Best Bluetooth Thermal Printer Brands in the UK (2026)

NETUM and Rongta are the best-selling Bluetooth thermal printers on Amazon.co.uk. Here's why "officially certified" hardware lists don't mean budget printers like the GOOJPRT PT-210 won't work — and how to connect any of them.
| Brand | Best For | Price Range (£) | Paper Sizes | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.co.uk bestseller, safest default | £25 – £60 | 58mm, 80mm | Amazon.co.uk | |
| Widely stocked, well documented | £20 – £55 | 58mm, 80mm | Amazon.co.uk | |
| Budget pick, PT-210 is the known model | £18 – £35 | 58mm | Amazon.co.uk, eBay | |
| Lowest-cost entry, light use | £18 – £40 | 58mm, 80mm | Amazon.co.uk | |
| Officially certified by most POS platforms | £120+ | 80mm | Specialist POS retailers | |
| The other 'certified' default | £130+ | 80mm | Authorized dealers | |
| All-in-one Android POS terminals | £150+ | 58mm, 80mm | Specialist POS retailers |
Prices are approximate street ranges as of 2026 and vary by seller — check the current listing before buying.
If you're buying your first Bluetooth thermal printer for a shop, café, or delivery business in the UK, there's a distinction worth understanding before you buy: some POS platforms only officially certify a short list of printer brands — mainly Star Micronics and Epson — because those manufacturers guarantee consistent ESC/POS command support. Budget printers like the GOOJPRT PT-210 aren't on that certified list, which is exactly why threads about pairing it, setting text vs. graphics mode, and configuring paper width are some of the most active hardware discussions on POS community forums. That doesn't mean budget printers don't work — it means the app you're using has to talk to the printer's actual command set directly, rather than only supporting a pre-approved hardware list.
Why "Officially Certified" Isn't the Same as "Won't Work"
Some POS software only guarantees compatibility with hardware on their own verified list — Loyverse, for instance, specifically recommends Star Micronics and Epson, and requires an Android receipt printer to support ESC/POS commands "the same as Epson printers" plus a supported interface. That's a reasonable policy for a platform supporting thousands of merchants — but it means anyone who already owns or wants to buy a cheaper printer like the GOOJPRT PT-210 is left troubleshooting on their own in community forums rather than getting official support. Simple Bluetooth Printer takes the opposite approach: instead of maintaining a certified-hardware list, the app speaks ESC/POS directly to whatever printer you connect. If your printer supports the standard command set — which the large majority of Bluetooth thermal printers do, certified or not — it works.
NETUM — The Amazon.co.uk Default
NETUM is consistently one of the best-selling Bluetooth thermal printer brands on Amazon.co.uk, with both 58mm and 80mm models compatible with Android, iOS, and Windows. It's a safe first purchase if you want something well-reviewed and readily available with UK next-day delivery.
GOOJPRT — The Budget Option Worth Understanding
The GOOJPRT PT-210 is a 58mm Bluetooth 4.0 printer with a 1500mAh battery, sold on Amazon.co.uk and eBay for well under £35. It's not on most POS platforms' certified hardware lists, which is why it comes up constantly in community troubleshooting threads — but for apps that speak ESC/POS directly rather than gating by brand, it prints correctly like any other compliant printer.
Star Micronics and Epson — The Certified Defaults
If you're using POS software that only officially guarantees specific hardware, Star Micronics and Epson TM-series printers are the safest choice — they're the two brands most commonly named on official compatibility lists, at a higher price point than the budget Chinese-manufactured brands.
58mm or 80mm — Which Should You Buy?
58mm printers are cheaper, more portable, and fine for short receipts, QR codes, and delivery slips. 80mm printers cost more but fit a full itemised invoice or a detailed restaurant bill without cramming text. If you're billing a café table or a retail counter with itemised receipts, 80mm is worth the extra cost. If you're a delivery driver, market trader, or running simple one-line-item sales, 58mm is enough and easier to carry.
Connecting Any of These to Your Phone
Whichever brand you buy, the setup is the same: pair the printer under your phone's Bluetooth settings, then open Simple Bluetooth Printer and select it from the app. Because the app talks ESC/POS directly rather than depending on a certified-hardware list, you're not locked into Star Micronics or Epson just to guarantee it'll work.
Simple Bluetooth Printer
Connects to any ESC/POS Bluetooth or USB printer — no certified hardware list, no driver, no setup screens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the GOOJPRT PT-210 work with billing apps if it's not officially certified?
Yes. It's a standard ESC/POS Bluetooth thermal printer — the 'certified' distinction is about which hardware a specific POS platform guarantees support for, not whether the printer itself works. Apps that speak ESC/POS directly, like Simple Bluetooth Printer, connect to it the same way as any certified printer.
Why do some POS platforms only support certain printer brands?
Platforms supporting thousands of merchants often limit official guarantees to a short list of manufacturers (commonly Star Micronics and Epson) whose ESC/POS command implementation is consistent and well-tested, so their support team can reliably troubleshoot issues. That's a support-scope decision, not a technical limitation of other brands.
Which thermal printer brand is best for a small UK business?
NETUM is the safest default — it's the best-selling option on Amazon.co.uk with reliable ESC/POS support. GOOJPRT is a solid budget alternative if you're printing low volumes and don't need an auto-cutter.
Is a more expensive thermal printer actually better?
Mostly for durability, battery life, and official platform certification — not print quality. A £20 GOOJPRT and a £130 Epson will both produce a correct ESC/POS receipt when paired with an app that speaks the protocol directly.