Tap to Pay for home visits: Mobile payment for physio- and osteotherapy therapists in Switzerland

Physio- and osteotherapy therapists who visit patients at home can collect payments directly on site with the Payrexx Tap to Pay app on an Android smartphone – without a separate card terminal. The Android device accepts contactless debit cards, credit cards, TWINT, and mobile wallets. iPhones are currently not supported by Payrexx Tap to Pay.

This guide shows you how Tap to Pay works during home visits, what the requirements are, and how you can use TWINT as a backup when the Android device has no network connection.

1. The Problem: Cash during home visits is unprofessional and tedious

As a physiotherapist or osteopath visiting patients at home, you are often faced with an awkward situation after the treatment: changing cash, driving to the bank, recording income. This fits neither a professional image nor a relaxed conclusion to a therapy session.

The previous alternative – a separate card reader such as SumUp Air – partly solves the problem, but brings its own disadvantages: the device has to be charged, transported, and paired separately with the smartphone. If the battery dies or the device is left at home, your payment method is gone. With Tap to Pay on your Android smartphone, this hardware is eliminated entirely.

2. What is Payrexx Tap to Pay and how does it work?

Payrexx Tap to Pay is a SoftPOS solution: the NFC chip in the Android smartphone takes over the function of a card reader. The Payrexx Tap to Pay app is installed on the Android device and connected to the existing Payrexx account. When checking out, the amount is entered in the app, the patient holds their card, wallet, or smartphone against the Android device – the payment is confirmed within seconds and appears immediately in the Dashboard.

Important for planning: Payrexx Tap to Pay works exclusively on Android smartphones with an NFC chip (Android 8.1 or higher) and Google Mobile Services. iPhones are currently not supported. Anyone who only has an iPhone available will need a physical POS terminal for on-site payments or must use payment links exclusively.

3. Step by step: Setting up Tap to Pay

Setting it up takes about 10 to 15 minutes and requires no technical prior knowledge.

• Create or log into a Payrexx account (free, 30-day trial period)

• Download the Payrexx Tap to Pay app from the Google Play Store on your Android device

• Connect the app to your Payrexx account – enter your login details

• Activate payment methods: cards, TWINT, mobile wallets

• Perform a test payment with your own card

• Ready to go – enter the amount, and the patient holds their card against the device

4. TWINT for home visits: Available directly in the app

Unlike some other SoftPOS solutions, Payrexx Tap to Pay supports TWINT directly in the app. During home visits, patients can pay via TWINT by holding their smartphone against the therapist's Android device. The transaction goes through the Payrexx account and appears in the Dashboard.

As an extra backup – for example, in areas with poor mobile reception – we recommend printing out a static TWINT QR code (created via Payrexx QR Pay): the patient scans the code, enters the amount, and the therapist confirms receipt later. For most home visits in urban areas with good 4G coverage, this backup is not necessary.

5. Internet connection during home visits: What to do in case of poor network?

Payrexx Tap to Pay requires an active internet connection on the therapist's Android device – either via 4G/5G mobile network or the patient's Wi-Fi. In rural areas or buildings with poor reception, this can be an issue.

6. Accounting: Recording home visits cleanly

All transactions via Tap to Pay appear in the Payrexx Dashboard with the date, amount, payment method, and optional posting text. For accounting, it is recommended to enter the patient ID or first name as a reference for each home visit – this allows all transactions to be assigned to the correct treatments at the end of the month.

Physiotherapy is exempt from value added tax (VAT) in Switzerland, as is osteopathy if it is recognised by health insurance. For private services not covered by health insurance, VAT may apply depending on the situation – your accountant can clarify this on an individual basis.

7. Checklist: Setting up Tap to Pay for home visits

• Check if your Android device is NFC-enabled and running Android 8.1 or higher

• Create a Payrexx account (free, no monthly subscription needed for Tap to Pay)

• Download the Payrexx Tap to Pay app from the Google Play Store

• Connect the app to your Payrexx account and activate your preferred payment methods

• Additionally, create a TWINT QR code (via Payrexx QR Pay) as an offline backup

• Perform a test payment with your own card before going on your first home visit

• Inform patients when confirming appointments: card payments and TWINT are now available

• Set a default posting text in the app for clean accounting

Payrexx Tap to Pay is included in every plan including Free. For mobile therapists without practice rooms or with occasional home visits, the Free plan is a sensible start. Anyone wishing to additionally use Payment Links or online booking with payment can upgrade to Standard (EUR 19/month).