TWINT QR code for food trucks and market stalls in Switzerland: Pay without a terminal

With a TWINT QR code, food trucks, street food stands, and market vendors in Switzerland can accept cashless payments – without a card terminal, without monthly fixed costs, and without requiring their own on-site internet connection. The comerciante prints out a QR code sticker and attaches it visibly to the stand. 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 are incurred, and which pitfalls you should be aware of.

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

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

Firstly, the barrier to entry is extremely low: you need neither a physical terminal nor an acquiring contract for card payments. Registration takes place directly in the TWINT comerciante portal or via a payment service provider (PSP) such as Payrexx. Secondly, there are no monthly fixed costs and no rental fees – you pay exclusively per transaction. Thirdly, as a comerciante, you do not require your own internet connection at the stand. The QR code is a printed sticker; the connection runs via your customers' smartphones. This is a decisive advantage, especially at locations with poor Wi-Fi coverage – festivals, outdoor weekly markets, mountain regions.

Added to this is the high level of acceptance: a large proportion of brick-and-mortar 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 very first cashless payment method – and often the only one they actually need.

2. Static QR sticker vs. dynamic QR code: What is the difference?

A static QR code refers to 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 for a fixed amount – for instance, EUR 5.00 for a coffee.

A dynamic QR code, on the other hand, is generated anew for each transaction – typically via a cash register system or POS software. It already contains the exact amount within the code, so the customer only needs to confirm. Dynamic QR codes require 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 running costs, ready for immediate use. Those using a cash register system or preferring not to have amounts entered manually opt for the dynamic QR code.

3. Setting up TWINT QR via Payrexx

You can obtain your TWINT QR code in two ways: directly via the TWINT comerciante portal (twint.ch) or via a payment service provider. The direct route via TWINT is the simplest if you want to accept TWINT payments exclusively. Via a PSP like Payrexx, you also gain the option of offering card payments (Visa, Mastercard), Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other payment methods via the same QR code in addition to TWINT.

Route 1: Directly via TWINT

Register in the TWINT comerciante portal at twint.ch with a Swiss mobile number. After verification, you define your QR code sticker (variable or fixed amount) and can download it as a digital file or order it as a weatherproof sticker. The stickers usually arrive at your address within 48 hours.

Route 2: Via Payrexx (QR Pay)

Create a free Payrexx account, activate TWINT under 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 displays. The advantage: your QR code works both with the TWINT app and directly via the smartphone camera – allowing tourists without the TWINT app to pay as well.

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

Customer perspective (static QR sticker, variable amount)

The customer opens the TWINT app on their smartphone and taps "Pay". They point the camera at the QR sticker at the stand. The app detects the code, displays the comerciante name, and prompts for the amount to be entered. The customer types in, for example, "12.50", confirms with "Pay", and immediately sees a confirmation. The entire process usually takes less than 15 seconds.

Comerciante perspective

In the simplest case, you as a comerciante do not need to do anything – the sticker works for you. As soon as a payment is received, you receive a push notification on your smartphone (TWINT Business Portal App). With a fixed QR sticker (e.g. EUR 8.00 for a menu), a quick look at the customer's confirmation screen is sufficient. Alternatively, you check the incoming payments in the TWINT Business Portal App or in the web portal.

When using a PSP such as Payrexx, the payment runs 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 intentionally kept simple. With 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 micro-amounts: for a coffee costing EUR 5.00, the fee is merely EUR 0.065 – around 7 centimes.

By comparison: for debit card payments via a physical terminal in Switzerland, depending on the provider, fixed fees of EUR 0.10–0.25 per transaction plus a percentage share are typically incurred. For a EUR 5.00 purchase, the terminal fee can thus quickly account for more than 5% of the amount.

The table shows: for small amounts, as are common at food trucks and market stands, the TWINT QR sticker is the most cost-effective cashless payment method – especially because no terminal rental is incurred.

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 EUR 5,000. For a sticker with a fixed amount, the upper limit is EUR 200 per sticker. In practice, this is not an issue for food trucks and market stalls – typical transactions range between EUR 5 and EUR 50. On the customer side, the daily and monthly limits of the respective bank app also apply. With the UBS TWINT app, for example, the default daily limit is EUR 3,000.

Failed scans

Scanning problems occur most frequently when the QR sticker is damaged, dirty, or faded due to sunlight. Therefore, order weatherproof stickers and place them so that they are protected from direct sunlight and grease/steam splatters. Insufficient screen brightness on the customer's device can also make scanning more difficult. In case of persistent problems: download the QR code again in the comerciante portal or PSP Dashboard and print it freshly.

Refunds

You can issue refunds directly via the TWINT Business Portal App – as full or partial refunds. The amount is refunded to the customer's linked account. Via a PSP like Payrexx, you issue refunds in the PSP Dashboard. The credit to the customer usually takes a few days.

Common pitfalls

A practical pitfall: with a static QR sticker with a variable amount, the customer types in the amount themselves. Typing errors happen – such as EUR 1.25 instead of EUR 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: Getting the TWINT QR code ready for your food truck or market stand

• Decide: TWINT QR directly via twint.ch or via a PSP (e.g. Payrexx) – depending on whether you want to accept TWINT only or also cards and wallets.

• Register in the TWINT comerciante portal or with the PSP of your choice. You need a Swiss mobile number and a Swiss bank account (IBAN).

• Select the sticker type: variable amount (customer types themselves) or fixed amount (e.g. EUR 8.00 for a daily special).

• Order weatherproof QR stickers or print the code laminated. Tip: take at least two copies along as a backup.

• Place the sticker clearly visible at customers' eye level – ideally next to the menu or at the pickup counter.

• Install the TWINT Business Portal App on your smartphone and activate push notifications for incoming payments.

• Test the QR code before the first use with your own smartphone and a micro-amount (e.g. EUR 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 located? How do I verify payment receipt? How do I trigger a refund?

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

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

With QR Pay, Payrexx offers a solution that goes beyond the pure TWINT sticker. You create a QR code in your Payrexx account that can be scanned both via the TWINT app and via the smartphone camera. That means:

In addition to TWINT, you also accept Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other payment methods via the same code. The transaction fee is 1.25% + EUR 0.30. The QR Pay tool is already included in the free plan.

Weatherproof stickers and table displays can be ordered directly via the Payrexx Dashboard.