In Spain, 9 out of 10 businesses use INGENICO, VERIFONE, PAX, CASTLES, SPIRE or SUNMI. There are no real alternatives in the market. But here is what nobody tells you: the POS terminal brand is only 60% of the equation. The other 40% is how you install it.
A POS terminal without a stand is a ticking time bomb. It falls, breaks, and generates costs that could have been avoided with a €30 investment in a professional stand. Discover all our payment terminal stands.
This article explains what each of these 6 brands does well and, more importantly, why each one needs a specific stand.
| Brand | Type | Speed | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INGENICO | Payment terminal | 2-3 sec | Banks, traditional retail | €150-300 |
| VERIFONE | Payment terminal | 2-3 sec | Retail, hospitality | €150-300 |
| PAX | Complete terminal | <1 sec | Hospitality, modern retail | €400-800 |
| CASTLES | Payment terminal | 2 sec | Europe, specialist use | €150-280 |
| SPIRE | Terminal + payment device | 1-2 sec | Premium, large businesses | €600-1,200 |
| SUNMI | Touchscreen terminal | <1 sec | Modern, digital hospitality | €500-1,000 |
INGENICO Payment Terminals: The Banking Standard POS
INGENICO is what your bank gives you when you open a business account. It is the most widely used payment terminal in Spain because it has gone 10 years without major changes. The technology is stable, the problems are known and solved, and support is available almost anywhere.
It is a wireless payment terminal with a small screen, around 2 inches, 8-12 hours of battery life, 4G and WiFi connectivity. A transaction takes 2-3 seconds. It is not the fastest option, but it is compatible with everything. It works with all Spanish and European banks.
The problem is that INGENICO usually sits alone on the counter, exposed. In a busy shop, it falls on average once every 10 days. Waiters moving quickly, customers pushing it by accident, constant handling. Without a stand, the fall is inevitable. When an INGENICO falls, the screen breaks. Repair cost: €300. Time without POS terminal: 5 days.
A steel INGENICO payment terminal stand prevents this completely. It is fixed and designed so the terminal does not move even one millimetre. Cost: €30-40. One avoided fall saves you €300. With a stand, an INGENICO lasts 3-4 years without problems.
VERIFONE Payment Terminals: The Professional Competitor
VERIFONE is the second most widely used payment terminal in Spain. It is more professional than INGENICO and is designed for large retail and hospitality businesses. It has a larger screen, around 3 inches, more flexible connectivity with 4G, WiFi and Ethernet, and 10-14 hours of battery life.
The speed is similar to INGENICO, around 2-3 seconds, but VERIFONE is better designed for more complex operations. It integrates better with complete POS management systems. It is a device that the business usually buys directly, not one provided by the bank.
The VERIFONE POS terminal is heavier, around 140 g compared with 120 g for INGENICO. The larger screen is useful in hospitality, where the customer needs to clearly see what they are signing.
The problem with VERIFONE on the counter is that it also falls. Just like INGENICO, it is exposed. On a bar counter, it receives constant knocks. Careless hands, passing customers, bottles being moved around. A broken VERIFONE screen costs €300. Repair time: 3-5 days. During that time, you work with a tablet or paper.
A steel VERIFONE payment terminal stand keeps the device fixed and secure. Unlike INGENICO, it includes angle adjustment, allowing the customer to see the screen more clearly. Cost: €40-50.
PAX Payment Terminals: The Most Modern POS Terminals
PAX is not a simple payment terminal. It is a complete terminal. It has a 4-5 inch touchscreen, optional integrated printer, 4G and WiFi connectivity, and a speed of less than 1 second. It is the fastest of these 6 brands.
The touchscreen is intuitive. The software is modern, with open APIs for integrations. It is designed for hospitality and modern retail, where checkout speed is critical. In a restaurant with 40 customers waiting to pay, a 1-second difference matters. If your transaction takes 3 seconds with INGENICO versus less than 1 second with PAX, with 10 customers you have already lost 20 seconds. Impatient customers.
The price is higher, between €400 and €800. INGENICO and VERIFONE cost €150-300. PAX costs more than double. The problem with PAX is its fragility. The large touchscreen is visible from a distance, but that also means that if it falls, it breaks. A new touchscreen costs €300-400. A fall without a stand means the terminal stops working while you wait for repair.
PAX needs a special PAX terminal stand. It is not a generic stand. It is anti-tip and designed specifically for PAX, keeping the terminal at the optimal angle and preventing it from falling even with side impacts. Cost: €80-100. One avoided fall: €400 saved. With a stand, a PAX lasts 4-5 years without screen problems.
CASTLES Payment Terminals: The European Specialist
CASTLES is a professional payment terminal, more specialised in Europe than in Spain. It is very robust and designed for field and outdoor operations. It has a small screen, around 2.4 inches, good speed at around 2 seconds, and a very long battery life of more than 12 hours.
CASTLES is heavier, more solid and more focused on industrial durability. If you work outdoors, such as in markets or mobile operations, CASTLES is better than INGENICO because it is more resistant to knocks.
The problem in Spain is that there is less technical support. CASTLES is European. If you need a quick repair, it can be complicated. It is also not cheaper than INGENICO or VERIFONE, despite having fewer features.
If you have CASTLES, it needs a specific CASTLES POS stand. A standard stand does not work because CASTLES has a different shape from other payment terminals. The CASTLES stand is designed to keep the device in the perfect position without risk of falling. Cost: €40-50.
SPIRE Payment Terminals: The Premium POS
SPIRE is a complete terminal: payment terminal, integrated printer, 4-inch touchscreen and management software. It is a professional all-in-one solution designed for medium and large businesses.
The advantage is that everything is integrated. There are no external printer cables. There is no payment terminal on one side and printer on the other. It is clean, professional and gives customers a better impression. The software is complete, allowing integrated inventory management and detailed reports. Speed ranges between 1 and 2 seconds. Connectivity includes 4G, WiFi and Ethernet. The price is high, between €600 and €1,200. It is an important investment.
The problem is that if the printer fails, the whole terminal has to be repaired. You cannot disconnect the printer and use only the payment terminal. It is integrated. A printer repair can take a week. It is critical that it does not fall.
SPIRE sits on the counter, visible to the customer. If it falls, the impact is strong because it is heavy. The printer is the most fragile part. A hit to the printer means you have no receipts. Without receipts, your business almost stops.
The SPIRE payment terminal stand is specifically designed to keep the terminal secure. It allows controlled movement, keeps the terminal in the optimal position, lets the customer see clearly, and prevents falls. Cost: €60-70.
A protected SPIRE lasts 4-5 years. It is the best long-term investment for medium-sized businesses.
SUNMI Payment Terminals: The Modern POS
SUNMI is the newest of all. It is an Android tablet-style touchscreen terminal. It has a 5-7 inch screen, speed below 1 second, very flexible software, an integrated app store and hundreds of possible applications.
SUNMI is the most advanced option. It is designed for modern hospitality, digital retail and businesses that want the latest technology. The large screen is clear, the speed is excellent and the integrations are modern.
The price is high, between €500 and €1,000. It is new, so there are fewer specialised technicians.
The problem is that the large screen is fragile. If it falls, it breaks. A new screen costs €300-400. And SUNMI is very new, so there are no 5 years of durability data as there are with INGENICO.
SUNMI needs a special SUNMI POS stand. It is a large, heavy tablet. A generic stand does not work. The SUNMI stand is designed to keep the terminal at the optimal angle, with full stability, making it impossible to fall even if it receives side impacts. Cost: €90-100. A SUNMI with a professional stand lasts 4 years.
How to Choose the Right POS Terminal or Payment Terminal for Your Business
If you need critical speed in a busy hospitality business, PAX or SUNMI are the best option. In a restaurant with 40 customers per hour waiting to pay, 1 second matters. If your transaction takes 3 seconds with INGENICO versus less than 1 second with PAX, with 10 customers at the checkout you have lost 20 seconds. Impatient customers.
If you are looking for traditional reliability proven over the years, INGENICO or VERIFONE is the right choice. They have been on the market for more than 10 years, have broad support and are compatible with everything. They are like the Toyota of POS terminals: not surprising, but they work.
If you want a professional all-in-one terminal with an integrated printer, SPIRE is the option. Professional appearance, everything in one device, complete software. A significant investment, but a good long-term choice.
If you have a limited budget, INGENICO or CASTLES are the cheapest options, between €150 and €300. A €30-40 stand makes them reliable for years. If you want the most modern option, SUNMI is the choice. Latest generation, exceptional speed, unlimited apps.
