Tap to Pay (also known as SoftPOS, Tap on Phone or Tap on Mobile) turns a standard smartphone into a contactless card terminal. In Switzerland, Worldline, SumUp, and Payrexx offer the main Tap to Pay solutions – with significant differences in fees, payment methods, and device support. TWINT acceptance is the central selection criterion in Switzerland.

This guide compares the relevant Tap to Pay providers for Swiss SMEs, self-employed professionals, and associations. You will find out what each solution costs, which payment methods are supported, whether your smartphone is compatible, and when a traditional card terminal remains the better choice.

1. What is Tap to Pay – and how does the phone work as a card terminal?

Tap to Pay – also called SoftPOS (Software Point of Sale) in the industry – is a technology that uses the NFC chip of a smartphone to accept contactless card payments. Instead of buying or renting a separate card reader, the Comerciante installs an app on the smartphone, registers with the respective payment provider, and can start accepting payments immediately.

Payment works just like at a traditional card terminal: customers hold their contactless debit or credit card, their smartphone with Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, or – particularly relevant in Switzerland – their TWINT app against the back of the Comerciante's smartphone. For amounts over EUR 80, a PIN entry is also required on the smartphone screen. The security standards correspond to those of traditional terminals: PCI-certified encryption, tokenization, and secure execution environments (Trusted Execution Space) protect card data.

Different providers use different product names for the same technology: Worldline calls its product "Tap on Mobile", SumUp and Payrexx use "Tap to Pay", Apple refers to the feature as "Tap to Pay on iPhone", Visa uses the term "Tap to Phone", and Mastercard talks of "Tap on Phone". All refer to the same basic principle.

2. Which Tap to Pay providers are available in Switzerland?

Three providers dominate the Swiss market for Tap to Pay solutions. They differ in pricing models, payment methods, device support, and additional features.

Worldline Tap on Mobile

Worldline (formerly SIX Payment Services) is the established Swiss terminal operator and offers "Tap on Mobile", a SoftPOS solution without fixed costs. The product is aimed at small businesses and beginners. Worldline accepts debit and credit cards from Visa and Mastercard, TWINT, as well as mobile wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay). Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) allows international customers to pay in their card's currency. The app runs on Android devices (from Android 12) and recently also on iPhones (from iPhone XS). Up to five devices can be linked to one account. Payout is processed within 48 hours.

SumUp Tap to Pay

SumUp is an international payment service provider specializing in micro-businesses and self-employed individuals. With "Tap to Pay", SumUp offers a free app for iPhone (from XS) and Android (from Android 11). The pricing model works without contractual obligation and without monthly fixed costs – Comerciantes pay exclusively per transaction. For businesses with higher volumes, there is an optional subscription model ("Payments Plus") with reduced transaction fees. SumUp accepts Visa and Mastercard (debit and credit) as well as Apple Pay and Google Pay, but does not directly support TWINT or PostFinance payments.

Payrexx Tap to Pay

Payrexx is a Swiss payment service provider (PSP) based in Thun, which offers Tap to Pay as part of its overall system. The SoftPOS solution currently runs on compatible Android devices (from Android 8.1 with NFC). Payrexx accepts debit and credit cards (Visa, Mastercard), TWINT, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. Unlike SumUp and Worldline, Tap to Pay at Payrexx is embedded into a broader ecosystem: Comerciantes can manage on-site payments, online payments, payment links, QR Pay, and POS terminals through a single Dashboard. The fees correspond to the POS tariffs and do not depend on the chosen subscription plan.

Other providers

In addition to the three main providers, myPOS (with "myPOS Glass" on iPhone and Android, internationally active) and Stripe (Tap to Pay via the Stripe Terminal API, developer-focused) are available in Switzerland. Both are aimed at specific target groups – myPOS at international Comerciantes, Stripe at platforms and developer teams – and play a minor role in the typical Swiss SME segment.

3. Fee comparison: What Tap to Pay costs in Switzerland

The fee structure of the three main Swiss providers differs fundamentally. Worldline operates with a flat-rate model, SumUp differentiates between debit and credit cards, and Payrexx uses uniform POS tariffs.

Note: All fees apply to domestic transactions in Switzerland. For international cards or premium cards (e.g. American Express), higher fees may apply. For SumUp, the optional "Payments Plus" subscription costs EUR 29 per month and lowers the transaction fee to 0.99% for domestic debit and credit cards. For Payrexx, Tap to Pay is already available in the Free plan; Standard (EUR 19/month) and Premium (EUR 49/month) additionally offer API, plugins, and advanced features – the POS transaction fees remain identical.

Calculation example: EUR 3,000 monthly turnover

Assumption: 100 transactions per month, 50% debit cards (EUR 1,500), 50% credit cards (EUR 1,500), exclusively Swiss cards.

The calculation example shows: With EUR 3,000 in monthly turnover, Payrexx is the most cost-effective with its POS tariffs, while Worldline is close behind. SumUp is the most expensive in the basic model, but becomes competitive with the subscription model – though according to SumUp, it only pays off from approx. EUR 4,700 in monthly turnover. With higher shares of credit card payments, the difference to SumUp without subscription becomes significantly larger.

4. Payment methods: Who accepts TWINT, PostFinance, and wallets?

Which payment methods a Tap to Pay provider supports is often more important in Switzerland than the simple comparison of fees. TWINT is by far the most popular mobile payment method – around 5.5 million Swiss actively use the app. A Tap to Pay provider without TWINT excludes a significant portion of customers.

The new PostFinance Card with Debit Mastercard functionality is accepted by all three providers – the transaction is processed as a Debit Mastercard. The old PostFinance Card without Debit Mastercard is not supported by any SoftPOS provider.

For Swiss Comerciantes whose customers frequently pay with TWINT – such as at markets, in cafés, for mobile services, or at events – SumUp is not suitable as a standalone solution. Worldline and Payrexx cover the complete Swiss payment spectrum.

5. iPhone, Android or both? Device compatibility at a glance

Device support is a practical deciding factor: Anyone who exclusively uses an iPhone cannot use every provider.

Payrexx currently exclusively supports Android devices for Tap to Pay. Those who use an iPhone have the choice between Worldline and SumUp. Worldline, however, requires at least Android 12, whereas SumUp already operates from Android 11 and Payrexx from Android 8.1 – which is an advantage for Comerciantes with older devices.

6. Tap to Pay vs. card terminal: When is a smartphone enough?

Tap to Pay is not the best choice for every scenario. The technology is excellently suited for mobile, flexible, and occasional uses – but reaches its limits in high-intensity continuous operation or complex cash register setups.

Tap to Pay is ideal for

• Mobile service providers: therapists, craftspeople, cleaning services, driving instructors

• Market stalls, food trucks and pop-up stores with changing locations

• Associations and events with temporary points of sale

• Delivery services collecting payments directly from customers on site

• Micro-businesses that only occasionally accept card payments

• Backup checkout during peak times in physical retail stores

A traditional card terminal is better if

• You run a brick-and-mortar business with high transaction volumes (from approx. EUR 10,000/month)

• Several staff members check out at the same time and require separate devices

• A printed receipt is required by customers

• The terminal needs to be permanently integrated into a POS system (Lightspeed, Orderbird, Ready2Order)

• Robustness and heavy-duty continuous operation are required – e.g. in gastronomy shift work

In practice, many Swiss SMEs combine both solutions: a traditional card terminal at the store counter and Tap to Pay as a mobile companion for field assignments, deliveries, or rush hours.

Checklist: Choosing the right Tap to Pay provider

• Assess TWINT demand: Do your customers frequently pay with TWINT? If so, SumUp is ruled out as a standalone solution.

• Check smartphone: Do you have an iPhone or an Android device? Not every provider supports both platforms.

• Calculate monthly turnover: Under EUR 3,000, a model without fixed costs is worthwhile. At higher volumes, percentages become more important than monthly subscription costs.

• Estimate debit/credit card share: A high credit card share makes SumUp without subscription expensive (2.5%).

• Consider offline scenarios: Tap to Pay always requires an internet connection (4G or Wi-Fi). At locations with poor reception, a TWINT QR sticker is useful as a backup.

• Online + offline combinable? If you also use an online shop or payment links, a provider with an integrated Dashboard (e.g. Payrexx) is more convenient than separate systems.

• Check contract term: All three main providers work without a minimum contract duration – you can switch at any time.

• Mind the payout time: Worldline pays out within 48 hours, SumUp in 1–2 business days. With Payrexx, the frequency is selectable (daily or monthly).

• Use testing phase: Worldline, SumUp, and Payrexx offer free registration. Payrexx additionally features a 30-day testing phase.

For Swiss SMEs looking to accept card payments, TWINT, and wallets via a single smartphone, Payrexx Tap to Pay offers a solution that can be set up without hardware and without setup fees. The special feature compared to pure SoftPOS providers: Payrexx connects on-site payments with online payments, payment links, QR Pay, and POS terminals in a single Dashboard. Anyone who collects payments on a market stand with Tap to Pay today and processes orders via the online shop tomorrow keeps everything in one place. The 30-day free testing phase allows a risk-free start.