Is the Tide Card Reader vs Barclaycard Flex better for your UK small business?
We compare both machines based on real user reviews, prices and what features they each offer.
You can also find our comparison of all the best card machines here.
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Tide Card Reader vs Barclaycard Flex: The Basics
| Tide Card Reader | Barclaycard Flex | |
| Payment Company Name | Tide | Barclaycard |
| Machine Type | Card Machine | Card Machine |
| Where To Buy It? | Click Here To Buy The Tide Card Reader | Click Here To Buy The Barclaycard Flex |
Tide Card Reader vs Barclaycard Flex: Which Is Cheaper
Below we compare the cost of buying the Tide Card Reader compared to the Barclaycard Flex and how much each charge you to use them.
You can also see if either qualify as one of the 7 Cheapest Card Readers.
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| Tide Card Reader | Barclaycard Flex | |
| Price For The Machine (excluding VAT) | £49 | Monthly Rental Fee |
| Minimum Monthly Fee | None | £15 |
| Standard Debit Card Transaction Fee | 1.50% | 1.60% |
| Standard Credit Card Transaction Fee | 1.50% | 1.60% |
| Amex Card Fee | No | 1.60% |
| Standard Card Not Present Fee | 1.50% | 1.60% |
| Contract Required | No | Yes |
| Minimum Transaction Amount | £5 | No |
| How Soon Can You Get Your Money | 1-3 business days | Next Banking Day |
Tide Card Reader vs Barclaycard Flex Reviews
Does the Tide Card Reader or the Barclaycard Flex have better reviews? We compare Trustpilot, iPhone and Android app reviews below.
| Tide Card Reader | Barclaycard Flex | |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.2 | 1.3 |
| Number of Trustpilot Reviews | 18,090 | 3,158 |
| iPhone App Rating | 4.8 | No Rating |
| Number of iPhone Reviews | 64,800 | No Reviews |
| Android App Rating | 3.9 | No Rating |
| Number of Android Reviews | 16,200 | No Reviews |
Tide Card Reader vs Barclaycard Flex Accepted Cards
Both the Tide Card Reader and Barclaycard Flex accept standard debit and credit cards issued by Visa and Mastercard. But do they accept other card types? We compare below:
| Tide Card Reader | Barclaycard Flex | |
| Accept Visa | Yes | Yes |
| Accept Mastercard | Yes | Yes |
| Accept Amex | No | Yes |
| Accept Apple Pay | Yes | Yes |
| Accept Google Pay | Yes | Yes |
| Accept Union Pay | No | Yes |
| Accept JCB | No | Yes |
| Accept Discover | No | Yes |
Tide Card Reader vs Barclaycard Flex Features
Tide Card Reader | Barclaycard Flex | |
| Mobile Phone Required | Yes | No |
| Built-In Printer | No | Yes |
| Touch Screen | Yes | No |
| Take Phone Payments | Yes | Yes |
| Take Online Payments | Yes | Yes |
| Business Bank Account Included | Yes | No |
Tide Card Reader Features
- Lightweight and compact, for taking payments on the move
- Tide app required to initiate payments
- Proof of transaction by email only
Barclaycard Flex Features
- Take payments in store or on-the-go using chip and PIN or contactless
- Virtual payments over the phone and by post
- Switches between Bluetooth, GPRS, Wi-Fi and mobile data networks
- Flexible pricing
- Accept up to 700 sales a day on a full charge
- Lightweight yet durable 320g
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