Zettle by PayPal Card Reader Review UK 2026: Fees Checked
Zettle was one of the first mobile card readers in the UK, and since PayPal bought it, it's become PayPal's main way to take payments face to face. It's now being renamed PayPal Point of Sale, so don't be surprised to see both names on the UK pricing page. We checked that page in October 2026.
Overview
Zettle by PayPal is a no contract, pay per transaction card payment service with a free point of sale app. You buy a reader or terminal, and pay a flat percentage on each sale. Takings go to your PayPal Business account.
Quick verdict: Zettle is a strong pick for retailers and sellers who already use PayPal and want free stock and sales tools. If you mainly care about the lowest fee, SumUp Payments Plus or Dojo can work out cheaper as your volume grows.
What is changing with the name?
PayPal's UK site says "Zettle by PayPal becomes PayPal Point of Sale". The hardware is now sold as the PayPal Reader and PayPal Terminal, and the app as the PayPal POS app. Existing Zettle accounts continue to work, and fees on the pricing page are unchanged by the rename as far as we can see.
Card readers and hardware
| Device | Price (ex VAT, checked October 2026) | Connection | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tap to Pay | Free | Your phone | Contactless and wallets via the PayPal POS app |
| PayPal Reader | £29 for one reader for new business users; extra readers £69 | Bluetooth to your phone or tablet | Optional countertop dock at extra cost |
| PayPal Terminal | £149 | WiFi or 4G | POS app built in; barcode scanner version and printer dock sold separately |
Delivery fees apply and PayPal quotes delivery in one to two business days.
Hardware costs
The £29 new user reader price is one of the cheapest ways to get a branded chip and PIN reader. Note the second reader costs £69 ex VAT, so multi till shops should budget for that. The Terminal at £149 ex VAT is priced in line with the Square Terminal.
Fees and pricing
Transaction rates
| Payment type | Fee (checked October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Card transactions, including Amex and mobile wallets | 1.75% |
| PayPal QR codes (sellers who signed up before 8 May 2023) | 1.75% |
| Zettle Invoice (sellers who signed up before 8 May 2023) | 2.5% |
| Payment Links | 2.5% (temporarily unavailable for new sellers) |
There are no monthly fees and no contract. PayPal says custom rates may be available by separate agreement, at its discretion.
What a month might cost
| Monthly card takings | Zettle at 1.75% |
|---|---|
| £500 | £8.75 |
| £2,000 | £35.00 |
| £5,000 | £87.50 |
| £10,000 | £175.00 |
At higher volumes, 1.75% becomes expensive compared with SumUp Payments Plus at 0.99% on domestic consumer cards or Dojo's 1.2% blended rate.
Contract and setup
There's no contract or rental. You sign up for a PayPal Business account (or link your existing one), download the PayPal POS app and pair a reader. You can also start straight away with Tap to Pay before your hardware arrives.
Payout speed
PayPal says funds typically arrive in your PayPal Business account within minutes. You can spend from the balance or set up automatic transfers to your bank with no added fee. That is one of the fastest access times available.
Customer support
Support is through PayPal's help centre, messaging and phone. There's no dedicated account manager on standard pricing.
How Zettle compares
| Zettle | SumUp | Square | |
|---|---|---|---|
| In person rate | 1.75% | 1.69%, or 0.99% with Payments Plus | 1.75% UK cards |
| Entry reader | £29 ex VAT (new users) | £25 ex VAT | £19 ex VAT list price |
| Payouts | PayPal within minutes | 7am next day | One to two working days free |
| Amex | 1.75% | 1.69% | 1.75% |
Checked October 2026. See Zettle vs SumUp for a full comparison.
The PayPal POS app
The app is free and covers the essentials most small retailers need: a product library with variants, inventory tracking, gift cards, real time sales reports, staff performance tracking and integrations for selling across channels. For a gift shop or small boutique, that can replace a paid till system. Hospitality venues needing table plans and kitchen tickets will find it more limited than restaurant focused systems.
Accessories and setup options
PayPal offers customised store kits so you can combine a terminal, printer, dock and scanner. The countertop Dock for the Reader, the Terminal Printer and Dock, and the barcode scanner version of the Terminal are sold separately, so price the whole kit before ordering.
Questions to ask before you choose
- Will I use payment links or invoices, and what will they cost me as a new seller?
- How many readers do I need, given extras cost £69 ex VAT?
- Do I want takings in PayPal or in my bank, and how will I reconcile them?
- Would a custom rate be available at my volume?
Pros and cons
Pros
- No contract and no monthly fee
- Same 1.75% rate on all major cards, including Amex
- PayPal Reader just £29 ex VAT for new users
- Funds in PayPal typically within minutes
- Free POS app with inventory, gift cards and staff reports
Cons
- 1.75% is higher than several rivals for growing businesses
- Extra readers cost £69 ex VAT
- Invoices and QR codes for new sellers not available at old rates
- Brand change may cause some confusion in the app and on statements
Who it suits
Retail shops, pop ups, craft sellers and anyone already selling online with PayPal who wants in person sales in the same place.
Alternatives
- SumUp: lower 1.69% default rate and 0.99% with Payments Plus. See Zettle vs SumUp and our SumUp card reader review.
- Square: same 1.75% in person rate with a broader free POS. See our Square card reader review.
- Phone only: compare options in our guide to Tap to Pay on iPhone and Android.
See the full shortlist in our best card machines UK guide.
Worked monthly cost examples
Zettle charges the same 1.75% on all major cards, checked October 2026. Here is what that means at different turnovers, compared with SumUp's published rates.
| Monthly card takings | Zettle (1.75%) | SumUp pay as you go (1.69%) | SumUp Payments Plus (0.99% + £19) |
|---|---|---|---|
| £2,000 | £35.00 | £33.80 | £38.80 |
| £10,000 | £175.00 | £169.00 | £118.00 |
| £30,000 | £525.00 | £507.00 | £316.00 |
At £2,000 a month, Zettle is within a pound or two of the cheapest no contract options. At £10,000 a month, it costs £57 more than SumUp Payments Plus, which adds up to £684 a year. At £30,000 a month you should ask PayPal whether a custom rate is available, as its pricing page says custom rates may be agreed at its discretion.
Where Zettle's flat rate helps
Because Amex costs the same 1.75% as everything else, a business with many Amex customers can find the difference with rivals smaller than the table suggests. Zettle also charges no monthly fees for its POS app, which offsets part of the gap against providers that charge for POS features.
Zettle for different businesses
Cafe
A small cafe taking £5,000 a month pays £87.50. The PayPal Terminal with its built in POS app is a tidy counter setup, and stock tracking helps with retail add ons like coffee beans.
Market stall
Zettle is a strong fit. Taking £1,000 a month costs £17.50, and you can start on Tap to Pay before buying the £29 reader. Funds in PayPal within minutes help you restock between markets.
Retail and gift shops
The free POS app handles products, inventory and gift cards. If you sell online with PayPal too, all your sales sit in one account.
Hairdresser
Zettle works well for card payments, but salons wanting online booking will need a separate system.
Trades and taxi
Tradespeople can use the PayPal Reader with a phone on site. Drivers may prefer a standalone reader; the PayPal Terminal works on 4G. See our guide to card readers for taxi drivers.
Setup and contract tips
- Use Tap to Pay first. Start taking contactless on your phone the day you sign up.
- Budget for extra readers. The £29 price is for one reader per new business user; more readers are £69 ex VAT each.
- Set up automatic transfers. Move funds from PayPal to your bank automatically at no added fee.
- Check what is available to new sellers. Some products, like Zettle Invoice and QR codes at 1.75%, are only for sellers who signed up before 8 May 2023.
- Keep records tidy. Export sales reports monthly for your accountant.
Verdict
Zettle remains a polished, simple way to take cards, and the PayPal link gives it unusually fast access to funds. Its flat 1.75% is fair for small volumes but less competitive as you grow. We rate it 4.1 out of 5.
FAQs
How much does Zettle charge?
Zettle charges 1.75% per card transaction in the UK, including Amex, with no monthly fee. Checked October 2026.
How much is the Zettle card reader?
The PayPal Reader is £29 ex VAT for one reader for new business users, and additional readers are £69 ex VAT. The PayPal Terminal is £149 ex VAT.
Is Zettle the same as PayPal Point of Sale?
Yes. PayPal says Zettle by PayPal is becoming PayPal Point of Sale.
How fast does Zettle pay out?
Funds typically arrive in your PayPal Business account within minutes, and transfers to your bank are free.
Does Zettle have a contract?
No. There's no contract, rental or monthly fee.
Does Zettle charge more for Amex?
No. Zettle charges 1.75% on all major cards, including Amex.
Can I use Zettle without a PayPal account?
You need a PayPal Business account, as takings are paid into it.
Is Zettle good for a market stall?
Yes. No monthly fee, a cheap reader and fast access to funds suit stallholders well.
How long does Zettle hardware take to arrive?
PayPal quotes delivery in about one to two business days, and delivery fees apply.
Can I get a lower rate with Zettle?
PayPal says custom rates may be agreed by separate agreement at its sole discretion. Ask if you take high volumes.
Is Zettle good for market traders?
Yes, for many. There's no monthly fee or contract, the reader is light, and takings typically reach your PayPal balance within minutes, which helps if you buy stock the same day. Check signal at your pitch, since the reader works through your phone's connection.