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 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 stand, how static and dynamic QR codes differ, what costs apply and what pitfalls you should be aware of.

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

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

First, the barrier to entry 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 exclusively 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.

Added to this is the high acceptance: around 77% of stationary points of sale 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 is 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 to a fixed amount – for example CHF 5.00 for a coffee.

A dynamic QR code, by contrast, is newly generated 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 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. If you use a cash register system or do not want amounts to be entered manually, choose the dynamic QR code.

3. Set up TWINT QR via Payrexx

You can obtain 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. Through 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, in addition to TWINT.

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 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 an 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 stands (first order free of charge). The advantage: your QR code works both with the TWINT app and directly via the smartphone camera – so tourists without the TWINT app can also pay.

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

Customer view (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, for example, «12.50», confirms with «Pay» and immediately sees a confirmation. The entire process usually takes less than 15 seconds.

Merchant view

As a merchant, in the simplest case you do not need to do anything – 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 glance at the customer’s confirmation screen is enough. Alternatively, check incoming payments in the TWINT Business Portal app or in the web portal.

When using a PSP such as Payrexx, the payment is processed 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 – with no monthly fixed costs, no minimum fee per payment and no setup fee. This makes TWINT QR particularly attractive for very small amounts: for a coffee at CHF 5.00, the fee is only CHF 0.065 – so around 7 centimes.

For comparison: for debit card payments via a physical terminal in Switzerland, depending on the provider, fixed fees of typically CHF 0.10–0.25 per transaction plus a percentage share apply. For a CHF 5.00 purchase, the terminal fee can therefore 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 is charged.

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 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’s device 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 initiate refunds directly in 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 initiate 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 and a variable amount, the customer enters the amount themselves. Typos 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 a fixed amount, this risk is eliminated, but you need a separate sticker for each product.

7. Checklist: Get your 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 want to accept only 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 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 a backup.

• Place the sticker clearly visible at the customer’s eye level – ideally next to the menu or at the serving 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 placed? How do I check the payment received? How do I initiate a refund?

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

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

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

In addition to TWINT, you also accept 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 stands can be ordered directly via the Payrexx dashboard – the first order is free of charge.