Automated payment points can make it easier for you to manage parking transactions without requiring staff at every pay station. However, choosing a payment system involves more than finding one that accepts cards. You also need to consider how easily drivers can pay and whether the system fits the way you manage your parking operation.
Card and contactless payment solutions can support options such as card, NFC, QR code, and mobile payments, along with self-pay terminals and management features. As parking technology moves toward more digital and connected systems, the payment solution you choose can affect more than how drivers pay. Some providers focus mainly on payment, while others build payment into wider parking systems.
So, which products should you consider when comparing card and contactless payment systems for automated parking?
Below, we look at products from five providers and the payment features that may make each one relevant to different parking setups.
1. VPOS Touch and Onyx By Nayax
Contents
Nayax offers VPOS Touch and Onyx as payment devices within its parking payment offering. VPOS Touch is an all-in-one cashless payment and telemetry device, while Onyx is a contactless card reader and telemetry device. Depending on the product and configuration, payment options include contact and contactless cards, mobile NFC, QR codes, and prepaid cards.
VPOS Touch provides a broader payment interface, while Onyx offers a more focused card and contactless setup. Both products can support unattended parking payment points, and their telemetry capabilities can help operators monitor payment equipment and related activity.
For automated parking payments, Nayax also offers deferred authorization, which can support payment processing when connectivity is lost. Remote monitoring can provide visibility and alerts, while Scan2Pay gives drivers a QR-based way to complete payment through a web page.
2. Strada S5 GEN 3 by Flowbird
The Strada S5 GEN 3 is a parking payment kiosk with a broad range of payment options. It supports coins, contact and contactless cards, banknotes, barcode payments, city cards, and NFC mobile payments. Drivers can also receive SMS or email receipts after completing a transaction.
Other Flowbird terminals provide different payment combinations. The Strada EVOL GEN 3 and Strada TPAL GEN 3 support contact and contactless cards, coins, banknotes, and barcode reading. For a more compact setup, the Compact S5 supports contact and contactless cards, barcode payments, city cards, NFC mobile payments, and digital receipts.
For garage access, the Access S5 provides a more focused cashless payment option. It supports contactless cards and barcode reading and can be wall- or pole-mounted. Garage access control is also supported, making the product relevant when payment needs to work alongside entry management.
3. skiosk Lean by SKIDATA
SKIDATA’s skiosk Lean is a compact cashless payment machine designed for parking facilities. Drivers can use the kiosk to identify a parking session through a ticket or license plate and complete payment by card or contactless payment. Digital receipts can also be provided, with printed receipts available when a printer is added.
The compact design can be useful when you have limited space for payment equipment. SKIDATA also provides tools for monitoring and managing the kiosk through its wider parking system, which can give operators access to information about device activity.
Beyond the physical kiosk, SKIDATA supports digital parking payment through smartphones. Drivers can use QR-based payment options without needing to download an app or register first. Supported setups can also allow drivers to pay later from home, giving you another payment workflow for automated facilities.
4. MSX Multi-Space Parking Kiosk by IPS Group
The MSX Multi-Space Parking Kiosk is designed for parking locations where one payment point can serve multiple spaces. Its payment options include tap-to-pay and mobile payments, giving drivers alternatives to traditional card transactions at a kiosk. Nayax announced an agreement to acquire IPS Group in August 2026, making the MSX relevant to this comparison while also connecting it to Nayax’s expanding parking technology portfolio.
IPS Group also supports mobile payment options such as PARK SMARTER and TEXT-TO-PAY. These services can allow drivers to complete parking payments through their mobile devices rather than relying only on a physical payment kiosk. The MSX can therefore support facilities looking to combine on-site payment with mobile payment options.
The MSX also supports multiple languages and third-party integrations. Its parking technology can provide data, alerts, reporting, analytics, and remote monitoring, giving operators greater visibility into payment activity and equipment performance. For multi-space parking facilities, these connected capabilities can be considered alongside the kiosk’s payment methods and integration requirements when evaluating an automated parking solution.
5. Pro+ 7800 Pay-on-Foot Station by Amano McGann
The Pro+ 7800 Central Pay-on-Foot Station is designed as a central payment station for parking facilities. Depending on the configuration, it can include a PCI P2PE EMV-ready credit-card terminal, along with a coin acceptor or recycler.
Drivers can also use the station to pay with 2D barcode tickets, while optional features include a QR scanner and proximity reader. Its pay-on-foot design allows drivers to complete payment at a central station before returning to their vehicles, making it relevant for garages and other facilities with centralized payment points.
For contactless payments, compatible configurations can support NFC-enabled credit-card terminals and mobile wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. Available features vary by configuration, so you should compare the payment terminal, payment methods, and other options included with the version you need.
| Payment System | Best For | Payment Options | Standout Feature |
| VPOS Touch | Unattended parking | Cards, contactless, NFC, QR | Touchscreen + telemetry |
| Onyx | Simple cashless parking | Cards, contactless, NFC, QR | Compact payment reader |
| Strada S5 GEN 3 | Full-service kiosks | Cards, contactless, NFC, cash, barcode | Broad payment support |
| skiosk Lean | Compact facilities | Cards, contactless, QR | Small cashless kiosk |
| MSX Multi-Space | Multi-space parking | Tap-to-pay, mobile | Remote monitoring + reporting |
| Pro+ 7800 | Pay-on-foot garages | Cards, NFC, mobile wallets, barcode | Central payment station |
Bottom Line
The best card and contactless payment system for your parking operation depends on more than card acceptance. Compare the payment product, supported card and mobile options, self-pay design, contactless capabilities, and management features before making a choice.
VPOS Touch and Onyx by Nayax provide dedicated cashless payment devices, while Flowbird’s Strada S5 GEN 3 supports a broad mix of card, mobile, cash, and barcode payments. SKIDATA’s skiosk Lean focuses on compact cashless parking payments, IPS Group’s MSX supports multi-space contactless and mobile payment, and Nayax announced an agreement in August 2026 to acquire IPS Group. Amano McGann’s Pro+ 7800 provides a central pay-on-foot setup.
Consider your parking location, equipment needs, and preferred payment methods before choosing the product that best fits your setup.
FAQs
1. What is the best card and contactless payment system for automated parking?
The best system depends on your parking setup, but VPOS Touch, Onyx, Strada S5 GEN 3, skiosk Lean, MSX, and Pro+ 7800 are strong options to compare.
2. Which parking payment system supports contactless and mobile payments?
All five options support some form of contactless payment, while mobile payment support varies by product and configuration.
3. What should I look for when choosing an automated parking payment system?
Compare payment methods, kiosk or reader design, mobile payment support, remote monitoring, integrations, and how well the system fits your parking facility.
4. Which card reader should I get for my parking facility?
Choose a compact reader such as Onyx for simple cashless payments, or consider VPOS Touch if you need a touchscreen payment interface and added telemetry features.