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 to the stand. 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 – without a minimum fee per transaction.

This guide shows you step by step how to set up TWINT QR for your mobile stand, how static and dynamic QR codes differ, which costs apply and which pitfalls you should know.

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 points such as food trucks, snack trucks, weekly market stalls or festival stands, the TWINT QR code sticker offers several clear advantages over classic card terminals.

First, 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. Second, there are no monthly fixed costs and no rental fees – you pay only per transaction. Third, as a merchant you do not need your own internet connection at the stand. The QR code is a printed sticker; the connection runs via your customers' smartphone. This is a decisive advantage, especially at locations with poor Wi-Fi coverage – festivals, open-air weekly markets, mountain regions.

There is also the high acceptance rate: Around 77% of stationary sales points 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 first cashless payment method at all – and often the only one they actually need.

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

A static QR code means a QR sticker that is permanently attached to the stand 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 with every 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. Dynamic QR codes require a 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 ongoing costs, ready to use immediately. Anyone using a cash register system or not wanting amounts entered manually should choose the dynamic QR code.

3. Set 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 route via TWINT is the easiest if you only want to accept TWINT payments. Via a PSP such as Payrexx, you also get the option to offer card payments (Visa, Mastercard), Apple Pay, Google Pay and other payment methods via the same QR code.

Way 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 within 48 hours.

Way 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 open, fixed or minimum amount. The QR code can be downloaded as PNG, SVG or as a print-ready poster. Payrexx also offers weatherproof stickers and table displays (first order free). The advantage: Your QR code works both with the TWINT app and directly via the smartphone camera – so even tourists without the TWINT app can pay.

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

Customer perspective (static QR sticker, variable amount)

The customer opens the TWINT app on their smartphone and taps on "Pay". They point the camera at the QR sticker at the stand. The app recognises the code, shows the merchant name and prompts for amount entry. The customer enters e.g. "12.50", confirms with "Pay" and sees a confirmation immediately. The entire process usually takes less than 15 seconds.

Merchant perspective

As the merchant, you do not need to do anything in the simplest case – the sticker works for you. As soon as a payment comes in, 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 enough. Alternatively, you check incoming payments in the TWINT Business Portal app or in the web portal.

When using a PSP such as 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 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 deliberately simple. With a direct registration via twint.ch, you pay 1.3% per transaction – without monthly fixed costs, without minimum fee per payment and without setup fee. This makes TWINT QR attractive especially for micro amounts: For a coffee at CHF 5.00, the fee is only CHF 0.065 – or around 7 centimes.

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

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 no terminal rental applies.

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

Amount limits

A single transaction via the TWINT QR sticker with variable amount may be a maximum of CHF 5000. With a sticker with 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 are between CHF 5 and CHF 50. On the customer side, the daily and monthly limits of the respective banking app also apply. In the UBS TWINT app, for example, the standard daily limit is CHF 3000.

Failed scans

Scan problems occur most often when the QR sticker is damaged, dirty or faded by sunlight. Therefore, order weatherproof stickers and place them so that they are protected from direct sun and grease/steam splashes. Too low screen brightness on the customer side can also make scanning more difficult. If problems persist: download the QR code again in the merchant portal or PSP dashboard and print it fresh.

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 such as Payrexx, you trigger refunds in the PSP dashboard. Note: Refunds via TWINT are time-limited (usually 180 days after the transaction).

Common pitfalls

A practical pitfall: With a static QR sticker with variable amount, the customer enters the amount themselves. Typing errors happen – for example CHF 1.25 instead of CHF 12.50. Get into the habit of briefly checking the customer’s confirmation screen before handing over the goods. With a QR sticker with fixed amount, this risk is eliminated, but you need a separate sticker for each product.

7. Checklist: Make your TWINT QR code ready to use 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 want to accept only TWINT or additionally 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 enters it 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 as backup.

• Place the sticker clearly visible at customers' eye level – ideally next to the menu or at the service counter.

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

• Test the QR code before first use with your own smartphone and a small 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 attached? How do I check the incoming payment? How do I trigger a refund?

• Keep a replacement 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. You create a QR code in your Payrexx account that can be scanned both with the TWINT app and with the smartphone camera. This means:

In addition to TWINT, you also accept with the same code Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay and other payment methods. The TWINT transaction fee is 1.3%. The QR Pay tool is already included in the free plan. Weatherproof stickers and table displays can be ordered directly via the Payrexx dashboard – the first order is free.