Card Types & Physical Formats

Understand every card type and physical format available in the Nayax Prepaid system so you can choose the right card for your business environment.

General

This article covers

The 4 logical card types in Nayax Core, the 10+ physical card formats, detailed compatibility guidance, and how to choose the right format for your use case. For a high-level overview, see “What Is Nayax Prepaid?”

Card Types in Nayax Core

Nayax Core supports 4 card types under Consumers > Card Management.

Each serves a different purpose. The card type is selected during creation and cannot be changed afterward.

Card Type	Description & Use Case
Prepaid Card	Payment card preloaded with funds by the operator or consumer. The primary card type for vending, laundry, workplace cafeterias, and any closed-loop payment scenario. Supports all revalue methods, reward programs, spending limits, and offline payments.
Technician Card	Issued to operator employees (service technicians). Used to access the technician menu on touch-screen devices (VPOS Touch, Onyx), send DEX, open settings, and perform maintenance actions. Not a payment card.
Refund Card	Created as a refund for an undispensed product at one of the operator’s machines. The balance is typically set to the cost of the undispensed product. Single purpose: the cardholder uses it to “get back” their money.
Discount Card	Given to specific consumers to provide a discount upon purchase. Used in loyalty or promotional campaigns to offer reduced prices on products.

Physical Card Formats

The physical type describes the form factor of the card how the cardholder interacts with it at the machine. This is set during card creation in the Card Physical Type dropdown.

Configuration vs. reality

The physical type field is for record-keeping and does not affect whether a transaction processes. A card set as “Swipe” in Nayax Core will still work if tapped on a contactless reader. However, setting it correctly helps with reporting accuracy and support troubleshooting.

Physical Format	Technology	Best Use Case & Notes
Swipe Card	Magnetic stripe	Traditional vending, laundry, car wash. Requires a magnetic stripe reader on the machine. Most affordable card type to produce.
Contact Card	Chip (inserted)	Secure environments requiring physical card insertion. Less common in vending; more typical in access-controlled scenarios.
Contactless Card	NFC / RFID tap	High-traffic locations: cafeterias, offices, transit. Fast transaction time (~1 second tap). Most popular format for new deployments.
Contactless Sticker	NFC sticker	Affixed to keychains, wearables, or branded items. Great for custom branding and promotional giveaways.
Monyx App Virtual ID	App-based (NFC/QR)	Tech-savvy consumers who prefer no physical card. Uses the Monyx mobile app. Supports in-app revalue and bonus notifications.
Custom 3rd Party ID	External system	Integration with existing employee, campus, or membership ID systems. The 3rd party card’s UID is mapped to a Nayax Prepaid card.
Dual (Contact + Contactless)	Chip + NFC	Maximum compatibility. Works at machines with either chip or contactless readers.
Dual (Swipe + Contactless)	Mag stripe + NFC	Legacy + modern environments. Ideal when transitioning from swipe-only to contactless infrastructure.
Monyx Virtual Card	App-only virtual	Fully digital, no physical card. The cardholder’s phone IS the card. Requires Monyx app.
QR Code	Printed/displayed QR	Lowest-cost deployment, QR codes can be printed on paper, stickers, or displayed on a phone screen. Machine must have a camera/QR reader.

How to Choose the Right Format

Use this decision guide based on your environment:

Your Situation	Recommended Format	Why
New deployment, modern machines	Contactless Card	Fastest tap, best UX
Mixed old + new machines	Dual (Swipe + Contactless)	Works everywhere
Budget-conscious rollout	QR Code	Cheapest to produce
Campus / workplace with existing IDs	Custom 3rd Party ID	No new cards needed
Tech-savvy consumer base	Monyx App Virtual ID	No physical card
Promotional / branded giveaway	Contactless Sticker	Brandable, fun
High-security environments	Contact Card	Physical insertion required

Card Unique Identifier

Every card in Nayax Core requires a Card Unique Identifier the string that uniquely identifies the card in the system.

Magnetic stripe cards: The identifier is a numeric string encoded on the magnetic stripe.
Contactless cards / stickers: The identifier is a hexadecimal string (the card’s UID), typically 8 or 14 characters.
QR codes: The identifier is the string encoded in the QR code.
Monyx Virtual ID / Virtual Card: The identifier is generated by the Monyx system.
Custom 3rd Party ID: The identifier matches the UID from the external system (e.g., campus card number).

Display Card Number

The Display Card Number is a separate, optional field. It stores the number physically printed on the card, which may differ from the unique identifier. Use it for easier searching in Card Management.

Nayax Prepaid Product Education | v2.0 | April 2026

FAQ

Can I use the same physical card for multiple Nayax operators?

What happens if I set the wrong physical type?

Can I convert a Technician Card to a Prepaid Card?

How do I find the UID of a contactless card?

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