Card terminals in Germany 2026: no business without card payments
Card payments have long been standard in Germany: according to the EHI Retail Institute, well over half of retail turnover is now paid by card or smartphone – although by number of transactions, cash is still roughly level according to the Bundesbank. Businesses without a card terminal lose customers – especially in hospitality, retail and services.
The good news: card terminals are cheaper and simpler than ever. Mobile card readers such as SumUp (Solo Lite €34) or Zettle (first reader €29 plus VAT) work with no monthly fees. For businesses with high turnover, subscription plans or individual contracts with lower transaction fees can be cheaper in the long run.
Market overview 2026
Cashless payments in Germany keep growing. Contactless payments (NFC) by card or smartphone now account for the majority of card payments, and girocard is also available in Apple Pay and Google Pay at many banks. All modern terminals support contactless payments.
What types of card terminals are there?
| Type | Description | Ideal for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile card reader | Connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth | Market stalls, food trucks, delivery services | approx. €29–79 |
| Countertop terminal | Fixed device at the counter, cabled or via Wi-Fi | Retail, restaurants | Rental €5–30/mo |
| Smart terminal | Android-based terminal with display + apps | Hospitality, chains | approx. €170–500 or rental |
| SoftPOS | Your phone becomes the terminal (NFC in the smartphone) | Freelancers, small businesses | €0 (app only) |
Fee models: percentage, subscription or individual contract
There are three common fee models for card terminals:
- Percentage with no monthly fee (SumUp, Zettle, myPOS One): 1.29–1.39% per transaction. Ideal for low or fluctuating turnover.
- Subscription (SumUp Payments Plus, myPOS Plus/Pro): monthly fee of €19–39 for a lower rate of 0.79–0.89% on EEA consumer cards. According to SumUp, Payments Plus pays off from around €3,900 monthly turnover.
- Individual contract (PAYONE, Nexi, CCV, Bezahlexperten): separate prices per card type, e.g. girocard from 0.26% + €0.08 (PAYONE Classic) or flat rates of max. 1.19%. Often with terminal rental and minimum terms – compare offers.
Worked example
With €5,000 card turnover/month: SumUp standard costs €69.50 (1.39%), SumUp Payments Plus €58.50 (€19 + 0.79% – if only EEA consumer cards are used), myPOS One €64.50 (1.29%). A flat rate of 1.19% would be €59.50. Business cards, Amex and non-EEA cards are more expensive with all providers – the actual card mix decides.
Purchase vs. rental: which is worth it?
Purchase (SumUp, Zettle, myPOS)
✓ No contract term
✓ One-off cost from €29
✓ Perfect for beginners & low
turnover
✗ Higher percentage fee per transaction
Rental (PAYONE, Nexi, CCV)
✓ Lower transaction fees
✓ Professional devices
✓ Service & replacement
included
✗ Monthly fee + contract term
POS integration & the TSE requirement
Since 2020, Germany has required a TSE (technical security device): every electronic till must have a certified TSE that stores all transactions in a tamper-proof way. The card terminal itself is not a till – the TSE requirement applies to the POS system or POS app you record sales with. Many card terminal providers offer TSE-compliant POS apps – e.g. SumUp with SumUp POS, Zettle with PayPal POS, and CCV with integrated solutions.
Since 1 January 2025, electronic tills with a TSE must also be reported to the tax office via ELSTER (systems already in use had to be reported by 31 July 2025; new systems within one month of purchase). If you switch to a new POS system, report the change.
Last updated: October 2026 | Sources: provider websites (sumup.com, paypal.com, mypos.com, bezahlexperten.de, nexi.de, payone.com, qonto.com), own research