Tap to Pay (also known as SoftPOS) transforms a conventional smartphone into a contactless card terminal. Swiss food truck operators and market traders can use it to accept credit and debit cards, TWINT, and mobile wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay directly on their mobile phone – without 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 nevertheless the better choice.

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

Tap to Pay – also known in the industry as SoftPOS (Software Point of Sale) – refers to a technology in which the NFC antenna of a smartphone is used to accept contactless payments. The smartphone replaces the classic card terminal completely. The payer holds their card or their own mobile phone to the comerciante'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 businesses, 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 in particular because there are no fixed costs or minimum contract terms. Tap to Pay is also a reliable addition as a 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 in Switzerland in March 2025, and 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 Lector de tarjetas – step-by-step

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

Create and verify una cuenta: You register with the chosen payment provider, submit your company details, and go through 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 documents are submitted by 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 una cuenta.

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.) to 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.

The payout to your bank account takes place within 48 hours to five working 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 such as SumUp, Worldline, Stripe, Adyen, Mollie, myPOS, and Nexi currently support the Apple feature.

Android

For Android devices, an NFC-enabled smartphone or tablet with 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 tokenisation ensure that sensitive card data is never stored or transmitted in plain text on the device. A temporary token is used instead of the real card number.

In addition, the same security mechanisms apply as for contactless payment 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 field tests, the pure 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 do not have to charge, switch on, or connect a separate device via Bluetooth. You enter the amount, the customer pays, done.

A relevant note for everyday food truck operations: a stable mobile connection (4G/5G) is a prerequisite for the payment process. In areas with poor reception – for example, on festival grounds in rural regions – delays can occur. Some providers allow limited offline transactions that are synchronised 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 particularly suitable if you are just starting out, are only operating seasonally, or need an additional device for peak times. If you take in more than EUR 1,000 daily, 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 comerciantes combine both: the terminal as the main system, the smartphone as a 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 is the absence of hardware costs. You do not pay for acquisition, rent, or a maintenance contract. Costs are limited to transaction fees that apply per accepted payment and – depending on the provider – a monthly subscription.

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

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

An example calculation illustrates the cost structure: a food truck turns over EUR 800 via card payment on a market day, distributed 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. For SumUp with 1.5 % (debit), it would be EUR 12 – but without TWINT acceptance, which is a relevant revenue factor in Switzerland.

For Swiss SMEs that want 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 free Free subscription, and verification takes place on the same day if documentation is complete. In addition, Payrexx Tap to Pay can be used on several devices with a single una cuenta – practical if you work with two tills at the market stall (first device free, each additional EUR 4/month).

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

• Check if 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 used by your customers (especially TWINT and debit cards).

• Create una cuenta with the chosen provider and submit your company details for the KYC check (commercial register extract, identity card, IBAN).

• Download the Tap to Pay app from the official App Store and connect it to your una cuenta.

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

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

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

• Decide if you need a backup (second smartphone, mobile terminal, cash).

• Find out about the payout schedules of your provider (daily, weekly, monthly) and ensure the payout IBAN is saved correctly.