Dojo Card Machine Review 2026: 1.2% Fees and Contract Checked
Walk into almost any independent cafe or pub in the UK and there's a fair chance you'll pay on a Dojo machine. It's pitched as the quick, dependable alternative to the banks' own terminals. We read through Dojo's UK pricing page in October 2026 to work out what it really costs, and who it's actually right for.
Overview
Dojo is a UK payments company that supplies card machines, payment processing and a business app called Sidekick. It says it's trusted by more than 100,000 UK businesses, quotes 99.99% uptime and promises next day takings. It also offers a contract buyout of up to £3,000 if you're leaving another provider.
Quick verdict: Dojo is an excellent choice for restaurants, pubs, cafes and busy retail counters, especially below £100,000 annual card turnover where its simple 1.2% blended rate applies. Very small or occasional sellers will usually pay less with a no contract reader.
Card readers and hardware
Dojo lists two main devices on its UK pricing page, plus Tap to Pay on iPhone. Prices as shown on dojo.tech/pricing in October 2026:
| Device | Upfront price | Monthly option | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dojo Pocket | £149 (shown reduced from £229) | £25 a month | Portable device for taking orders and payments |
| Dojo Wired | £239 | £20 a month | Fixed device for kiosks and counters |
| Tap to Pay on iPhone | No hardware | n/a | Take contactless payments on an iPhone |
Dojo doesn't show the term of its monthly hardware payments on the pricing page, so ask for it in writing before you choose the monthly option.
Hardware costs
Buying upfront usually works out cheaper over two years than paying monthly. Dojo also supports split bills, on screen tip prompts, custom tipping and pre authorisation for bar tabs, which matter far more in hospitality than in retail.
Fees and pricing
Transaction rates
| Annual card turnover | Rate (checked October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Below £100,000 | 1.2% blended rate for all card transactions |
| Above £100,000 | Custom rate, with a 12 month fixed plan or 30 day rolling |
| Above £5 million | Lower blended rates and bespoke card mix pricing |
A blended rate means every card costs the same, whether it's a debit card, a premium credit card or a business card. That makes bills predictable. For many small businesses with a mix of card types, 1.2% compares well with flat rate providers charging 1.69% to 1.75%.
Software plans
| Plan | Price | Key features |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | Free per month per location | Accept all major cards, real time transactions, PCI compliance |
| Plus | £25 a month per location, offered at £11.99 for new customers and new locations from 24 August 2026 | Customer spend tracking, competitor benchmarking, weekly reports, remote refunds, up to 20 users |
What a month might cost
| Monthly card takings | Dojo at 1.2% | SumUp pay as you go at 1.69% |
|---|---|---|
| £2,000 | £24 | £33.80 |
| £5,000 | £60 | £84.50 |
| £8,000 | £96 | £135.20 |
Excludes hardware and the optional Plus plan.
Contract and setup
Dojo says you can switch in one day. Above £100,000 turnover you can choose a 12 month fixed plan or 30 day rolling terms. For smaller accounts the pricing page doesn't spell out the minimum term, so confirm notice periods and any early termination charges in your agreement.
Payout speed
Dojo pays your takings the next day. Read the settlement terms in your agreement for cut off times.
Customer support
Dojo advertises UK based support and says you can speak to an expert in about 30 seconds. Plus customers get faster access.
How Dojo compares
| Dojo | SumUp | Teya | Worldpay | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Published rate | 1.2% blended under £100,000 a year | 1.69%, or 0.99% with Payments Plus | Quote only | 1.50% Simplicity |
| Hardware | Buy or pay monthly | Buy outright | Supplied with account | Hire, 18 months |
| Payouts | Next day | 7am next day, every day | Next day, including weekends | Next business day |
| Hospitality tools | Strong | Good on Terminal | Strong | Good |
Checked October 2026. For more detail, see Dojo vs Teya and the best card machines UK.
Sidekick app
Sidekick is Dojo's business app. On the free Essential plan it shows real time transactions on your card machines; Plus extends that to all payment methods and devices, adds remote refunds, phone payments, team accounts for up to 20 users and custom roles. If several staff need different permissions, Plus is worth considering.
Questions to ask before you sign
- What is the term of the monthly hardware payment, and what happens at the end?
- What notice period applies, and is there any early exit charge?
- Is my rate fixed for 12 months, and how will it be reviewed?
- Which of my EPOS features work with Dojo on day one?
- Will the £11.99 Plus price rise to £25 after an introductory period?
Pros and cons
Pros
- Simple 1.2% blended rate under £100,000 a year
- Strong hospitality features: bill splitting, tipping, pre authorisation
- Next day takings
- Contract buyout up to £3,000 when switching
- Free Essential plan
Cons
- Hardware is pricier than entry level readers
- Monthly hardware terms not shown on the pricing page
- Custom pricing above £100,000 requires a quote
- Overkill for very low volume sellers
Who it suits
Restaurants, pubs, bars, cafes and busy shops with steady card turnover. Sole traders taking a few hundred pounds a month should look at SumUp or Square instead.
Alternatives
- Teya: quote based hospitality rival with next day settlement. See our Teya card machine guide and Dojo vs Teya.
- SumUp: no contract, readers from £25 ex VAT. See our SumUp card reader review.
- Traditional PDQ machines: see our PDQ machine guide.
Compare all options in our best card machines UK guide.
Worked monthly cost examples
These examples use Dojo's published 1.2% blended rate, checked October 2026. Hardware and the optional Plus plan are excluded.
| Monthly card takings | Annual turnover | Dojo fees | SumUp pay as you go (1.69%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| £2,000 | £24,000 | £24.00 | £33.80 |
| £8,000 | £96,000 | £96.00 | £135.20 |
| £10,000 | £120,000 | Custom rate (above £100,000) | £169.00 |
| £30,000 | £360,000 | Custom rate | £507.00 |
The 1.2% rate stops at £100,000 a year, which is about £8,300 a month. At £10,000 or £30,000 a month you'll be quoted a custom rate. As a reference point, 1.2% on £10,000 would be £120 and on £30,000 would be £360, so any custom quote should beat those figures. Ask whether the custom rate is blended or split by card type, and whether it's on the 12 month fixed or 30 day rolling plan.
Adding hardware to the picture
If you take the Dojo Pocket on the £25 a month option, a business taking £2,000 a month pays about £49 a month in total. Buying the Pocket upfront for £149 removes that ongoing cost. Over two years, the monthly option costs £600 against £149 upfront, so buying outright is far cheaper if you've the cash.
Dojo for different businesses
Cafe
A cafe taking £6,000 a month pays about £72 in fees. Dojo's tip prompts, split bills and quick contactless suit busy counters. The Dojo Wired is a tidy choice for a fixed till.
Restaurant and pub
This is Dojo's core market. Pre authorisation for bar tabs, itemised bill splitting with EPOS integrations and the portable Dojo Pocket for table service make a real difference on a Friday night.
Hairdresser
A salon taking £5,000 a month pays £60. Dojo works well, though salons that rely on online booking deposits may prefer a provider with built in appointment tools.
Market stall and trades
Dojo can work, but the hardware cost is higher than entry level readers. Seasonal traders and tradespeople with irregular takings usually get better value from SumUp or Zettle.
Taxi
Dojo isn't designed for drivers. See our guide to card readers for taxi drivers.
Setup and contract tips
- Get the hardware term in writing. The pricing page shows monthly prices but not how many months.
- Ask about notice periods. Confirm how much notice you need to give and whether any exit fee applies.
- Use the buyout if switching. Dojo offers up to £3,000 to buy you out of an existing contract.
- Check your EPOS. Make sure Dojo integrates with your till before installation day.
- Review at £100,000. When your annual turnover passes £100,000, ask for a custom rate rather than staying on a blended rate by default.
Verdict
Dojo's 1.2% blended rate is simple, competitive and easy to budget for, and its terminals are built for real hospitality service. Check the hardware payment term and notice period before you sign. We rate Dojo 4.4 out of 5.
FAQs
How much does Dojo charge per transaction?
Dojo charges a 1.2% blended rate on all card transactions for businesses below £100,000 annual card turnover. Above that, rates are custom. Checked October 2026.
How much is a Dojo card machine?
Dojo listed the Dojo Pocket at £149 upfront (from £229) or £25 a month, and Dojo Wired at £239 upfront or £20 a month, in October 2026.
Does Dojo have a monthly fee?
The Essential plan is free. The Plus plan is £25 a month per location, with a new customer offer of £11.99. Hardware on a monthly plan is an extra cost.
Is Dojo good for small businesses?
Yes, if you've steady card sales, particularly in hospitality. For very small volumes, a no contract reader is usually cheaper.
How fast does Dojo pay out?
Dojo pays takings the next day.
Does Dojo work with my EPOS system?
Dojo integrates with many EPOS systems, including itemised bill splitting and pre authorisation from your EPOS. Check your specific system with Dojo before signing.
Can I leave Dojo?
Above £100,000 turnover you can choose a 30 day rolling plan. For other accounts, check your agreement for notice periods and any charges.
Is the Dojo Plus plan worth it?
It adds benchmarking, customer insights and remote refunds. Many small businesses manage well on the free Essential plan.
Does Dojo take Amex?
Dojo says it accepts all major card schemes, and its blended rate applies to all card transactions for businesses under £100,000 annual card turnover.
Can I take phone payments with Dojo?
Yes. Dojo lists secure phone payments through its Sidekick app, plus payment links by email or SMS.
Is Dojo good for a small cafe?
Often, yes. A cafe taking £10,000 a month on cards would pay about £120 a month in transaction fees at Dojo's 1.2% blended rate, plus hardware, which compares well with 1.69% to 1.75% flat rate readers.