Ranked
7 Best Portable Card Machines in South Africa (2026)
Seven portable card machines compared on battery, SIM and printer, with the monthly cost at R5 000 to R20 000 in card sales. Yoco, iKhokha, WAPPoint and Adumo.
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.
If you take payments away from a counter, three things matter more than the price of the machine. Does the battery last your working day? Does it find a signal at the customer's door? And what do you pay each month to keep it connected?
So I've put seven portable card machines side by side on those three things, and worked out what each one costs at R5 000, R10 000 and R20 000 a month in card sales. If you stay behind a counter, our main list of card machines will suit you better.
I've kept to Yoco, iKhokha, WAPPoint and Adumo, because each one sells you a card machine that pays into the bank account you already have. I haven't recommended Capitec's machine, because it only pays into a Capitec account. If you bank there, Capitec vs Yoco has the sums.
Which one suits how you work?
For most people on the move, I'd get the Yoco Khumo 2, simply because its data is free. I'd choose iKhokha, even though it charges R75 a month for data, if people want airtime from me or I need my money the next business day. If you're torn between those two, Yoco vs iKhokha goes through how to decide.
If you don't want to read the whole article, that's fine. We've done the research on all of these machines, so here's the one we recommend for each type of business, and you don't have to overthink it.
Pick by how you work
How I ranked them
I've spoken to a lot of people who use these card machines, and most of them ask the same things. So the ranking is mainly about which one saves you the most money. After that, it's battery life, signal, and how customers can pay: tap, insert or swipe. A printer adds to the price, which is why the machines that print sit lower.
What each machine does away from a plug
| Battery | Mobile data | Printer | Takes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yoco Khumo 2 | Up to 18 hours | One roaming SIM, included | No | Tap, insert, swipe |
| iKhokha iK Flyer Lite | All day | Two SIMs, R75 a month | No | Tap, insert |
| WAPPoint SquarePOS RX | All day | One SIM, included | No | Tap only |
| Yoco Khumo Print 2 | Up to 18 hours | One roaming SIM, included | Yes | Tap, insert, swipe |
| iKhokha iK Flyer | Up to 200 sales | Two SIMs, R75 a month | Yes | Tap, insert, swipe |
| WAPPoint PrintPOS | About 36 hours | One SIM, second for R50 | Yes | Tap, insert, swipe |
| Adumo PAX A910S | Long-lasting | Two SIMs, on quote | Yes | Cards, tap, QR |
Battery in each maker's own words. All seven also run on Wi-Fi, so a machine with a monthly SIM fee can skip it if you always have Wi-Fi.← scroll sideways on a narrow screen →
What each one costs at R5 000 to R20 000 a month
At all three levels, the two Yoco machines cost the least to run on mobile data, about R529 a month at R20 000 with VAT. That's because 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 unlimited mobile data on the machine's multi-network SIM at no extra cost. Instant Payout costs a flat R17.25 for a payout under R1 000 and 1.5% above that on Core, for up to R10 000, once a day.On a machine you carryNo monthly fee and the machine's data is included, so at R20 000 a month in card sales your whole bill is the R460 fee plus R69 VAT.Core is Yoco's free plan and the one most small businesses use. There's no monthly fee, card sales cost 2.30% excluding VAT on local cards up to R50 000 a month, and payouts are free in one to two business days unless you choose a faster one.See every term in the glossary has no monthly fee, the data is included and the standard payout is free.
What a month costs on mobile data
| To start | At R5 000 | At R10 000 | At R20 000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yoco Khumo 2 | R699 | R132 | R265 | R529 |
| iKhokha iK Flyer Lite | R699 | R261 | R382 | R623 |
| WAPPoint SquarePOS RX | R200 + VAT | R433 | R591 | R690 |
| Yoco Khumo Print 2 | R1 399 | R132 | R265 | R529 |
| iKhokha iK Flyer | R1 499 | R261 | R382 | R623 |
| WAPPoint PrintPOS | R200 + VAT | R559 | R718 | R1 034 |
| Adumo PAX A910S | Quoted | Quoted | Quoted | Quoted |
By our sums, with VAT, local cards, 26 working days. Yoco on Core with its free payout, iKhokha on its SIMs with a daily payout, WAPPoint with R50 insurance. To start is before any discount.← scroll sideways on a narrow screen →
iKhokha has now dropped its fee, which is good news. It's 2.10% 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 2.10% bills2.415% once VAT is added. On R20 000 a month in card sales that's R483, not R420.Every card machine fee in South Africa is quoted excluding VAT. If your business isn't VAT-registered, the amount with VAT is what actually leaves your account. If it is registered, you claim the VAT back and the lower amount is your real cost.See every term in the glossary against Yoco's 2.30%, so you keep R46 more a month at R20 000 in card sales. But it still doesn't come out cheaper than Yoco, because its SIMs are R75 a month and each day's payout is R2.50, about R65 over 26 working days. So you end up about R94 a month behind Yoco.
Those costs are easy to cover if you sell airtime. iKhokha pays you 3% on airtime a customer buys with cash, so selling about R120 of airtime a working day covers that R94.
That gap closes at about R61 000 a month in card sales, and above that iKhokha costs less. If you bank with Nedbank, iKhokha's fee drops to 1.85%, so the gap closes much sooner, at about R27 000.
You can also get your money sooner. iKhokha can pay you the next business day, while Yoco's free payout takes one to two. To get next-morning money from Yoco you'd add Yoco Fast PayoutYoco's next-morning payout, switched on in the Yoco app. Each day's card sales reach your bank account by 8am the next day, seven days a week, Sundays and public holidays included. It costs 0.75% plus VAT on the Core plan (at least R7.50), 0.50% on Plus, and Yoco says it's free on Pro for now. It's a different product from Instant Payout, which pays within minutes when you ask.On a working daySell R769 on card and it's in your bank by 8am the next day. It costs the R7.50 minimum plus VAT, because 0.75% of R769 is less than that.Yoco's next-morning payout, switched on in the Yoco app. Today's card sales land in your bank account by 8am tomorrow, on Sundays and public holidays too. It costs 0.75% plus VAT on Core, at least R7.50. It's a different product from Instant Payout, which pays within minutes when you ask.See every term in the glossary, about R224 a month at this level, and then iKhokha costs less.
1. Yoco Khumo 2, the one to carry all day
The Khumo 2 comes first because staying connected costs you nothing extra. Yoco includes the data, there's no phone to pair, and Yoco describes it as pocket-sized. It's R699, and Yoco takes R100 off if you sign up with the discount link here.
1Best for most jobs on the move
Yoco Khumo 2
Accepts
- Tap, chip & swipe
- Visa
- Mastercard
- Amex
- SASSA
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
- Samsung Pay
Who it's for
For deliveries, a stall or call-outs where a digital receipt is fine. It runs on its own SIM with no phone to pair and no data bill.
- BatteryUp to 18 hours, 2 hours to charge
- Mobile dataOne roaming SIM, data included
- Size5.5-inch screen, pocket-sized
- A month at R20 000R529 with VAT
What you get with the extra Yoco discount
- R100 off your card machine, which Yoco takes off when you sign up with the discount link here
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
Confirmed on 4 November 2026
you'll go to www.yoco.com's sign-up page with your extra R100 discount applied
What the Yoco Khumo 2 works withPOS software and accounting
What Yoco works withConfirmed 7 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
Will the battery last your day? Yoco says up to 18 hours on a charge, and two hours to charge it fully. That covers a long Saturday market, so you only need a plug point at night.
What happens when the signal is weak? The Khumo 2 has one Telkom SIM that roams between networks, so it can move to a network that's working at your spot. If it finds nothing, it can join Wi-Fi, including a hotspot from your phone.
Take it if your customers are happy with an SMS or email receipt, and you don't sell airtime. My full Khumo 2 review goes through the software too.
2. iKhokha iK Flyer Lite, two SIMs and a lower fee per sale
The iK Flyer Lite is the same R699 and just as easy to carry. iKhokha says it fits easily in a pocket and runs all day on a charge, though it doesn't give hours. Use iKhokha's discount link on this page and you get 10% off, which brings it to about R629.
2Best if people ask for airtime
iKhokha iK Flyer Lite
Accepts
- Tap & chip
- Visa
- Mastercard
- Amex
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
Who it's for
For a stall or round where people buy airtime, data or vouchers from you, or where next-day money matters. Receipts go through the iKhokha app.
- BatteryAll day, per iKhokha
- Mobile dataTwo SIMs, MTN and Vodacom, R75 a month
- Fee per sale2.10% + VAT, 1.85% on Nedbank
- A month at R20 000R623 with VAT
What iKhokha gives everyone
- Unlimited digital invoices, free, from the iK Invoice tool
- Same-day payouts, twice a day, on Nedbank or the iK Debit Card for sole traders, at R2.50 a day
Confirmed on 4 November 2026
you'll go to www.ikhokha.com's sign-up page with your extra 10% discount applied
So where does it beat the Khumo 2? First, its fee per sale is now slightly lower. Second, it sells airtime, data and gaming vouchers, so someone who stops for airtime can also become your next card customer.
On FNB or Absa, iKhokha pays the next business day, Monday to Saturday. Nedbank customers are paid sooner, with two payouts on the day of the sale. Other banks can take up to three business days. It's R2.50 a day on every route.
What about the signal? It has two SIMs, one MTN and one Vodacom, and you can set which one it prefers in the iKhokha app. They're a flat R75 a month for unlimited data, or you can skip them and use Wi-Fi for free.
Two things it doesn't do. It takes tap and insert but not swipe, so a card that only swipes won't work. It also has no printer.
iKhokha's sign-up page behind the discount link still shows 2.75%, while its pricing page lists 2.10%. Go by the fee on your agreement when you sign up.
Get it if airtime customers or next-day money are worth about R94 a month to you.
3. WAPPoint SquarePOS RX, if R699 is too much today
Renting is how you start if you can't buy today. The SquarePOS RX is R200 plus VAT to set up, and the first month's rental is free. After that it's R189 a month plus VAT, and you stop paying that rental once your card sales pass R15 000 in a month. You stay at least two months.
WAPPoint's shop listed the machine as on backorder on 4 November, and delivery is quoted separately.
3Lowest cost to start
WAPPoint SquarePOS RX
Accepts
- Tap only
- Visa
- Mastercard
- SASSA
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
- Snap & Pay QR
Who it's for
For someone starting out who'll pass R15 000 a month on card soon. The rental includes the SIM and repairs.
- BatteryAll day, per WAPPoint
- Mobile dataOne SIM, Vodacom or MTN, included
- TakesTap only
- A month at R20 000R690 with VAT and insurance
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
Confirmed on 4 November 2026
It takes tap only. A customer whose card or phone doesn't tap can't pay you on this machine.
I'd take the R50 insurance. It covers theft, loss and accidental damage, which is what a machine that leaves the shop is exposed to. My sums include it.
Rent it if you'll pass R15 000 a month on card soon, because from then on you pay only the fee and the insurance. At R10 000 a month it costs about R327 more each month than a Khumo 2, so if you can save for about two months, buy instead.
4. Yoco Khumo Print 2, when someone needs the slip
A printer makes a machine bigger, so buy one only if someone needs the slip. The Khumo Print 2 has the same battery, SIM and monthly cost as the Khumo 2. You're paying for the printer and a bigger screen, 6.5 inches against 5.5.
It's R1 399, and the discount link here takes R100 off this one too.
4Best if you hand over slips
Yoco Khumo Print 2
Accepts
- Tap, chip & swipe
- Visa
- Mastercard
- Amex
- SASSA
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
- Samsung Pay
Who it's for
For tables, or any round where a customer wants a slip in their hand. It prints itemised bills, order slips and receipts, and also sends them by SMS or email.
- BatteryUp to 18 hours
- Mobile dataOne roaming SIM, data included
- Size6.5-inch screen, handheld
- A month at R20 000R529 with VAT
What you get with the extra Yoco discount
- R100 off your card machine, which Yoco takes off when you sign up with the discount link here
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
Confirmed on 4 November 2026
you'll go to www.yoco.com's sign-up page with your extra R100 discount applied
You can still send the receipt by SMS or email, so print only when someone asks, and carry fewer rolls.
Get it if you work tables or hand over slips all day.
5. iKhokha iK Flyer, if you print prepaid vouchers
The iK Flyer is the one to carry if customers want a voucher in their hand. iKhokha aims it at counters, but it runs on a battery and two SIMs, so it still works at a stall. It says up to 200 transactions on a charge. It's R1 499, or about R1 349 with iKhokha's 10% off here.
5Best for printing vouchers
iKhokha iK Flyer
Accepts
- Tap, chip & swipe
- Visa
- Mastercard
- Amex
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
Who it's for
For a stall that sells prepaid and hands over a printed voucher or slip. It has a touchscreen and takes tap, insert and swipe.
- BatteryUp to 200 transactions, per iKhokha
- Mobile dataTwo 4G SIMs at a flat R75 a month
- Fee per sale2.10% + VAT, 1.85% on Nedbank
- A month at R20 000R623 with VAT
What iKhokha gives everyone
- Unlimited digital invoices, free, from the iK Invoice tool
- Same-day payouts, twice a day, on Nedbank or the iK Debit Card for sole traders, at R2.50 a day
Confirmed on 4 November 2026
you'll go to www.ikhokha.com's sign-up page with your extra 10% discount applied
It has the same fee, payout routes and SIMs as the iK Flyer Lite, and one till roll comes in the box. After both discounts it costs R50 more than the Khumo Print 2, and it's the one of the two that can print a prepaid voucher.
Get it if people buy prepaid from you and want the voucher printed.
6. WAPPoint PrintPOS, the longest battery listed
WAPPoint gives the longest battery number here, about 36 hours. The PrintPOS is a rental at R299 a month plus VAT, after R200 plus VAT to set up, with the first month free. The rental falls away only above R45 000 a month on card.
6Longest battery listed
WAPPoint PrintPOS
Accepts
- Tap, chip & swipe
- Visa
- Mastercard
- SASSA
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
- Snap & Pay QR
Who it's for
For a busy round or event above R45 000 a month on card, where you need a printer and long hours away from a plug point.
- BatteryAbout 36 hours, per WAPPoint
- Mobile dataOne SIM included; both Vodacom and MTN, R50 more
- TakesTap, insert and swipe
- A month at R20 000R1 034 with VAT and insurance
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
Confirmed on 4 November 2026
It's the most expensive of the six to run at lower sales: R1 034 a month at R20 000, nearly twice the Khumo Print 2. So rent it only above R45 000 a month on card, or if a long day away from a plug point is your main problem.
7. Adumo PAX A910S, if you'd rather agree your own fee
Adumo is last only because its price comes by request. It sets a fee for each business, so it can't go in the cost table. Adumo calls the PAX A910S portable.
Your money goes into the bank you choose with no fee for the payout, and you get an account manager and 24/7 support.
7Best for a fee agreed for you
Adumo PAX A910S
Who it's for
For a business with several drivers or sites that wants one fee and one account manager. It has a printer, two SIMs, 4G and Wi-Fi.
- BatteryLong-lasting, per Adumo
- Mobile dataDual SIM, 4G, on quote
- Size5-inch screen, optional charging base
- SettlementAny bank, no settlement fees
What Adumo gives everyone
- Fill in the form and Adumo calls you back with a price for your business
- Settlement into a bank account of your choice, with no settlement fees
Confirmed on 4 November 2026
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 run several drivers or sites and want one fee agreed for all of them. For one person on the move, R529 a month at R20 000 is the number its quote has to beat.
What happens in a power cut, or with no signal?
A power cut doesn't stop any of these seven, as long as the battery has charge and you're on mobile data. Wi-Fi goes off when the router does, so the SIM is what keeps you selling. Our load shedding guide explains why.
No signal at all is harder. I wouldn't count on any of these machines taking a card with no network. So keep a second way to get paid. Yoco and iKhokha both let you send a payment link, which the customer pays on their own phone and data. WAPPoint gives you a free QR sign that does the same job.
So which portable card machine should you get?
If your customers are fine with a digital receipt, get the Yoco Khumo 2. Its data is included and its standard payout is free, and that's R100 back in your pocket with this Yoco discount link. Get the iKhokha iK Flyer Lite if people ask you for airtime. You get 10% off with this iKhokha discount link.
If someone needs a printed slip, get the Yoco Khumo Print 2, or the iKhokha iK Flyer for printing prepaid vouchers too. On a tight budget, rent the WAPPoint SquarePOS RX.
If two machines still look close, four answers settle it. Tell the panel below, and it names a machine and what it costs you at R20 000 a month.
Four quick answers
Which portable card machine fits you?
Answer for how you work today, and the machine updates as you go.
1Does someone need a printed slip?
2Do people ask you for airtime or electricity?
3Who do you bank with?
4Can you pay for a machine today?
Before you answer
The Yoco Khumo 2, for most jobs on the move
It's R699 with data included and up to 18 hours on a charge, and about R529 a month at R20 000 in card sales, VAT included.
The trade-off: it doesn't print and it doesn't sell airtime. If either matters to you, the answers here will point you to a different machine.
Prices and fees verified 4 November 2026. Monthly costs are our sums over 26 working days, VAT included.
Questions people ask about portable card machines
How long does a portable card machine's battery last?
It depends on the machine, and these are each maker's own numbers.Yoco says up to 18 hours on the Khumo 2 and Khumo Print 2. iKhokha says all day on the iK Flyer Lite and up to 200 transactions on the iK Flyer. WAPPoint says about 36 hours on the PrintPOS.
Can I charge a card machine from a power bank or in the car?
Not on a Yoco machine if you want to keep the warranty, because Yoco says to use only the cable and plug from the box.iKhokha's machines charge over USB-C, so a USB-C power bank fits the socket. A full charge on the Khumo 2 takes two hours.
Which portable card machine works best where the signal is weak?
Look for a machine that can use more than one network.The Yoco Khumo 2's SIM roams between networks, iKhokha's machines carry MTN and Vodacom SIMs and let you set your preference, and WAPPoint's PrintPOS can carry both for R50 a month. With no network at all, send a payment link.
3 more questions
Could my phone do the job instead of a card machine?
It can, if you only take a few card payments.iKhokha's app costs nothing on Android, Yoco's Tap to Pay works on iPhone, and WAPPoint's SoftPOS is R50 a month on Android, free above R5 000. All three take tap only and run on your phone's battery and data, so a card that won't tap or a flat phone loses you that sale. A phone app isn't a card machine, so none are ranked here.
Which portable card machines print receipts?
The Yoco Khumo Print 2 at R1 399, the iKhokha iK Flyer at R1 499, the WAPPoint PrintPOS at R299 a month plus VAT, and the Adumo PAX A910S on a quote.The Khumo 2, the iK Flyer Lite and the SquarePOS RX have no printer, and send digital receipts instead.
What is the best portable card machine in South Africa?
For most people on the move, the Yoco Khumo 2 at R699.Its data is included, Yoco says the battery lasts up to 18 hours, and it comes to about R529 a month at R20 000 in card sales with VAT. The iKhokha iK Flyer Lite is the better pick if people ask you for airtime. Verified 4 November 2026.
Mentioned in this ranking
ReviewYoco Khumo 2 Review (2026): Is R699 Enough?Yoco Khumo 2 review: R699 once-off, 2.30% on the free Core plan, data included and an 18-hour battery.Last confirmed on 5 Nov 2026
ReviewiKhokha Card Machine Review (2026): Worth It?Our iKhokha review: the transaction fee, the R2.50 payout fee, what iK Prepaid can earn you, and a year's cost against…Last confirmed on 5 Nov 2026
ReviewWAPPoint Card Machine Review (2026): Rent, or Buy?WAPPoint review: R200 to start, a rental that stops above a set turnover, real-person 24/7 support, and a match-or-beat…Last confirmed on 5 Nov 2026
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Where the deals are
Deals confirmed 24 Sep 2026
- Ranked5 Best Card Machines for a Small Business in SA (2026)The same field, worked through by type of business: what a spaza, a salon, a restaurant, a market stall and a mobile…Verified deal10% offthe iK Flyer and iK Flyer LiteGet the dealSee the rankingVerified dealR100 offany card machineGet the deal
- Ranked11 Best Card Machines in South Africa (2026)11 SA card machines ranked on what each costs you over a year.See the ranking
- Every discount in one placeThe extra discounts we foundTwo live discounts on card machines right now, each confirmed on the date shown.See all the deals