Best 5 Mobile ePOS Systems for Your Business

Mobile EPOS systems let you take payments and manage sales from a phone or tablet – no fixed counter, no bulky till. For businesses that operate on the move, at events, or across multiple locations, they’re essential.

The UK mobile POS market has matured significantly. Card readers cost £19-29, apps are free, and transaction fees sit at 1.69-1.75%. You can take your first contactless payment within an hour of signing up.

We’ve compared the five best mobile EPOS systems for UK businesses in 2026. Each works via smartphone or tablet, supports contactless and chip-and-PIN payments, and offers genuine portability for field-based, market, or multi-site businesses.

Whether you’re a mobile hairdresser, food truck operator, market trader, or tradesperson invoicing on-site, there’s a system here that fits your workflow.

Mobile EPOS Pricing Comparison

The best mobile EPOS systems charge £0/month with transaction fees of 1.69-1.75%. Hardware ranges from £19 for a basic reader to £169 for a standalone terminal with built-in screen.

Note: Clover Go requires a merchant account (quote-based pricing) – it’s not pay-as-you-go like SumUp or Square. See our full EPOS cost breakdown for detailed pricing.

SumUp leads the mobile EPOS market with purpose-built portable hardware. The Solo reader (£19) connects to your phone via Bluetooth for basic card acceptance. But SumUp’s real standout is the Solo Lite (£79) – a handheld terminal with its own touchscreen that works independently, no phone required.

For truly mobile businesses, that independence matters. Market traders, mobile caterers, and tradespeople don’t want to juggle a phone and a card reader. The Solo Lite handles everything: contactless, chip and PIN, Apple Pay, Google Pay – all through one pocket-sized device.

SumUp’s PAYG plan charges £0/month with a 1.69% transaction fee – the lowest in the UK mobile POS market. There are no contracts, no minimum terms, and no hidden charges. Funds settle in 1-2 business days.

The free POS app adds inventory management, product catalogues, and sales reporting. If you outgrow the basics, POS Plus (£29/month) adds employee management, table plans, and advanced analytics.

Square’s mobile EPOS app is the most feature-complete free option on the market. The Reader (£19) pairs with your iPhone or Android phone via Bluetooth, and the app handles everything else: inventory, invoicing, customer profiles, sales reports, and even a free online store.

Where Square excels over SumUp for mobile use is the software depth. You can create invoices on-site and email them to clients, manage appointments, and track customer purchase history – all from the app. For mobile service businesses (hairdressers, cleaners, personal trainers), this versatility is unmatched.

Square charges 1.75% per in-person transaction. The Reader costs £19 and accepts contactless, chip and PIN, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. For a more robust mobile setup, the Square Terminal (£149) has a built-in screen and receipt printer.

Tap to Pay on iPhone (no reader needed) launched in the UK, letting you accept contactless payments with just your phone. This is the cheapest possible mobile POS setup – literally £0 in hardware.

PayPal Zettle’s strength for mobile businesses is the PayPal ecosystem. Customers can pay via PayPal QR code, which is a genuine advantage at markets, festivals, and outdoor events where some customers don’t carry cards.

The Zettle Reader 2 costs £29 and connects to your phone via Bluetooth. It accepts contactless up to £100, chip and PIN, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Battery lasts around 8 hours of active use – enough for a full trading day.

The free app includes inventory management, sales reports, and tipping options. Zettle charges 1.75% per in-person transaction. Funds arrive in your bank account next business day, which is faster than most competitors’ 1-2 day standard.

For mobile businesses also selling online, Zettle integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, and Xero. This means your in-person and online sales data sync automatically – no manual reconciliation.

Clover Go is a pocket-sized card reader that pairs with the Clover app on your phone. It targets businesses that start mobile but plan to scale into a fixed location – because Clover’s full hardware range (Mini, Flex, Station) uses the same software ecosystem.

The reader accepts contactless, chip and PIN, and mobile wallets. Transaction fees start from 1.49% – potentially lower than SumUp and Square, though rates are quote-based and depend on your business type and volume.

Clover’s app is more business-focused than the pay-as-you-go competitors. Employee management, customer engagement tools, and detailed reporting come included. The trade-off is that Clover requires a merchant account, which means a credit check and contract.

For mobile businesses planning to eventually open a shop, café, or salon, Clover Go makes sense as a starting point. Your product catalogue, customer data, and sales history transfer seamlessly when you upgrade to countertop hardware.

Shopify POS is the mobile EPOS component of Shopify’s e-commerce platform. If you already sell online through Shopify, the POS app lets you take in-person payments with the same product catalogue, inventory, and customer data – no duplication needed.

The POS app is included with every Shopify subscription (from £19/month on Basic). Transaction fees are 1.7% on Basic, dropping to 1.5% on Advanced (£259/month). You’ll need a third-party card reader like the WisePad 3.

For existing Shopify merchants doing pop-ups, markets, or showroom sales, this is the obvious choice. Your online and in-person inventory syncs in real time, so you never oversell. Customer purchase history combines both channels automatically.

The downside: Shopify POS isn’t practical as a standalone mobile EPOS. The £19/month minimum and 1.3/5 Trustpilot score reflect platform frustrations beyond just the POS feature. It’s a strong add-on for existing Shopify users, not a starting point for businesses only selling in person.

What to Look For in a Mobile EPOS

The three critical factors for mobile EPOS are battery life (8+ hours for a full trading day), connectivity options (4G or offline mode), and hardware portability (under 200g for pocket carry).

Mobile EPOS needs differ from fixed-location systems. These features matter most when you’re operating away from a counter:

Battery life. A full day of trading means 8+ hours of active use. SumUp’s Solo handles 500+ transactions per charge. Square’s Reader lasts all day with minimal drain. Zettle’s Reader 2 manages around 8 hours. Check that the battery lasts your typical trading day, not just the manufacturer’s lab test.

Connectivity. Outdoor markets, events, and customer premises don’t always have reliable Wi-Fi. Look for systems that work over your phone’s 4G connection. Better still, some terminals offer offline mode – transactions queue locally and process when you reconnect. Square and Odoo both support offline payments.

Portability. Card readers range from pocket-sized (SumUp Solo at 83g) to handheld terminals (Square Terminal at 417g). If you’re carrying the device all day, weight and size matter. Bluetooth readers are lighter but depend on your phone; standalone terminals are heavier but self-contained.

Durability. Mobile devices face more wear than countertop systems. Drops, rain, dust, and temperature changes are real risks. None of the major readers are IP-rated for water resistance, so invest in a protective case if you trade outdoors.

Mobile EPOS for Different Business Types

Food trucks and caterers should prioritise kitchen display integration and tip management. Tradespeople need invoicing and job-based tracking. Market traders need the longest battery life and lowest hardware cost.

Your business type determines which mobile EPOS features actually matter:

Food trucks and mobile caterers. Speed is everything when you’ve got a queue. SumUp’s Solo Lite gives the fastest tap-and-go experience. If you need to send orders to a prep station, pair Loyverse POS (free kitchen display) with a SumUp reader.

Market traders. Lowest cost and longest battery win. SumUp Solo (£19, 500+ transactions) or Square Reader (£19, all-day battery) are both ideal. PayPal Zettle adds QR code payments for customers who prefer PayPal – useful at craft markets.

Mobile hairdressers and beauticians. Square’s free plan includes appointment scheduling, client notes, and invoicing – features specifically designed for service businesses. Create service packages with set durations and prices.

Tradespeople. On-site invoicing is the key feature. Square lets you create and email invoices from the app, then track payment status. For quoting and job costing, you may also want to look at trade-specific accounting apps that integrate with your EPOS.

Pop-up shops. If you sell online through Shopify, its POS app keeps inventory synced across both channels. Otherwise, Square or SumUp work perfectly for temporary retail – no contracts, no monthly fees, easy to start and stop.

Mobile vs Fixed EPOS: When to Upgrade

Upgrade from mobile to fixed EPOS when you process over 50 transactions per day, need receipt printers, employ more than 3 staff, or open a permanent location with a counter.

Mobile EPOS systems are designed for portability, not high-volume fixed-location trading. Here are the signs it’s time to upgrade:

The good news: SumUp, Square, and Clover all offer upgrade paths from mobile to countertop hardware within the same ecosystem. Your product catalogue, sales history, and customer data transfer automatically. For full-system comparisons, see our guide to comparing EPOS systems.

• For most mobile businesses – SumUp offers the best combination of low fees (1.69%), standalone hardware, and zero monthly costs
• Square wins if you need invoicing – appointments, or an online store
• PayPal Zettle suits event-based – businesses where PayPal QR payments add flexibility
• Start with a £19 reader and – upgrade to a terminal only when transaction volume justifies it
• See our free EPOS guide for zero-cost options – or hospitality EPOS picks if you're in food service

Emma Clarke

Technology & Payments Specialist

Emma covers the full range of business technology, including EPOS systems, merchant accounts, telecoms, and web tools. Her experience as a retail systems consultant helps businesses choose the right digital solutions to improve efficiency and sales.

Reviewed by

Sarah Mitchell

B2B Commerce & Finance Reviewer