portability of the card machines they offer, and assessed their connectivity, interface, receipt printing and battery life.Software: We tallied up how many payment types and methods each provider accepts, looked at payout times, reporting and security features, EPOS functionality, and what systems they integrate with.Pricing: We compared monthly fees, card machine costs, transaction fees and contract lengths against the features of each payment services provider, to determine the value for money of each.Ease of use: We had several different average users test each card machine and payment processing system to see how intuitive each one was to use, and how quickly everyday tasks could be completed.Help and support: We assessed providers based on how many different channels of support they offered, and how available and responsive the support team was.We then gave each provider an overall score based on how well they fared in the above assessment categories. Verdict: Is Barclaycard Right For You? Barclaycard offers businesses flexibility, thanks to its range of contract-based and contract-free card machine rental plans. Its low fixed transaction fee of 1.6% and its custom fees for sellers with a high annual card turnover make it suitable for both new and established businesses.It’s an especially good option for businesses that already bank with Barclays, and want to use a trusted banking service as their payment processing provider.Specifically, the Smartpay Touch card machine is ideal for retailers, cafés and service providers who need basic EPOS features without investing in a full system, while the contract-free Smartpay Anywhere is perfect for tradespeople, seasonal vendors and casual sellers who value flexibility and low upfront costs.However, Barclaycard is less suitable for businesses that need a fully integrated EPOS system and an omnichannel set-up than providers like Square, Clover and Worldpay.If you’re not sure if Barclaycard is ideal for your business, use our free quote tool. Through it, we can match you with trusted suppliers that will then contact you with custom quotes. Our site is reader-supported. Some featured providers are our partners, so we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through our site. This is at no extra cost to our readers, and this doesn’t affect the independence of our reviews. Whether or not we have a partnership with a company does not affect our rating and review of the service. FAQs How do I raise a merchant dispute on Barclaycard? You can raise a merchant dispute on Barclaycard by contacting its Disputes Team on 0800 008 008 or by emailing the case to GCPDisputes@barclaycard.co.uk. If you choose the latter, you must include your surname and the last 12 digits of your card number in the email subject line. What are Barclaycard’s transaction fees for small businesses? Barclaycard keeps things simple for small businesses, offering a fixed in-person transaction fee of 1.6 % on card payments, a rate that’s competitive and slightly below the UK average. This applies to businesses with annual card turnover under £100,000, making it a predictable option for startups, cafés, and independent retailers.For businesses processing over £100,000 in card payments per year, Barclaycard offers custom transaction rates, often lower than the standard 1.6 %, tailored to your sales volume. Does Barclaycard offer a card machine with no monthly contract? Yes, Barclaycard does offer a card machine with no monthly contract. The Smartpay Anywhere device can be purchased upfront for a one-off cost (typically around £29 + VAT) with zero ongoing rental fees or contract commitments. This makes it a strong option for casual sellers, tradespeople, market vendors or new businesses that want flexible, low‑cost card acceptance without being tied into a long‑term agreement. Written by: Tatiana Lebreton Senior Grow Online & Business Software Expert Tatiana is Expert Market's resident payments and online growth expert, specialising in (E)POS and merchant accounts, as well as website builders. Reviewed by: Oliver Simpson Senior Research Executive After three years in operational B2B data analysis, Oliver became a business insight specialist in 2022 and now focuses full-time on understanding small business preferences and needs. He blends his quantitative skills, forged by his experience working as a law enforcement researcher, with qualitative exploration, to ensure robust and nuanced results.