Lopay Card Reader Fees UK: Full Cost Guide

By Olivia Johnson - Trusted UK Business Expert

Last Updated 2nd of October 2026

8 minute read

Lopay is known for low card payment fees and simple pricing for UK businesses. But the final cost can change based on your payout plan, card type and how you take payments.

This guide explains Lopay card reader fees in simple terms. It covers transaction fees, reader costs, extra charges and the main Lopay account options.

Lopay card reader fees start at 0.79% per UK consumer Visa or Mastercard payment. Other plans charge 0.99% or 1.79%, based on payout speed. The first Lopay card reader costs £35 plus £6.95 delivery. Extra fees can apply to Amex, international cards and other payment types.

The lowest rate may not always be the best choice for every business. Below, we explain each Lopay fee and show how much you could pay at different sales levels.

Want to understand Lopay Card Reader Fees and compare your options with other UK card machine providers? Click the link below to compare free, no-obligation quotes and find a suitable deal for your business.

Lopay Card Reader Fees UK: Full Cost Guide

Lopay is a UK card payment service aimed at small firms, sole traders and mobile businesses. It lets a business take chip and PIN, contactless and mobile wallet payments.

The main Lopay card reader is a small Bluetooth device. It works with the Lopay app on a phone or tablet. Customers can pay using cards, Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Lopay has no standard monthly account fee for its main payment plans. Instead, the business pays a percentage of each card payment.

The key point is that Lopay fees depend on how fast you want money paid into your bank account.

As of September 2026, Lopay has three main UK account options:

These rates apply to standard UK personal Visa and Mastercard payments.

This makes Lopay different from some card machine firms that use one fixed transaction rate. Lopay lets you choose between a lower payment fee and faster access to your money. You can also compare Lopay vs SumUp to see how their card reader fees and costs differ.

Lopay Essential Account Fees

The Essential account charges 0.79% per standard UK consumer Visa or Mastercard transaction.

This is Lopay’s lowest main transaction rate.

Money is normally paid from your Lopay balance to your bank each week. The normal weekly payout is on Thursday.

This option may suit a business that does not need card sales paid into its bank every day.

For example, imagine a small barber takes £5,000 of qualifying card payments in one month.

At 0.79%, the basic transaction fees would be:

£5,000 × 0.79% = £39.50

If the same business took £10,000, the basic fee would be:

£10,000 × 0.79% = £79

This low percentage can make a large difference as card sales grow.

Lopay Standard Account Fees

The Standard account charges 0.99% for standard UK consumer Visa and Mastercard payments.

The rate is slightly higher than the Essential account. In return, the business gets more choice over when money is sent to its bank.

Scheduled payouts can be set around the needs of the business.

For £5,000 of eligible monthly card sales:

£5,000 × 0.99% = £49.50

For £10,000:

£10,000 × 0.99% = £99

The difference between 0.79% and 0.99% may look small. However, it becomes more important as monthly card turnover rises.

For £10,000 in payments, the difference is £20.

For £100,000 in payments, it would be £200, assuming all sales qualify for the standard rate.

Lopay Instant to Bank Fees

Businesses that need faster access to their money can use Lopay’s Instant to Bank account.

The standard UK consumer Visa and Mastercard transaction rate is 1.79%.

Funds can be sent to the linked bank account quickly, including outside normal banking hours when the service is available.

This may help businesses where cash flow is more important than getting the lowest possible transaction rate.

At £5,000 of standard card sales, the basic fee would be:

£5,000 × 1.79% = £89.50

At £10,000:

£10,000 × 1.79% = £179

Businesses should also be aware of the minimum fee rules that can apply to instant payouts.

The main lesson is simple: faster access to cash can cost more.

How Much Does a Lopay Card Reader Cost?

The card reader itself is separate from Lopay’s transaction fees.

The first Lopay Bluetooth card reader currently costs:

£35 + £6.95 postage and packaging

This gives a total upfront cost of:

£41.95

The reduced £35 reader price applies to the first reader when ordered through the Lopay app after the required account checks.

Additional card readers cost:

£49 + £6.95 postage and packaging

That gives a normal total of:

£55.95 per additional reader

The standard reader is a WisePad 3 Bluetooth card reader.

It must connect to the Lopay app to process card payments. This means a phone or tablet is also needed.

There is no normal monthly rental charge for this small Bluetooth reader.

Lopay Business Terminal Cost

Lopay also offers a larger Business Terminal.

This may be better for shops, cafés, restaurants and other firms that take payments from a fixed counter.

The Business Terminal can be rented for around:

£15 per month

The rental option comes with its own terms, so a business should check the contract period before ordering.

A one-off purchase option may also be available at around £270 plus postage and packaging.

The Business Terminal may cost more than the basic Bluetooth reader, but it can make sense for firms that need a more complete countertop payment device.

Example Lopay Costs By Card Turnover

Here is a simple example using standard UK consumer Visa and Mastercard sales only.

These figures show why businesses should look at yearly cost rather than only the percentage shown on an advert.

Checking typical transaction fees can also help you see how Lopay compares with other UK card machines.

A difference of just 0.20 percentage points can become hundreds of pounds when a firm processes large sums.

What Extra Lopay Fees Should UK Businesses Know?

The headline transaction fee does not cover every possible type of payment.

Some cards and payment methods cost more.

Understanding these charges is important when comparing Lopay card reader fees. You can also learn how card machine fees work before comparing different providers.

American Express Fees

American Express payments have an additional 1% charge.

For example, a business on the Essential 0.79% rate could pay a higher total percentage when the customer uses an American Express card.

This matters more for businesses where Amex use is common, such as hotels, travel firms and some professional services.

International Card Fees

An international card can also add 1% to the normal transaction rate.

A business in a tourist area may therefore pay more than a firm that mainly serves local UK customers.

Hotels, restaurants, gift shops and tourist attractions should pay close attention to this cost.

Corporate Card Fees

Corporate cards can also carry an additional 1% fee.

These extra fees can be cumulative.

For example, a payment could fall into more than one premium card group. If this happens, more than one additional charge may apply.

This is why your true average payment fee may be higher than the headline 0.79% rate.

Tap to Pay Fees

Lopay also offers Tap to Pay.

It lets a compatible smartphone take contactless payments without a separate card reader.

There is no reader to buy, but an additional 8p per transaction applies on top of the normal account transaction fee.

For small payments, that fixed 8p can have a bigger effect.

For example, 8p is a very small part of a £100 sale. It is a much larger share of a £3 coffee.

Businesses with many low-value sales should therefore compare Tap to Pay costs carefully.

Payment Link Fees

Lopay Payment Links let customers pay remotely through a payment link.

An additional 0.49% per transaction applies.

Subscription Links also have an extra 0.49% fee.

This can be useful for firms that need to collect payments without the customer being present.

MOTO Payment Fees

Mail Order Telephone Order, or MOTO, payments allow eligible businesses to take card details when a customer is not physically present.

Lopay charges an additional 0.49% per transaction for MOTO payments.

MOTO is available through the Business Terminal rather than the standard Bluetooth card reader.

Xero Payment Fees

Businesses using Lopay with Xero payment links should also allow for extra processing costs.

The additional charge is currently 0.29% plus 10p per transaction.

This should be included when comparing the cost of taking invoice payments.

Chargebacks

A chargeback happens when a cardholder disputes a payment.

Lopay lists a £20 chargeback administration fee.

Chargebacks may be rare for many firms, but businesses with higher dispute levels should include this risk in their payment costs.

Which Lopay Plan Is Cheapest for Your Business?

The cheapest Lopay plan depends on both card turnover and cash flow.

If keeping fees low is your main goal, the Essential account is usually the simplest place to start because its standard rate is 0.79%. It is also worth comparing the cheapest card processing fees from other UK providers before you choose.

However, you must be happy to wait for the normal weekly bank payout.

The Standard account costs 0.99%. It may suit firms that want more control over scheduled payouts without moving to the 1.79% Instant to Bank rate.

Instant to Bank may suit firms that need fast access to cash.

Think about a busy restaurant.

It may have to buy food, pay staff and meet other costs throughout the week. Faster access to card takings could have real value.

A part-time mobile hairdresser may have different needs. If they can wait for a weekly payout, paying the higher instant rate may not make sense.

When comparing plans, ask:

• How much do we take by card each month?
• How quickly do we need the money?
• How many customers use Amex?
• Do we serve many overseas customers?
• Do customers use company cards?
• Do we need payment links?
• Will we use Tap to Pay?
• Do we need one reader or several?
• Do we take payments over the phone?

Do not choose a card reader based on the headline fee alone.

The best option is the one with the lowest total cost for the way your business actually takes payments.

Are Lopay Card Reader Fees Good Value?

Lopay can be attractive to UK small businesses because the basic rate starts at 0.79% and there is no standard monthly account fee on its main plans.

There is also no long contract for the basic Bluetooth card reader.

This may make Lopay useful for sole traders, small shops, market sellers, tradespeople, barbers, salons, cafés and other small firms.

However, the cheapest rate comes with slower bank payouts.

Extra costs can also apply for premium cards, international cards, Tap to Pay and remote payments.

This means a business should calculate its expected average fee before choosing.

A simple way is to review one month of card sales. Check the total sales value, average transaction size and types of cards customers use.

Then estimate the cost under each Lopay plan.

For example, saving 0.20% may not seem important on £1,000 of sales. On £50,000 of sales, the same difference equals £100.

Over 12 months, that becomes £1,200.

Small percentage differences can therefore have a big effect on growing businesses.

Key Lopay Costs at a Glance

• Essential: 0.79% for eligible UK consumer Visa and Mastercard payments
• Standard: 0.99% for eligible UK consumer Visa and Mastercard payments
• Instant to Bank: 1.79% for eligible UK consumer Visa and Mastercard payments
• First card reader: £35 + £6.95 P&P
• Extra reader: £49 + £6.95 P&P
• Tap to Pay: normal fee + 8p
• Amex: additional 1%
• International cards: additional 1%
• Corporate cards: additional 1%
• Payment Links: additional 0.49%
• Subscription Links: additional 0.49%
• MOTO: additional 0.49%
• Chargeback administration: £20

Fees and product terms can change. Businesses should always check the latest price shown when opening an account or ordering equipment.

Lopay may offer low fees, but it is still worth comparing card machine options before you choose.

Different providers can have different transaction rates, reader prices, payout times and contract terms.

Compare Lopay Card Reader Fees with other UK card machine providers before you decide. Click the link below to explore free, no-obligation quotes and find a payment option that works for your business.

FAQ

How much does Lopay charge per transaction in the UK?

Lopay card payment fees start at 0.79% per transaction on the Essential account for eligible UK consumer Visa and Mastercard payments. The Standard rate is 0.99%, while Instant to Bank is 1.79%. Extra fees can apply to some cards and payment methods.

Does Lopay have a monthly fee?

Lopay does not charge a standard monthly account fee for its main Essential, Standard or Instant to Bank plans. The basic Bluetooth card reader also has no monthly rental fee. The separate Business Terminal can have a monthly rental charge.

How much does a Lopay card reader cost?

The first Lopay Bluetooth card reader costs £35 plus £6.95 postage and packaging when the discounted reader is ordered through the app. This makes the upfront total £41.95. Additional readers normally cost £49 plus postage and packaging.

Does Lopay charge more for American Express cards?

Yes. American Express payments have an additional 1% fee. International cards and corporate cards can also add 1% each. These extra charges may be combined where more than one category applies to the same card.

Is Lopay cheaper for small businesses?

Lopay can be low-cost for some small businesses because standard card fees start at 0.79% and there is no normal monthly account fee. However, the cheapest plan has weekly bank payouts. The best value depends on card turnover, card types, payout needs and how customers pay.

Before choosing a card machine, compare Lopay Card Reader Fees with other UK payment providers. Click the button below to explore your options and see which card machine deal could offer better value for your business.