Compare merchant services UK
Compare Merchant Services: Are You Paying for the Wrong Package?
Your card rate is only part of the deal. Find a payment package that suits your sales, gets money where you need it and helps your team serve customers without unnecessary hassle.
A business taking lots of small payments may need a different deal from one collecting a few large deposits. Start with how you get paid and the work around it. A useful package should fit both your day and your total bill, not just advertise an attractive percentage.
Compare merchant services quotesSome links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them. This guide covers selected providers, not the whole market. Offers depend on eligibility and the terms available to your business.
Think about the jobs around the payment too: taking a booking deposit, finding a refund or checking the day’s takings before heading home. A useful package should make those jobs easier for you and your staff.
Start with the way your business takes payments
Before asking for quotes, write down your monthly card sales, average payment and number of terminals. Add any online orders, telephone payments, deposits or recurring charges. That gives each provider the same brief and makes the answers much easier to compare.
Choose your starting point
Business setup
What matters most
Options to investigate
Business setupSole trader or occasional seller
What matters mostLow fixed costs, portability and a simple way to issue receipts.
Options to investigateSquare, SumUp and myPOS.
Business setupBusy café, pub or restaurant
What matters mostPayments linked to your till, reliable connectivity and support during service.
Options to investigateDojo, takepayments and Elavon.
Business setupEstablished shop or salon
What matters mostThe complete processing bill, deposits, refunds and equipment costs.
Options to investigateWorldpay, takepayments, Tyl and other suitable quotes.
Business setupOnline and in store
What matters mostCompatible checkout tools, joined-up records and a manageable refund process.
Options to investigateSquare or a broader acquiring and gateway package.
Business setupSeveral locations
What matters mostCentral reporting, staff permissions, rollout support and charges per site.
Options to investigateCompare tailored proposals from providers that support your exact setup.
A useful shortlist is two or three providers. Choose them around your payment needs, then compare written proposals using the same sales figures. A longer list does not necessarily make the decision easier.
If you only need a reader, start with our card readers comparison. If the acquiring agreement is your main concern, see our merchant account providers guide.
What should your merchant services package include?
Merchant services is a broad name for the services that let your business accept payments and receive the money. You may buy them together or have separate providers. Either way, know who bills you and who helps when something stops working.
Taking the payment and receiving your money
This covers processing card payments and paying the proceeds to you. Some providers bundle the setup so you do not arrange a separate acquiring agreement yourself. Read our merchant acquiring explanation if the terminology in a quote is unclear.
Card machines and till software
A reader may be enough when you work alone. In a busy venue, connecting the machine to the till can save staff typing the total twice. Ask about your exact till and any extra charge for connecting it.
Online and remote payments
Payment links, deposits, website checkout and telephone payments can have different fees and requirements from in person sales. Our payment gateway comparison explains the online side.
Reporting and help when you need it
You should be able to match your sales and refunds to the money you receive. Ask who helps if a customer disputes a payment, what security checks you need to do and how to get help while you are open.
Merchant services providers: what to compare before choosing
Read the summaries to find a few options that fit. The numbers help you move through the page; they are not ratings. Get the current terms for your business before deciding, because the equipment and package you are offered matter more than the name alone.
1 Dojo
Dojo offers payment devices and connections to supported till systems. It is worth looking at when retyping amounts or carrying a machine between customers is making service harder.
Try a changed amount and a refund with the proposed till connection. If the machine needs to travel around your premises, test that too. Those everyday jobs tell you more than a general promise of faster service.
- Best for
Busy venues that want payments to work smoothly with the till.
- Why consider it
A suitable till connection can cut repeated typing and help staff serve customers.
- Main watch-out
Confirm the exact till connection, equipment charges and when your bank receives the takings.
- Useful links
2 takepayments
takepayments provides card machines and other payment services, with help choosing a setup. It is worth considering when you want to explain your business before deciding what to order.
An equipment hire business could explain how customers book, collect and pay. Ask the adviser to show how the suggested machine fits those steps, including who helps if staff cannot get a payment through.
- Best for
Owners who would rather discuss their equipment and payment needs with someone.
- Why consider it
You can talk through the whole setup rather than choosing from a reader price alone.
- Main watch-out
Get all processing charges, equipment costs and contract lengths in writing. Confirm which company handles support and whether replacement hardware is included.
- Useful links
3 Square
Square offers payments and software for managing sales. If you want to find products on screen, check an earlier purchase or explore appointment tools, it is a useful starting point.
A pet supplies shop might sell several products together and need to find the purchase later for a return. Ask which app covers the jobs you repeat most often and whether that involves an extra subscription.
- Best for
Small shops and service businesses that want useful sales tools alongside payments.
- Why consider it
You can explore more than simply typing an amount into a reader.
- Main watch-out
Separate payment processing from optional subscriptions and hardware. UK and non-UK cards can attract different charges.
- Useful links
4 SumUp
SumUp offers card readers and payment plans, including devices that work without a paired phone. Start with the way you want to take payments, then choose the equipment.
For a market seller, keeping the phone free for calls while a customer pays can be a useful convenience. If you need stock or booking tools too, check the exact software rather than expecting a basic reader to do everything.
- Best for
Sole traders and small businesses keeping everyday payments straightforward.
- Why consider it
A useful option when you want to start with simple payment collection.
- Main watch-out
A monthly subscription only helps if the saving on eligible transactions covers its fee. Confirm where your payouts arrive and the timing for any onward bank transfer.
- Useful links
5 Worldpay
Worldpay provides services for taking card payments in different ways. Include it if you are reviewing the whole arrangement, particularly when customers pay both at the counter and remotely.
A shop selling online wants to find orders, understand payouts and handle returns without making extra work. Ask which parts of the proposed Worldpay setup connect and which tasks your team will still do separately.
- Best for
Established businesses comparing payments in person and online.
- Why consider it
A broader proposal may cover several ways your customers pay.
- Main watch-out
Check what is included and how refunds work for both counter and online sales.
- Useful links
6 Barclaycard
If Barclaycard is on your shortlist, start with the product you would actually receive. The brand name alone does not explain the machine, software or account arrangement.
Ask how staff take a sale, find an earlier payment and get help. Then check the full monthly cost against another offer. Familiarity can be reassuring, but the everyday experience still needs to work for your business.
- Best for
Owners comparing the precise Barclaycard payment product offered to their business.
- Why consider it
It provides another proposal to assess alongside your existing service.
- Main watch-out
Confirm current product availability and obtain a fresh offer. Do not use an old device price or a previous customer’s contract as evidence of the terms you will receive.
- Useful links
7 Elavon
Elavon provides card-payment services and equipment options. Consider it when you want to review how payments fit around your shop, venue or online sales.
Ask to see the jobs you repeat most often: a sale, a refund and the report showing the money due to your bank. A broader service is valuable when it makes those tasks easier, not just when it has a longer product list.
- Best for
Businesses comparing a complete payment service for the counter and beyond.
- Why consider it
It gives you another complete service to compare against simpler reader options.
- Main watch-out
Confirm how your gateway, terminal and EPOS work together. Ask which parts have separate charges or agreements and how support is organised.
- Useful links
8 myPOS
myPOS offers payment devices and an account for receiving card takings. The destination of the money is an important part of the decision.
If you pay suppliers from another bank, ask how you move the takings there and what it costs. If you plan to use the myPOS account directly, check that arrangement instead. Choose around your actual bills, not just the promise of speed.
- Best for
Mobile sellers and owners interested in using a dedicated payment account.
- Why consider it
The device and account may suit the way you take and use payments.
- Main watch-out
Check transaction charges for your card mix and any fees or timing for transferring money elsewhere. Include equipment and other account services in your cost comparison.
- Useful links
9 Tyl by NatWest
Tyl by NatWest provides different ways to take payments. Ask about the device and plan that fit your business rather than treating all its products as the same package.
Think about where customers pay and whether the machine needs to move. Try the receipts and refund steps, then ask when the takings reach the bank you normally use.
- Best for
Owners comparing card machines with online and telephone payment options.
- Why consider it
A useful comparison when you want to discuss several ways of getting paid.
- Main watch-out
Ask for the processing rates, equipment charge and complete service terms. Next business day does not mean every calendar day, so check how weekend trading affects your cash flow.
- Useful links
Already using UTP?
Review your current account notices, billing and support arrangements before making changes. Our UTP guide for existing customers explains the reported move towards myPOS and the questions to ask about your own contract. Compare current offers rather than relying on an old UTP rate card.
Specific product references checked 10 September 2026: Dojo plans, myPOS account settlement and Tyl payment options. Your written agreement determines the terms for your business.
Look beyond the percentage
Compare the full monthly bill, not just the card rate
The easiest way to compare merchant services is to give every provider the same sample month. Include sales, payment count, card types, terminals and online transactions. Then ask for the total cost with each charge shown separately.
What belongs in the comparison
Cost area
Question to ask
Why it matters
Cost areaProcessing fees
Question to askWhich percentage and fixed pence charges apply to each type of payment?
Why it mattersMany small payments can cost more than a few large ones with the same sales total.
Cost areaHardware and software
Question to askWhat do terminals, EPOS, integrations and location licences cost?
Why it mattersA low card rate can be outweighed by recurring equipment or software costs.
Cost areaMinimum and service charges
Question to askIs there a minimum monthly payment or a PCI-related charge?
Why it mattersQuiet months and seasonal closures can still generate a bill.
Cost areaRefunds and disputes
Question to askWhich fees remain after a refund, and what does a dispute cost?
Why it mattersThe amount you keep can differ from the amount shown on the original sale.
Cost areaPayouts and transfers
Question to askWhere does money arrive, how quickly and at what cost?
Why it mattersFast settlement to a provider account may still need a separate bank transfer.
Cost areaLeaving the provider
Question to askWhat notice, remaining rental or cancellation charges apply?
Why it mattersThe true cost of switching includes commitments to your existing supplier.
Worked example: the cheaper rate is not always the cheaper package
Consider three illustrative packages for a business taking £10,000 a month through 500 payments averaging £20. These are teaching examples, not live provider offers. Each assumes the same rate applies to every transaction.
Illustrative monthly cost at £10,000 of card sales
Cost
Package A
Package B
Package C
CostPercentage fee
Package A1.75% = £175
Package B1.2% = £120
Package C0.9% = £90
CostFixed fee per payment
Package A£0
Package B5p × 500 = £25
Package C10p × 500 = £50
CostMonthly service / equipment
Package A£0
Package B£25
Package C£50
CostMonthly total
Package A£175
Package B£170
Package C£190
CostEffective rate
Package A1.75%
Package B1.70%
Package C1.90%
Package C has the lowest percentage but the highest bill in this example. Package B saves just £5 a month compared with A. Before switching for that difference, think about any extra commitment and whether the service would be easier to use.
Examples exclude upfront hardware purchases, tax on applicable charges, refunds, disputes, card mix differences and any other fees. Effective rate means the modelled monthly fees divided by monthly card sales, multiplied by 100.
Small differences still add up: a 0.2 percentage point difference on £25,000 of eligible monthly card sales is £50 a month, or £600 over 12 identical months, before other costs. Compare the pounds saved, not just the size of the percentage.
For published starting benchmarks, Square lists 1.75% for UK in person cards, with an additional 1.5% for non-UK cards. SumUp’s standard pay as you go rate is 1.69% for in person payments other than its separate zero-fee SumUp card exception. Equipment and optional services need to be added where applicable.
Pricing sources checked 10 September 2026: Square pricing and SumUp pricing. These benchmarks are not like-for-like quotes for every merchant services package.
Use our card payment fees guide to check the details, or explore your own assumptions below.
Explore selected merchant services offers
Use these offers as a starting point, then request the complete terms for the equipment and services you need.
The affiliate widget shows selected providers, not the whole market. Prices, order and availability can change.
Will the money arrive when you need it?
If most of your sales happen between Friday evening and Sunday, ask when each day's money would reach your usual account. A next-business-day service and a seven-day payout service can behave differently. The timetable matters more than either label on its own.
Ask about weekends, bank holidays, payment cut-off times and checks on a new account. Find out whether money could be held back and whether faster access costs extra. If takings first arrive in the provider's own account, check the next step to your bank as well.
Fast payouts are useful only if they support your real cash flow. If you pay suppliers from an external bank account, compare that full journey. If you use the provider’s account directly, understand its transfer and spending facilities before moving your routine payments.
Ask about support before something goes wrong
Tell the provider when you are open. Ask who helps during your busiest period, what happens if the machine fails and how replacements are arranged. Check whether account and payout questions go to the same team or a different one.
For example, ten £20 transactions that cannot be completed represent £200 of potential sales at risk. Some customers may pay another way or return later, so that is not automatically £200 of lost revenue. It does show why reliability deserves a place alongside the fee comparison.
Match the package to your business, not just your turnover
Cafés, pubs and restaurants
Test how payments work during service: entering an amount, splitting a bill, adding a tip and issuing a refund. Ask whether the terminal connects to your exact till and what connectivity backup is available. A demonstration with your normal workflow is more useful than a long feature list.
Salons and appointment businesses
Consider deposits, payment links, cancellations and how payments connect with your booking software. Check the fees for remote deposits separately from payments at the counter. Our salon card machine guide explores this setup.
Market traders and mobile services
Think about mobile signal, battery life, receipts and whether a phone is required. Keep fixed charges proportionate to your busiest and quietest months. For occasional events, compare temporary card machine hire with buying equipment.
Retailers selling online too
Try an online order that is returned at the shop. Ask how the refund and stock record are updated. Selling online and in store does not automatically join all the records together, so find out what staff still have to do by hand.
Before you switch: compare the saving with the cost of leaving
Find your current processing contract and equipment agreement. They may have different end dates, notice requirements and return conditions. Ask for a written cancellation figure rather than estimating it from your monthly bill.
If switching saves £40 a month but costs £240 upfront, it takes six identical months to recover that cost. Any overlap in rental payments or new setup charges extends the payback period. Also check whether an advertised exit-fee contribution has eligibility rules and a maximum payout.
- Gather a normal trading month: include your statement, sales total, payment count and card mix.
- Get matching proposals: use the same terminals, locations and software requirements for each.
- Confirm the contract: check length, notice, equipment ownership and any separate agreements.
- Plan the changeover: test payments, refunds and reporting before relying on the new service.
- Keep access to old records so you can match payments to sales and answer a later customer query.
Put your current statement to work
Compare proposals against what you actually pay today. A clear quote should explain the total cost and what you get for it.
Compare merchant services quotesMerchant services questions from business owners
Which merchant services provider is best for a small business?
Start with the way you work and what you can afford during a quiet month. A simple service can suit occasional selling. A busier business may benefit from an individual quote or a machine connected to its till. Compare the whole bill and the help included.
Are merchant services the same as a merchant account?
Merchant services is the broader package: it can include card processing, equipment, online tools and support. A merchant account or acquiring arrangement is one part of accepting and settling card payments. Some providers bundle that arrangement for you.
Should I choose flat-rate or tailored pricing?
Use the same sales figures to compare both. A flat percentage is easy to model, but fixed charges and additional services still matter. Tailored pricing can work well for some businesses, but a lower advertised rate does not guarantee a lower total.
Does no monthly fee mean there is no contract?
No. You still accept a service agreement. A plan may have no recurring subscription while setting conditions for refunds, disputes, account reviews and payouts. Check optional software and hardware commitments separately.
How do I know if I am overpaying?
Add up what you pay and find out which charges account for it. Then compare fresh quotes using the same payments and equipment. One expensive quiet month is worth asking about, but it does not prove another service will cost less over the year.
Can one provider cover online and in person payments?
Some can. Ask whether the service works with your website, what online sales cost and how refunds appear in your records. Find out who will set it up and whether there is another subscription to pay. online payments guide
Choose a package that earns its place in your business
Use the quote form to describe how you take payments and what you would like to improve. Compare the full bill, equipment and help, then decide which package you would be comfortable using every day.
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