Best SumUp Alternatives UK (2026)
SumUp is one of the most popular card readers in the UK, and for good reason: no contract, cheap readers, 1.69% fees and money by 7am the next day. But it isn't right for everyone. Maybe you want a stronger point of sale, a lower rate, real time payouts or a single rate on Amex. Here are the best alternatives, with prices from each provider's official UK website, checked October 2026.
Why look beyond SumUp?
People usually start looking for one of these reasons:
- You want better POS software for stock, tables or bookings without paying extra.
- You take lots of Amex or overseas cards, which cost 1.69% even on Payments Plus.
- You want instant access to your money, not next morning.
- You've outgrown flat rates and want a custom deal.
- You already bank elsewhere and want everything in one place.
Quick comparison table
| Provider | In person fee | Monthly fee | Reader price (ex VAT) | Payouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SumUp (for reference) | 1.69%, or 0.99% on domestic consumer cards with Payments Plus | £0, or £19 for Payments Plus | Solo £79, Terminal £135 | 7am next day, every day |
| Square | 1.75% on UK cards | £0, Plus plans from £29 | Reader £19, Terminal £149 | Free in 1 to 2 working days, instant for a fee |
| Zettle by PayPal | 1.75% on all major cards | £0 | Reader £29 for new users (then £69), Terminal £149 | To PayPal balance, usually within minutes |
| Lopay | 0.79% to 1.79% by payout plan | £0 | £35 plus P&P in app | Thursday, next day or instant |
| Revolut | 0.8% + 2p on UK consumer cards | Revolut Business plan from £10 | Revolut Reader | Into your Revolut account |
| Dojo | 1.2% blended under £100,000 a year | Plans vary | Pocket £149, Wired £239 | Next day |
| Viva | 1.69% on UK consumer cards | Plans £0 to £15.99 | Tap to Pay or Viva terminals | Real time |
| Stripe Terminal | 1.4% + 10p | £0 | Various readers | Rolling payouts |
Fees compared
Here's what each would cost a business taking £4,000 a month in 200 payments of £20, all on UK consumer cards.
| Provider | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| SumUp pay as you go (1.69%) | £67.60 |
| SumUp Payments Plus (0.99% + £19) | £58.60 |
| Square (1.75%) | £70.00 |
| Zettle (1.75%) | £70.00 |
| Lopay Standard (0.99%) | £39.60 |
| Revolut (0.8% + 2p, plus £10 Basic plan) | £46.00 |
| Dojo (1.2%) | £48.00 |
| Viva (1.69%, before any plan fee) | £67.60 |
| Stripe Terminal (1.4% + 10p) | £76.00 |
The cheapest headline rates belong to Lopay, Revolut and Dojo. But the cheapest rate isn't always the cheapest overall. Look at Amex and overseas rates if you take many of them, and add any monthly plan or hardware costs.
Monthly costs
Calculator. Enter your numbers to compare fees. If it does not load, use the table below.
SumUp's pay as you go plan has no monthly fee, which is hard to beat for seasonal or part time businesses. Of the alternatives:
- No monthly fee: Square, Zettle, Lopay and Stripe.
- Monthly fee, but lower rates: Revolut (Business plan from £10), Viva (plans up to £15.99, with a £3.99 minimum monthly charge) and Dojo (plans vary).
Hardware compared
| Device | Price (ex VAT) | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Square Reader | £19 | Pairs with phone |
| Square Terminal | £149 | Standalone with printer |
| PayPal Reader | £29 for new users, then £69 | Pairs with phone |
| PayPal Terminal | £149 | Standalone |
| Lopay Reader | £35 plus P&P in app (£49 elsewhere) | Pairs with phone |
| Dojo Pocket | £149 | Standalone handheld |
| Dojo Wired | £239 | Countertop |
Most providers also support Tap to Pay on iPhone and Android, so you can start without a reader.
Payouts and support
Payout speed matters for cash flow. SumUp's next day payouts, including weekends, set a high bar.
- Faster than SumUp: Viva settles in real time, Zettle pays into your PayPal balance usually within minutes, and Lopay's Instant plan pays 24/7 at 1.79%.
- Similar: Dojo next day; Lopay Standard next day Monday to Friday.
- Slower by default: Square's free transfers take one to two working days, with instant transfers for a fee.
Support. Dojo and Viva offer phone support aimed at business users. Square and Zettle have extensive help centres and phone support. Lopay and Revolut lean on in app chat.
The alternatives in brief
Square: best for POS features
Square's free POS is the most complete of the pay as you go options, with stock, online store, invoices, bookings and a virtual terminal. Fees are a touch higher than SumUp at 1.75%. Our Square card reader review has more.
Zettle by PayPal: best for Amex and tourists
One rate of 1.75% on all major cards, including Amex. If many of your customers use premium or overseas cards, that can beat SumUp's Payments Plus.
Lopay: best for low rates without a contract
From 0.79% with Thursday payouts, or 0.99% with next day payouts. Amex, corporate and international cards cost 1% more. See our Lopay card reader guide.
Revolut: best if you already bank with Revolut
Just 0.8% + 2p on UK consumer cards, though business and non UK cards are 2.6% + 2p.
Dojo: best for growing businesses
A 1.2% blended rate under £100,000 a year, with custom rates above that.
Viva: best for real time money
1.69% on UK consumer cards with real time settlement. Our Viva Wallet review covers plans.
Stripe Terminal: best for online first businesses
1.4% + 10p in person, with online and in person payments in one dashboard. The 10p fee hurts small sales.
Also worth a look if you bank with Tide: our Tide card reader guide.
When SumUp is still the best choice
It's worth being fair to SumUp before you move. It's hard to beat if:
- You trade at weekends. Next day payouts by 7am, every day of the year, are rare among no contract providers.
- Your takings swing a lot. Pay as you go has no monthly fee, so a quiet January costs nothing.
- You take mostly UK debit cards and over £3,000 a month. Payments Plus at 0.99% is competitive.
- You want a free business account. SumUp's account and card come included.
SumUp pros
- No contract on any plan
- Next day payouts, including weekends
- Cheap readers you own
- Free business account
SumUp cons
- Amex and premium cards cost 1.69% even on Payments Plus
- Advanced POS tools cost £39 a month
- Online payments are 2.5%
How to switch from SumUp
Switching between pay as you go providers is simple, because there's no contract to end.
- Sign up with the new provider and get verified before you need it.
- Order the new reader, or set up Tap to Pay, and do a test payment.
- Move your product list. Export it from SumUp as a spreadsheet if you can, then import it.
- Run both for a week so you can compare speed, payouts and reports.
- Update payment links and QR codes on your website, invoices and signs.
- Withdraw your SumUp balance and download reports for your accountant.
- Close or keep the account. With no monthly fee on pay as you go, some businesses keep SumUp as a backup.
Your old SumUp reader can't be used with another provider, so keep it as a spare or recycle it responsibly.
Which should you choose?
| If you want... | Choose |
|---|---|
| The best free POS | Square |
| One rate on all cards | Zettle |
| The lowest rate, no contract | Lopay |
| Cheap fees with your bank | Revolut |
| A blended rate as you grow | Dojo |
| Instant settlement | Viva |
| Online and in person together | Stripe |
If none of these reasons applies to you, SumUp is still a very good choice. Upgrading to Payments Plus once you're taking over about £2,700 a month may save more than switching.
FAQs
What's the cheapest alternative to SumUp?
On headline rates for UK consumer cards, Lopay (from 0.79%), Revolut (0.8% + 2p plus a plan fee) and Dojo (1.2% blended under £100,000 a year).
Is Square better than SumUp?
Square has the stronger free POS and online store. SumUp is slightly cheaper on pay as you go and pays out faster by default. It depends what you need.
Can I use my SumUp reader with another provider?
No. Card readers are locked to the provider that sold them.
Is there a contract with SumUp alternatives?
Square, Zettle, Lopay, Revolut and Stripe have no long term contract. Dojo offers rolling or fixed plans, so check terms.
Which SumUp alternative pays out fastest?
Viva, with real time settlement, and Zettle, which pays into your PayPal balance usually within minutes.
Should I switch or upgrade to SumUp Payments Plus?
Run the numbers. At £4,000 a month on UK consumer cards, Payments Plus costs £58.60, while Lopay Standard costs £39.60 and Dojo £48.00. If you value SumUp's payouts and app, upgrading may be enough.
Which SumUp alternative is best for Amex?
Zettle by PayPal, because it charges the same 1.75% on Amex as on other major cards. Several low cost providers charge noticeably more for Amex, so check if it's a big share of your sales.
Which alternative has the cheapest card reader?
Square's Reader at £19 ex VAT is among the cheapest. Zettle's PayPal Reader is £29 for new business users, and Lopay's reader is £35 plus P&P in its app. Remember you can also start with Tap to Pay on your phone for nothing.
Is SumUp good for a market stall?
Yes. Long battery life and weekend payouts suit stalls well. Our guide to card readers for market stalls compares it with the alternatives.