Card reader comparison UK
SumUp vs Square vs Zettle: Which Card Reader Is Worth Your Money?
The cheapest transaction rate is not always the best deal. Compare the fees in pounds, choose the equipment you actually need and find a setup that makes taking payments easier.
If you are choosing your first reader, start with three questions: will it work where you trade, does the software do what you need, and what will it cost in a normal month? If you already take cards, add a fourth: is switching worth the effort?
This guide compares SumUp, Square and PayPal Point of Sale, the current name for Zettle. PayPal and Zettle are not two separate choices in this in person shortlist.
Some links are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you use them. This comparison covers selected services, not the whole market. Confirm the offer and eligibility before ordering.
The quick answer: choose around your working day
Put SumUp on your shortlist for straightforward in person payments. Investigate Square when retail, appointments or online tools matter alongside taking cards. Consider PayPal POS when its account and software fit the way you already run your business. These are starting points, not universal winners.
Three options, three buying questions
Provider
Why compare it?
Question to answer first
ProviderSumUp
Why compare it?Pay as you go payments with optional plans.
Question to answer firstDo you need a phone-paired reader or a standalone device?
ProviderSquare
Why compare it?Payments with a choice of business software.
Question to answer firstWhich useful features are included, and which require a paid plan?
ProviderPayPal POS / Zettle
Why compare it?In person payments within PayPal’s offering.
Question to answer firstWill its app and account arrangements work with your existing setup?
Start with the job, not the badge. A market stall needs reliable connectivity and a charged battery. A shop may need stock records and staff access. A salon may care more about appointments, deposits and refunds. The right choice can be different even when monthly sales are identical.
For a wider shortlist, use our best card readers guide. If you need a negotiated service package, compare merchant services too.
What the fees mean in pounds
How much would each cost at your sales level?
At the published standard in person rates, SumUp charges 1.69% for transactions other than its separate zero-fee SumUp card exception. Square charges 1.75% for UK cards, with an additional 1.5% for non-UK cards. PayPal POS lists 1.75% for card transactions.
The examples below use only eligible UK card transactions at those standard rates. They exclude hardware, subscriptions and other charges. They are a processing-cost comparison, not the complete price of running each setup.
Illustrative standard processing fees per month
Card sales
SumUp 1.69%
Square 1.75%
PayPal POS 1.75%
Card sales£1,000
SumUp 1.69%£16.90
Square 1.75%£17.50
PayPal POS 1.75%£17.50
Card sales£3,000
SumUp 1.69%£50.70
Square 1.75%£52.50
PayPal POS 1.75%£52.50
Card sales£10,000
SumUp 1.69%£169
Square 1.75%£175
PayPal POS 1.75%£175
Card sales£25,000
SumUp 1.69%£422.50
Square 1.75%£437.50
PayPal POS 1.75%£437.50
On £10,000 of eligible card sales, the difference between 1.69% and 1.75% is £6 a month, or £72 over 12 identical months. That is worth knowing, but it should not outweigh a feature you use every day without checking its value. Equally, paying for software you never use is not a saving.
When could SumUp’s paid plan make sense?
SumUp Payments Plus is listed at £19 a month, with 0.99% for eligible domestic card payments. Premium, international and American Express payments remain at 1.69%; check eligibility for your exact card mix.
Using only transactions eligible for the reduction, the saving is 0.7 percentage points. £19 divided by 0.007 gives a break-even point of approximately £2,715 of eligible monthly sales. This compares the monthly plan with SumUp’s standard rate only.
Worked example: at £5,000 of eligible monthly sales, 1.69% costs £84.50. The £19 plan plus 0.99% costs £68.50, a £16 difference before any other costs. If only part of your sales qualifies, calculate the saving on that part.
For seasonal trading, run the calculation for quiet months as well as busy ones. Check billing and cancellation terms before subscribing. A plan that helps in December may add cost during a quieter period.
Pricing checked 10 September 2026 against SumUp pricing, Square pricing and PayPal POS pricing. Rates and eligibility can change. The calculations exclude refunds, disputes, hardware, tax on applicable charges and optional services.
Use the calculator to explore your own assumptions, or read our card machine fees guide for the wider checklist.
Do you need a reader, a terminal or just your phone?
Do not compare a discounted reader with a complete terminal as though they are equivalent. The low upfront price may assume you already own a compatible phone or tablet. A standalone device can cost more but keep payments off your personal phone.
Choose the type of equipment before comparing prices
Setup
How you use it
What to check
SetupReader paired with a phone or tablet
How you use itThe app manages the sale; the reader accepts the card.
What to checkDevice compatibility, connectivity, battery life and how receipts are issued.
SetupStandalone terminal
How you use itThe payment device handles the sale without borrowing your phone.
What to checkIncluded connection options, printing, software and ongoing charges.
SetupTap to Pay on a supported phone
How you use itA compatible app uses the phone to accept contactless payments.
What to checkSupported devices, payment limits and a backup for payments it cannot accept.
SetupReader or terminal linked to a till
How you use itPayments fit into the wider checkout process.
What to checkExact EPOS compatibility, integration cost and refund workflow.
SumUp Solo Lite pairs with a phone; Solo is a standalone option. PayPal’s current reader also pairs with a compatible mobile device, while its Terminal has the POS app built in. Check the exact model rather than relying on the brand name alone.
A first-device promotion can also hide the cost of equipping a team. PayPal’s published reader offer is £29 excluding VAT for one reader per eligible new business, while additional readers are £69 excluding VAT; delivery fees apply. Price every device and accessory you need.
Device references: SumUp device comparison and PayPal Reader details. Check current offers and compatibility before purchase.
Which provider fits your priorities?
1. SumUp: compare for a simple payment setup
If your main job is taking payments in person, start by testing whether the app and chosen device cover your routine tasks. Create a sale, issue a receipt and try the refund process. Avoid buying a larger setup solely because it looks more professional.
Our recommendation: compare it closely for occasional selling and straightforward mobile trading. Test the software against your stock, booking or reporting requirements before choosing it for a more involved operation.
2. Square: compare the software as well as the reader
Square offers tools for retail, hospitality and appointments alongside payment processing. The useful exercise is to list the features that would remove work from your week, then check which plan includes them.
Our recommendation: investigate it when you need more than basic payment acceptance. Build the total around the software and hardware you will actually use, rather than assuming every advertised feature is free.
3. PayPal POS: compare how it fits your existing account
For a business already using PayPal, assess how the POS app, records and account fit together. Familiarity can reduce the learning involved, but still test the everyday checkout tasks.
Our recommendation: compare it when its workflow suits your business. Check any online integrations separately rather than assuming your existing checkout automatically connects.
What would we shortlist for different businesses?
Market traders and mobile services
Start by testing connectivity where you actually trade. Compare the lightest workable setup and keep fixed charges proportionate to your sales. A backup power source and a clear receipt process can be more valuable than a small difference in fees. Taxi drivers can also use our taxi card reader guide.
Shops with stock to manage
Trial product entry, variants, returns and the reports you need at the end of the day. Check whether stock stays in sync with an online shop and what happens when an item is refunded. Judge the extra software cost against the work it removes.
Salons and appointment businesses
Compare deposits, bookings, cancellations and payments at the appointment. Online deposits can have a different fee from the balance paid in person. Our salon guide helps you plan the complete setup.
Cafés and busier venues
Run through a realistic queue: creating orders, taking payments, issuing refunds and handing the device between staff. If you need payments linked to an existing till, get the exact integration confirmed before buying. Compare a tailored merchant services proposal alongside these options.
Check where your takings arrive, not just how quickly
“Fast payouts” can mean funds in a provider account or money in your normal business bank account. Those are different destinations. Ask each provider to show when a Friday payment would be available in the account you use to pay suppliers.
Include weekends, bank holidays, account checks and any fee for a faster transfer. If you intend to spend directly from a provider account, check whether that suits your bookkeeping and existing payment arrangements. Do not move your cash flow around a promise that has not been confirmed for your account.
Also ask how to get help when a payout is missing. Keep the transaction details and distinguish a payment-processing issue from a transfer to your bank. Knowing the correct support route can save time when you need an answer quickly.
Why do older comparisons mention PayPal Here?
PayPal Here is an older product name and should not be treated as a fourth current option in this comparison. PayPal’s current UK in person offering is PayPal Point of Sale, following the Zettle rebrand. If you own older equipment, confirm support and compatibility before assuming you can use it with a new account.
The practical decision here is between SumUp, Square and the current PayPal POS offering. You can explore the closer pairings in our SumUp vs Square and SumUp vs Zettle guides.
Five checks before you order
- Model a normal month: use your card sales and relevant card mix, then add software and equipment costs.
- Test your everyday tasks: make sure sales, receipts, refunds and reporting are easy for the people using the system.
- Check the complete hardware basket: include extra readers, stands, printers, tablets and delivery.
- Confirm account and payout terms: understand eligibility checks, destinations, timing and any transfer charges.
- Compare the cost of changing later: consider staff training, data exports, integrations and whether equipment can be reused.
If a different system saves £10 a month but costs £120 to introduce, it takes 12 identical months to recover that setup cost before considering staff time. That does not make switching wrong; it gives you a more useful basis for deciding.
Want to compare beyond these three?
These selected offers can help you explore other payment packages. Compare the complete quote with your reader setup, especially if you need several devices or more support.
The affiliate widget may show providers outside this three-brand comparison. It covers selected offers, not the whole market.
Common questions
Is SumUp cheaper than Square?
Its standard percentage is lower for the eligible in person transactions modelled above. On £10,000, the difference is £6. Compare hardware, subscriptions and your card mix before deciding which complete setup costs less.
Is Zettle the same as PayPal POS?
Zettle by PayPal has been rebranded as PayPal Point of Sale. Check the current equipment and terms rather than assuming an older Zettle promotion still applies.
Can I take payments without a separate reader?
Tap to Pay can be an option on a supported phone and app. Check compatibility and payment limitations, and decide how you will handle transactions that need a different method.
Does a free plan mean there are no costs?
No. It may mean no monthly base subscription. Processing fees, hardware and optional services can still apply, and you still accept the provider’s service terms.
Should a growing business switch to negotiated rates?
Request a comparison rather than switching on turnover alone. Your transaction count, equipment, card mix and contract matter. Our merchant account guide explains how to compare the alternatives.
Find the setup that suits your next stage
Use the quote form to compare broader card payment options for your business. Check the full monthly cost alongside the software, payout terms and support you need.
Table of Contents