Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteFor UK merchants, “one-click payments” usually means making checkout quicker for a returning customer by showing an eligible saved payment method or prefilled details. It does not guarantee that payment takes one click: the customer may still need to confirm the order or complete an authentication step.
What “one-click payments” mean for a merchant
“One-click” is a description of a checkout experience, not a formal promise that every payment completes after a single action. A returning customer may not need to re-enter card details, but the checkout may still ask them to select a method, confirm the purchase, or authenticate the payment.
There is no single standard flow implied by the phrase. The exact experience depends on the payment provider, the merchant’s setup, the payment method, customer consent and whether authentication is required.
How a saved-payment checkout works
- Collect payment details. The customer enters payment details through the merchant’s checkout and payment provider.
- Ask about future use. If the merchant intends to save the method, the customer should be told what it will be used for and given an appropriate choice. The merchant should retain evidence of the customer’s agreement.
- Associate the method with the customer. The provider stores or references the eligible payment method in connection with the customer, according to its setup and terms.
- Offer it on a later visit. At a subsequent checkout, the merchant can show an eligible saved method or prefill some details. Stripe, for example, documents a Checkout flow for existing customers that can prefill details from saved cards when its configuration and data requirements are met.
- Confirm and process the purchase. The customer confirms the order. The provider processes the payment and may request authentication if required.
Provider terminology distinguishes payments made while the customer is present from attempts made when they are absent. Stripe calls these “on-session” and “off-session” payments. An on-session returning checkout is not automatically frictionless, and an off-session charge is not simply a saved-card version of one-click checkout. Both depend on the intended use, provider configuration, payment-method eligibility and applicable requirements. Stripe also notes that the merchant remains responsible for relevant laws, regulations and card-network rules. See Stripe’s documentation on saving payment details and its guide to payments for existing customers.
#1 Best Overall
- With Square Terminal, you can ring up sales, accept payments, and print receipts, all with one device. Use it at the counter or ring up customers anywhere in your store.
- Accept all major credit and debit cards and pay one low rate with no hidden fees and no long-term contracts.
- Process chip cards in just two seconds.
- Get your money as soon as the next business day.
- Use it cordlessly with the built-in battery, designed to last all day.
Consent and customer control
Saving a payment method is not blanket permission to charge it whenever the merchant chooses. Before saving, explain the intended future use in terms the customer can understand, collect consent appropriate to that use and keep a record of the agreement. A customer agreeing to save a method for faster future checkout should not be treated as having agreed to a different or broader kind of future charge.
When comparing systems, check what the checkout tells the customer, how the customer makes an informed choice, what evidence the merchant can retain, and how customers can manage their saved methods. Provider features differ; do not assume that a stored card alone resolves consent or control.
Rank #2
- Use the, easy-to-use, and customizable POS to get started.
- Accept contactless payments, chip cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay from anywhere, with improved connectivity, extended battery life, and enhanced security. Pay one low rate for every tap or dip.
- No long-term commitments or contracts, no monthly fees- and with offline payments, keep taking payments for up to 24 hours.
- Safely and securely accepts payments anywhere. Plus, get data security, 24/7 fraud prevention, and payment-dispute management at no extra cost.
- Use the, easy-to-use, and customizable POS to get started.
Why strong customer authentication can still be required
UK strong customer authentication (SCA) remains relevant to remote payments. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) says SCA requirements can apply when a payer initiates an electronic payment transaction, accesses a payment account online, or carries out a remote action that may imply fraud risk, unless an exemption applies. Consequently, a returning customer may be asked to authenticate even when their card details are already saved. The FCA also says firms should make authentication usable for different customer groups, including people who may need a method that does not rely on a mobile phone. See the FCA’s Strong Customer Authentication guidance.
The FCA’s May 2026 Payment Services and Electronic Money – Our Approach document is identified as a draft in the FCA’s key publications index. It describes SCA as using at least two independent elements from knowledge, possession and inherence, and explains that authenticating to access account information does not necessarily satisfy authentication when a payment is initiated. Treat that document as draft explanatory material, not final guidance. Merchants should check current rules and final FCA materials before implementation.
Rank #3
- Accept all major credit and debit cards and pay one low rate
- No hidden fees and no long-term contracts
- Mobile card reader that accepts payments anywhere & anytime
- Use the free SumUp App on your smartphone or tablet to start accepting transactions
- Simply pay 2.6% +10 per in-person transaction
Who is regulated: merchant, acquirer or technical provider?
Taking card payments for your own goods or services does not generally make your business the provider of the card payment service. In its Handbook, the FCA says: “In our view, the simple act of accepting payment by way of debit card or credit card for supply of your own goods or services does not generally amount to the provision of the service of execution of payment transactions through a payment card.” The FCA explains that the acquirer enabling the card payment is the payment-service provider in this context. See FCA Handbook PERG 15.3.
Technical processing or storage of data, payment terminals and online gateways alone do not amount to acquiring, according to the FCA’s Handbook guidance. A gateway label by itself therefore does not settle a business’s regulatory role. If your business handles or passes customer funds, provides acquiring, or initiates bank payments, its position may need separate analysis. Marketplaces in particular should assess their actual contracts and flow of funds rather than assume the ordinary merchant position applies.
Rank #4
- Smart card chip card reader (to recognise cards with the golden chip contact surface). Not suitable for contactless NFC RFID cards (e.g. not for ID cards)
- Please note that this is a pure hardware device for reading smart cards. Additional software is always required to make the smart cards useful (banking software, authentication software, access software, etc.)
- Works with all operating systems Windows - Apple Mac OSX - Linux. Usually no additional drivers necessary as already usually included in the operating system
- Different standing floor options for convenient vertical and horizontal use
- Durable housing and built-in long USB cable
The FCA identifies the Payment Services Regulations 2017 and Electronic Money Regulations 2011 as part of the relevant framework. The question of whether a business is a payment service provider is distinct from whether SCA may apply to a particular payment.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to compare merchant checkout options
- Consent and customer choice: Can the checkout clearly explain what is saved and its intended future use? Can you retain evidence that the customer agreed?
- Authentication and recovery: Can the provider handle a payment that requires customer authentication instead of promising every saved-card payment will be frictionless? Are there accessible options for customers who do not use a mobile phone?
- Saved-method display and prefill: Which methods can be shown to returning customers, and what customer data or configuration is required? Stripe’s documented card-prefill behavior is provider-specific, not a guarantee about other systems.
- Integration fit: Check compatibility with your ecommerce platform and customer-account model, supported payment methods, and whether the intended charge occurs while the customer is present or absent.
- Roles and responsibilities: Identify the merchant, acquirer and payment-service provider in your actual arrangement. Do not infer regulatory status from a provider’s use of the word “gateway.”
There is no independent conversion comparison, neutral provider ranking or current price comparison established here. Treat any claim about conversion gains or relative performance as something that needs separate evidence for the providers and checkout flows you are considering.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- With Square Handheld, you can accept payments, take tableside orders, or scan barcodes anywhere. With a slim design and comfortable grip, the POS is easy to carry in your palm or pocket. Square Handheld is designed to withstand water splashes and dust. Add an optional protective case for accidental drops. A long-lasting battery and offline payments let you keep selling.
- Slim, pocketable, and lightweight so you can accept payments wherever your customers are.
- Take tableside orders, bust lines, or use the built-in barcode scanner, all with one sleek device.
- A battery that can power through your shift and offline payments let you keep selling, even if your internet is down.
- Accept all major credit and debit cards and pay one simple rate with no hidden fees and no long-term contracts required.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
