Does Lopay Card Reader Have Monthly Fees?
Last Updated 2nd of October 2026
7 minute readIf you are thinking about using Lopay, monthly costs are one of the first things to check. The good news is that the standard Lopay Card Reader does not have a monthly fee, so it can suit small UK businesses that want simple card payments without a regular device charge.
The standard Lopay Card Reader has no monthly fee or minimum-term contract. You pay a one-off cost for the reader, plus transaction fees when customers pay by card. Lopay’s separate Business Terminal can have a monthly rental fee.
There are still other costs to understand before you choose Lopay. Below, we explain the card reader price, transaction fees, optional charges and how to work out whether Lopay is good value for your business.
Thinking about using Lopay for your business? Click the link below to compare free, no-obligation card machine quotes and see how other UK providers compare on fees, features and overall value.
Does Lopay Card Reader Have Monthly Fees?
The standard Lopay Card Reader does not have a monthly fee. This is one of the main points that can make it attractive to sole traders, start-ups and small businesses that do not want to pay for a card machine every month.
Instead of paying a regular rental charge for the standard reader, you normally buy the device. Lopay then charges you when you take card payments. This means your main ongoing cost is linked to the amount of card sales you process.
For many small businesses, this can make costs easier to understand. If you have a quiet month, you do not still have a monthly card reader rental charge to cover. If you have a busy month, your processing fees rise because you have taken more card payments.
This is different from some traditional card machine deals, where a business may pay monthly terminal rental as well as payment processing fees.
It is also important to know that Lopay offers more than one payment device. The small Bluetooth Lopay Card Reader is not the same as the Lopay Business Terminal. The Business Terminal is a larger Wi-Fi device and can be rented for a monthly fee. If you only want the standard Lopay Card Reader, the monthly terminal rental does not apply. For a wider look at the device, pricing and features, read our Lopay Card Machine Review.
Lopay Card Reader Costs at a Glance
| Cost | Standard Lopay Card Reader |
| Monthly reader fee | £0 |
| Setup fee | £0 |
| Monthly minimum charge | £0 |
| Contract for the reader | No minimum term |
| First reader | One-off device cost |
| Extra readers | One-off device cost |
| Card payments | Transaction fee applies |
| Refund fee | No separate refund fee |
| Optional payment tools | Extra fees may apply |
At the time of writing, Lopay lists the first Bluetooth Card Reader at £35 plus postage and packaging when it is ordered through the app after registration and identity checks. Additional readers cost more, so businesses that need several devices should include this in their budget.
These prices can change. Before ordering, always check the price shown in the Lopay app or at checkout.
Why No Monthly Fee Can Matter
A monthly card machine charge may look small, but it becomes a fixed business cost. For example, a £20 monthly charge is £240 over a year before any transaction fees are added.
With a card reader that has no monthly rental fee, the business avoids this fixed cost. That can be useful for:
- sole traders;
- mobile workers;
- market sellers;
- cafés with seasonal sales;
- barbers and salons;
- small shops;
- tradespeople;
- new businesses testing card payments;
- businesses that only take cards from time to time.
The benefit is not only about saving money. A no-monthly-fee model can also give a business more freedom. If you stop using the reader for a few weeks, there is no standard reader rental fee simply because the device is sitting unused.
However, no monthly fee does not mean card payments are free. You still need to look at transaction fees and any optional services you use.
What Fees Do You Pay With a Lopay Card Reader?
Lopay makes most of its payment income through transaction fees rather than a monthly charge on its standard card reader. A transaction fee is taken when a customer pays you.
The exact rate depends on the Lopay account and payout option you use. It can also help to compare typical card machine transaction fees across other UK providers.
Lopay currently offers three main pricing levels for standard UK personal Visa and Mastercard payments:
| Lopay account | Standard UK personal card fee | Typical payout style |
| Essential | 0.79% per transaction | Lower-cost scheduled payouts |
| Standard | 0.99% per transaction | Faster scheduled payouts |
| Instant to Bank | 1.79% per transaction | Faster access to funds |
The cheapest percentage is not always the best choice for every business. Your cash flow matters too.
A business that can wait longer for scheduled payouts may prefer the lower processing rate. A business that needs money quickly to buy stock, pay suppliers or cover daily costs may decide that a faster payout option is worth the higher fee.
A simple fee example
Imagine you take a £50 payment using a UK personal Visa or Mastercard.
At a 0.79% rate, the percentage fee is about 40p.
At a 0.99% rate, the percentage fee is about 50p.
At a 1.79% rate, the percentage fee is about 90p.
The real total can depend on the card type, payout choice and other services used.
This is why businesses should compare the total cost rather than focusing only on the words “no monthly fee”. You can also compare Lopay vs SumUp to see how their reader costs and payment fees differ.
Some cards can cost more
Extra charges can apply to some card types. Lopay lists added fees for American Express, international and corporate cards. These extra charges can also combine where more than one category applies.
This may matter if your business serves many tourists, business travellers or corporate customers.
A local barber that mainly accepts UK personal debit cards may have a different average payment cost from a central London hotel or business service company that takes many corporate and overseas cards.
The best way to judge the cost is to look at the types of cards your customers really use. You can also compare the cheapest card processing fees in the UK before choosing a provider.
Are There Any Other Lopay Fees to Know About?
Yes. The standard card reader has no monthly fee, but some optional Lopay services have extra charges.
This does not mean they are hidden fees. It means the cost can change depending on how you choose to take payments and receive your money.
Tap to Pay
Lopay offers Tap to Pay, which can let a compatible phone accept contactless payments without the Bluetooth card reader.
There is no card reader to buy for this method, but an extra 8p charge per transaction currently applies on top of the normal payment fee.
This can still be useful for a mobile worker who wants to travel with less equipment. It can also work as a backup option if the normal reader is not available.
Payment Links and Subscription Links
Businesses that take remote payments may use payment links. Lopay currently adds an extra 0.49% per transaction for Payment Links and Subscription Links.
A payment link can be useful when a customer is not standing in front of you. For example, a business may send a link for a deposit, booking or invoice.
The extra fee should be included when you compare remote payment costs.
Xero Payment Links
Businesses using Xero invoicing can also face an extra charge for payments made through the integration. This is separate from the normal card processing fee.
If your business sends many invoices each month, even a small extra charge can add up. Work out the cost using your normal invoice value and monthly payment volume.
Instant Payouts
Some payout choices can also cost more. Lopay offers different ways to move money to your bank, and unscheduled instant payout charges can apply depending on your account.
This is another reason to ask a simple question before choosing a pricing level:
“How quickly do I really need the money?”
If next-day or scheduled payouts meet your needs, you may not need to pay extra for faster access every time.
Chargebacks
A chargeback happens when a cardholder disputes a payment through their card provider. Lopay lists an administration fee for disputes or chargebacks.
Most businesses will not face chargebacks on every sale. Even so, it is a cost worth knowing about.
Good receipts, clear refund rules, accurate product descriptions and strong customer service can help reduce payment disputes.
Is Lopay Cheaper Without a Monthly Fee?
It can be, but the answer depends on how your business takes payments.
A no-monthly-fee reader is often attractive for businesses with low or changing card sales. You do not have to earn enough each month just to cover a terminal rental charge.
For example, imagine two payment options.
Option A has no monthly card reader fee but charges a percentage on each sale.
Option B charges £20 each month and also charges a transaction fee.
If you only take a small amount in card payments, the fixed £20 cost can have a large effect on your total payment cost. The no-monthly-fee option may be easier to justify.
But high-volume businesses should do more maths. A provider with a monthly charge could still be cheaper overall if its transaction rate is much lower for the cards you accept.
Compare the full yearly cost
Use this simple method:
Yearly payment cost = device or rental costs + transaction fees + optional service fees + payout fees + other expected charges
Do not compare providers using only one number.
A low reader price can be cancelled out by high transaction fees. A low transaction rate can be cancelled out by monthly rental, platform or minimum charges.
Your average transaction size matters as well.
A café taking hundreds of small card payments can have a different cost pattern from a builder taking a few large payments each week.
Look at Your Own Business Data
Before choosing a card reader, write down:
- your average monthly card sales;
- your average payment value;
- how many card payments you take;
- the main card types customers use;
- whether you take remote payments;
- how quickly you need payouts;
- how many readers you need;
- whether sales change by season.
This gives you a better comparison than simply asking which card reader has the lowest advertised rate.
Click the link below to compare card machine quotes for your UK business today.
FAQ
Does Lopay charge a monthly fee for its card reader?
No. The standard Lopay Bluetooth Card Reader does not have a monthly fee. You buy the reader and then pay transaction fees when you take card payments. Optional products and services can have extra charges.
How much does the Lopay Card Reader cost?
At the time of writing, the first Lopay Bluetooth Card Reader costs £35 plus postage and packaging when ordered through the app after the required account checks. Additional readers cost more. Prices and offers can change.
Does Lopay have any monthly charges at all?
The standard Lopay Card Reader does not have a monthly charge. However, Lopay also offers a separate Business Terminal. The Business Terminal can be rented for £15 per month under a rental plan. This is a different product from the standard Bluetooth reader.
What transaction fee does Lopay charge?
For standard UK personal Visa and Mastercard payments, Lopay currently lists rates from 0.79% per transaction, depending on the account and payout option. Higher rates and extra charges can apply to other card types or optional payment services.
Is a no-monthly-fee card reader best for a small business?
It can be a strong choice for a small business because it removes a fixed monthly reader cost. However, the best option depends on card sales, transaction size, card types, payout needs and extra services. Compare the total yearly cost before deciding.
Before choosing Lopay, it can help to compare your options. Click the button below to explore UK card machine deals and find a payment solution that suits your business needs and budget.