Card Machines for Small Business

Never lose a sale because you don't accept cards. Compare South Africa's best portable card machines — transparent fees, no hidden costs, fast settlement.

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1.8%

Lowest transaction fee

Monthly fee options

Same day

Settlement available

Best Card Machines for Small Business 2026

Prices based on publicly available rates. Verify directly with providers.

Yoco Khumo 2

Device: R699

Monthly: None

Transaction: 2.3% falling to 1.2%

Settlement: 1 to 2 business days

Tap-to-Pay: ✓ Yes

✓ No monthly fee, rates fall from 2.3% to 1.2%

✗ Payouts take 1 to 2 business days

Best for: Very small businesses & sole traders

iKhokha Mobile

Device: ~R599

Monthly: None

Transaction: 2.75% (reduces with volume)

Settlement: Next day

Tap-to-Pay: ✓ Yes

✓ Tiered rates reward growth, built-in SIM

✗ Settlement next day vs same-day competitors

Best for: Growing businesses expecting >R30K/month

Best for Omni-Channel

Peach Payments

Device: From R199/mo

Monthly: R199

Transaction: 2.45% card / 0.9% EFT

Settlement: Next business day

Tap-to-Pay: ✓ Yes

✓ Low EFT rates, QR code payments, online + in-store

✗ Monthly fee not ideal for low volume

Best for: Omni-channel businesses (online + in-store)

Lowest Rates at Volume

Netcash POS

Device: Bundled

Monthly: From R250

Transaction: 1.8–2.5%

Settlement: Same day

Tap-to-Pay: ✗ No

✓ Lowest transaction rates, accounting integration

✗ More complex setup, monthly commitment

Best for: Established businesses with high card volume

How to Choose the Right Card Machine

🤔 How many card transactions do you process per month?

Under R10,000: No-monthly-fee options (Yoco, iKhokha) are best. Over R50,000: Pay a monthly fee for lower transaction rates — it saves money at scale.

🤔 Do you sell online AND in-store?

Look for omni-channel providers like Peach Payments that support both physical card machines and online checkout from a single dashboard.

🤔 How quickly are payouts made?

Yoco payouts take 1 to 2 business days. Other providers may offer different settlement timings; verify directly with each provider.

🤔 Do you move around (markets, deliveries, events)?

Choose a portable Bluetooth or 3G/4G SIM-enabled device. iKhokha devices have built-in SIM cards — ideal for businesses without reliable WiFi.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest card machine for small businesses in South Africa?

Yoco Khumo 2 costs R699, with transaction rates starting at 2.3% and falling to 1.2%. Payouts take 1 to 2 business days. Compare this with iKhokha’s hardware and rates, and Netcash’s 1.8–2.5% rates for higher-volume businesses.

Do I need a business bank account for a card machine in South Africa?

Most providers (Yoco, iKhokha) accept personal bank accounts for sole proprietors. Registered businesses (Pty Ltd, CC) will need a business bank account. Yoco payouts take 1 to 2 business days; settlement timing varies by provider.

Can I accept card payments on my phone without a card machine?

Yes — Yoco, iKhokha and several other providers offer Tap-to-Pay (NFC) on Android phones. You can accept contactless card payments without any hardware. Rates are similar to physical card machines.

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