Ranked
7 Best Mobile Card Machines in South Africa (2026)
The best mobile card machine for your kind of business, to buy or rent: Yoco, iKhokha, WAPPoint and Adumo, with what each costs a month on mobile data.
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.
A mobile business doesn't look the same from one person to the next. A hairdresser works at a client's home, a taxi driver at the rank, a food truck at a festival, and a plumber in someone's kitchen. So the best mobile card machine depends on what your day looks like.
That's why I've matched seven machines to the businesses they suit, to buy or to rent. I've also priced each one on mobile data at R5 000, R10 000 and R20 000 a month in card sales.
How I ranked them
Every machine here works on its own SIM and battery, so none needs Wi-Fi or a plug point while you work. I've put them in order of what they cost to run on mobile data: the two you buy without a printer first, then the two with a printer, then WAPPoint's rentals. Adumo comes last only because it quotes each business its own price.
If battery life and size matter most to you, our portable card machines list goes deeper on carrying one all day.
What each one costs a month on mobile data
Here's what you'd pay each month at three levels of card sales, with VAT on the fees and a payout every working day.
A month on mobile data, by card sales
| R5 000 a month | R10 000 a month | R20 000 a month | |
|---|---|---|---|
 Yoco Khumo 2 |
R132 | R265 | R529 |
 iKhokha iK Flyer Lite |
R261 | R382 | R623 |
| Yoco Khumo Print 2 |
R132 | R265 | R529 |
| iKhokha iK Flyer |
R261 | R382 | R623 |
 WAPPoint SquarePOS RX |
R433 | R591 | R690 |
| WAPPoint PrintPOS |
R559 | R718 | R1 034 |
Our sums with VAT and 26 payouts a month. iKhokha includes its R75 SIMs; WAPPoint its R50 insurance. WAPPoint's rentals stop above R15 000 (SquarePOS RX) and R45 000 (PrintPOS) a month. Adumo quotes each business.← scroll sideways on a narrow screen →
The two Yoco machines cost the least to run at every level here, because Yoco includes the data and the standard payout.
So Yoco costs less on mobile data, even though iKhokha's fee per sale is lower. The gap closes as your card sales grow, and on Nedbank it closes much sooner, which our Yoco vs iKhokha comparison works out in full.
1. Yoco Khumo 2 - best for services at the customer's door
The Khumo 2 comes first because it costs the least to keep connected. Yoco includes the data on its one SIM, which roams to whichever network is strongest where you are. Yoco says the battery lasts up to 18 hours, so a full day of appointments needs no charging.
It's R699, and this Yoco discount link takes R100 off. There's no monthly fee on Yoco CoreYoco'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 R250 haircut at a client's homeCore's fee on a R250 card sale is R5.75 plus VAT. There's no monthly charge on top, so a quiet week costs you nothing to keep the machine.Core is Yoco's free plan and the one most small businesses start on. There's no monthly fee, the point-of-sale software is included, and the fee is 2.30% excluding VAT on local cards up to R50 000 a month. Plus (R249 a month) and Pro (R499) lower the fee and add tools.See every term in the glossary, and your standard payout reaches your bank free in one to two business days.
Yoco Khumo 2
Its own roaming SIM with data included, up to 18 hours of battery, and no phone needed. 2.30% a sale.
My quick review of the Khumo 2, for work at the customer's door
The Khumo 2 is the cheapest mobile machine to run, because Yoco pays for its data and your standard payout.
Where it stands out
- Data included on its roaming SIM
- Up to 18 hours on a charge
- No monthly fee on the free Core plan
Buy it if
- You work at clients' homes or on job sites
- Customers are happy with an SMS or email receipt
Skip it if
- People ask you for airtime or electricity
If you skip it, the best alternative
The same R699, and it sells prepaid, with a slightly lower fee, 2.10% against Yoco's 2.30%. But data costs R75 a month and payouts R2.50 a day, where Yoco includes its data and pays out free, so on mobile data it costs a little more to run below about R61 000 a month.
Read our full iKhokha reviewThe plans
You pay for the Khumo 2 once: R699 for the machine, or R599 with the R100 off Yoco gives through the discount links on this page. After that, the plan you choose decides two things, what you pay each month and what Yoco takes from each card sale. Most small businesses stay on Core, which costs nothing a month. The paid plans lower the fee a little and add tools, so pick one for the tools rather than the saving.
Core
R0a month
What you get
- 2.30% on local cards, up to R50 000 a month
- 1.35% on local debit cards above R50 000
- Yoco POS, payment links and invoices
- Payouts to any bank, free in 1 to 2 business days
Terms
- International cards 3.20%
- Instant Payout 1.5%, minimum R17.25
- Fast Payout, by 8am the next day, 0.75%, minimum R7.50
The plan to start on, and the one most people stay on.
Plus
R249a month per shop
What you get
- 2.10% on local debit, 2.20% on credit, up to R50 000
- A loyalty programme at checkout
- Appointment bookings
- More than one shop on one account
Terms
- 30 days free
- International cards 3.10%
On fees alone it saves R100 a month at R50 000 in debit sales, so choose it for loyalty or bookings.
Pro
R499a month per shop
What you get
- 1.95% on local debit, 2.15% on credit, up to R50 000
- Fast Payout by 8am, free for now
- Table-side ordering
- Advanced staff permissions and accounting links
Terms
- 30 days free
- International cards 3.05%
Built for restaurants that take orders at the table.
Prices and plans from yoco.com on 21 Oct 2026. Plan fees are per location and exclude VAT; card fees are on local cards up to R50 000 a month.
It suits mobile hairdressers, beauty therapists, plumbers, electricians and personal trainers, anyone whose customer pays at their own door. Want it faster? Yoco's Instant Payout sends it within minutes, from R17.25 a payout.
2. iKhokha iK Flyer Lite - best for taxis, ranks and prepaid
The iK Flyer Lite is the same R699, with a lower fee per sale. It charges 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.On a R30 taxi fare2.10% excluding VAT is 63c, and with 15% VAT on top iKhokha keeps about 72c of the R30. Yoco quotes its 2.30% the same way.Card machine fees in South Africa are quoted before VAT, and what leaves your sale is the fee plus 15%. If you're VAT-registered you claim that VAT back; if not, add 15% to every fee in this list.See every term in the glossary on local cards against Yoco's 2.30%, or 1.85% if your business banks with Nedbank. With iKhokha's discount link it comes to about R629.
It carries an MTN and a Vodacom SIM, at a flat R75 a month for unlimited data, and each day's payout costs R2.50. That's why its monthly bill is higher than the Khumo 2's at these card sales, unless what it does better matters to your business.
iKhokha iK Flyer Lite
MTN and Vodacom SIMs, airtime and electricity sales built in, and two payouts a day on Nedbank. 2.10% a sale.
My quick review of the iK Flyer Lite, for ranks and prepaid
The iK Flyer Lite is the machine that earns on more than card sales, because it sells prepaid where people already ask for it.
Where it stands out
- A lower fee per sale than Yoco
- Commission on airtime, data and electricity
- Two SIMs, on two networks
Buy it if
- Customers ask you for airtime or electricity
- You bank with Nedbank, or you're a sole trader
Skip it if
- You want the lowest monthly bill on mobile data
If you skip it, the best alternative
The same R699, with data included and free payouts, so it costs a little less to run below about R61 000 a month, even though its fee is slightly higher (2.30% against 2.10%). The iK Flyer Lite sells prepaid airtime and electricity, and its SIMs cost R75 a month.
Read our full Khumo 2 reviewPrices from ikhokha.com on 4 Nov 2026; the struck price is iKhokha's own.
First, it sells airtime, data and electricity, so a passenger or passer-by who stops for airtime can also become a card customer. Second, sole traders with the free iK Debit Card, and Nedbank customers, are paid on the day of the sale.
Therefore, it suits taxi drivers, spaza rounds, car wash attendants and market stalls where prepaid sells, and anyone who buys stock every morning. Our taxi drivers' guide and spaza shop guide show it at work.
3. Yoco Khumo Print 2 - best for food trucks and events
A printer makes sense when a slip has a job to do, like an order ticket for the kitchen or a receipt a customer must keep. The Khumo Print 2 has the Khumo 2's SIM, data and battery, with a printer and a bigger screen. It's R1 399, or R100 less with Yoco's discount link.
Yoco Khumo Print 2
The Khumo 2's SIM, data and battery, with a printer for order slips and receipts. 2.30% a sale.
My quick review of the Khumo Print 2, for a queue on the move
The Khumo Print 2 is the cheapest printing machine to run on mobile data, at the same monthly cost as the Khumo 2.
Where it stands out
- Prints order slips and receipts
- The same included data and battery as the Khumo 2
- Your menu and staff PINs on the machine
Buy it if
- You serve a queue and print orders
- Customers need a slip to keep
Skip it if
- You want the smallest machine to carry
If you skip it, the best alternative
It prints prepaid vouchers, which the Khumo Print 2 doesn't, and its fee is slightly lower, 2.10% against 2.30%. It costs R100 more, and adds R75 a month for SIMs and R2.50 a day for payouts.
Read our full iKhokha reviewThe plans
You pay for the Khumo Print 2 once: R1 399 for the machine, or R1 299 with the R100 off Yoco gives through the discount links on this page. After that, the plan you choose decides two things, what you pay each month and what Yoco takes from each card sale. Most small businesses stay on Core, which costs nothing a month. The paid plans lower the fee a little and add tools, so pick one for the tools rather than the saving.
Core
R0a month
What you get
- 2.30% on local cards, up to R50 000 a month
- 1.35% on local debit cards above R50 000
- Yoco POS, payment links and invoices
- Payouts to any bank, free in 1 to 2 business days
Terms
- International cards 3.20%
- Instant Payout 1.5%, minimum R17.25
The plan to start on, and the one most people stay on.
Plus
R249a month per shop
What you get
- 2.10% on local debit, 2.20% on credit, up to R50 000
- A loyalty programme at checkout
- Appointment bookings
- More than one shop on one account
Terms
- 30 days free
- International cards 3.10%
On fees alone it saves R100 a month at R50 000 in debit sales, so choose it for loyalty or bookings.
Pro
R499a month per shop
What you get
- 1.95% on local debit, 2.15% on credit, up to R50 000
- Free fast payouts
- Table-side ordering
- Advanced staff permissions and accounting links
Terms
- 30 days free
- International cards 3.05%
Built for restaurants that take orders at the table.
Prices and plans from yoco.com on 21 Oct 2026. Plan fees are per location and exclude VAT; card fees are on local cards up to R50 000 a month.
It suits food trucks, event and festival stalls, mobile coffee carts and delivery businesses with account customers. Our food truck guide shows how it prints the cook's order at the hatch.
4. iKhokha iK Flyer - best for selling prepaid vouchers on paper
The iK Flyer is the one to choose when customers want a voucher in their hand. It prints the airtime or electricity PIN on a slip, which is quicker than reading it off a screen when there's a queue. It's R1 499, or about R1 349 with iKhokha's 10% off.
iKhokha iK Flyer
Prints receipts and prepaid vouchers, with two SIMs and up to 200 sales on a charge. 2.10% a sale.
My quick review of the iK Flyer, for printed prepaid
The iK Flyer is the printing machine for a prepaid queue, with the same lower fee as the iK Flyer Lite.
Where it stands out
- Prints airtime and electricity vouchers
- Takes tap, insert and swipe
- Up to 200 sales on a charge
Buy it if
- People buy prepaid from you and want it printed
Skip it if
- Nobody asks you for a slip
If you skip it, the best alternative
R100 less to buy (R1 399 against R1 499), with data included and free payouts, though its fee is slightly higher (2.30% against 2.10%). The iK Flyer prints prepaid vouchers too.
Read our full Yoco reviewPrices from ikhokha.com on 4 Nov 2026.
It suits tuck shops on the move, kiosks at taxi ranks, and market traders who sell electricity tokens. It costs the same to run as the iK Flyer Lite, so you're paying R800 more only for the printer.
5. WAPPoint SquarePOS RX - best if you'd rather rent
Renting lets you start with R200 instead of R699. WAPPoint charges R200 plus VAT to set up the SquarePOS RX, the first month is free, and then it's R189 a month plus VAT. The rental stops in any month your card sales pass R15 000, so a growing business soon pays only the fee.
It takes tap only, so a customer whose card doesn't tap can't pay on it. The SIM and repairs are included, and I'd add WAPPoint's R50 insurance against theft and damage, because a machine that travels is exposed to both. My sums include it.
WAPPoint SquarePOS RX
A tap-only rental with its SIM and repairs included, and the rental stops above R15 000 a month.
My quick review of the SquarePOS RX, to rent
The SquarePOS RX is the cheapest way to start taking cards on the move today, if you'll grow past R15 000 a month.
Where it stands out
- R200 to start, first month free
- SIM and repairs included
- No rental above R15 000 a month
Buy it if
- R699 is out of reach this month
- Your card sales will pass R15 000 soon
Skip it if
- Some customers can't tap their card
If you skip it, the best alternative
R499 less to start (R200 against R699), but below R15 000 a month it costs R239 every month, where the Khumo 2 costs nothing monthly.
Read our full Khumo 2 reviewThe packages
- RentR200 setup, R50 a month insuranceR189 a monthNo rental in any month above R15 000
- Buyexcluding VATR3 199
Prices from wappoint.co.za on 4 Nov 2026; machine prices exclude VAT.
It suits new market stalls, seasonal stalls, school and church fundraisers, and pop-up traders. At R10 000 a month it costs about R327 more a month than a Khumo 2, so if you can save for a couple of months, buying works out cheaper. Our WAPPoint review covers the full range.
6. WAPPoint PrintPOS - best for long days at busy events
The PrintPOS has the longest battery here, about 36 hours by WAPPoint's count. It prints, takes tap, insert and swipe, and rents for R299 a month plus VAT, after R200 plus VAT to set up. The rental stops only above R45 000 a month on card.
For R50 more a month it carries both a Vodacom and an MTN SIM, and another R50 adds airtime and electricity sales. Below R45 000 a month, though, it's the most expensive machine here to run.
WAPPoint PrintPOS
A printing rental with about 36 hours of battery, and the rental stops above R45 000 a month.
My quick review of the PrintPOS, for long event days
The PrintPOS is for long, busy days away from a plug, where the battery matters more than the monthly cost.
Where it stands out
- About 36 hours on a charge
- Prints, with tap, insert and swipe
- Both networks for R50 more
Buy it if
- You work festivals or long markets
- Your card sales pass R45 000 a month
Skip it if
- Your card sales are below R20 000 a month
If you skip it, the best alternative
Both print and can sell prepaid. The iK Flyer is R1 499 once with nothing monthly but R75 SIMs; the PrintPOS costs nothing to rent once you're above R45 000 a month.
Read our full iKhokha reviewThe packages
- RentR200 setup, R50 a month insuranceR299 a monthNo rental in any month above R45 000
- Buyexcluding VATR3 899
Prices from wappoint.co.za on 4 Nov 2026; machine prices exclude VAT.
It suits festival traders, busy weekend markets and mobile bars, the kind of day that runs from setup to pack-down with nowhere to charge.
7. Adumo PAX A910S - best for teams on one agreed fee
Adumo is last only because it sets a price for each business. Its PAX A910S has a printer, two SIMs, 4G and Wi-Fi, and your money goes to the bank you choose with no payout fee. You also get an account manager and 24/7 support.
7Best for a team on one fee
Adumo PAX A910S
Who it's for
For a business with several drivers or sites that wants one agreed fee and one account manager. It prints, with two SIMs, 4G and Wi-Fi.
- Mobile dataDual SIM, 4G, on quote
- PrinterBuilt in
- SettlementAny bank, no payout fee
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.
It suits delivery fleets, mobile service teams and franchises with several people taking cards. For one person on the move, the R529 a month a Khumo 2 costs at R20 000 is the number Adumo's quote has to beat.
What about your phone, or Capitec?
Your phone can take tap payments too. iKhokha's app turns an Android phone into a card reader at no charge, Yoco offers Tap to Pay on iPhone, and WAPPoint has an Android app. They're a fine way to start or a useful backup, but they take tap only and run on your phone's battery, so I haven't ranked them as card machines. Our guide to accepting card payments explains when a phone is enough.
If you bank with Capitec, it offers its own card machine, which settles only into a Capitec account. Our Yoco vs iKhokha vs Capitec comparison sets the three side by side.
So which mobile card machine should you get?
As you can see, it comes down to what your customers ask of you on the move: a tap, a slip, prepaid, or a lower start-up cost.
For services at the customer's door, like hairdressers, plumbers, electricians and personal trainers, get the Yoco Khumo 2. It costs the least to run and needs nothing but a charge at night.
For taxis, ranks and anywhere prepaid sells, like taxi drivers, spaza rounds and market stalls, get the iKhokha iK Flyer Lite, and the iK Flyer if customers want the voucher printed.
For food trucks, events and queues, like food trucks, coffee carts and festival stalls, get the Khumo Print 2. And if buying isn't possible this month, rent the SquarePOS RX and switch once your sales grow.
Still deciding? Answer three quick questions about your business below, and you'll get the machine that fits it.
Your business, your machine
Which mobile card machine fits your business?
Answer for how you work today. The recommendation updates as you go.
1What kind of business do you run on the move?
2Do customers need anything printed?
3Would you rather buy or rent?
Before you answer
Yoco Khumo 2, for most mobile businesses
It's R699, or R100 less with the Yoco discount link, with data included and no monthly fee.
The trade-off: it doesn't sell prepaid or print. The iK Flyer Lite sells prepaid, and the Khumo Print 2 prints.
Monthly costs are our sums over 26 working days, with VAT.
Questions people ask about mobile card machines
Can I rent a mobile card machine?
Yes. WAPPoint rents the SquarePOS RX for R189 a month plus VAT, after R200 plus VAT to set up, and the rental stops in any month your card sales pass R15 000.Its PrintPOS, with a printer, rents for R299 a month plus VAT.
Do mobile card machines need Wi-Fi?
No. Every machine in this list has its own SIM and runs on mobile data.Yoco includes the data; iKhokha's SIMs are R75 a month, and WAPPoint's rentals include one SIM.
Which mobile card machine pays out fastest?
iKhokha pays on the day of the sale, in two payouts, if you bank with Nedbank or use the free iK Debit Card as a sole trader.Yoco's Instant Payout sends money within minutes from R17.25 a payout, and its standard payout is free in one to two business days.
1 more question
What is the best mobile card machine in South Africa?
For most businesses, the Yoco Khumo 2.It's R699, with data included and no monthly fee, and it costs about R265 a month to run at R10 000 in card sales. If customers ask you for airtime or electricity, the iKhokha iK Flyer Lite is the better fit.
Mentioned in this ranking
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 what a year costs.Last confirmed on 5 Nov 2026
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
ReviewYoco Card Machine Review (2026): Is It Worth It?Yoco reviewed for South African businesses: what it costs, which of its three machines to buy, the free software, and…Last confirmed on 5 Nov 2026
