Tap to Pay (also known as SoftPOS) transforms a standard smartphone into a contactless card terminal. Swiss food truck operators and market vendors can use it to accept credit and debit cards, TWINT, and mobile wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay directly on their phones – without any additional hardware. All that is needed is an NFC-enabled Android or iOS device and the app of a supported payment service provider.

This guide shows you step-by-step how Tap to Pay works, which smartphones and providers are supported in Switzerland, how much the solution costs, and when a classic mobile terminal is still the better choice.

1. What is Tap to Pay and why is it perfect for food trucks and market stalls?

Tap to Pay – also known in the industry as SoftPOS (Software Point of Sale) – refers to a technology where the NFC antenna of a smartphone is used to accept contactless payments. The smartphone completely replaces the classic card terminal. The payer holds their card or their own phone against the merchant's device, and the transaction is processed via a certified app and a payment service provider (PSP).

For food trucks, market stalls, and pop-up shops, Tap to Pay solves several practical problems at once: there are no acquisition costs for a terminal, the smartphone is always with you anyway, and setup usually takes less than an hour. Seasonal businesses that are only active for a few months of the year benefit particularly because there are no fixed costs or minimum contract terms. Tap to Pay is also a reliable backup solution – for example, if the conventional terminal fails.

In Switzerland, the technology has been widely available since spring 2025. Apple unlocked Tap to Pay on iPhone for Switzerland in March 2025, while Android devices have supported the function for longer via apps from various providers. Among the Swiss PSPs offering Tap to Pay are Payrexx, SumUp, Worldline, Stripe, and Nexi.

2. How it works: smartphone instead of card reader – step-by-step

The process is almost identical for most providers and is completed in just a few steps:

Create and verify an account: You register with your chosen payment provider, submit your company details, and undergo the regulatory check (Know Your Customer, KYC). For most providers, verification takes one to five working days – some like Payrexx offer same-day verification if the documents are submitted before 4 p.m.

Download the app: You install the provider's Tap to Pay app from the Google Play Store (Android) or the Apple App Store (iPhone) and log in with your account.

Initiate payment: You enter the amount in the app, select the payment method (card or e.g. TWINT), and activate the payment process.

Customer pays: Your customer holds their contactless card or smartphone (with Apple Pay, Google Pay etc.) against the back of your device. For amounts over EUR 80, the PIN entry is displayed directly on the smartphone screen.

Confirmation and receipt: The transaction is confirmed. Depending on the provider, you can send the receipt via SMS, email, or QR code.

Payout to your bank account takes between 48 hours and five business days, depending on the provider.

3. Requirements: Which smartphones, operating systems, and apps are supported?

Tap to Pay requires a smartphone with NFC (Near Field Communication) functionality. The exact requirements differ between iPhone and Android.

iPhone

For Tap to Pay on iPhone, at least an iPhone XS (2018) or newer is required. The device must have the latest iOS version installed and have an internet connection. In Switzerland, providers currently supporting the Apple feature include SumUp, Worldline, Stripe, Adyen, Mollie, myPOS, and Nexi.

Android

For Android devices, an NFC-enabled smartphone or tablet running at least Android 11 is required. Google Play Services must be installed and up to date. Devices with root access or enabled developer options are usually blocked for security reasons. Most current models from Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, and Huawei are compatible.

Security and certification: Is Tap to Pay on a smartphone secure enough?

Yes. Tap to Pay is subject to the same security standards as a conventional card terminal. The technology is certified according to the CPoC standard (Contactless Payments on Commercial Off-the-Shelf Devices) of the PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) and meets the requirements of the PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard).

On iPhones, card data is processed in the so-called Secure Element – a dedicated security chip that is physically separated from the rest of the operating system. Apple does not store card numbers on the device or on its own servers. On Android devices, encryption and tokenization ensure that sensitive card data is never stored or transmitted in plain text on the device. A temporary token is used instead of the actual card number.

In addition, the same security mechanisms apply as for contactless payments at conventional terminals: amounts over EUR 80 require a PIN entry (which takes place directly on the smartphone screen), and the payment networks (Visa, Mastercard) monitor transactions in real time for irregularities.

5. Service speed: Payment process under 5 seconds – field test

In the daily routine of a food truck, every second counts, especially during the lunch rush. Tap to Pay performs well here: in practical tests, the actual payment process (from the moment the customer holds the card) takes between two and four seconds for contactless payments under EUR 80. For amounts over EUR 80, the PIN entry is added, which extends the process to about eight to twelve seconds.

By comparison: a classic mobile terminal like the SumUp Solo or a Worldline device takes a similar amount of time for a contactless payment – the difference is in the range of one to two seconds and is hardly noticeable in practice. The actual time advantage of Tap to Pay lies elsewhere: you don't have to charge, switch on, or connect a separate device via Bluetooth. You type in the amount, the customer pays, done.

A relevant note for daily food truck operations: a stable mobile connection (4G/5G) is a prerequisite for the payment process. In areas with poor reception – such as festival grounds in rural regions – delays may occur. Some providers allow offline transactions to a limited extent, which are synchronized later, but this is the exception.

6. Tap to Pay vs. mobile terminal: When is the smartphone enough, when do you need more?

Tap to Pay is not the right solution for every use case. The decision between a smartphone solution and a mobile terminal depends on the business model, the transaction volume, and the accepted payment methods.

Comparison: Tap to Pay vs. mobile terminal

Tap to Pay is especially suitable if you are just starting out, operate only seasonally, or need an additional device for peak times. If you achieve a daily turnover of more than EUR 1,000, need to print receipts, or regularly want to accept cards without NFC (such as older Maestro cards with chip), a mobile terminal is the more robust choice. Many merchants combine both: terminal as the main system, smartphone as backup.

7. Costs: No hardware, transaction fees only – what you really pay

The biggest cost advantage of Tap to Pay compared to a classic terminal lies in the elimination of hardware costs. You do not pay for acquisition, rent, or a maintenance contract. Costs are limited to transaction fees incurred per accepted payment and – depending on the provider – a monthly subscription.

Cost comparison of selected providers (Switzerland, as of 2026)

* Stripe fees apply to in-person payments in Switzerland (Domestic). All information subject to change, as of 2026.

A calculation example illustrates the cost structure: A food truck turns over EUR 800 via card payment on a market day, spread over 50 transactions with an average amount of EUR 16. With a provider offering 1.65 % + EUR 0.15 per transaction (such as Payrexx), this results in total costs of around EUR 20.70 for the day. With SumUp charging 1.5 % (debit), it would be EUR 12 – but without TWINT acceptance, which is a relevant revenue factor in Switzerland.

For Swiss SMEs looking to accept TWINT and PostFinance directly via smartphone in addition to cards, Payrexx Tap to Pay is one of the few solutions that combines all relevant Swiss payment methods in a single app. Registration is possible via the complimentary Free plan, and verification takes place on the same day if documentation is complete. Furthermore, Payrexx Tap to Pay can be used on multiple devices with a single account – practical if you operate with two cash registers at your market stall (first device free of charge, each additional one EUR 4/month).

8. Checklist: Setting up Tap to Pay for your food truck or market stall

• Check whether your smartphone supports NFC (iPhone XS or newer, or Android with NFC and at least Android 11).

• Update your operating system to the latest version (iOS or Android).

• Choose a payment provider that supports Tap to Pay in Switzerland and covers the payment methods your customers use (especially TWINT and debit cards).

• Create an account with the chosen provider and submit your company details for the KYC check (commercial register extract, ID card, IBAN).

• Download the Tap to Pay app from the official app store and connect it to your account.

• Test the payment process with your own card or a test purchase before going live.

• Make sure you have a stable mobile network connection (4G/5G) at your location – test the reception beforehand.

• Decide how you want to issue receipts (digitally via SMS, email, or QR code).

• Determine whether you need a backup (second smartphone, mobile terminal, cash).

• Find out about your provider's payout schedules (daily, weekly, monthly) and ensure that the payout IBAN is entered correctly.