What is the Best Card Machine for Small Business in South Africa?
The best credit card machines for small businesses in South Africa are the ones from iKhokha, Yoco, and WAPPoint.
These companies offer a range of quality card machines solely for the needs of small-medium-sized businesses. Plus with the lowest fees and low barriers of entry compared to bank options.
Plus, all their card machines are modern, user-friendly, have reliable network connections, and are equipped with the latest security features for maximum protection. Which is what you need for the best card reader machine today.
Therefore, choosing will depend on your budget and overall brand preference. Here are the options available: ✅
Best Entry-Level Card Machines - Cheapest Card Machine
The cheapest card machine options are those that work by pairing to your phone using Bluetooth and the free mobile app by the service provider you choose.
And here’s the best part – these entry-level card machines for phones can do everything that their more expensive counterparts can do!
We recommend buying any of these if you are just starting out on a budget, if doing things as a solopreneur or simply, if you don’t get that much traffic like in a full-blown retail store.
If you already have an existing small or big business, only buy them if your business doesn’t get much pay traffic.
Here are the 3 entry level card machines you can purchase today: 
- Recommended for:
The iKhokha Mover Pro↗︎ is currently the cheapest card machine reader on the market!
The iK Mover has no compromise in terms of features, in actual fact, it is the best entry-level card machine for the price.
It is blazing fast, reliable in connectivity, and provides all-day battery life for a busy day.
Just like any other iKhokha card machine, you can also use the iKhokha Mover and the iKhokha Vending App to sell prepaid services such as airtime, electricity, mobile data, DStv subscriptions, water & electricity bills, Telkom bills, etc.)
iKhokha Mover Features
- Simple, modern charismatic design
- Always paired to the phone or tablet via Bluetooth
- Sell Prepaid Products and Bills with iK Vend (Airtime, DStv, Telkom, Water, EasyPay, Prepaid Gas, Pay@ Bills, Traffic Fines and more)
- Offers the option to add a receipt printer, barcode scanner, and other POS hardware
- Sends digital receipts via SMS or email for free
- Seamlessly pairs with iKhokha Mobile App
- Payment: Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay via Card Insert, Swipe and Tap
iKhokha Mover Additional Features
- Accept Tips: Yes
- Process Refunds: Yes
- Fast Charging: Yes
- Digital Receipts: Yes (send receipts via SMS or email for free)
- Paper Receipts: No
- Packaging: iKhokha Mover Pro card machine, iKhokha Merchant Pack and Charging cable
iKhokha Mover Pros
- Easy to setup and start using
- Pairs with iKhokha’s Point of Sale (POS)
- Sell Prepaid services with iK Vend (Free tool)
- Ultra fast payment processing speeds (under 3 seconds)
- Bluetooth connection is always on/ automatic
- All-day battery life
iKhokha Mover Cons
- No trade-in option
- No rental option (this can also be seen as an advantage)
Approx. Regular Price: R499.
Available Discount: 10% Discount with Free Delivery and Free Setup Assistance by iKhokha’s Team.
How to Order: Visit iKhokha Registration Page↗︎ (The Discount is Automatically added upon Checkout).
To Order iKhokha Mover Pro: Simply Fill in this Quick Online Registration Form.
Once done, A Sales Representative from iKhokha will contact you back to finalise with your order and help you with setting up the card machine.
This way, your card machine will already be working when it gets delivered to you. iKhokha Deliveries are generally within 2-3 business days nationwide.
- Recommended for:
The Yoco Go↗︎ is a sleek, simple card machine device that can be used for all types of small businesses.
Just like the iKhokha Mover Pro, The Yoco Go is quite small that it can easily fit in your pocket. Giving you much freedom wherever you go with it.
The Yoco Go is reliable, easy to use, and also offers all-day battery life.
With price being a factor, we recommend the Yoco Go alongside its competition because Yoco provides the best smart features integrated within the free Yoco Point of Sale Software in comparison.
Here’s more that makes the Yoco Go Special.
Yoco Go Features
- Simple, modern classic design
- Always paired to the phone or tablet via Bluetooth
- Sends digital receipts via SMS or email for free
- Seamlessly pairs with Yoco mobile App
- Card Payments: Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay via Card Insert, Swipe and Tap
Yoco Go Additional Features
- Accept Tips: Yes
- Process Refunds: Yes
- Fast Charging: Yes
- Digital Receipts: Yes (send receipts via SMS or email for free)
- Paper Receipts: No
- Packaging: Yoco Go card machine, Charging cable, Lanyard, User manual, Yoco tabletop tent banner, Yoco stickers
Yoco Go Pros
- Easy to setup and start using
- Can be linked to more than one phone/tablet
- Can be used by Registered and Unregistered businesses
- Can be used on Business and Personal bank accounts
- Ultra fast payment processing speeds (under 3 seconds)
- Bluetooth connection is always on/ automatic
- All-day battery life
Yoco Go Cons
- No rental option
Approx. Regular Price: R599.
Available Discount: R100
Registration Page: Visit Website↗︎
To Order Yoco Go: Simply Fill in this Quick Online Registration Form And complete your purchase online.
When you order online, you will get a small discount and free delivery. Your card machine will already be activated to your account upon delivery.
Yoco deliveries are generally within 2-3 business days nationwide.
- Recommended for:
The WAPPoint Pocket Pro is a perfect card reader machine for any small business that seeks more flexibility in price. You can choose to buy it as a Once-Off Purchase, or as a Rental for short and long term.
What’s nice about WAPPoint Pocket Pro’s rental option is that this card machine will become Free to your business once your business’s monthly turnover exceeds R15000/month.
WAPPoint has been in the card reader machines business for over 20 years, offering 24/7/365 days customer support. They always provide you a backup machine whenever your Pocket Pro unit has problems and also offer repairs on ongoing basis.
WAPPoint Pocket Pro (Once-Off Purchase Option) Features
- Simple, modern classic design
- Always paired to the phone or tablet via Bluetooth
- Sends digital receipts via SMS or email for free
- Seamlessly pairs with WAPPoint mobile App
- All day battery life
- Payment: Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay via Card Insert, Swipe and Tap
WAPPoint Pocket Pro (Once-Off Purchase Option) Additional Features
- Accept Tips: Yes
- Process Refunds: Yes
- Fast Charging: Yes
- Digital Receipts: Yes (send receipts via SMS or email for free)
- Paper Receipts: No
- Packaging: 1x WAPPoint card machine device, 1x Free Back-Up Snap and Pay QR Code Sign, 1x USB Charger, User Guide, 1x Card Acceptance Display Decal
WAPPoint Pocket Pro (Once-Off Purchase Option) Pros
- 24/7/365 customer support including weekends and public holidays.
- Transaction fees can be negotiated to beat any current competition.
- No additional hidden costs such as payout fees, minimum swipe fees, or daily settlement fees.
- Rental Options are available on monthly basis and short-term lease (e.g for Expo or Event).
- Dedicated account managers for customer support.
- They will provide you with a backup card machine when your current card machine has a problem.
- Your card machine be repaired on ongoing basis.
WAPPoint Pocket Pro (Once-Off Purchase Option) Cons
- No trade-in option.
- One user per machine. i.e. cannot be used by multiple users or multiple cashiers.
Approx. Regular Price: R999.
Available Discount: Determined Upon Purchase.
Rentals From: R79/month or per expo.
How to Buy/Order: Click Here to Begin
To Order the WAPPoint PocketPOS: Simply Fill in this Quick Online Registration Form or purchase directly on WAPPoint Website.
WAPPoint has a 24/hr service and a bit quicker in deliveries. You might get your order on the same day or overnight depending.
Best Card Machines Mid Range Options
The card machine readers in this section offer a little bit more than the entry level options (Bluetooth machines) and are generally priced mid-range to high end card machines discussed after this section.
For this category, we recommend standalone card machines on a budget, with adequate features for running a business of any size.
We rank them according to features/benefits and how they can help you build transact card payments with flexibility compared to Bluetooth Card Machines.
Price is not necessarily used as a ranking factor since prices always change.
- Recommended for:
The iKhokha Shaker↗︎ Card Machine is the most affordable-budget-friendly option in this list, yet one of the best card readers in the market with everything you’ll ever need from a card terminal machine.
It works completely standalone, with unlimited 4G data connection at only R49/month, and also has a Built-in Printer.
As you grow your business, you can also connect iKhokha Shaker Solo to full Point of Sale hardware and other accessories to build a perfect tabletop till point.
Also, Just like any other iKhokha card machine, you can also sell prepaid services such as airtime, electricity, mobile data, DStv subscriptions, water & electricity bills, Telkom bills, etc.) through iKhokha Vend and the Card Machine for free.
iKhokha Shaker Solo Features
- Simple, modern design
- One 4G Sim Card with unlimited data for transactions at R49/month
- Sell Prepaid Products and Bills with iK Vend (Airtime, DStv, Telkom, Water, EasyPay, Prepaid Gas, Pay@ Bills, Traffic Fines and more)
- Has a built-in paper receipts printer
- Seamlessly pairs with iKhokha Mobile App
- Payment: Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay via Card Insert, Swipe and Tap
iKhokha Shaker Solo Features
- Accept Tips: Yes
- Process Refunds: Yes
- Fast Charging: Yes
- Digital Receipts: Yes (send receipts via SMS or email for free)
- Paper Receipts: No
- Packaging: iKhokha Shaker Solo card machine, iKhokha Merchant Pack, Wall Charger, 1x 57mm Thermal Till Roll/Receipt Paper, Sim Card
iKhokha Shaker Solo Pros
- Easy to setup and start using
- Pairs with iKhokha’s Point of Sale (POS)
- Sell Prepaid services with iK Vend (Free tool)
- Ultra-fast payment processing speeds (under 3 seconds)
- All-day battery life
iKhokha Shaker Solo Cons
- No trade-in option
- No rental option (this can also be seen as an advantage)
Approx. Regular Price: R999.
Available Discount: 10% Discount with Free Delivery and Free Setup Assistance by iKhokha’s Team.
How to Order: Visit iKhokha Registration Page↗︎ (The Discount is Automatically added upon Checkout).
To Order iKhokha Shaker Solo: Simply Fill in this Quick Online Registration Form.
Once done, A Sales Representative from iKhokha will contact you back to finalise with your order and help you with setting up the card machine.
This way, your card machine will already be working when it gets delivered to you. iKhokha Deliveries are generally within 2-3 business days nationwide.
- Recommended for:
Unlike most traditional card readers, The Yoco Khumo↗︎ is a Standalone card machine that is blazing fast and brags on snappy card transactions!
It comes with two 4G Sim Cards (MTN & Vodacom) loaded with Free Unlimited data from Yoco. It also connects to WiFi as a contingency plan.
Having used the Yoco Khumo for a while, we find this card reader machine very reliable and one step closer to fulfilling your business needs for today and tomorrow.
For as long as it’s on-it’s ready for action. You can read Our Yoco Khumo review here↗︎.
Yoco Khumo Features
- Full HD touch screen panel
- 2x 4G Sim Cards with Free unlimited data for transactions (Vodacom & MTN)
- Has a built-in paper receipts printer
- Sends digital receipts via SMS or email for free
- Built-in camera & microphone
- Card Payments: Visa, Mastercard, AMEX Apple Pay, Samsung Pay via Card Insert, Swipe and Tap
Yoco Khumo Additional Features
- Accept Tips: Yes
- Process Refunds: Yes
- Fast Charging: Yes
- Digital Receipts: Yes (send receipts via SMS or email for Free)
- Paper Receipts: Yes
- Packaging: Yoco Khumo card machine, Charging cable, Lanyard, User manual, Yoco tabletop tent banner, Yoco stickers
Yoco Khumo Pros
- Easy to setup and start using
- Can be used by Registered and Unregistered businesses
- Can be used on Business and Personal bank accounts
- Ultra fast payment processing speeds (under 3 seconds)
- Always connected/ reliable network connectivity
- Do everything on the card machine (view products catalogue, process sales/refunds, manage sales records, add custom notes etc.)
- All-day battery life
Yoco Khumo Cons
- No rental option
Approx. Regular Price: R1199.
Available Discount: R100
Registration Page: Visit Website↗︎
To Order Yoco Khumo: Simply Fill in this Quick Online Registration Form And complete your purchase online.
When you order online, you will get a small discount and free delivery. Your card machine will already be activated to your account upon delivery.
Yoco deliveries are generally within 2-3 business days nationwide.
- Recommended for:
The WAPPoint MiniPOS is a very advanced card reader machine that allows you to do even more just from its interface.
It has a stunning modern design with a Full HD Touchscreen interface.
The MiniPOS is powered by Android OS and uses up to Two 4G Sim Cards. Unlike its competitors, the MiniPOS offers longer battery life of up to 3 days and has an overall strong built quality – waterproof/dustproof and crash resistance.
You can buy the MiniPOS as Once-Off Purchase, or as a Rental for short and long term. If you choose to go with a rental option, the MiniPOS becomes Free to your business once your business’s monthly turnover exceeds R45000/month.
WAPPoint has been in the card Machines business for over 20 years, offering 24/7/365 days customer support. They always provide you a backup machine whenever your MiniPOS unit has problems and also offer repairs on ongoing basis.
WAPPoint MiniPOS (Once-Off Purchase Option) Features
- Sleek Modern look and feel
- Full HD touch screen panel
- Android Operating System
- Great Quality built, waterproof, dustproof, & can sustain 1m drop test
- 1-year warranty
- Supports multiple operators/cashiers
- Sell Prepaid Services through card machine (Application required)
- 2x 4G Sim Cards at R50/month/Sim Card
- Sends digital receipts via SMS or email for free
- Built-in camera, speaker & microphone
- Up to 3 days battery life
- Payment: Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Diners, Fuel and Fleet Cards, Apple Pay & Samsung Pay
WAPPoint MiniPOS (Once-Off Purchase Option) Additional Features
- Accept Tips: Yes
- Process Refunds: Yes
- Fast Charging: Yes
- Digital Receipts: Yes (send receipts via SMS or email for free)
- Paper Receipts: No
- Packaging: WAPPoint MiniPOS card machine device, 1x Free Back-Up Snap and Pay QR Code Sign, 1x USB Charger, User Guide, 1x Card Acceptance Display Decal
WAPPoint MiniPOS (Once-Off Purchase Option) Pros
- 24/7/365 customer support including weekends and public holidays.
- Transaction fees can be negotiated to beat any current competition.
- No additional hidden costs such as payout fees, minimum swipe fees, or daily settlement fees.
- Rental Options are available on monthly basis and short-term lease (e.g for Expo or Event).
- Connects to external Thermal Printer.
- Can integrate with a POS system to manage inventory.
- Dedicated account managers for customer support.
- They will provide you with a backup card machine when your current card machine has a problem.
- Your card machine be repaired on ongoing basis.
WAPPoint MiniPOS (Once-Off Purchase Option) Cons
- Not too price competitive for smaller businesses.
Approx. Regular Price: R2599.
Rentals From: 229/month or per expo.
Available Discount: Determined Upon Purchase.
How to Buy/Order: Click Here to Begin
To Order the WAPPoint Mini POS: Simply Fill in this Quick Online Registration Form or purchase directly on WAPPoint Website.
WAPPoint has a 24/hr service and a bit quicker in deliveries. You might get your order on the same day or overnight depending.
Best Card Machines for Long Term Growth
The card terminal machines in this category are completely standalone with all the features you’ll ever need when growing your business in the long term.
They are best for Point of Sale setups and also for fast paced business environments.
We rank them according features/benefits and how they can help you build a full Point of Sale setup.
Price is not necessarily used as a ranking factor since prices always change.
- Recommended for:
The iKhokha Flyer currently the most advanced card reader machine in features and the ability to sustain your business for growth.
It has a Full HD touchscreen – allowing you to do more from just the card machine, fast charging battery base, and a built in printer.
In terms of connectivity, it uses two 4G Sim Cards with Unlimited Data for R49/month and connects to any WiFi.
As your business grows, you can also connect iKhokha Flyer to full Point of Sale hardware and other accessories to build a perfect tabletop till point.
Also, Just like any other iKhokha card machine, you can also sell prepaid services such as airtime, electricity, mobile data, DStv subscriptions, water & electricity bills, Telkom bills, etc.) through iKhokha Vend and the Card Machine for free.
iKhokha Flyer Features
- Simple, modern Ultra Slim Design
- One 4G Sim Card with unlimited data for transactions at R49/month
- Sell Prepaid Products and Bills with iK Vend (Airtime, DStv, Telkom, Water, EasyPay, Prepaid Gas, Pay@ Bills, Traffic Fines and more)
- Includes a Free Fast Charging base
- Has a built-in paper receipts printer
- Seamlessly pairs with iKhokha Mobile App
- Payment: Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay via Card Insert, Swipe and Tap
iKhokha Flyer Additional Features
- Accept Tips: Yes
- Process Refunds: Yes
- Fast Charging: Yes
- Digital Receipts: Yes (send receipts via SMS or email for free)
- Paper Receipts: No
- Packaging: iKhokha Flyer card machine, Setup Guide/Manual, Tent Card, iKhokha Stickers, Wall Charger, 1x 57mm Thermal Till Roll/Receipt Paper, 2x Sim Cards
iKhokha Flyer Pros
- Easy to setup and start using
- Pairs with iKhokha’s Point of Sale (POS)
- Sell Prepaid services with iK Vend (Free tool)
- Ultra-fast payment processing speeds (under 3 seconds)
- All-day battery life
iKhokha Flyer Cons
- No trade-in option
- No rental option (this can also be seen as an advantage)
Approx. Regular Price: R999.
Available Discount: 10% Discount with Free Delivery and Free Setup Assistance by iKhokha’s Team.
How to Order: Visit iKhokha Registration Page↗︎ (The Discount is Automatically added upon Checkout).
To Order the iKhokha Flyer: Simply Fill in this Quick Online Registration Form.
Once done, A Sales Representative from iKhokha will contact you back to finalise with your order and help you with setting up the card machine.
This way, your card machine reader will already be working when it gets delivered to you. iKhokha Deliveries are generally within 2-3 business days nationwide.
- Recommended for:
The Khumo Print↗︎ is designed to make your job easier by providing all the features you need to run your business.
It has a built-in receipts printer and a Full HD touchscreen panel to allow you to do everything directly on the card machine interface.
Not only that it is capable, but It is also offered at a once-off purchase fee (No monthly fees) and two free 4G Sim cards (Vodacom and MTN) with free unlimited data from Yoco.
Allowing you to save on business operational costs in the long run.
Yoco Khumo Print Features
- Full HD touch screen panel
- 2x 4G Sim Cards with Free unlimited data for transactions (Vodacom & MTN)
- Has a built-in paper receipts printer
- Sends digital receipts via SMS or email for free
- Built-in camera, speaker & microphone
- Access more Yoco features on-device
- Card Payments: Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay via Card Insert, Swipe and Tap
Yoco Khumo Print Additional Features
- Accept Tips: Yes
- Process Refunds: Yes
- Fast Charging: Yes
- Digital Receipts: Yes (send receipts via SMS or email for Free)
- Paper Receipts: Yes
- Packaging: Yoco Khumo Print card machine, Charging cable, Lanyard, User manual, Yoco tabletop tent banner, Yoco stickers
Khumo Print Pros
- Easy to setup and start using
- Ultra fast payment processing speeds (under 3 seconds)
- Can be used by Registered and Unregistered businesses
- Can be used on Business and Personal bank accounts
- Always connected/ reliable network connectivity
- Do everything on the card machine (view products catalogue, process sales/refunds, manage sales records, add custom notes etc.)
- All-day battery life
Khumo Print Cons
- No rental option
Approx. Regular Price: R1999.
Available Discount: R100
Registration Page: Visit Website↗︎
To Order Yoco Khumo Print: Simply Fill in this Quick Online Registration Form And complete your purchase online.
When you order online, you will get a small discount and free delivery. Your card machine will already be activated to your account upon delivery.
Yoco deliveries are generally within 2-3 business days nationwide.
- Recommended for:
The WAPPoint PrintPOS is an overall most capable card machine solution for all business sizes.
It has a modern larger design with a Full HD Touchscreen that allows you to do even more from just the card machine.
The PrintPOS is powered by Android OS and uses up to Two 4G Sim Cards. More to its advantages, the Print POS offers longer battery life of up to 3 days and can be used with full-time assistance by a dedicated account manager from WAPPoint.
You can buy the PrintPOS as Once-Off Purchase, or as a Rental for short-term events and expos and for the long term.
WAPPoint has been in the card Machines business for over 20 years, offering 24/7/365 days of customer support.
They always provide you a backup machine whenever your MiniPOS unit has problems and also offer repairs on an ongoing basis.
WAPPoint PrintPOS (Once-Off Purchase Option) Features
- Sleek Modern look and feel
- Full HD touch screen panel
- 1-year warranty
- Supports multiple operators/cashiers
- Sell Prepaid Services through card machine (Application required)
- 1x 4G Sim Card with Free unlimited data for transactions. Additional Sim at R50/month
- Has a built-in paper receipts printer
- Sends digital receipts via SMS or email for free
- Built-in camera, speaker & microphone
- All-day battery life
- Payment: Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay via Card Insert, Swipe and Tap
WAPPoint PrintPOS (Once-Off Purchase Option) Additional Features
- Accept Tips: Yes
- Process Refunds: Yes
- Fast Charging: Yes
- Digital Receipts: Yes (send receipts via SMS or email for Free)
- Paper Receipts: Yes
- Packaging: WAPPoint PrintPOS card machine, Free Back Up Snap and Pay QR Code Sign, Charger, User Guide, Card Acceptance Display Decal, Tally Rolls
WAPPoint PrintPOS (Once-Off Purchase Option) Pros
- 24/7/365 customer support including weekends and public holidays.
- Transaction fees can be negotiated to beat the current competition (based on turnover).
- No additional hidden costs such as payout fees, minimum swipe fees, or daily settlement fees.
- Rental Options are available on a monthly basis and short-term lease (e.g for Expo or Event).
- Dedicated account managers for customer support.
- They will provide you with a backup card machine when your current card machine has a problem.
- Card machine be repaired or replaced on an ongoing basis.
WAPPoint PrintPOS (Once-Off Purchase Option) Cons
- Not too price competitive for smaller businesses.
Approx. Regular Price: R3899.
Available Discount: Determined Upon Purchase.
Rentals From: R299/month or R399 for up to 3 weeks.
How to Buy/Order: Click Here to Begin
To Order the WAPPoint Print POS: Simply Fill in this Quick Online Registration Form or purchase directly on WAPPoint Website.
WAPPoint has a 24/hr service and a bit quicker in deliveries. You might get your order on the same day or overnight depending.
Things to Look For in A Payment Machine for Small Business
When it comes to choosing a payment machine for your small business, it’s important to consider all the factors that will affect your success in the long run.
The best card payment machines for small business are those that have been designed specifically to meet the needs of a small business.
Though budget is one of the things to consider. But I would advise that you overlook budget since these days you can buy quality entry level machines from around R299-R699 (Once-Off) See Budget Options Here. Instead, you should look for these factors:
You want a card machine that anyone can pick up and start using without having to go through a complicated setup process or memorize long lists of instructions.
You also want a payment machine that offers security features and doesn’t leave your customers vulnerable to fraud or theft. Give this feature careful consideration before making your final decision on which model is right for you!
Make sure the product you choose will work with any other services or devices you may need in order to run your business smoothly (such as the ability to be paired with Point of Sale hardware/software and prepaid services vending capabilities).
The company you choose to work with should preferably be local and reachable. If you choose to work with an offshore brand, make sure that particular service provider is a company that can be contacted anytime.
Conclusion
Hopefully, our list of the best card terminal machines is a great resource and will help you pick the perfect payment processing terminal.
Though are many other terminals out there and many factors to consider. We tried to cover as much as we could here, with special considerations to price competitiveness, security features, connectivity, monthly fees, and transaction fees.
What is the best card machine for small businesses?
 iKhokha |
 Yoco |
 WAPPoint |
|---|---|---|
|
● Has the best Point of Sale Hardware Accessories. You can buy accessories in singles or full package. ● Offers the ability to sell prepaid services. |
● Has the best Point of Sale Software that even offers small accounting features such as invoicing and an eCommerce gateway for all platforms. ● Gives Free Unlimited mobile data for all standalone card machines. |
● Provides Rental Options for short term events & expos as well as for a long term lease. ● Provides you backup machines when your existing one has problems. |
With all important factors of choosing the best card card machine for small business in South Africa considered. We recommend the following choices for these reasons:
