Tap to Pay UK: How to Take Card Payments on Your Phone

Businesses can now take contactless card payments directly on a compatible smartphone without using a separate card reader or traditional payment terminal.

This is commonly known as:

• Tap to Pay;
• SoftPOS;
• phone-as-a-terminal; or
• mobile payment acceptance.

A customer can tap a contactless debit or credit card, smartphone, smartwatch or supported digital wallet against the merchant's compatible phone to make an in-person payment.

In the UK, both iPhone and Android-based payment acceptance solutions are available through supported payment providers.

That means a smartphone can increasingly perform a role that previously required separate card-reader hardware.

But that does not mean a phone is automatically the right replacement for every card machine.

Businesses still need to consider:

• transaction fees;
• device compatibility;
• contactless and PIN functionality;
• mobile connectivity;
• battery life;
• staff access;
• EPOS integration;
• receipts;
• refunds;
• reporting;
• PCI security;
• provider support; and
• what happens if the phone is lost, damaged or unavailable.

Tap to Pay removes the separate terminal. It does not remove the payment provider, merchant onboarding or the need to design the payment process properly.

Quick Summary

• Tap to Pay allows compatible smartphones to accept in-person contactless card payments.
• A separate contactless card reader is not required when the payment provider supports phone-based acceptance.
• Apple's Tap to Pay on iPhone has been available to UK merchants since 2023 through supported payment apps.
• Apple currently requires an iPhone XS or later for Tap to Pay on iPhone.
• Android SoftPOS/Tap to Pay is also available in the UK through supported payment-provider apps.
• The phone generally needs NFC capability and a compatible operating system and provider application.
• Customers can usually pay using supported contactless cards and digital wallets.
• Higher-value transactions and PIN/cardholder verification depend on the particular payment solution.
• PCI SSC's Mobile Payments on COTS (MPoC) standard provides the current security framework for modern phone-based payment acceptance solutions.
• Tap to Pay can work well for mobile staff, queue busting, events, pop-ups and backup payment acceptance.
• It can also be deployed by larger organisations as another payment endpoint rather than solely as a small-business card-reader replacement.
• For high-volume fixed checkout environments, a dedicated countertop or integrated terminal may still be operationally preferable.
• Transaction pricing should be compared in the same way as any other card-processing arrangement.

Find Your New Processor

What Is Tap to Pay?

Tap to Pay allows a compatible smartphone or tablet to become a contactless payment-acceptance device.

The merchant typically:

1. opens its payment-provider app;
2. enters or selects the amount to charge;
3. selects Tap to Pay;
4. presents the phone to the customer; and
5. the customer taps a supported card or digital wallet against the merchant's device.

The payment is then processed through the merchant's payment provider.

No separate contactless reader needs to be paired with the phone.

Is Tap to Pay the Same as Apple Pay?

No.

This is an important distinction.

Apple Pay allows a customer to use an Apple device to make a payment.

Tap to Pay on iPhone allows a merchant to use an iPhone to accept a payment.

A customer could therefore use Apple Pay on their iPhone to pay a merchant who is accepting the transaction using Tap to Pay on another iPhone.

Likewise, customers may be able to pay using:

• a contactless debit card;
• a contactless credit card;
• Apple Pay;
• Google Pay;
• another supported digital wallet; or
• another compatible NFC payment device.

What Is SoftPOS?

SoftPOS is an industry term for software-based point-of-sale technology that turns a compatible commercial smartphone or tablet into a payment-acceptance device.

Instead of requiring dedicated payment-terminal hardware, the payment application uses capabilities already built into the phone, including its NFC interface.

You may also see terms such as:

• Tap to Pay;
• PhonePOS;
• mobile POS;
• contactless-on-phone;
• contactless-on-COTS; or
• payment acceptance on COTS.

COTS means Commercial Off-The-Shelf device — such as a normal smartphone or tablet rather than a purpose-built payment terminal.

MAS View

SoftPOS is the technology category. Tap to Pay is the customer-friendly way many providers describe the experience.

How Does Tap to Pay Work?

A simplified payment journey looks like this:

Payment app → smartphone NFC → customer's contactless card/device → payment provider → acquiring and card network → issuer authorisation.

The phone replaces the dedicated physical point-of-sale terminal at the merchant end of that journey.

It does not replace:

• the payment-provider relationship;
• acquiring;
• card authorisation;
• merchant onboarding;
• settlement;
• fraud monitoring; or
• the underlying card networks.

Can You Take Card Payments Directly on an iPhone?

Yes.

Apple launched Tap to Pay on iPhone in the UK in July 2023.

Apple currently states that businesses can use a supported payment application to accept in-person contactless payments directly on a compatible iPhone without additional payment-terminal hardware.

Supported payment methods can include:

• contactless debit cards;
• contactless credit cards;
• Apple Pay;
• other digital wallets; and
• other supported contactless payment methods.

Apple currently states that iPhone XS or later is required and recommends using the latest version of iOS.

See Apple's current Tap to Pay on iPhone information.

Do You Need a Special App to Take Payments on an iPhone?

Yes.

The iPhone does not simply become an unrestricted card terminal because it contains NFC hardware.

The merchant needs a payment-enabled application from a provider that supports Tap to Pay on iPhone.

The merchant will also normally need to:

• open an account with the payment provider;
• complete merchant verification/onboarding;
• enable Tap to Pay functionality;
• use a compatible iPhone; and
• meet the provider's operating requirements.

Apple's current UK page lists a range of payment applications supporting the capability.

Can Android Phones Accept Card Payments Without a Reader?

Yes, where the device and payment provider support it.

Android Tap to Pay and SoftPOS solutions can use the phone's built-in NFC capability to accept contactless payments without a separate card reader.

Requirements vary between providers and phone manufacturers.

They can include:

• a supported Android version;
• NFC capability;
• a supported device model;
• an approved payment app;
• appropriate device-security settings; and
• internet or mobile connectivity.

This means businesses should check their exact device rather than assuming that every Android phone with NFC will automatically work.

Tap to Pay on iPhone vs Android

The better option will usually follow the devices, software and payment provider already used by the business.

Do Customers Need an App to Pay?

No.

The payment application is on the merchant's device.

The customer simply presents a supported payment method in much the same way as they would at a traditional contactless terminal.

That might be:

• a physical contactless card;
• a phone;
• a smartwatch; or
• another supported digital wallet/device.

Do Customers Have to Tap Their Phone Against Your Phone?

No.

Despite the phrase “Tap to Pay”, the customer does not need a smartphone.

A normal contactless debit or credit card can also be presented to the merchant's phone where supported.

Can Tap to Pay Accept Chip and PIN?

Tap to Pay primarily uses the contactless/NFC interface rather than physically inserting a chip card into the merchant's smartphone.

However, modern mobile-payment acceptance solutions can support cardholder verification including secure PIN entry on compatible commercial smartphones.

This is an important area of development.

The PCI Security Standards Council's Mobile Payments on COTS (MPoC) standard specifically supports payment solutions that can accept both:

• contactless cardholder data; and
• PIN entry

using commercial off-the-shelf devices.

Actual PIN and high-value transaction functionality still depends on the particular payment provider, application, device and payment method.

Businesses should therefore check provider capabilities rather than assuming every SoftPOS implementation works identically.

Can Tap to Pay Accept Payments Over £100?

Potentially, yes.

The £100 UK contactless threshold should not be interpreted as a universal maximum transaction value for every phone-based payment.

Whether a higher-value transaction can be completed depends on areas including:

• payment method;
• cardholder-verification method;
• whether secure PIN entry is supported;
• digital-wallet authentication;
• card issuer;
• payment provider; and
• SoftPOS implementation.

For example, some modern provider implementations can support PIN entry directly through the merchant's smartphone for transactions requiring cardholder verification.

Businesses expecting high-value transactions should check this specifically before relying on Tap to Pay as their only card-present payment method.

Is Tap to Pay Secure?

Phone-based card acceptance should use a payment solution designed and assessed for this specific use case.

The PCI Security Standards Council maintains a dedicated security standard for modern mobile payment acceptance:

PCI Mobile Payments on COTS (MPoC).

MPoC establishes security and testing requirements for payment solutions operating on commercial devices such as smartphones and tablets.

The PCI SSC also maintains listings businesses and acquirers can use when identifying PCI-listed MPoC solutions.

Read the PCI SSC Mobile Payments on COTS information.

What Changed With PCI Mobile Payment Standards in 2026?

This is particularly relevant for businesses researching older SoftPOS guidance.

PCI SSC previously maintained separate standards including:

• Contactless Payments on COTS (CPoC); and
• Software-based PIN Entry on COTS (SPoC).

PCI SSC subsequently introduced the broader MPoC framework, combining and extending capabilities used in these earlier mobile-payment standards.

In 2026, PCI SSC announced the formal sunset period for both CPoC and SPoC from 1 May to 31 October 2026.

MPoC is therefore the more relevant framework when evaluating current-generation mobile payment-acceptance solutions.

MAS View

“It's secure because it's on an iPhone” or “it's secure because it's on Android” is not enough. The payment solution operating on the device is what needs to be properly designed, supported and assessed.

Does Tap to Pay Remove PCI DSS Responsibilities?

Not automatically.

Using a properly designed mobile-payment solution can reduce how much payment data the merchant's ordinary systems handle.

However, businesses still need to understand:

• their payment provider's requirements;
• the payment application being used;
• device management;
• account access;
• staff permissions;
• PCI DSS validation requirements; and
• other payment channels used by the business.

A merchant that also accepts payments through:

• ecommerce;
• telephone/MOTO;
• traditional terminals; or
• other integrated systems

may still have wider PCI DSS considerations.

See our PCI DSS Compliance Guide.

Is Tap to Pay the Same as Using a Bluetooth Card Reader?

No.

This distinction is why much older mobile-payment content is now out of date.

Previously, taking card payments through a phone often meant:

phone + provider app + separate card reader.

Readers connected using technologies including:

• Bluetooth;
• physical connectors; and, historically,
• even headphone-jack accessories.

With true Tap to Pay / SoftPOS:

the compatible smartphone itself becomes the payment-acceptance device.

No separate NFC reader is required.

Does This Mean Card Readers Are Obsolete?

No.

Dedicated payment hardware still offers advantages in many environments.

A purpose-built terminal may be preferable where the business needs:

• very high transaction volumes;
• all-day battery performance;
• a permanent fixed checkout;
• built-in receipt printing;
• EPOS integration;
• rugged hardware;
• large numbers of staff;
• device management;
• specific accessibility requirements;
• multiple connectivity methods;
• specialist hospitality functions; or
• dedicated payment hardware rather than employee phones.

Tap to Pay adds another card-present option. It does not make every traditional terminal unnecessary.

When Is Tap to Pay Better Than a Card Machine?

It can be particularly useful where payment acceptance needs to be flexible.

Examples include:

• mobile businesses;
• tradespeople;
• field-service teams;
• events;
• pop-up stores;
• markets;
• temporary sales points;
• queue busting;
• additional seasonal staff;
• home services;
• delivery operations; and
• backup payment acceptance.

Tap to Pay for Queue Busting

This is one of the more interesting uses for established retailers and venues.

Imagine a store has:

six permanent tills

but experiences major queues during:

• Christmas;
• product launches;
• sale periods;
• events; or
• weekend peaks.

Instead of installing permanent extra checkout hardware, appropriately equipped staff could potentially accept payments using managed smartphones and a supported payment application.

This can create temporary additional payment points.

MAS View

Tap to Pay is not only a small-business alternative to buying a £30 card reader. For larger merchants, it can become a flexible additional endpoint within the payment estate.

Tap to Pay for Multi-Site Businesses

For larger businesses, the question moves beyond whether one phone can take a payment.

The organisation may need to understand:

• how devices are enrolled;
• which staff can accept payments;
• how merchant IDs are assigned;
• how locations are identified;
• how transactions are reported;
• how devices are removed;
• how lost phones are disabled;
• whether corporate-owned devices are required;
• how refunds work;
• how settlements are reconciled; and
• how Tap to Pay fits with existing card terminals.

Phone-based acceptance can therefore become a device-management and payments-infrastructure decision at scale.

Tap to Pay for Events

Events are another strong use case because additional payment capacity may only be required temporarily.

Potential advantages include:

• less hardware to deploy;
• faster creation of additional payment points;
• mobility;
• use by roaming staff;
• reduced reliance on fixed tills; and
• potentially easier scaling for short trading periods.

But events also expose weaknesses quickly.

Check:

• mobile signal;
• Wi-Fi;
• battery capacity;
• device charging;
• staff logins;
• device security;
• transaction reporting;
• support; and
• backup payment routes.

Can Restaurants Use Tap to Pay?

Yes, depending on the provider and restaurant setup.

It may be useful for:

• temporary payment points;
• queue reduction;
• outdoor service;
• events;
• backup acceptance; or
• certain pay-at-table workflows.

However, a restaurant should compare Tap to Pay against a fully integrated portable card-machine setup if it requires:

• table retrieval;
• automatic bill transfer;
• tipping;
• split bills;
• EPOS integration;
• receipt printing; and
• high-volume all-day usage.

Can Retailers Use Tap to Pay?

Yes.

A retailer could potentially use phone-based payment acceptance for:

• queue busting;
• clienteling;
• sales assistants on the shop floor;
• pop-up retail;
• temporary tills;
• events;
• click-and-collect areas; and
• payment contingency.

The important question is how the transaction integrates with:

• stock;
• EPOS;
• returns;
• receipts;
• customer records;
• reporting; and
• settlement.

For larger estates, see our Merchant Services for Multi-Location Retailers guide.

Can a Business Use Tap to Pay as a Backup?

Potentially, yes.

This can be one of its strongest applications.

If a traditional terminal fails, a supported phone-based payment route may provide an alternative way to continue accepting contactless payments.

But it should be:

• configured in advance;
• tested;
• assigned to appropriate staff;
• kept updated; and
• included in the payment-continuity plan.

Downloading an app for the first time while customers are already queuing is not a resilience strategy.

Does Tap to Pay Need Wi-Fi?

It needs suitable data connectivity, but that may be provided using:

• Wi-Fi;
• mobile data; or
• another supported internet connection.

The exact requirement depends on the provider.

Businesses should check connectivity throughout the locations where staff will actually use the service.

What Happens if the Phone Has No Signal?

Do not assume payments can continue offline.

Offline payment functionality varies significantly between payment products and can create different risk considerations.

The safer operational assumption is that the business needs a reliable supported data connection unless the provider explicitly confirms another workflow.

Potential alternatives might include:

• business Wi-Fi;
• mobile data;
• another phone/network;
• a traditional terminal;
• a portable terminal; or
• another approved payment route.

What Happens if the Merchant's Phone Is Lost?

A business using smartphones as payment endpoints needs device controls.

These can include:

• screen locks;
• strong authentication;
• biometrics;
• business account permissions;
• remote-device management;
• remote wiping where appropriate;
• payment-account deactivation;
• device inventories;
• staff access controls; and
• rapid reporting processes.

Larger organisations may prefer corporate-managed phones rather than allowing staff to use unmanaged personal devices.

Should Employees Use Their Personal Phones to Take Payments?

This requires careful consideration.

Technically possible does not necessarily mean operationally desirable.

Issues can include:

• device ownership;
• security;
• software updates;
• staff turnover;
• account permissions;
• privacy;
• business continuity;
• support;
• mobile-device management; and
• who is responsible if the device is lost or damaged.

For larger organisations, a managed-device policy may provide stronger operational control.

How Do Customers Get a Receipt?

Tap to Pay solutions can often provide digital receipt options through the payment application.

Depending on the provider, this might include:

• email receipts;
• SMS receipts;
• receipts generated through POS software; or
• other digital options.

If printed receipts are operationally important, a dedicated terminal with an integrated printer may still be preferable.

Can You Process Refunds Through Tap to Pay?

Usually through the payment provider's application or dashboard where supported.

Businesses should establish:

• who can issue refunds;
• whether the original phone is required;
• whether refunds can be performed centrally;
• how partial refunds work;
• how refunds appear in reports; and
• how they integrate with EPOS/accounting.

Can Tap to Pay Integrate With EPOS?

Potentially.

SoftPOS can be implemented as:

• a standalone merchant app;
• part of a wider point-of-sale application;
• part of an ecommerce/omnichannel platform;
• within a merchant's own business application; or
• through another supported integration.

This is particularly important for larger merchants.

The most interesting question may not be:

“Can this phone accept a card?”

but:

“Can our existing application turn thousands of managed devices into payment-acceptance points?”

See our Integrated Card Machines & EPOS Compatibility guide.

How Much Does Tap to Pay Cost?

There is no universal UK Tap to Pay transaction rate.

Costs depend on the provider and commercial arrangement.

Potential costs can include:

• transaction percentage;
• fixed transaction fees;
• account charges;
• software subscriptions;
• POS software;
• commercial card pricing;
• international-card pricing; and
• other provider charges.

The absence of a separate card reader does not mean payment processing is free.

Is Tap to Pay Cheaper Than a Card Machine?

It can reduce hardware costs, but it is not automatically cheaper overall.

Imagine:

Option A has no terminal rental but costs an additional 0.20% in processing.

Option B includes terminal rental but has lower transaction pricing.

For a merchant processing £200,000 per month, the additional:

0.20% = £400 per month

or:

£4,800 per year.

That could easily exceed the cost of dedicated terminal hardware.

This is an illustrative MAS calculation, not a provider-rate comparison.

See our Card Machine Costs UK 2026 guide.

Why Transaction Fees Still Matter

Tap to Pay changes the hardware.

It does not change the fundamental economics of card processing.

Businesses should still analyse:

• consumer debit cards;
• consumer credit cards;
• commercial cards;
• international cards;
• fixed transaction fees;
• pricing model;
• monthly turnover;
• average transaction value; and
• effective transaction rate.

See our Card Machine Transaction Fees guide.

Tap to Pay vs Portable Card Machine

Tap to Pay vs Countertop Card Machine

The distinction becomes even clearer at a permanent checkout.

A countertop card machine may be better where the business needs:

• a permanent payment point;
• Ethernet connectivity;
• all-day operation;
• receipt printing;
• fixed EPOS integration;
• large transaction volumes; and
• dedicated payment hardware.

Tap to Pay may be better where the business values:

• mobility;
• rapid deployment;
• temporary checkout points;
• reduced hardware;
• queue busting; or
• backup acceptance.

Can Tap to Pay Replace Every Card Machine in a Business?

Technically possible and operationally sensible are different questions.

Before replacing a terminal estate with phones, consider:

• daily transaction volume;
• battery management;
• device ownership;
• staff turnover;
• PIN functionality;
• receipt requirements;
• EPOS integration;
• refunds;
• accessibility;
• device charging;
• connectivity;
• support;
• device failure;
• central management; and
• commercial pricing.

A hybrid estate can sometimes make more sense:

fixed terminals for permanent tills + portable terminals for hospitality + Tap to Pay for mobile staff and overflow.

MAS View

The future of card-present payments does not have to be “terminal or phone”. For many established merchants, it will be a mixture of payment endpoints selected around the customer journey.

Should High-Volume Businesses Consider Tap to Pay?

Yes — but often for a different reason from a micro-business.

A high-volume business may use it to:

• add temporary checkout capacity;
• equip mobile employees;
• reduce queues;
• serve customers away from fixed tills;
• support pop-ups;
• deploy new sites rapidly;
• provide payment backup; or
• embed payment acceptance into its own staff application.

The strategic value can therefore be operational flexibility rather than simply avoiding the cost of a card reader.

Questions to Ask a Tap to Pay Provider

• Which iPhone and Android devices are supported?
• Which operating-system versions are supported?
• Which card schemes and wallets can be accepted?
• How are higher-value transactions handled?
• Does the solution support PIN entry where required?
• Is the solution listed under the current PCI MPoC programme where relevant?
• What transaction pricing applies?
• How are commercial cards priced?
• How are international cards priced?
• How quickly are funds settled?
• Can refunds be processed centrally?
• Can transactions integrate with EPOS?
• Can it integrate into our own application?
• How are multiple users and devices managed?
• How are locations and MIDs managed?
• What happens if a phone is lost?
• How is access revoked?
• What support is available?
• What happens during connectivity failure?
• Can traditional terminals operate alongside it?

Find Your New Processor

The MAS Tap to Pay Fit Test

Merchant Advice Service would assess phone-based payment acceptance across six areas.

1. Use-Case Fit

Why does the business want phones to accept payments — mobility, backup, queue busting, hardware reduction or application integration?

2. Device Fit

Do the business's iPhone or Android devices meet the provider's requirements?

3. Payment Fit

Does the solution support the cards, digital wallets, transaction values and cardholder-verification methods required?

4. Integration Fit

How will payments connect to EPOS, stock, customer records, reporting and refunds?

5. Commercial Fit

How does transaction pricing compare with dedicated-terminal alternatives at the merchant's actual volume?

6. Operational Fit

How will the business manage devices, staff, charging, connectivity, security, support and failures?

MAS View

Do not ask whether your phone can replace a card machine. Ask whether phone-based payment acceptance improves your payment operation.

How Merchant Advice Service Helps Businesses Compare Tap to Pay Providers

Merchant Advice Service helps businesses compare payment-provider options based on the wider payment requirement rather than simply the hardware used to accept the transaction.

When considering Tap to Pay or SoftPOS, we may look at:

• business model;
• current provider;
• card turnover;
• transaction volumes;
• average transaction value;
• current terminal estate;
• mobile-device estate;
• iPhone/Android requirements;
• EPOS;
• integration;
• PIN and high-value transactions;
• reporting;
• settlement;
• transaction pricing;
• PCI considerations;
• multi-site deployment;
• device management;
• support; and
• future payment strategy.

Businesses can explore payment providers through The Payments Directory® or read How Merchant Advice Service Works.

Sources & Further Reading

Apple — Tap to Pay on iPhone UK

Apple confirms that supported UK businesses can accept in-person contactless payments using a compatible iPhone and supported payment application without additional payment-terminal hardware.

Apple — Tap to Pay on iPhone

Apple — UK Launch

Apple launched Tap to Pay on iPhone in the UK in July 2023.

Apple — Tap to Pay on iPhone UK Launch

Apple Business — Tap to Pay Merchant IDs

Apple's current business guidance explains how Tap to Pay on iPhone works with a merchant's payment provider and merchant identifier.

Apple Business — Tap to Pay on iPhone

PCI Security Standards Council — Mobile Payments on COTS

PCI MPoC provides security and testing requirements for mobile payment-acceptance solutions operating on commercial devices such as smartphones and tablets.

PCI SSC — Mobile Payments on COTS

PCI Security Standards Council — Current Payment Standards

PCI SSC's current standards information confirms the 2026 sunset period for the earlier CPoC and SPoC standards as the mobile-payment ecosystem moves toward MPoC.

PCI Security Standards

Related Merchant Advice Service Guidance

• How to Choose a Card Machine Provider
• Card Machine Costs UK 2026
• Card Machine Transaction Fees
• Card Machine Rental vs Purchase
• Integrated Card Machines & EPOS Compatibility
• Portable Card Machines
• Countertop Card Machines
• Card Machine Connectivity Issues
• PCI DSS Compliance Guide
• Merchant Services for Multi-Location Retailers
• Compare UK Payment Providers
• The Payments Directory®

Editorial & Commercial Disclosure

Merchant Advice Service is an independent payments information, comparison and provider-matching service.

MAS may receive commission or a referral fee from some payment providers where a business chooses to proceed following an introduction. This does not determine the factual information or provider-selection principles within this guide.

Tap to Pay, SoftPOS and mobile-payment functionality varies according to payment provider, device, operating system, card scheme, merchant setup and market.

Not every iPhone or Android device supports every mobile payment-acceptance product.

Apple currently specifies iPhone XS or later for Tap to Pay on iPhone and recommends the latest version of iOS. Android compatibility varies between providers and device manufacturers.

Higher-value transaction and PIN functionality varies between payment solutions. Businesses should confirm cardholder-verification capabilities with the relevant provider.

PCI MPoC provides the current PCI SSC framework for modern mobile payment acceptance on commercial devices. Using a mobile payment solution does not automatically remove all PCI DSS responsibilities from a merchant.

Provider pricing, supported hardware, operating-system requirements, card acceptance, security standards and integrations can change.

Merchant Advice Service does not guarantee provider acceptance, pricing, device compatibility or technical functionality.

Mobile payment and security information last checked: 27 August 2026

This guide provides general payments information and should not be treated as technical, legal, regulatory or PCI compliance advice.