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 key decision 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 a phone work as a card terminal?

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

Payment works just like on a classic 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 Merchant's smartphone. For amounts over EUR 80, a PIN entry is also required on the smartphone screen. The security standards correspond to those of classic terminals: PCI-certified encryption, tokenisation, and secure execution environments (Trusted Execution Environment) 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 speaks of «Tap on Phone». They 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 with no 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 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 a single account. Payout is processed within 48 hours.

SumUp Tap to Pay

SumUp is an international payment service provider specialising in micro-businesses and the self-employed. With «Tap to Pay», SumUp offers a free app for iPhone (from XS) and Android (from Android 11). The pricing model works without a contract binding and with no monthly fixed costs – merchants pay exclusively per transaction. For larger volume businesses, there is an optional subscription model («Zahlungen 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 that 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. In contrast to SumUp and Worldline, Tap to Pay with Payrexx is integrated into a broader ecosystem: merchants can manage on-site payments, online payments, payment links, QR Pay, and POS terminals through a single Dashboard. The fees correspond to POS rates and do not depend on the selected subscription plan.

Other Providers

In addition to the three main providers, myPOS (with «myPOS Glass» on iPhone and Android, active internationally) and Stripe (Tap to Pay via the Stripe Terminal API, developer-focused) are available in Switzerland. Both cater to specific target groups – myPOS for international merchants, Stripe for platforms and development 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 rates.

Note: All fees apply to domestic transactions in Switzerland. For international cards or premium cards (e.g., American Express), higher fees may apply. With SumUp, the optional «Zahlungen Plus» subscription costs EUR 29 per month and reduces the transaction fee to 0.99% for domestic debit and credit cards. With Payrexx, Tap to Pay is already available in the Free plan; Standard (EUR 19/mo.) and Premium (EUR 49/mo.) offer additional 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 a monthly turnover of EUR 3,000, Payrexx is the most cost-effective with its POS rates, with Worldline close behind. SumUp is the most expensive in its basic model, but becomes competitive with the subscription model – although according to SumUp, this is only worth it from a monthly turnover of around EUR 4,700. If the share of credit card transactions is higher, the difference to SumUp without a 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 a pure 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 merchants whose customers frequently pay with TWINT – for example at markets, cafes, mobile services, or events – SumUp falls short as a standalone solution. Worldline and Payrexx cover the full Swiss payment spectrum.

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

Device support is a practical decision factor: if you exclusively use an iPhone, you cannot choose every provider.

Payrexx currently exclusively supports Android devices for Tap to Pay. If you use an iPhone, you have the choice between Worldline and SumUp. However, Worldline requires at least Android 12, whereas SumUp works from Android 11 and Payrexx from Android 8.1 – an advantage for merchants 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 excellent for mobile, flexible, and occasional uses – but reaches its limits during intense continuous operations or complex cash register setups.

Tap to Pay is ideal for

• Mobile service providers: Therapists, tradespeople, cleaning services, driving instructors

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

• Associations and events with temporary sales points

• Delivery services collecting payments on-site from customers

• Micro-businesses that only occasionally accept card payments

• Backup checkout during peak hours in brick-and-mortar stores

A classic card terminal is better if

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

• Multiple employees are collecting payments simultaneously and require separate devices

• A printed receipt is requested by customers

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

• Durability and continuous operation are required – e.g., in shift-based gastronomy businesses

In practice, many Swiss SMEs combine both solutions: a classic terminal at the counter and Tap to Pay as a mobile supplement for field service, deliveries, or rush hours.

Checklist: Choosing the right Tap to Pay provider

• Check TWINT requirement: 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 worth it. For higher volumes, percentages become more important than monthly subscription costs.

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

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

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

• Check contract term: All three main providers operate with no minimum contract period – you can switch at any time.

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

• 
  

  Take advantage of the test phase: Worldline, SumUp, and Payrexx offer free registration. Payrexx also offers a 30-day trial period.

  
  

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 with no setup fees. The unique feature compared to pure SoftPOS providers: Payrexx connects on-site payments with online payments, payment links, QR Pay, and POS terminals within a single Dashboard. Anyone who accepts payments today at a market stall using Tap to Pay and handles webshop orders tomorrow can keep everything in one place. The 30-day free trial period enables a risk-free start.