Ranked
11 Best Card Machines in South Africa (2026)
11 SA card machines ranked on what each costs you over a year. Yoco, iKhokha, WAPPoint, Adumo and HelloPay on what they really charge. Checked 24 Sep 2026.
Some links here are referral links, and where a provider gives our readers a better price than its own site, that is the price you get by using one. It costs you nothing extra, and every option here is judged on the same test either way.
There is a woman I know in Mamelodi who sells kotas from a food container. Until recently she was cash-only, losing customers to the shop across the road that took cards.
She got herself a Yoco Khumo 2 at R699 in June, and she made more money in the first month. The same people walked past; she just stopped turning away the ones already standing in front of her.
The hard part is choosing the right one. The machine itself is cheap. The money goes on transaction fees, which you pay on every sale, and on machines that stop working when load shedding flattens the phone they depend on.
So I did the boring work: I researched every major standalone machine and ran the numbers on each one, ranked on what it costs you by the end of year one, not on the price you pay on the day. Those two answers are rarely the same machine, and this guide exists because of the gap between them. This is the current ranking, and every price in it carries the date it was checked.
How I ranked these
Four numbers decide what a card machine really costs you to run, and I weighed every machine here on all four.
What you give away on every sale
The card machine companies that don't need you to bank with them charge between 2.30% and 2.75% excluding VAT. It sounds small, but it comes off every sale, so it grows with your turnover.
What it costs over a year
A R1 499 machine with free data can cost less over a year than a R699 machine that charges R75 a month for its SIM. The table below shows it happening at R10 000 a month.
Whether it survives load shedding
A machine that needs your phone's Bluetooth runs on your phone's battery too. When the power goes off and the phone goes flat, you stop taking cards, so I left the Bluetooth readers off this list on purpose.
Whether it gets cheaper as you grow
Some fees barely move. Others slide down as your sales go up, or let you earn extra by selling prepaid.
I ranked on the second number. The other three tell you which machine suits your business.
You'll also notice who isn't here. The banks' own machines sit outside the ranking because each one comes with a bank account to run, which I cover in the one route I didn't rank. The Bluetooth readers that lean on your phone are out for the load-shedding reason above. The eleven that are here are my read of the market as it stands. When a better deal appears, it goes in, and I'll tell you what changed.
What each one costs over a year
Almost every machine here is bought once and then it's yours, which is what ended the old way of renting one from the bank. So what you really spend in a year is the machine once, plus twelve months of data and fees.
Find your monthly card turnover in the rows below. Every figure excludes VAT.
1-year cost of ownership by turnover
| Yoco Khumo 2 | iKhokha iK Flyer Lite | Yoco Khumo Print 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardware, once | R699 |
|
about R1 499 |
| Data per year |
|
|
|
| 1 year at R10 000/mo | R3 459 | R5 679 | R4 259 |
| 1 year at R50 000/mo | R14 499 | R18 279 | R15 299 |
Worked out from each company's own price list, 24 Sep 2026, excluding VAT. iKhokha's totals include its R2.50 payout every trading day, and its R50 000 figure uses its 2.65% rate.← scroll sideways on a narrow screen →
The Khumo 2 costs least at both turnovers: R2 220 less than the iK Flyer Lite over a year at R10 000 a month, and R3 780 less at R50 000.
One thing the table can't show. Once your Yoco card sales pass R50 000 a month, the fee on local debit cards drops to 1.35%, so if most of your customers pay by debit card, you'll pay less than the line above.
At R10 000 a month the gap in that table is small enough that convenience should decide it, and the cheapest-first shortlist covers that angle properly.
Past R50 000 a month it starts to matter, because that's where a lower fee, or the commission from prepaid, adds up to real money. If you want to see how each fee behind these totals is worked out, the fees guide goes through it.
1. Yoco Khumo 2 - best overall for most small businesses
This is the machine I hand to almost anyone starting out. R699 once, R0 a month on Core (Yoco's plan)Yoco's standard plan, and the one almost every small business is on. It costs R0 a month, charges 2.30% excluding VAT per local card sale, and includes the dual-SIM mobile data free for life. Instant Payout costs R17.25 for a payout of up to R1 000 and 1% above that, up to R10 000 a day.What it costs on this rankingR0 a month. It's a big part of why the Khumo 2 comes out cheapest over a year. A quiet December costs you nothing, where a monthly plan bills you the same whether you sold anything or not.Core is Yoco's standard plan and the one almost every small business is on. Nothing on it is billed monthly, the dual-SIM data is included at no extra cost, and the 2.30% excluding VAT drops to 1.35% on local debit above roughly R50 000 a month without you asking for it. Instant Payout on Core costs R17.25 a payout up to R1 000, then 1%. Every Yoco price in this ranking is quoted on Core.See every term in the glossary, 2.30% Excluding VATThe rate before 15% VAT is added, which is how almost every South African provider quotes. A rate of 2.30% excl. VAT actually bills you 2.645%, so two quotes are only comparable once you know which basis each is on.What 2.30% actually bills2.645% once VAT is on it. On R40 000 a month that's R1 058 rather than R920, so VAT adds R1 656 a year.Every rate in this ranking is quoted excluding VAT, because that is how every company here that lists a fee quotes it, which makes them directly comparable to each other with no conversion. It stops being safe the moment you compare one of them to a bank quote, since some banks quote including VAT and the same rate then looks cheaper on one page than the other. If you're VAT-registered you claim it back and the excluding number is the real one. If you're not, add 15% to everything here.See every term in the glossary on local cards, and dual-SIM data included at no extra cost. It removes every obstacle between you and your first card payment: no new bank account, no monthly bill, and no pairing it to your phone over Bluetooth, so your phone's battery stops being your problem. It is simply a well-built, modern card machine.
1Best overall
Supplier image · Yoco
Why it earns the top spot
- 2.30% excl. VAT on local cards, the lowest of any machine ranked here, stepping to 1.35% on local debit above R50 000/mo
- R699 once and R0 a month on the free Core plan, with dual-SIM data included at no extra cost, so a quiet month costs you nothing to keep
- Two SIMs, so when one network drops during load shedding the machine moves to the other and the sale goes through
- Free POS, stock, invoicing and payment links, so it runs the shop as well as the till
Where it falls shortwhat to know first
Where it falls short
- It can't sell airtime, electricity or vouchers, so there's no commission to earn on the side
- Same-day money costs R17.25 a payout up to R1 000, then 1%, and it is open to anyone
- The Core rate only drops on local debit cards; if most of your customers pay by credit card, you stay at 2.30% until you move to a paid plan
The numbers in fullspecs & terms
- PriceR699 once-off
- MonthlyR0 on Core
- Rate2.30% excl. VAT
- Settlement1-2 business days, free
Best for
Pop-up stalls, freelancers, market traders and any new business under about R40 000 a month that wants to be trading tomorrow with no monthly bill.
Who should avoid it
Counters that get asked for airtime and vouchers all day, and sit-down restaurants that need the machine to talk to a till.
Look at insteadiKhokha iK Flyer LiteAdumo, for a till
Quick verdict
On a tight budget, this is where to start. Prepaid, a printer and a till can wait until your turnover pays for them.
R100 comes off automatically at signup, on top of everything Yoco already includes.
Start taking cards from R699
The Khumo 2 is one of the strongest here at solving the network problem. It has a dual SIM, connects to Wi-Fi as well, and the data is included at no extra cost. iKhokha's machines also carry two SIMs, but their data costs R75 a month unless you run them on the shop's Wi-Fi.
So when the power goes and one network sags with it, the machine moves to the other one and you keep trading. The market traders I have spoken to did not choose Yoco for that. They found out during a power cut, while the stall beside them went dark.
Overall, the Khumo 2 is hard to fault for the price. It wins the one-year test this list is ranked on, and it costs nothing to keep each month. Its one real gap is that Yoco does not let you sell prepaid: no airtime, no electricity, no vouchers.
So if people already stop at your till asking for airtime, electricity or a betting voucher, look at our next pick, which costs the same R699.
2. iKhokha iK Flyer Lite - best if you want the machine to earn on the side
R699 once, an optional R75 a month for its own SIM data, and a fee starting at 2.75% excluding VAT that slides toward 2.50% as your card sales go up. On transaction fees alone Yoco is cheaper, so why is this second? Because it can sell prepaid and pay you the same day, and the prepaid side can cover what the machine costs you to run.
2Best for covering its costs
Supplier image · iKhokha
What we like
- Sells airtime, data, electricity, water and gas, OTT and Hollywood Bets vouchers, DStv and traffic fines off the same card machine
- A same-day route with no percentage fee, on Nedbank or on the iK Debit Card for sole proprietors
- 24/7 support on a phone line, plus WhatsApp
- Rate slides to 2.65% at R40 000, 2.55% at R60 000 and 2.50% at R80 000
Where it falls shortwhat to know first
Where it falls short
- Starts at 2.75% excl. VAT, higher than Yoco at every turnover
- R75 a month for its own SIM data unless you run on Wi-Fi
- Prepaid is no use to you if your customers never ask for it
- You load the prepaid balance with your own money first, so your cash is at risk before you earn anything, and the commission is only paid out in the first week of the following month
- iKhokha doesn't show its commission rates, so you can't work out what you'll earn before you start
The numbers in fullspecs & terms
- PriceR699, down from R999
- MonthlyR75 SIM, or R0 on Wi-Fi
- RateFrom 2.75% excl. VAT
- SettlementNext business day on FNB and Absa; same day on Nedbank
Best for
Spazas, corner shops and busy counters where people already walk in asking for airtime
Who should avoid it
Not for a counter that would never sell prepaid products, where the rate gap is all you feel
Look at insteadYoco Khumo 2WAPPoint, on a rental
Quick verdict
If you restock with the money you made today, or your customers already ask for airtime, this is worth more to you than Yoco's lower transaction fee.
10% comes off automatically at signup, on top of everything iKhokha already includes.
Want to sell prepaid as well?
The box above lists the two things that lift iKhokha over the cheaper machine. A list can't tell you what they're worth, though, and for the right shop it's a lot.
First, it lets you earn commission on prepaid, which turns the card machine into a second stream of income. The money from airtime, data and betting vouchers is not a lot. I would say it is just enough to cover what your card machine costs you to run, and to bring more people into your shop: they come in for airtime or a voucher, then pick up bread on the way out or spend their change on something else. And parents will always send the kids to the nearest shop that has it. So I like to think of this feature as more of a marketing boost.
Remember how iKhokha looked a little expensive next to Yoco? Prepaid is how that gap gets paid. At R10 000 a month in card sales, the iK Flyer Lite costs about R175 a month more than the Khumo 2, and it is three things: R45 more in fees, R75 for the SIM unless you run it on the shop's Wi-Fi, and R55 in payout charges, which is R2.50 a time if you draw your money once a business day. That is about R6 a day for your prepaid sales to earn back.
iKhokha does not show its commission rates for prepaid, but I can assure you, there is no way you cannot make more than R6 a day if your business makes about R10 000 a month. And that is why an iKhokha machine makes sense for most spaza shops and convenience stores, for places where people sit and wait, like a car wash, and for any shop where customers already ask for prepaid.
Second, iKhokha is the only company here that pays you the same day without taking a percentage, just its flat R2.50 a payout. That helps a lot if you restock every day, or simply need the money you made the same day.
Keep one condition in mind, though, for any of the iKhokha machines on this list. Same-day payouts need a Nedbank account, or a GoTyme Bank EveryDay accountA free personal transaction account from GoTyme Bank, a South African digital bank. It is not an iKhokha product: you open it yourself in the GoTyme app, then list it on your iKhokha profile as your payout account. It is the only account iKhokha's same-day iK Debit Card pays into. iKhokha also pays Nedbank customers twice a day, the same day, with no GoTyme account involved.Why it decides rank 2 and rank 4iKhokha's same-day payout runs through the iK Debit Card, and the iK Debit Card pays into this account and no other. No GoTyme account, no card route, though a Nedbank account gets same-day payouts without it.A free personal transaction account from GoTyme Bank, a South African digital bank. It isn't an iKhokha product. You open it yourself in the GoTyme app, then list it on your iKhokha profile as your payout account. It comes with two conditions that are easy to miss. It's a personal account, so the card route is open to sole proprietors and closed to registered companies, though iKhokha pays Nedbank customers the same day without it. And it's a second bank to run, which costs real admin even though the account is free.See every term in the glossary for the iK Debit Card, and that route is only open to sole traders. Our payout guide explains both.
In the battery, the build and the app, it compares very well with the Khumo 2. Where they differ is in who gets more out of each one, and iKhokha's higher transaction fee doesn't really matter to a spaza shop or a salon that sells prepaid.
The flip side is simple. If nobody asks you for prepaid, you are paying more for a feature you never use, and the Khumo 2 is the better buy.
Best for: spaza shops and convenience stores, cafes and mobile traders who value same-day money and prepaid commission over the lowest possible transaction fee.
Both entry-level card machines we've covered so far do not print receipts. If your customers expect a slip in their hand, the next two picks keep everything the Khumo 2 and the iK Flyer Lite give you, and add a printer.
If you like both companies but aren't sure which one to sign up with, read our Yoco vs iKhokha comparison, or the short version of it just below.
Quick comparison Yoco or iKhokha: which one should a new business pick?
Both starting machines cost R699 and neither ties you to a contract, so for most new businesses the right one is simply the one you can order today. They split clearly on four things, and one of them comes out better on each.
- 1Transaction feesYoco wins. On both price lists it's the cheaper one at any turnover, 2.30% excluding VAT against iKhokha's 2.75%, which steps down only as far as 2.50% above R80 000 a month.
- 2Taking your money out every dayThis is where it can flip. Yoco's Instant Payout is R17.25 a payout, and iKhokha pays the same day for R2.50. Pull your money every trading day and iKhokha is cheaper below about R26 000 a month, Yoco from there to about R37 000, and iKhokha again above.
- 3Selling prepaidiKhokha wins. Only iKhokha sells airtime, electricity and vouchers from the machine, so only iKhokha can pay you a commission on what customers already ask for.
- 4Everything elseClose enough not to decide it. Both have dual-SIM data and 24/7 support, but only iKhokha gives you a number to phone. Its same-day payouts need a Nedbank account, or the iK Debit Card, which is for sole traders only.
Drag the slider to your own card turnover to see what each one really costs, on the normal wait and when your business needs its money out every day. Then tick the box to compare.
Interactive tool · drag the slider
-
Yoco2.30% + R0/moWhere it wins: the lowest rate, with nothing monthly and the data included
R690
-
iKhokha2.75% sliding to 2.50% + R140/moWhere it wins: same-day money with no percentage, and commission on prepaid
R965
becomes the cheaper one above about a month. The answer changes with how you trade, not with who is paying us.
Why one name stays on top: Yoco's total stays lower wherever you drag it, as the callout above showed, so the tool has no crossover to find. That's 2.30% excluding VAT and R0 a month against 2.75% sliding to 2.50% plus R75 for the SIMs. Yoco's 1.35% on local debit above roughly R50 000 a month would only widen the gap. Read on both companies' pricing pages on 24 September 2026.
Each company's headline rate for local cards from its own price list, excluding VAT, plus the fixed monthly each one bills. iKhokha's rate steps down at R40 000, R60 000 and R80 000 and its R75 dual-SIM add-on is included, which is R0 if you run the machine on your own Wi-Fi, and so is its R2.50 daily payout, about R65 a month. Yoco's local debit rate of 1.35% above roughly R50 000 a month isn't modelled, so the real Yoco figure at higher turnovers is lower than shown. A second payout each day isn't in the slider unless you tick the box. iKhokha takes R2.50 each time it pays you.
Yoco costs you R275 less a month here
That is R3,300 over a year at this turnover, before either provider negotiates.
Quick verdict
Pick Yoco if the lowest transaction fee and nothing monthly matter most, and a next-day payout is fine. Pick iKhokha if customers already ask you for airtime or electricity, or you restock with the money you made that day and qualify for its same-day payout. Still torn? Answer the four questions below and the tool points you at the one that fits how your shop actually runs.
Interactive · 30 seconds
Not sure? Answer four questions
Answer for how your business actually runs, and the recommendation updates as you go.
1What does your shop take on card in a month?
2Do people ask you for airtime, electricity or vouchers?
3When do you need the money?
4When something breaks, what do you reach for?
Before you answer
There's no single winner here, and that's the finding
They split cleanly. Yoco wins on the transaction fee, the data at no extra cost and the free standard payout. iKhokha wins on airtime income and a phone line. Which one's right for you comes down to how your month runs.
The trade-off: you own the machine either way and there's no contract, so if you pick wrong, the most it costs you is a second machine.
All rates and settlement terms come from each company's own website, checked 24 September 2026.
Read the full Yoco vs iKhokha comparisonChecked 24 Sep 2026
3. Yoco Khumo Print 2 - best receipts with no monthly bill
If you liked the Khumo 2 but your customers expect a printed slip, this is the answer. About R1 499 once, the same 2.30% starting fee, and it keeps the R0 monthly data on Yoco's Core plan.
3Receipts, no monthly bill
Supplier image · Yoco
Why it earns its place
- Prints a receipt and still keeps R0 monthly data on Core
- The same 2.30% excl. VAT starting rate as the Khumo 2, stepping to 1.35% on local debit above R50 000/mo
- Two SIMs, so it still takes the card and prints the slip when one network drops
- The same free POS, stock and invoicing tools
Where it falls shortwhat to know first
Where it falls short
- About R800 more than the Khumo 2, for a slip many counters never actually print
- Like the Khumo 2, it cannot sell prepaid, so there is no commission on the side
- Same flat Core rate, so if most customers pay by credit card the fee does not step down
The numbers in fullspecs & terms
- PriceAbout R1 499 once-off
- MonthlyR0 on Core
- Rate2.30% excl. VAT
- Settlement1-2 business days, free
Best for
A bakery, salon or takeaway around R30 000 a month whose customers expect a printed receipt, and who should not pay a monthly fee to hand it over.
Who should avoid it
Counters whose customers never ask for a slip. That's R800 on a feature you won't use.
Look at insteadYoco Khumo 2iKhokha iK Flyer
Quick verdict
If your customers expect a printed receipt, this gives it to them for the price of the machine once and nothing every month after.
R100 comes off automatically at signup, on top of everything Yoco already includes.
Need receipts without a monthly bill?
Some businesses still run on printed receipts. The customer claiming lunch back from work asks for a slip, and so do the builder buying parts on the company's account and the regular who wants proof they paid. An SMS receipt doesn't always do. The Print 2 hands one over without adding a monthly bill, where iKhokha's printing machine charges R75 a month for its data unless it runs on Wi-Fi.
So who is it for? Any counter where customers still expect a printed receipt. You keep what made the Khumo 2 the top pick, the same transaction fee and R0 data on Yoco's Core plan, and pay once for the printer.
If you print slips all day and people also queue at your counter for airtime and electricity, the next machine was built for exactly that.
4. iKhokha iK Flyer - best for a busy counter that prints all day
About R1 499 once, plus an optional R75 a month for its SIM data, and the same fee as the Lite: from 2.75% excluding VAT, sliding towards 2.50% as your card sales go up.
4Best for high-volume printing
Why it earns its place
- Sells airtime, data, electricity, water and gas, OTT and Hollywood Bets vouchers, DStv and traffic fines, and it prints the voucher slip for the customer
- Prints a slip and doubles as a till, so one device covers the counter
- Rate slides with turnover: 2.65% at R40 000, 2.55% at R60 000, 2.50% at R80 000, custom above R100 000
- 24/7 support on a phone line, and same-day payouts on Nedbank or the iK Debit Card
Where it falls shortwhat to know first
Where it falls short
- R1 499 takes a long time to earn back if you don't sell much. Under about R15 000 a month you're not yet using what you paid for
- Starts at 2.75% excl. VAT, above Yoco at every turnover
- R75 a month for its own SIM data unless you run it on the shop's Wi-Fi
The numbers in fullspecs & terms
- PriceAbout R1 499 once-off
- MonthlyR75 SIM, or R0 on Wi-Fi
- RateFrom 2.75%, sliding to 2.50%
- SettlementSame day on Nedbank, next business day on FNB and Absa. R2.50 a payout
Best for
Busy retail and hospitality past roughly R50 000 a month that prints slips all day and gets asked for prepaid products just as often.
Who should avoid it
A quiet counter under about R15 000 a month, where the sliding rate, the printing and the commission are not yet worth paying for.
Look at insteadiKhokha iK Flyer LiteYoco Khumo Print 2
Quick verdict
Buy it once your counter is already busy enough to need it. At R80 000 a month the fee is down to 2.50%, and the prepaid commission is income on top.
10% comes off automatically at signup, on top of everything iKhokha already includes.
Counter busy enough to earn?
The iK Flyer has a little more to offer than being an iK Flyer Lite with a printer built in. It takes swipe as well as tap and insert, it has a touchscreen, and iKhokha builds it for a fixed counter that serves people all day: shops, salons, cafes and restaurants. You keep everything the iKhokha platform gives the Lite, but this time you can hand the customer a printed slip from the machine itself.
It pays its way on a busy counter. The busier you get, the smaller Yoco's advantage becomes. At R80 000 a month in card sales iKhokha's fee has slid to 2.50%, so on credit cards the gap to Yoco is down to 0.2 of a point, and the prepaid commission is income Yoco cannot give you at all.
So I still recommend it for the counter it was built for, where the prepaid income earns back its price on a machine that prints and stays put. If your business moves around with you, the Lite is the better buy.
5. WAPPoint SquarePOS RX - the lowest barrier to entry, and what it costs you later
Everything so far asks you to buy the machine. If R699 is money you need for stock this month, WAPPoint gets you trading for R200.
WAPPoint is the only company here that rents rather than sells, and that's why it's on this list.
You pay R200 to set up, then a monthly rental, and the rental falls away completely in any month your card sales pass a set amount, which on the SquarePOS RX is R15 000. Pass it and the machine costs you R200 to start trading instead of R699, plus R50 a month for insurance. That's the lowest barrier on this page by a wide margin.
5Lowest barrier to entry
Why it earns its place
- R200 to set up instead of R699 for hardware, which is the lowest barrier on this page
- The monthly rental falls away in any month your card sales pass R15 000
- Its website lists every step of its fee, down to 2.55% by R100 000 and 1.95% on debit above that
- 24/7 support and a promised turnaround for replacing a faulty machine, which matters more on a machine you don't own
Where it falls shortwhat to know first
Where it falls short
- Starts at 2.75% excl. VAT, above Yoco at the tiers most small counters actually sit in
- In a quiet month that misses the threshold, the R189 rental is back
- You never own the machine, so there is nothing to fall back on if you stop
- No free same-day option; the six-day settlement plan costs 0.2%
The numbers in fullspecs & terms
- SetupR200 once-off
- Monthly rentalR189, R0 above R15 000/mo
- InsuranceR50 a month, not waived
- Settlement1-2 business days, five days a week
Best for
A real business that cannot or will not put R699 down this month, and needs to be taking a card tomorrow rather than in December.
Who should avoid it
Anyone who can afford to buy a machine and expects to stay under about R25 000 a month, where the cheaper start becomes the more expensive year.
Look at insteadYoco Khumo 2iKhokha iK Flyer Lite
Quick verdict
Renting keeps money in your pocket now and costs you more over the year. It makes sense when R699 simply isn't there this month.
Can't put R699 down this month?
The rental isn't the only cost. WAPPoint's transaction fee starts at 2.75%, the same as iKhokha and above Yoco's 2.30%, and it only steps down to 2.55% by R100 000 a month.
Over a year that adds up to roughly R1 200 more than Yoco at R20 000 a month, because you pay the fee on every sale and the machine only once.
So this is for someone who can't or won't put R699 down this month. For them, taking a card tomorrow matters more than what it costs by December, and WAPPoint gets them there for R200 when nobody else here does.
Be careful in a quiet month. Miss the threshold and the rental comes back in the month you could least afford it, which can't happen with Yoco or iKhokha because you already own the machine.
Every machine so far works on its own. If yours has to take the bill from a till system, you need a different kind of company.
6. Adumo Flow - best when the machine has to talk to a till
Adumo works differently. It connects to the point-of-sale system your business already runs, so the amount on the bill appears on the card machine by itself.
6Best for restaurants and multi-till
Why it earns its place
- Talks to your point-of-sale, so the bill a waiter raises is the amount the customer taps for
- Takes chip and PIN, tap and magstripe, plus buy-now-pay-later, gift cards and loyalty off the same device
- A quote on your real turnover can beat a price list once you are big enough to be quoted
- Adumo Capital can advance funding against your trading, usually inside 24 hours
Where it falls shortwhat to know first
Where it falls short
- It shows no transaction fee anywhere, so you can't compare it to anything on this page until you have its quote
- You can't add it to a basket. It takes company documents, a contract and days rather than minutes
- Wrong lane entirely for a market stall or a one-person business
The numbers in fullspecs & terms
- DeviceNewland SP630 Pro
- RateNot listed
- SetupDays, not minutes
Best for
Restaurants, franchises and multi-till retail already running a POS system that the card machine needs to speak to.
Who should avoid it
Anyone who wants to be trading tomorrow, or who would rather see the fee before speaking to anyone.
Look at insteadYoco Counter bundleiKhokha iK Flyer
Quick verdict
If your restaurant or shop already runs on a till system, this is the one for you, and the quote is worth asking for. If it doesn't, one of the machines above will have you trading by tomorrow for R699.
Running a restaurant or multiple tills?
If you run a restaurant, the problem Adumo solves is the one at the table. The waiter rings up the bill on the till, carries the machine over, and the right amount is already on the screen, so nobody retypes R1 340.50 and gets it wrong. That's why the quote is worth waiting for, and we send your details to Adumo and follow it up for you.
Ask for the quote if the bill starts on a till and more than one person takes payment, which is most restaurants. For a single counter that sells and takes the card on one device, every machine ranked above it is simpler to start, and each one shows its price upfront.
If you run a single counter and want Yoco's simplicity on a proper touchscreen till instead, that's the next pick.
7. Yoco Counter bundle - for a business that sells at a counter
If a handheld won't do, because the counter is where the business actually happens, this is the Yoco to buy. It's also the only way to get the Neo Touch touchscreen, which isn't sold on its own.
7The full-till step up
Yoco Counter
Accepts
- Tap, chip & swipe
- Visa
- Mastercard
- Amex
- SASSA
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
- Samsung Pay
From yoco.com, checked 24 Sep 2026
Who it's for
Yoco's touchscreen till for the counter, on the same 2.30% Core rate and R0 monthly data as the Khumo 2.
- Card MachineNeo Touch included in the bundle
- Monthly FeeR0 on Core
- Transaction Fee2.30% (excl. VAT); 1.35% on local debit above R50k/month
- SoftwareYoco POS, free on every plan
What you get with the extra Yoco discount
- R100 off your card machine, which Yoco takes off when you sign up through our link
And everything Yoco gives everyone
- Sign up in 5 minutes, and it works with the bank account you already have
- Paid out in 1 to 2 business days into that same account
- A 1-year warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee
Checked 24 Sep 2026
you'll go to www.yoco.com's sign-up page with your extra R100 discount applied
What Yoco works withRead 2 Oct 2026
-
POS software
On any Yoco plan
- LightspeedConnected
- LoyverseConnected
- TallOrderConnected
- SalonBridgeComing soon
-
Accounting
Needs the Plus plan, R249 a month
- XeroConnected
- SageConnected
- QuickBooksConnected
- StubConnected
-
Online store
Yoco's ecommerce plugin
- ShopifyConnected
- WooCommerceConnected
- ShopstarConnected
- WixConnected
So who should buy it? A salon, a sit-down cafe, or any shop where customers come to one spot to pay. If you only need to take cards, the Khumo 2 does that for R699. The Counter is worth its R2 999 when you want the touchscreen till on the counter as well.
8. WAPPoint PrintPOS - the rental that prints
This one works like the SquarePOS RX. You rent it, and the rental falls away in any month you pass a turnover threshold. It prints receipts, and its threshold is higher, because WAPPoint raises the threshold with each bigger machine.
8Rental, with a printer
WAPPoint PrintPOS
Accepts
- Tap, chip & swipe
- Visa
- Mastercard
- SASSA
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
- Snap & Pay QR
From wappoint.co.za, checked 24 Sep 2026
Who it's for
A rented machine with a slip printer, for a busy shop that hands out receipts all day.
- SetupR200 once-off, plus R50 a month insurance
- Rental waivedIn any month above R45 000
- Best forBusy retail and hospitality that prints slips
What Wappoint POS gives everyone
- The rental falls away in any month you clear the machine's threshold: R15 000 on SquarePOS RX, R25 000 on MiniPOS, R45 000 on PrintPOS
- Switch to a different machine as the business changes
Checked 24 Sep 2026
Choose it if you want printed slips without buying a machine. It's R200 to start and R299 a month, with no rental in any month you take more than R45 000. Below that the rental keeps coming, so a quieter counter is better off buying the Khumo Print 2 once and owning it.
9. WAPPoint MiniPOS - when one machine is not enough
This is for when one card machine is no longer enough and you'd rather rent a second one than buy it. Same R200 to start, a slightly higher threshold before the rental falls away.
9Rental, when one is not enough
WAPPoint MiniPOS
Accepts
- Tap only
- Visa
- Mastercard
- SASSA
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
- Snap & Pay QR
From wappoint.co.za, checked 24 Sep 2026
Who it's for
For a busier counter or a second checkout point. Rented the same way as the SquarePOS RX, with the rental falling away above R25 000 a month.
- SetupR200 once-off, then R50 a month for insurance
- Rental waivedIn any month above R25 000
- Transaction feeFrom 2.75%, down to 1.95% on debit above R100 000 a month
What Wappoint POS gives everyone
- The rental falls away in any month you clear the machine's threshold: R15 000 on SquarePOS RX, R25 000 on MiniPOS, R45 000 on PrintPOS
- Switch to a different machine as the business changes
Checked 24 Sep 2026
It suits a second checkout point, or a busy counter that already clears R25 000 a month, where the R229 rental falls away. If your month is quieter than that, the SquarePOS RX's lower threshold is the easier rental to live with.
10. Adumo Connect - Adumo for a smaller business
Adumo's simplest device, for a smaller business that wants Adumo behind its card payments without connecting a till. It takes card and contactless payments from every major provider, and it's still quoted rather than priced.
10Adumo for a smaller business
Adumo Connect
Who it's for
Adumo's entry-level machine: card and contactless payments, quoted on your turnover and type of business.
- Transaction feeNot listed; quoted with the device
- Best forSmaller businesses that may add a till later
Want a quote from Adumo?
We send your details straight to Adumo's team and follow up for you, so your quote does not sit in a queue.
Ask Adumo for a quote if you want Adumo behind a single counter and expect to add a till later. Get the quote in writing, and put its transaction fee against the table above before you sign.
11. HelloPay All-in-One Touch - real hardware, no rate to compare
HelloPay is on this list because it sells a real range of card machines, from a R999 entry device up to a R7 499 touchscreen. It sits last for one reason only, the same reason Adumo can't be ranked on cost. It shows no transaction fee for its card machines anywhere.
11Hardware range, ask for the fee
HelloPay All-in-One Touch
Accepts
- Tap, chip & swipe
- All major cards
From hellopay.co.za, checked 24 Sep 2026
Why it's on this list
A mid-range touchscreen card machine in a range that runs from R999 to R7 499. The hardware price is on its website. The transaction fee you'll have to ask for, so get it in writing.
- Transaction feeNot listed anywhere
- RangeSWIPA R999 to TOUCH PRO R7 499
What Hellopay POS gives everyone
- Sign up online, with no registration fee
- The device is delivered to your door
Checked 16 Sep 2026
you'll go to hellopay.co.za
A fee you have to ask for isn't necessarily a bad one. Quoted on your real turnover, it can come in under a price list.
It does mean you can't work out what HelloPay costs you over a year until you have that fee. Once you do, put it against the year-one table above before you buy.
One route we did not rank: the bank
One more route comes up constantly, and it isn't on the list above because it only works if you bank there.
You may also be wondering about SnapScan, Kazang and Zettle. SnapScan and Kazang are QR and prepaid tools, not standalone card machines. Zettle isn't confirmed as available to South African merchants, so I haven't listed it as something you can buy here.
So which one should you buy?
There is no single best card machine, only the best one for the business you are running right now. For most people reading this it is the Yoco Khumo 2, on the one measure that decides it: what the machine costs over a full year.
But "most people" isn't you. The five questions below are the five things that moved machines up or down this ranking: how you want to pay for the card machine, whether it has to talk to a till, whether you hand over a printed slip, whether your counter gets asked for airtime, and how soon you need the money in your account.
Answer them for your own counter and the finder gives you your pick. If you'd rather read it by type of business, the small-business guide works the same ranking through spaza shops, salons, restaurants and mobile traders.
Interactive · 30 seconds
The decision, cut to the bone
Answer for how your business actually runs, and the recommendation updates as you go.
1How do you want to pay for the machine?
2Does the machine need to talk to a till or POS system?
3Does your counter hand over a printed slip?
4Does the counter get asked for airtime or electricity?
5When do you need the money in the account?
Before you answer
Yoco Khumo 2, for most counters
It tops the ranking because it costs the least over a full year, with nothing to pay each month.
The trade-off: no commission on airtime or electricity, and standard settlement takes 1-2 business days unless you pay R17.25 or 1% to get it the same day.
Every rate and settlement term comes from the company's own website, checked 24 September 2026. We rank on one-year cost, applied the same way to every brand.
Two machines, a backup, or a rental
When does it make sense to run two machines from different providers instead of one? When you're using one counter for two jobs. A shop that takes cards all day and gets asked for airtime just as often can keep a Yoco for the lowest transaction fee and an iKhokha for the commission and same-day cash, and let each do what it does best.
Plenty of businesses also keep a cheap second machine charged in a drawer as a load-shedding backup, because the only thing worse than a fee is a dead card machine at the till. And if putting R699 down at all is the sticking point, renting is the way in: our WAPPoint review walks through the rental maths in full.
And you can always start with one machine and switch later. Start cheap, prove the business works, and move when the extras justify it. The only cost of changing your mind is the hardware.
Picking the wrong machine isn't the worst decision here. Staying cash-only is, while customers walk to the shop across the road that takes cards.
Questions people ask about card machines
Day to day
Do card machines in South Africa need WiFi?
No. The Yoco Khumo 2, iKhokha iK Flyer Lite and most standalone machines have built-in SIM cards with mobile data, so they work anywhere with cell coverage.Yoco's SIM data is R0 on the Core plan; iKhokha's is R75 a month or free on your own Wi-Fi.
Which is better, Yoco or iKhokha?
Neither is better for everyone.Yoco charges lower transaction fees at every turnover and has R0 data. iKhokha earns its place on airtime and electricity commission, same-day cash via the iK Debit Card, and a flat settlement fee. Both offer 24-hour and WhatsApp support. Pick Yoco for the lowest simple rate, iKhokha for the business tools and same-day cash.
Can I accept SASSA cards with Yoco or iKhokha?
Yes.Both Yoco and iKhokha accept SASSA cards for purchases like any other bank card.
Will my card machine work during load shedding?
Standalone machines with built-in SIM cards, like the Yoco Khumo 2 and iKhokha iK Flyer, keep processing as long as the device is charged and there is mobile coverage.Bluetooth readers that depend on your phone are the weak link, which is why they aren't on this list.
Can I use two machines from different providers?
Yes. There is no exclusivity with any provider.Plenty of businesses run one as the main card machine and keep a second in the drawer as a load-shedding or breakdown backup.
Costs & fees
Which card machine has the lowest fees?
Among the card machine companies that don't need you to bank with them, Yoco's 2.30% Core rate is the lowest, dropping to 1.35% on local debit above R50 000 a month, and lower than iKhokha's at every turnover.A bank's machine can cost less: Capitec charges 1.85% up to R50 000 a month and pays into a Capitec personal or business account. Rates checked 24 September 2026.
Payouts
How fast do I get my money after a card payment?
Yoco settles in one to two business days free, with Instant Payout at R17.25 a payout up to R1 000 and 1% above that.iKhokha settles next business day if you bank with FNB or Absa and twice a day on the same day if you bank with Nedbank, with R2.50 taken from every payout; its same-day iK Debit Card charges no percentage but is limited to sole proprietors with a GoTyme Bank account. WAPPoint settles in one to two business days, five days a week, with no same-day option.
Contracts & sign-up
Do I need a registered business or a business bank account?
No. Yoco and iKhokha both pay out to a personal bank account and do not require a registered company.Capitec settles only into a Capitec account. A sole trader who is not CIPC registered can use a personal one; a registered company needs the business account.
