If you own a business in Albania and are looking for a POS payment solution, you have almost certainly heard of the terminals offered by banks like BKT, Raiffeisen, and POK. These are probably the first names that come to mind when you think about POS payments for businesses. But are they really the best options in 2026? In this article, we will compare in detail BKT POS, Raiffeisen POS, POK POS, and NextPOS — so you can decide which solution is the best fit for you.
With the new POS law of 2026 requiring every business to accept digital payments, making the right choice has never been more important. Do not rush to sign a bank contract without comparing all of your options. Let us start with the basics.
What Is a POS Terminal?
POS stands for "Point of Sale" — the point at which a sale takes place. A POS terminal is the device that enables accepting payments by bank card or phone (cashless payments). Traditionally, this is a physical device connected to a bank that accepts chip cards or contactless payments.
Under the new 2026 tax law, every taxpayer in Albania must have at least one method of accepting digital payments. This includes traditional POS terminals, but also modern solutions like SoftPOS — where your phone becomes the payment terminal. The law does not necessarily require a physical device; any certified payment method is acceptable.
This opens the door for interesting comparisons: is it better to get a POS terminal from your bank, or to use a more modern and affordable solution? Let us look at what the major banks offer.
BKT POS — The POS Terminal from Banka Kombetare Tregtare
Banka Kombetare Tregtare (BKT) is one of the largest banks in Albania and offers POS terminals for businesses. BKT POS is a traditional solution: you receive a physical device that sits on your counter and is connected to your BKT bank account.
To get a POS terminal from BKT, you must have a business account with the bank. The application process includes filling out forms, verifying business documents, and waiting for approval. Typically, it takes several weeks from application to installation.
- ✓Requires a business account with BKT — you cannot use it with other banks
- ✓Higher monthly cost compared to SoftPOS solutions
- ✓Transaction fee on every payment
- ✓Device deposit: an initial deposit may be required
- ✓Activation time: several weeks for approval and installation
- ✓Long-term contract
- ✓Maintenance: if the device breaks, you must wait for a replacement
- ✓Requires a dedicated phone line or internet connection for the terminal
BKT POS is a solid option for large businesses with high transaction volumes that already have a banking relationship with BKT. However, for small businesses like cafes, small shops, or hair salons, the higher monthly costs and transaction fees make it an expensive solution.
Raiffeisen POS — The POS Terminal from Raiffeisen Bank
Raiffeisen Bank Albania is another major bank that offers POS terminal services for merchants. Raiffeisen POS follows the same model found at BKT: you receive a physical device, connect it to your Raiffeisen account, and pay a monthly fee plus a commission on every transaction.
Raiffeisen has a good reputation for customer support and technological infrastructure. However, the process of getting a POS terminal follows the same bureaucratic steps: documents, verification, waiting. For a merchant who needs to start accepting payments immediately, this can be a significant obstacle.
- ✓Requires a business account with Raiffeisen Bank
- ✓Higher monthly cost compared to SoftPOS solutions
- ✓Transaction fee on every payment
- ✓Professional support, but with waiting times
- ✓Long-term contract
- ✓Physical device that takes up counter space
- ✓Activation time: several weeks
Raiffeisen POS is a good option for medium to large businesses that already have a banking relationship with Raiffeisen and operate at high volumes. For small businesses that want flexibility and lower costs, it may not be the most suitable solution.
POK POS — The POS Solution from POK
POK also offers POS terminal services for businesses in Albania. Their model is in line with the other banks: physical hardware, a monthly cost for rental or maintenance, and transaction fees on every payment processed through the terminal.
POK POS can be a valuable option for businesses that already use POK services for other financial needs. However, like all traditional terminals, it comes with the same limitations: higher monthly costs, per-transaction fees, longer activation times, and the need for physical hardware that takes up space and can break down.
- ✓Physical device with a monthly cost
- ✓Transaction fee on every payment
- ✓Long-term contract
- ✓Activation time: one to several weeks
- ✓Similar model to BKT and Raiffeisen
NextPOS — POS Payments from Your Phone
NextPOS takes an entirely different approach to digital payments. Instead of buying or renting a physical terminal, with NextPOS your smartphone becomes the POS terminal. This technology is called SoftPOS — a software solution that eliminates the need for separate hardware.
How does it work? The merchant generates a QR code from the NextPOS app on their phone. The customer scans the code with their own phone and is redirected to Paysera — a licensed European payment processor. The payment completes in under 30 seconds and the money goes directly to the merchant's bank account. No card data ever passes through our servers — everything is encrypted and secure.
- ✓€4.99/month — no transaction fees, no hidden costs
- ✓No hardware to buy or rent — your phone is all you need
- ✓Activation within a day, not weeks of waiting
- ✓No long-term contracts — cancel whenever you want
- ✓Works with any smartphone — Android or iOS
- ✓Payments processed through Paysera, a licensed European processor
- ✓QR code payments — simple for customers
- ✓PCI DSS security — the highest international standard
- ✓AES-256 encryption — financial data is protected at every step
- ✓First month free to try without risk
NextPOS was built specifically for the Albanian reality: small businesses that want to comply with the POS law without spending large sums. At just €4.99 per month and zero transaction fees, it is the most economical solution on the market for POS payments for businesses of every size.
Full Comparison: NextPOS vs BKT vs Raiffeisen vs POK
To help you decide more easily, here is a detailed comparison table that puts NextPOS side by side with bank POS terminals:
| NextPOS | BKT POS | Raiffeisen POS | POK POS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | €4.99/month | Higher | Higher | Higher |
| Transaction fees | 0% | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hardware | None (your phone) | Physical terminal | Physical terminal | Physical terminal |
| Activation time | Within a day | Several weeks | Several weeks | Several weeks |
| Contract | No contract | Long-term | Long-term | Long-term |
| Security | PCI DSS + AES-256 | Banking standards | Banking standards | Banking standards |
| Support | In Albanian, online | In-branch | In-branch | In-branch |
| Bank account | Any bank | BKT only | Raiffeisen only | Depends on offer |
| Total annual cost | ~€60 | Significantly higher | Significantly higher | Significantly higher |
As the table clearly shows, NextPOS offers significantly lower costs compared to bank POS terminals. At just €4.99/month and zero transaction fees, your business saves considerably compared to POS payments through BKT, Raiffeisen, or POK terminals.
Why NextPOS Is the Best Alternative for Small Businesses
For the majority of businesses in Albania — which are small and medium enterprises — NextPOS offers clear advantages over bank terminals. Here are the main reasons:
- ✓No hardware to buy — BKT, Raiffeisen, and POK terminals require physical devices that cost money, take up space, and can break down. With NextPOS, your phone is the only terminal you need.
- ✓Drastically lower cost — just €4.99/month, plus zero transaction fees. Compared to the costs of bank terminals, the savings are substantial.
- ✓Instant activation — Register online, verify your account, and start accepting payments within a day. With banks, you must wait weeks for documents and installation.
- ✓No binding contracts — Banks typically require 12 to 24 month contracts. With NextPOS, cancellation is free and immediate, with no penalties.
- ✓Works with any bank — You are not forced to open an account at a specific bank. Payments go into the account you already have, regardless of the bank.
- ✓Geographic flexibility — A POS terminal stays on the counter. With NextPOS, you can accept payments wherever you are — in a taxi, at a market, at a client's home, or at an event.
NextPOS is especially well suited for: cafes and bars, restaurants, small shops, hair salons and beauty studios, pharmacies, taxis and transport services, craftspeople, workshops, and freelancers. In other words, for any business that wants cashless payments without complications.
Conclusion — Which POS Solution Is Right for You?
The choice between NextPOS and bank POS terminals depends on the nature of your business. If you run a large enterprise with hundreds of transactions per day and already have a strong banking relationship with BKT or Raiffeisen, a traditional POS terminal may work for you.
But for the majority of Albanian businesses — which are small and medium sized — NextPOS is the smarter choice. No hardware, no transaction fees, no long contracts, and activation within a day. At just €4.99/month, it is the most economical solution on the Albanian market.
POS payments do not have to be expensive or complicated. With the new POS law of 2026, every business in Albania must accept digital payments. NextPOS enables you to do this in the simplest, cheapest, and fastest way possible.
Do not wait until the deadline. Register today at NextPOS, start with your first month free, and discover why thousands of businesses have already chosen cashless payments with NextPOS over traditional terminals.