SumUp vs Square 2026: Which UK Card Reader Is Cheaper?
Ask a room of new UK business owners which card reader they're looking at and you'll mostly hear two names. SumUp and Square both skip contracts and monthly fees on their basic plans, and both sell readers for under £30. The gap opens up on fees as you grow, payout speed and how much software you get. We checked both UK pricing pages in October 2026.
Quick comparison table
| SumUp | Square | |
|---|---|---|
| In person fee (UK cards) | 1.69%; 0.99% for domestic consumer cards with Payments Plus | 1.75%; non UK cards 1.75% + 1.5% |
| Monthly fee | £0, or £19 for Payments Plus | £0 on Free; Plus plans from £29 |
| Cheapest reader | Solo Lite £25 ex VAT | Square Reader £19 ex VAT list price |
| Standalone terminal | Solo £79, Terminal £135 ex VAT | Square Terminal £149 ex VAT |
| Online payments | 2.50% on Payments Plus | 1.4% + 25p for UK cards |
| Keyed and invoice payments | Varies by product | 2.5% |
| Payouts | Next day by 7am into SumUp Business Account, every day | Free in one to two working days, or instant for a fee |
| Contract | None | None |
Sources: sumup.com/en-gb/pricing, SumUp product pages and squareup.com/gb/en/pricing, checked October 2026.
Fees compared
Transaction fees
At default rates, SumUp is slightly cheaper: 1.69% against Square's 1.75%. On £3,000 a month that's £50.70 against £52.50.
The bigger gap opens with SumUp Payments Plus. For £19 a month, domestic consumer cards drop to 0.99%. Square doesn't publish a comparable lower rate for small businesses; its Premium plan offers custom rates for businesses processing over £200,000 a year.
| Monthly card takings | SumUp PAYG (1.69%) | SumUp Payments Plus (0.99% + £19) | Square (1.75%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| £1,000 | £16.90 | £28.90 | £17.50 |
| £3,000 | £50.70 | £48.70 | £52.50 |
| £5,000 | £84.50 | £68.50 | £87.50 |
| £10,000 | £169.00 | £118.00 | £175.00 |
Assumes all payments are UK domestic consumer cards.
Monthly costs
Both start at £0 a month. SumUp's paid extras include Payments Plus (£19), POS Plus (£39 ex VAT) and Invoices Plus (£8 ex VAT). Square's industry Plus plans for restaurants, retail and appointments start from £29 a month, and add ons such as Kitchen Display (from £15 per device) and Kiosk (£35 per device) cost extra.
On online payments, Square is usually cheaper for small sums because its 1.4% + 25p is lower than 2.50% on most basket sizes above about £23.
Hardware compared
Reader prices
| Type | SumUp | Square |
|---|---|---|
| Phone paired reader | Solo Lite £25 ex VAT | Square Reader £19 ex VAT |
| Standalone card machine | Solo £79 ex VAT | n/a |
| Handheld with printer | Terminal £135 ex VAT | Square Terminal £149 ex VAT |
| Countertop POS | Register £399 ex VAT | Square Register and Stand options |
Square was showing a discounted Reader price when we checked. Both offer Tap to Pay on phones at no hardware cost. Square offers interest free payment plans on hardware from £29; SumUp lets you spread Terminal orders over £90 across up to 12 months.
Payouts and support
Settlement times
SumUp pays into its own Business Account by 7am the next day, including weekends. Square transfers to your bank in one to two working days for free, or instantly for a fee (within about 20 minutes, minimum £15, up to £3,500 a day). If you want money in your existing bank without a fee, Square is simpler; if you want the fastest free access, SumUp is quicker.
Support
SumUp offers 24/7 priority support on Payments Plus. Square offers customer support on all accounts and dispute management.
Worked monthly cost examples
| Monthly card takings | SumUp pay as you go (1.69%) | SumUp Payments Plus (0.99% + £19) | Square (1.75%) | Cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £2,000 | £33.80 | £38.80 | £35.00 | SumUp pay as you go |
| £10,000 | £169.00 | £118.00 | £175.00 | SumUp Payments Plus, saving £57 a month |
| £30,000 | £507.00 | £316.00 | £525.00 | SumUp Payments Plus, or ask both for custom pricing |
Assumes UK domestic consumer cards, checked October 2026. At £30,000 a month (£360,000 a year), you'd qualify to ask for SumUp Tailored pricing and Square Premium, which Square offers to businesses processing over £200,000 a year. Get both quotes.
Online sales change the picture
If you sell online too, Square's 1.4% + 25p for UK cards beats SumUp's 2.50% on Payments Plus for most order values. On a £40 online order, Square charges 81p and SumUp £1.00. If online is a big share of your takings, factor that in.
SumUp vs Square for different businesses
Cafe
Both work. Square's free restaurant POS tools and kitchen display options give it an edge for cafes that want order management. SumUp's Terminal with printer is a simpler, cheaper standalone option.
Market stall
SumUp pay as you go is slightly cheaper, and the Solo works without a phone. Square's Reader is cheaper upfront at £19 ex VAT list price. Either is a good choice.
Hairdresser
Square Appointments gives online booking and reminders starting from £0 a month, which is a strong reason to pick Square for salons.
Trades
SumUp's standalone Solo is handy on site. Square's invoices (2.5%) let you bill after a job, and SumUp also offers invoicing.
Taxi
A standalone reader with mobile data is best, which favours SumUp Solo. See our guide to card readers for taxi drivers.
Setup and contract tips
- Trial both. With no contracts, you can sign up to both and see which app your staff prefer.
- Check payout needs. If you want money in your existing bank without an extra step, Square's free one to two day transfer is simpler.
- Review monthly. Once your takings regularly pass about £3,000 a month, switch SumUp users to Payments Plus.
- Keep hardware compatible. Hardware from one provider won't work with the other.
Feature by feature
| Feature | SumUp | Square |
|---|---|---|
| Tap to Pay on phone | Yes | Yes, iPhone XS or later and compatible Android |
| Free POS software | Yes; POS Plus £39 ex VAT a month for advanced tools | Yes; Plus plans from £29 a month for restaurants, retail and appointments |
| Online store | Payment links and bookings | Online store, checkout links, buy buttons and QR codes |
| Appointments | Bookings available | Square Appointments from £0 a month |
| Business account | SumUp Business Account with Mastercard | Pays to your bank account |
| Loans and funding | Not covered in this comparison | Square Loans for eligible sellers, up to £200,000 |
| Hardware payment plans | Terminal orders over £90 over up to 12 months | Interest free plans on purchases from £29 to £3,000 |
| 0% fee option | 0% when customers pay with a SumUp card | No |
Sources: sumup.com/en-gb/pricing, SumUp product pages and squareup.com/gb/en/pricing, checked October 2026.
Software is the real difference
For a simple card payment, both readers do the same job. The difference is what sits around the payment. Square has a broader free toolkit: online store, appointments, invoices, a virtual terminal for phone payments, and add ons such as kitchen displays and kiosks. SumUp's strengths are lower card fees, standalone devices and fast payouts into its own account.
Hardware lifespan and support
SumUp includes a one year warranty and a 30 day money back guarantee, and Payments Plus adds free reader replacements. Square includes dispute management and fraud prevention with every account. Ask either provider about replacement terms before buying several devices.
Which should you choose?
Choose SumUp if you want the lowest card fees, especially if you take over about £3,000 a month on ordinary UK cards, or you want a standalone reader without a phone.
Choose Square if you want the most complete free POS software, sell online as well as in person, or run appointments or a restaurant with Square's tools.
Still deciding? See our best card machines UK guide, our Square card reader review and our SumUp card reader review. Hospitality owners should also read Dojo vs Teya.
FAQs
Is SumUp cheaper than Square?
Yes, slightly at default rates (1.69% vs 1.75%), and much cheaper on domestic consumer cards with SumUp Payments Plus at 0.99% plus £19 a month. Checked October 2026.
Which is better for online sales, SumUp or Square?
Square's 1.4% + 25p for UK cards online is usually cheaper than SumUp's 2.50% on Payments Plus, and Square's online store tools are more developed.
Do SumUp or Square have contracts?
No. Neither has a contract on its standard plans.
Which pays out faster?
SumUp pays by 7am the next day into its Business Account, every day. Square pays to your bank in one to two working days free, or instantly for a fee.
Can I use both SumUp and Square?
Yes. With no contracts or monthly fees on their basic plans, some businesses keep one as a backup.
Which is better for a hairdresser, SumUp or Square?
Square, for most salons, because Square Appointments adds booking and reminders.
Can I move from Square to SumUp?
Yes. With no contracts, you can switch whenever you like, though you'll need new hardware.
Is Square cheaper than SumUp for online payments?
Usually, yes. Square charges 1.4% + 25p for UK cards online against SumUp's 2.50% on Payments Plus, so Square is cheaper on most order values above about £23.
Is Square good for restaurants?
Yes. Square for Restaurants starts from £0 a month, with kitchen displays from £15 per device a month and kiosks at £35 per device a month.
Does SumUp have appointment booking?
SumUp offers bookings and payment links, but Square Appointments is the more developed booking tool.