Updated October 2026. When we first wrote this post in January 2021, the BBPOS WisePad 3 was the only Stripe card reader outside the United States, and you had to email us to get into a European beta before you could use it. A lot has changed since then. Stripe now sells card readers in nearly 40 countries, there's no beta to join, and you can order a reader straight from your Stripe Dashboard.
Which Stripe card readers can I use in the UK?
UK businesses have more choice than almost anywhere outside the US. Here's what Stripe sells there today, with UK prices excluding VAT:
- BBPOS WisePad 3, £49. A small Bluetooth card machine with a PIN pad that pairs with the Payment app on your iPhone, iPad or Android phone. It takes chip and PIN and contactless, but not swipe.
- Stripe Reader S700 and S710, £229. A handheld reader with a 5.5-inch touchscreen. The Payment app runs right on the reader, so you don't need a phone at all. The S710 adds 4G for places without reliable Wi-Fi.
- Stripe Reader T600, £249. Stripe's newest countertop terminal, with an 8-inch screen facing your customer. It stays plugged in at the till.
- BBPOS WisePOS E, a countertop smart reader with its own touchscreen.
- Tap to Pay on iPhone and Android, with no hardware at all. Your phone takes contactless cards and phone wallets on its own.
The Stripe Reader M2 is the one reader you won't find in the UK. It's only sold in the US, and the WisePad 3 fills the same role everywhere else.
Imagine the following scenario: You run a coffee cart at weekend markets. A WisePad 3 paired with your phone handles the morning queue for £49, and on a quiet weekday you can leave the reader at home and take contactless payments on the phone itself with Tap to Pay.
What does Stripe charge for card payments in the UK?
You pay Stripe per transaction, and the readers are a one-time purchase. As of October 2026, Stripe's UK pricing for in-person payments is:
- 1.4% + 10p for cards issued in the EEA
- 2.9% + 10p for cards issued outside the EEA
- An extra 10p per authorisation when you use Tap to Pay
Stripe's rates differ by country, so if you're outside the UK, check Stripe's pricing page for your own.
Which other countries can I buy a Stripe reader in?
Outside the US, Stripe sells card readers in:
| Region | Countries |
|---|---|
| UK and Ireland | United Kingdom, Ireland |
| Europe | Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland |
| North America | Canada |
| Asia Pacific | Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Hong Kong (preview) |
The WisePad 3 and Tap to Pay are available in all of them. Countertop readers vary more. In Germany you can get the S700 and WisePOS E, but not the S710 or T600. France has no WisePOS E. Several of the newer EU countries, like Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania, get the S710 but not the S700. In addition, Tap to Pay on its own is available in Mexico (iPhone, in preview) and Gibraltar (Android).
Do I still need to request beta access?
No. There's no beta and nothing to request from us or from Stripe. You order readers from the Terminal section of your Stripe Dashboard and Stripe ships them to the address you choose. Once one arrives, open the Payment app, connect the reader and you're ready for your first payment.
Which reader should I choose?
If you move around, at markets, on deliveries or out on a job, the WisePad 3 is the most affordable way in, and Tap to Pay costs nothing up front. If you have a counter, the S700 or T600 gives your customers a screen of their own to add a tip and tap their card. We've written a longer comparison of every reader here: Which Stripe card reader should you buy?
Prices, availability and setup for every reader that works with the Payment app: Compare Stripe card readers.
