TWINT QR code for food trucks and market stalls in Switzerland: Pay without a terminal

With a TWINT QR code, food trucks, street food stalls, and market vendors in Switzerland can accept cashless payments – without a card terminal, without monthly fixed costs, and without their own internet connection on site. The merchant prints out a QR code sticker and sticks it visibly on the stall. The customer scans the code with the TWINT app, enters the amount, and confirms the payment via their own mobile network. The transaction fee is 1.3% of the amount – with no minimum fee per transaction.

This guide shows you step-by-step how to set up TWINT QR for your mobile stall, how static and dynamic QR codes differ, what costs are involved, and which pitfalls you should be aware of.

1. Why TWINT QR is perfect for food trucks and market stalls

With over 6 million active users, TWINT is the most widely used mobile payment app in Switzerland. For mobile sales outlets such as food trucks, snack vans, weekly market stalls, or festival stands, the TWINT QR code sticker offers several tangible advantages over classic card terminals.

Firstly, the entry barrier is extremely low: you need neither a physical terminal nor an acquirer contract for card payments. Registration takes place directly in the TWINT merchant portal or via a Payment Service Provider (PSP) such as Payrexx. Secondly, there are no monthly fixed costs and no rental fees – you pay exclusively per transaction. Thirdly, as a merchant, you do not need your own internet connection at the stall. The QR code is a printed sticker; the connection runs via your customers' smartphones. This is a decisive advantage, especially in locations with poor Wi-Fi coverage – festivals, outdoor weekly markets, mountain regions.

Added to this is the high level of acceptance: around 77% of stationary sales outlets in Switzerland already offer TWINT. Your customers know the process and trust the app. For many market vendors, the TWINT QR code sticker is the very first cashless payment method – and often the only one they actually need.

2. Static QR sticker vs. dynamic QR code: What is the difference?

A static QR code is a QR sticker that is permanently stuck to the stall and does not change. The customer scans the code and enters the amount to be paid themselves in the TWINT app. Alternatively, the sticker can be configured for a fixed amount – for example CHF 5.00 for a coffee.

A dynamic QR code, on the other hand, is generated anew for each transaction – typically via a cash register system or POS software. It already contains the exact amount in the code, so the customer only has to confirm it. Dynamic QR codes require technical integration (e.g. via a PSP such as Payrexx, Worldline, or SIX) and are suitable for businesses with higher transaction volumes.

For most food truck operators and market vendors, the static QR sticker is the pragmatic choice: no setup, no running costs, ready to use immediately. If you use a cash register system or do not want to have amounts entered manually, you should opt for the dynamic QR code.

3. Setting up TWINT QR via Payrexx

You can get your TWINT QR code in two ways: directly via the TWINT merchant portal (twint.ch) or via a Payment Service Provider. The direct way via TWINT is easiest if you exclusively want to accept TWINT payments. Via a PSP like Payrexx, you also get the option to offer card payments (Visa, Mastercard), Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other payment methods via the very same QR code.

Option 1: Directly via TWINT

Register in the TWINT merchant portal at twint.ch with a Swiss mobile number. After verification, define your QR code sticker (variable or fixed amount) and you can download it as a digital file or order it as a weatherproof sticker. The stickers usually arrive at your address within 48 hours.

Option 2: Via Payrexx (QR Pay)

Create a free Payrexx account, activate TWINT under the payment providers, and navigate to  QR Pay. There you generate your QR code – with an open, fixed, or minimum amount. The QR code can be downloaded as a PNG, SVG, or as a print-ready poster. Payrexx also offers weatherproof stickers and table stands (first order free of charge). The advantage: your QR code works both with the TWINT app and directly via the smartphone camera – meaning tourists without the TWINT app can also pay.

4. Enter amount, scan, done: The payment process from a customer and merchant perspective

Customer perspective (static QR sticker, variable amount)

The customer opens the TWINT app on their smartphone and taps "Pay". They point the camera at the QR sticker on the stall. The app recognizes the code, displays the merchant name, and prompts them to enter the amount. The customer types in e.g. "12.50", confirms with "Pay", and immediately sees a confirmation. The entire process usually takes less than 15 seconds.

Merchant perspective

In the simplest case, you as a merchant do not need to do anything – the sticker works for you. As soon as a payment is received, you receive a push notification on your smartphone (TWINT Business Portal App). With a fixed QR sticker (e.g. CHF 8.00 for a menu), a quick look at the customer's confirmation screen is sufficient. Alternatively, you can check the incoming transactions in the TWINT Business Portal App or in the web portal.

When using a PSP like Payrexx, the payment runs via the Payrexx payment page. The customer scans the QR code with the TWINT app or with the smartphone camera, selects TWINT as the payment method, confirms, and receives a confirmation. You can see the transaction in your Payrexx Dashboard.

5. Costs and fees: What TWINT QR costs for small amounts

The fee structure for the TWINT QR sticker is kept simple on purpose. If you register directly via twint.ch, you pay 1.3% per transaction – no monthly fixed costs, no minimum fee per payment, and no setup fee. This makes TWINT QR particularly attractive for micro-amounts: for a coffee for CHF 5.00, the fee is only CHF 0.065 – about 7 centimes.

By comparison: with debit card payments via a physical terminal in Switzerland, fixed fees of CHF 0.10–0.25 per transaction plus a percentage charge typically apply depending on the provider. For a CHF 5.00 purchase, the terminal fee can quickly amount to over 5% of the total.

The table shows: for small amounts, as are common at food trucks and market stalls, the TWINT QR sticker is the cheapest cashless payment method – especially because there is no terminal rental fee.

6. Limits and pitfalls: Daily limits, failed scans, refunds

Amount limits

A single transaction via the TWINT QR sticker with a variable amount may not exceed CHF 5000. For a sticker with a fixed amount, the upper limit is CHF 200 per sticker. In practice, this is not an issue for food trucks and market stalls – typical transactions range between CHF 5 and CHF 50. On the customer side, the daily and monthly limits of the respective bank app also apply. For the UBS TWINT app, for example, the standard daily limit is CHF 3000.

Failed scans

Scan problems occur most frequently when the QR sticker is damaged, dirty, or faded due to solar radiation. Therefore, order weatherproof stickers and place them in such a way that they are protected from direct sun and fat/steam splashes. A screen brightness that is too low on the customer's phone can also make scanning difficult. If problems persist: download the QR code again in the merchant portal or PSP Dashboard and reprint it.

Refunds

You can trigger refunds directly via the TWINT Business Portal App – as a full or partial refund. The amount is credited back to the customer's linked account. Via a PSP like Payrexx, you trigger refunds in the PSP Dashboard. Note: refunds via TWINT are limited in time (usually 180 days after the transaction).

Common pitfalls

A practical pitfall: with a static QR sticker with a variable amount, the customer enters the amount themselves. Typing errors happen – for example, CHF 1.25 instead of CHF 12.50. Make it a habit to quickly check the customer's confirmation screen before you hand over the goods. With a QR sticker with a fixed amount, this risk is eliminated, but you need a separate sticker for each product.

7. Checklist: Get the TWINT QR code ready for your food truck or market stall

• Decide: TWINT QR directly via twint.ch or via a PSP (e.g. Payrexx) – depending on whether you only want to accept TWINT or also cards and wallets.

• Register in the TWINT merchant portal or with the PSP of your choice. You need a Swiss mobile number and a Swiss bank account (IBAN).

• Choose the sticker type: Variable amount (customer types themselves) or fixed amount (e.g. CHF 8.00 for a daily menu).

• Order weatherproof QR stickers or print the code out laminated. Tip: take at least two copies with you as a backup.

• Place the sticker in a highly visible position at eye level of the customers – ideally next to the menu or at the checkout counter.

• Install the TWINT Business Portal App on your smartphone and activate push notifications for incoming payments.

• Test the QR code before the first use with your own smartphone and a micro-amount (e.g. CHF 0.10).

• Set up an email notification for incoming payments as a second channel – useful as a backup if your smartphone has no reception.

• Inform your team about the process: Where is the sticker? How do I check the receipt of payment? How do I trigger a refund?

• Keep a spare sticker and enough change ready – not every customer has TWINT, and cash remains a backup.

8. How you can create your TWINT QR code with Payrexx

With QR Pay, Payrexx offers a solution that goes beyond the pure TWINT sticker. In your Payrexx account, you create a QR code that can be scanned both with the TWINT app and with a smartphone camera. This means:

In addition to TWINT, you also accept Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other payment methods via the same code. The TWINT transaction fee is 1.3%. The QR Pay tool is already included in the free Free plan.

You can order weatherproof stickers and table stands directly via the Dashboard – the first order is free of charge.