Review
Yoco 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 who it doesn't suit. Checked September 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.
The Yoco Khumo 2 works on its own, with its own SIM and data, so it takes cards without your phone.
Commissioned · not yet shotYoco's the card machine most South African businesses picture when they think about taking cards, and that's for a good reason. If you've only ever taken cash, it's usually the quickest way to start taking cards, and there's nothing to pay each month while you find your feet.
If you're reading a Yoco review, you've probably half decided already and you're checking for the thing you'd regret. So, in short, Yoco earns its reputation, and there's exactly one kind of shop I'd send somewhere else. I'll start with what Yoco does best and what it costs, then which of its three machines fits your business, and I'll come to that one kind of shop near the end.
What Yoco is, and who it is for
Yoco's built around one idea, that taking cards should be the easiest part of running your business. There's no business bank account to open, no monthly bill and no contract. The data's included, and there's one fee you can understand without a spreadsheet.
So it suits a new business, a pop-up, a freelancer or a market stall best. You pay for the machine once, it arrives ready to use, and you're taking cards before you've had to learn anything about payments.
It also takes the cards your customers actually carry: the major debit and credit cards, Amex and SASSA cards, plus Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay, by tap, chip or swipe.
What we like
- 2.30% excl. VAT on local cards, dropping to 1.35% on local debit above R50 000 a month
- R0 a month on Core, with unlimited SIM data at no extra cost
- Free POS, inventory, invoicing and payment links
- Paperless sign-up that pays into a personal account, with no registered company needed
Where it falls shortwhat to know first
Where it falls short
- Same-day money is a paid extra (Instant Payout), which adds up if you draw it often
- The machine can't sell airtime or electricity for commission
- No phone number listed, so help comes through WhatsApp or chat
The numbers in fullspecs & terms
- PriceR699
- MonthlyR0 (Core)
- Rate2.30% excl. VAT
- Payout1-2 days
Best for
New businesses, pop-ups, freelancers and market traders who want a low fee without switching banks
Who should avoid it
Not for counters that live on same-day cash, or that get asked for airtime and electricity all day
Quick verdict
If you're starting out or selling under about R50 000 a month, buy the Khumo 2. If your counter sells prepaid all day or needs its money the same day without a percentage, read who should buy something else, near the end, before you decide.
R100 comes off automatically at signup, on top of everything Yoco already includes.
Ready to try Yoco Khumo 2?
What Yoco costs
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 youR0 a month. Sell R20 000 on card in a month and you pay R460 in fees plus VAT, and nothing else.Core is Yoco's standard plan and the one almost every small business is on. Every price in this review is quoted on it. Nothing on Core is billed monthly, the SIM data's unlimited at no extra cost, and the 2.30% excluding VAT drops to 1.35% on local debit once you pass R50 000 a month, automatically rather than on request. Yoco's paid plans start with Plus at R249 a month per location, and most businesses never need to leave Core to get the numbers on this page.See every term in the glossary you pay 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% with VAT on it. On R40 000 a month that's R1 058 rather than R920, so R1 656 a year sits between reading Yoco's fee and paying it.Yoco quotes its fees excluding VAT, and so does every competitor in this market, so the fees on this page compare directly with no conversion. That stops being safe the moment you compare Yoco to a bank quote, because some banks quote including VAT, and the same fee then looks cheaper on one page than the other. If your business is VAT-registered you claim the VAT back, and the excluding number is the real one. If it isn't, add 15% to every fee here.See every term in the glossary on local debit and credit cards. There's no monthly fee, and the SIM data's unlimited at no extra cost. Once your turnover passes R50 000 a month, the fee on local debit cards drops to 1.35%, so the more you sell, the less each debit sale costs you.
Above R200 000 a month, Yoco agrees a custom fee with you. There are paid plans too, starting with Yoco's Plus plan at R249 a month per location, but most businesses never need to leave Core. If you'd like to see how these numbers compare across the market, our card machine fees guide works through them.
Every fee on Yoco's Core plan, so you can work out a month's cost before you buy.
What Yoco costs, in one place
| Yoco Core | |
|---|---|
| Local card rate | 2.30% excl. VAT |
| Local debit, R50 000 to R200 000 a month | 1.35% excl. VAT, applied automatically |
| International cards | 3.20% excl. VAT (2.75% above R50 000) |
| Above R200 000 a month | Custom fee |
| Monthly fee | R0 |
| SIM data | Unlimited, at no extra cost |
| Standard settlement | 1-2 business days, free |
| Same-day money | Instant Payout, R17.25 up to R1 000, then 1% |
| Contract | None, you own the machine |
From Yoco's price list on yoco.com, 24 September 2026.
Credit cards stay at 2.30% all the way to R200 000 a month. Only local debit gets cheaper.
Instant Payout is fine for an odd month-end. Drawn every day, it comes to about R400 a month on R40 000 of card sales.
Getting paid costs nothing if you can wait. Standard SettlementWhen the money actually lands in your bank account — not when the payment is approved. The gap is one to three business days depending on provider.What Yoco's costsA card sale on Friday afternoon usually lands on Monday or Tuesday, at no charge. Instant Payout puts it in your account the same day, for a fee.Settlement is when the money actually lands in your account, which comes after the payment is approved on the machine. The gap between the two is set by the card machine company, not the bank. Yoco's free standard payout goes into any bank, including a personal account. Instant Payout is the paid way to get it the same day. It pays into all the major banks and no business type is excluded, which is unusual in this market.See every term in the glossary takes one to two business days at no charge. If you want your money the same day, Yoco's Instant Payout costs R17.25 a payout up to R1 000, and 1% above that, for up to R10 000 a day.
There's nothing to qualify for. Instant Payout works with any of the major banks and any type of business. Our payout times guide shows how that compares with the rest of the market.
Which Yoco machine to buy
Yoco makes three machines, and most businesses only need the cheapest. The table shows what the other two add, so you can tell quickly whether you're one of the exceptions.
Cheapest first. All three run on Yoco's Core plan, so the price is the only cost that changes.
The Yoco range at a glance
| Khumo 2 | Khumo Print 2 | Counter bundle | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | R699 | R1 499 | R2 999 |
| Prints a slip | No, digital receipts | Yes, thermal printer | Yes |
| SIM data | Unlimited, no extra cost | Unlimited, no extra cost | Unlimited, no extra cost |
| Best for | Almost everyone starting out | Counters whose customers expect a slip | A full till: salon, small restaurant |
Prices from yoco.com, 24 September 2026. Yoco changes them with promotions.← scroll sideways on a narrow screen →
Before these prices, the Khumo 2 was R1 299, the Khumo Print 2 R1 999 and the Counter R4 999.
Not sure you need printed slips? Start with the Khumo 2. There's no contract, so adding a printing machine later costs you only the machine.
Yoco Khumo 2
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
A dual SIM that switches networks, up to 18 hours of battery, and R0 a month on Yoco's Core plan.
- Monthly Data FeeR0 (on standard Core plan)
- Transaction Fee2.30% (excl. VAT) local cards; 1.35% on debit above R50k/month
- ConnectivityDual SIM 4G & WiFi
- PrinterNone (Digital receipts via SMS/Email)
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
The Khumo 2 at R699 is the one to buy unless you've got a reason not to. The dual SIM is the single most important strength of the Khumo 2. It doesn't lean on your phone, and if one network drops during load shedding, it switches to another, so the sale still goes through.
If your customers expect a printed slip, the Khumo Print 2 adds a thermal printer and keeps the free data. And if you're running a full counter, like a salon or a small restaurant, the Counter bundle is the step up.
Two more numbers matter on a market day. The battery lasts up to 18 hours, and the machine brings its own data. That's the case for a standalone card machine over anything that pairs to a phone. Your phone isn't carrying the payment, so its battery and its signal stop being your payment risk.
It's also tougher than it looks. Yoco says the Khumo 2 is IP54 and ATEX certified and resists spills, steam and dust, which helps on a food stall or in a kitchen. Inside, there's a 5.5-inch HD touchscreen and a quad-core 2.2GHz processor with 2GB of memory.
Yoco Khumo Print 2
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
For customers who want a printed slip. It has a thermal printer built in and a faster eight-core processor with 3GB of memory, and it's still R0 a month with unlimited data.
- Monthly Data FeeR0 (on standard Core plan)
- Transaction Fee2.30% (excl. VAT) local cards; 1.35% on debit above R50k/month
- ConnectivityDual SIM 4G & WiFi
- PrinterBuilt-in high-speed thermal printer
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
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
A full till for a salon or a small restaurant, with Yoco's Neo Touch card machine inside.
- IncludesNeo Touch card machine, sold only in this bundle
- Transaction fee2.30% excl. VAT, same as Core
- Monthly / data feeR0
- Best forA full counter: salon, small restaurant, sit-down service
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
If you've seen the Neo Touch and want one, it only comes inside the Counter bundle at R2 999. Yoco doesn't sell it as a machine on its own.
Tap to Pay turns an iPhone into a card machine at no cost, which makes it a useful free backup to keep in your pocket. It only works on an iPhone, though, so it won't help a team on Android.
The software that comes free with it
Much of what you get from Yoco is the software that comes with the machine. There's a free point-of-sale app, stock tracking, invoicing, payment links and a payment gateway, all included in that R0 a month, and you run it from the free Yoco app on your phone.
What it won't do is build you a website. The gateway takes card payments on a shopfront you set up elsewhere, like Shopify, Wix or WooCommerce.
Staff PINs, stock counts and the day's sales on your phone are the parts you'll use every day. For a lot of shops, that back office is the strongest reason to pick Yoco.
Further down the line: Yoco Capital
After a few months of card sales on Yoco, Yoco Capital can advance you cash against them. You repay it as a share of your daily card sales instead of a fixed instalment, so a slow week means a smaller repayment. You won't need it on day one, but it's a reason Yoco can stay your card machine company as you grow.
Signing up, and getting hold of someone
Signing up is quick and paperless. You need an ID and a bank statement, Yoco pays out to a personal account, and you don't need a registered company. Most people are approved and trading within a day.
You can order the machine online, or buy one at one of the roughly 300 retail stores that sell Yoco machines.
You may have heard Yoco is hard to get hold of. It lists 24-hour customer service and WhatsApp support, and for most owners WhatsApp is the channel they'd reach for anyway.
What Yoco doesn't list is a phone number to call. If you'd rather talk to someone when the machine stops working on a Saturday morning, that's worth knowing before you buy.
Who should buy something else
Before you buy, check the few things Yoco doesn't do against how your business runs.
Where it wins
- Local debit gets cheaper as you grow, 1.35% above R50 000 a month
- Nothing to pay in a month you don't sell
- Stock, staff PINs, invoices and payment links come free
- Takes SASSA cards, Amex and phone wallets
Where it loses
- No airtime, data or electricity to sell for commission
- Same-day money is a paid extra
- No phone number to call
Terms checked on yoco.com, 24 September 2026
The biggest is prepaid. Yoco's machines don't sell airtime or electricity, so there's no commission to earn on the side. If customers already come in asking for prepaid, iKhokha lets you sell it from the card machine and keep a commission on each sale.
Same-day cash is the second. If you'd draw it every day, iKhokha charges a flat R2.50 a payout instead of a percentage, but only for Nedbank customers, or sole proprietors who open 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 appears in a Yoco reviewIt's one of two ways into iKhokha's flat-fee same-day payout. Without it or a Nedbank account, Yoco's Instant Payout is the same-day option, and it has no bank condition.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 and list it on your iKhokha profile. It's the only account iKhokha's same-day iK Debit Card pays into, and because it's a personal account, the card route is closed to registered companies. iKhokha also pays Nedbank customers the same day without it.See every term in the glossary for it. Yoco's Instant Payout costs more, but anyone can use it. Neither is free. Yoco charges cash for it, and iKhokha makes you bank where it says.
And if you'd rather phone someone than send a WhatsApp, iKhokha lists a number to call. If any of this sounds like your business, read our Yoco vs iKhokha comparison before you decide, and our spaza shop guide if you run a spaza.
So who should buy Yoco?
Yoco set out to make taking cards simple, and it does that. You get the lowest simple fee you'll find without switching banks, nothing billed monthly, data that never shows up on an invoice, and a sign-up most people finish in a day.
So if you're starting out, watching every rand and want a card machine that works the day it arrives, Yoco is the machine I'd hand you, and the Khumo 2 is the one to get.
The exception is a shop where customers ask for airtime and electricity all day, or the owner needs the money the same day without paying a percentage. That shop should look at iKhokha first.
Not sure which side of that you're on? Answer three quick questions about how your business runs, and you'll get a straight yes or no on Yoco.
Interactive · 30 seconds
Buy Yoco, or look elsewhere?
Answer for how your business runs, and the recommendation updates as you go.
1What costs your business the most right now?
2Do customers ask you for airtime or electricity?
3If it stops working on a Saturday, what do you need?
Before you answer
Buy Yoco, as most businesses reading this should
2.30% excl. VAT, R0 a month, unlimited data included, and no company registration needed.
The trade-off: it doesn't sell airtime or electricity, and same-day money is a paid extra.
Yoco's fees and settlement terms are from yoco.com, checked 24 September 2026, and iKhokha's from its own website, checked 28 August 2026. We rank on one-year cost, the same way for every brand, which is why this review recommends a rival where a rival is the better answer.
There's no contract, so if you outgrow Yoco later, moving on costs you the price of the next machine and nothing more.
Most new and small South African businesses that want a low fee without switching banks, unlimited data included and nothing to pay each month.
Yoco Khumo 2
R699once-off
R699 once, no monthly fee on Core (checked 24 September 2026)
Get the Yoco Khumo 2 Price checked 24 Sep 2026Questions people ask about Yoco
Day to day
Is Yoco worth it in South Africa?
For most small businesses, yes.It's the easiest way to start taking cards. You pay R699 once for the Khumo 2, nothing a month on Yoco's Core plan, nothing for the SIM data, and 2.30% excluding VAT a sale, which drops to 1.35% on local debit above R50 000 a month. It's worth less if you need the machine to earn commission on airtime and electricity, or to pay you the same day without a percentage. iKhokha is stronger on both.
How much does Yoco charge per transaction?
On its Core plan, Yoco charges 2.30% excluding VAT on local debit and credit cards, with no monthly fee and unlimited SIM data included.Above R50 000 a month, local debit drops to 1.35% while credit stays at 2.30%. International cards cost 3.20%, or 2.75% above R50 000, and above R200 000 a month Yoco sets a custom fee. Its paid plans, from R249 a month per location, lower the fee at higher turnover. Checked on yoco.com, 24 September 2026.
Does the Yoco machine need a phone?
No. The Yoco Khumo 2 and Khumo Print 2 are standalone, with dual SIMs and their own data, so they work without your phone and stay online during load shedding as long as there's cell coverage.Tap to Pay is the exception, because it runs on an iPhone.
What is the difference between the Yoco Khumo 2 and Khumo Print 2?
Both are standalone machines with their own SIM and unlimited data on Core.The Khumo Print 2 adds a built-in thermal printer and a faster processor (eight cores and 3GB of memory, against four cores and 2GB), and costs R1 499 against R699. Choose the Print 2 only if your customers expect a printed slip.
Payouts
Does Yoco pay out instantly?
Not by default. Standard settlement takes one to two business days and costs nothing.For same-day money, Yoco's Instant Payout costs R17.25 a payout up to R1 000 and 1% above that, for up to R10 000 a day, and works with any of the major banks. If you'd draw same-day cash every day, iKhokha charges a flat R2.50 a payout instead, but only for Nedbank customers and sole proprietors on its iK Debit Card.
Contracts & sign-up
Do I need a registered business to get Yoco?
No. Yoco pays out to a personal bank account and doesn't need a registered company.Approval usually comes within a day.
