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Square vs SumUp UK: Which Is Better for Your Business?
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Square vs SumUp UK: Which Is Better for Your Business?
Last updated 05/11/2026
Last reviewed: October 9th, 2026. Fees, plans, products, hardware prices, and availability can change, so confirm all details in your proposal.
Square or SumUp—Which Should You Choose?
There is no universally better provider when comparing Square and SumUp. Square is well suited to businesses requiring broader POS, ecommerce, business management, and integration capabilities, while SumUp may suit those prioritising straightforward card acceptance, portable hardware, and simplicity.
Your choice should come down to your sales channels, card turnover, transaction count, average transaction value, hardware and POS requirements, online selling needs, integrations, and preferred level of software complexity.
Square vs SumUp: Quick Verdict
Square may be a more suitable choice if you want payments alongside POS and business management tools. Its functionality extends beyond simple card acceptance, offering:
- Retail and restaurant POS configurations
- Appointments
- Invoicing
- Ecommerce
- Third-party integrations
If you’re a smaller business, you may not require Square’s wider functionality, and this additional software may increase your total cost.
SumUp is likely better suited if you prioritise straightforward card acceptance and portable hardware. Its standard payment processing has no monthly subscription fee, while its Payments Plus offers reduced eligible in-person transaction rates for a monthly or annual fee. SumUp also offers POS, invoicing, ecommerce, bookings, and online payment tools.
Instead of looking for the ‘better’ provider or the one offering the lowest headline transaction rate, focus your search on the provider that best suits your transaction profile, sales channels, hardware, and software requirements.
Square vs SumUp UK: At-a-Glance Comparison
Square and SumUp are relatively similar when it comes to card acceptance. Where they differ, however, is their approach to hardware, transaction pricing, subscriptions, POS software, ecommerce, integrations, settlement, and wider business-management functionality.
Prices, fees, products, and terms listed in the table below are correct as of 9 October 2026.
| Comparison | Square | SumUp |
|---|---|---|
| Best suited to | Businesses wanting payments plus broader POS, ecommerce, appointments, and business-management tools | Businesses prioritising straightforward card acceptance, portable hardware, and simpler payment requirements |
| Provider model | Payment services and POS platform | Payment services and POS platform |
| Entry-level card reader | Square Reader, 2nd generation | Solo Lite |
| Standalone terminal | Square Terminal | SumUp Terminal |
| Hardware pricing | Reader £19; Terminal £149, excluding VAT | Solo Lite £25; Terminal £135, excluding VAT |
| Monthly payment-processing fee | £0 for standard processing | £0 for standard processing |
| In-person transaction fee | 1.75% for UK-issued cards | 1.69% standard; Payments Plus offers 0.99% on eligible domestic consumer cards |
| Online transaction fee | 1.4% + 25p for ordinary UK card online checkout | 2.50% standard online processing |
| Phone/manual payments | 2.5% for UK cards; 4% for non-UK cards for manually entered payments | 2.95% + 25p per virtual terminal transaction (according to a third-party source; no provider pricing information is published online) |
| Payment links | Yes; 1.4% + 25p for ordinary UK card payment links | Yes; standard online rate of 2.50% |
| Invoicing | Yes; invoice payments have separate processing pricing | Yes; free and Plus invoicing plans available |
| POS software | General POS plus Retail, Restaurants, and Appointments products, with free and paid plans | POS Free and POS Plus, with additional retail and hospitality functionality |
| Ecommerce | Online selling, checkout, ecommerce tools, and third-party integrations | Online payments, checkout, online store functionality, APIs/SDKs, and selected plugins |
| Contract | Standard payment agreement can be terminated without a termination charge; separate software terms may apply | Account closure does not itself carry a closure charge; separate subscription terms and cancellation conditions apply |
| Standard settlement | Next-day and other transfer schedules are available, subject to cut-off times, bank eligibility, and account conditions | Next-day to SumUp Business Account by 7 am, including weekends and bank holidays; external-bank payouts are generally 1–2 business days |
| Faster payout option | Instant transfer available at 1.5%, subject to eligibility and limits | No separate faster-payout fee identified |
| Integrations | Examples include WooCommerce, Wix, BigCommerce, Xero, and Zoho Books | Website checkout supports APIs/SDKs and named plugins, including WooCommerce, Wix, PrestaShop, Medusa, and Vendure |
| Support | Phone, chat, in-app help, Help Centre and community resources; qualifying products receive 24/7 phone support | Logged-in/in-app support, Help Centre, complaint routes, and phone support depending on the issue or eligibility; priority support applies in qualifying cases |
| Key strength | Broader POS, software, ecommerce, and business-management ecosystem | Straightforward card acceptance with portable hardware and optional reduced-rate subscription pricing |
| Main limitation | Paid software and additional services can increase total cost where required | More limited advanced POS and integration functionality for complex use cases. |
How We Compared Square and SumUp
At Commercial Experts, we aim to provide balanced comparisons by separating verified provider information from our editorial suitability recommendations.
- In-person, online, and remote-payment pricing
- Hardware costs
- Optional subscriptions
- Contract flexibility
- Settlement timing
- Relevant account or eligibility conditions
- Card-reader functionality
- Portability
- Connectivity
- Receipt options
- POS software
- Inventory
- Reporting
- Staff-management tools
- Functionality for retail, hospitality, and appointment-led businesses
Online capabilities were assessed across ecommerce, payment links, invoicing, integrations, and the ability to support businesses as their payment and software requirements become more complex.
We use official UK Square and SumUp pricing, hardware, software, ecommerce, invoicing, payment links, terms, and support pages to verify current product, pricing, and service information.
Published facts are kept separate from editorial suitability recommendations. We have not claimed hands-on hardware testing or inferred service quality from unsupported reviews.
Square vs SumUp Fees and Total Cost
When comparing Square and SumUp, it’s essential to look past the advertised headline rate alone. Total cost can depend on a range of factors, including fixed transaction charges, how you take payments, subscriptions, hardware, paid POS software, faster settlement, and other optional services.
Square vs SumUp Fees Table
| Fee | Square | SumUp |
|---|---|---|
| In-person card payments | 1.75% for UK-issued cards; 3.25% for non-UK-issued cards | 1.69% standard |
| Online payments | 1.4% + 25p for UK cards; 2.5% + 25p for non-UK cards | 2.50% standard |
| Manually entered / virtual payments | 2.5% for UK cards; 4% for non-UK cards | 2.95% + 25p per virtual terminal transaction (according to a third-party source; no provider pricing information is published online) |
| Payment links | 1.4% + 25p for ordinary UK card payment links; recurring or virtual terminal-generated links can differ | 2.50% standard online rate |
| Invoices | 2.5% for UK card online invoice payments; 4% for non-UK cards | 2.50% for online card payments through invoices; separate invoicing plans may apply |
| International or non-UK card differences | 3.25% in person; 2.5% + 25p online; 4% for manually entered and invoice payments | Payments Plus 0.99% does not apply to international, corporate, premium, or Amex cards; these remain at 1.69% |
| Refunds | Original processing fee is not returned | Original payment amount and incurred fees are collected from the merchant; standard account refunds are authorised up to 30 days from the original payment |
| Chargebacks/disputes | No additional dispute-management charge | £10 non-refundable chargeback fee |
| Monthly payment-processing fee | £0 for standard processing | £0 for standard processing |
| Optional subscription | Paid POS and software plans are available depending on product | Payments Plus: £19/month or £189/year |
| Faster settlement | Instant transfer: 1.5%, subject to eligibility and limits | No separate paid faster-settlement option identified |
Rates last checked: 9th October 2026.
Standard Pay-As-You-Go Pricing
Square charges 1.75% for in-person payments using UK-issued cards, while SumUp’s standard in-person rate is 1.69%. This means that SumUp offers the lower headline in-person rate, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re the cheaper provider overall.
For online payments, Square charges 1.4% + 25p for UK cards and 2.5% + 25p for non-UK cards. SumUp’s standard online rate is 2.50%. Square also charges 1.4% + 25p for ordinary UK card payment links, while SumUp applies its standard 2.50% online rate.
Square charges 2.5% for manually entered and online invoice payments using UK cards and 4% for non-UK cards. A third-party source lists SumUp Virtual Terminal payments at 2.95% + 25p per transaction. SumUp does not currently publish this pricing online.
SumUp Subscription or Reduced-Rate Pricing
SumUp’s Payments Plus costs £19 per month or £189 annually. It reduces eligible domestic consumer card in-person transactions to 0.99%.
That reduced rate does not apply to international, corporate, premium, or Amex cards, which remain at 1.69%. Online payments also remain at 2.50%.
Payments Plus includes a seven-day trial, renews automatically, and cancellation takes effect at the end of the billing cycle. This plan only becomes cost-effective once the reduction in transaction fees exceeds the cost of the subscription. This means that although the 0.99% rate is cheaper on paper, depending on your specific situation, this may not be the case.
Square Software and Optional Costs
Square’s standard payment processing has no monthly subscription, but additional paid software will increase your total cost.
Current examples include:
- Retail Plus at £49 per month per location
- Restaurants Plus at £69 per month per location
- Appointments Plus at £29 per month per location
- Invoices Plus at £20 per month
These costs are separate from payment-processing fees and hardware. If you only require basic card acceptance, you likely won’t need this additional functionality, but if you do, then you should include them in your total-cost comparison.
Which Is Cheaper: Square or SumUp?
The answer to who is cheaper between Square and SumUp depends on your:
- Monthly card turnover
- Transaction count
- Average transaction value
- Card mix
- In-person versus online sales
- Subscription choice
- Hardware
- Paid software
- Additional services
The better comparison is your total effective cost rather than one advertised percentage. To learn more, check out our Card Processing Fees guide.
Square vs SumUp Cost Examples
To show how the fee differences can work in practice, here are two hypothetical examples using different monthly card-turnover levels.
Both businesses are entirely hypothetical and are for illustrative purposes only.
Example One: Lower-Volume Mobile Business
This mobile business processes £2,000 per month across 100 in-person transactions, giving an average transaction value of £20. No subscription is included.
- Square: £2,000 × 1.75% = £35.00
- SumUp standard: £2,000 × 1.69% = £33.80
- Difference: £1.20 per month in SumUp’s favour
In this case, SumUp’s lower transaction fee only saves this business £1.20 per month. That is why this business should look at hardware and additional service costs to see where they can achieve the lowest overall cost.
Example Two: Higher-Volume Retail Business
This retail business processes a higher volume of sales, totalling £8,000 per month in in-person card turnover across 400 transactions, again averaging £20, with all payments eligible for SumUp Payments Plus’s reduced rate.
- Square standard: £8,000 × 1.75% = £140.00
- SumUp standard: £8,000 × 1.69% = £135.20
- SumUp Payments Plus: £8,000 × 0.99% = £79.20, plus the £19 monthly subscription = £98.20
At this turnover, Payments Plus would cost £37 less than SumUp’s standard pricing and £41.80 less than Square’s standard rate under these assumptions.
At the monthly £19 subscription price, the theoretical break-even point between SumUp’s 1.69% standard rate and Payments Plus’s 0.99% rate is approximately £2,714 of eligible monthly in-person turnover. Above that level, the transaction-fee saving exceeds the £19 subscription cost, assuming all compared payments qualify for 0.99%.
Square vs SumUp Card Readers and Hardware
Both Square and SumUp offer devices for mobile, standalone, and countertop payments. The device best suited to your business depends on whether you need a phone-connected reader, an independent terminal, printed receipts, or a wider POS setup.
Entry-Level Card Readers
Square’s current entry-level device is the Square Reader, second generation, priced at £19 excluding VAT. SumUp’s closest equivalent is the Solo Lite, priced at £25 excluding VAT. Both are portable devices that connect to a compatible smartphone or tablet, rather than operating as an independent card reader.
Square Reader connects via Bluetooth and accepts chip and PIN, contactless cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. It relies on a USB-C-powered rechargeable battery.
SumUp Solo Lite is also a phone-paired, rechargeable reader supporting chip and PIN and contactless payments, with USB-C charging.
As compact, portable devices, these models are well suited to market traders, mobile trades, pop-ups, sole traders, lower-volume sellers, or businesses wanting a backup payment device.
Just because the Square Reader is priced lower, it does not necessarily translate to the cheapest option, as you still have to account for transaction pricing and software requirements.
Standalone Card Terminals
Square’s terminal costs £149 excluding VAT. Operating without the need for an external phone or tablet, it comes with a touchscreen and built-in receipt printer. Although connectivity is via Wi-Fi, an optional hub for £39 plus VAT can add an Ethernet connection.
SumUp’s terminal costs £135 excluding VAT. It is also a standalone touchscreen device with an integrated printer. Where it differs is that it offers both Wi-Fi and SIM connectivity.
These standalone terminals operate as fully independent devices without the need for an external phone or tablet. These are not to be confused with POS systems, which combine payment acceptance with broader sales, stock, reporting, or operational software.
Other Hardware
Square also offers countertop hardware, including the Square Stand and Register, while SumUp offers its own Register and wider POS kits. Both providers also offer Tap-to-Pay software, which can be installed on compatible mobile devices, enabling them to accept contactless payments without a separate reader.
Which Has the Better Card Reader: Square or SumUp?
There is no ‘better’ card reader, as each has its own merits and drawbacks. Square Reader is cheaper at standard pricing, while SumUp’s standalone hardware offers built-in mobile data connectivity that Square Terminal was not shown to include.
The right option for your business depends on smartphone dependence, portability, receipt requirements, countertop use, POS functionality, and budget rather than the device price alone.
Square vs SumUp POS Software and Business Management
Alongside their card machines, Square and SumUp both offer POS systems that combine payment acceptance with a wider selection of business tools.
Square offers a broader range of POS and business-management functionality, with both retail and restaurant configurations. Features include appointments, invoicing, inventory, staff tools, and reporting functionality. Square provides both free and paid POS products, with the more advanced features not included automatically.
SumUp also has a free offering, POS Free, that covers core POS functionality. Its paid option, POS Plus, adds features such as floor plans, kitchen routing, employee access, multiple printers, accounting integration, and till or cashbook tools.
If you just need simple payment acceptance with some supporting POS tools, SumUp may be enough. For more complex retail, hospitality, or appointment-based businesses, Square’s broader inventory, reporting, staff, and multi-location tools may make it a better fit.
It may be tempting to choose the system that offers the most features, but the question is whether you actually need them. If the answer is no, then you are paying for functionality that you may never use.
Square vs SumUp for Online Payments and Omnichannel Selling
Square and SumUp both extend their payment acceptance beyond in-person transactions. Choosing the right provider depends on how you sell online and how closely you want those sales connected with your in-person transactions.
Ecommerce
Square supports online checkout and integrations with ecommerce platforms such as WooCommerce, Wix, and BigCommerce. For ordinary UK card online checkout, Square charges 1.4% + 25p, while non-UK cards are charged 2.5% + 25p.
SumUp also supports online payments through its online store, website checkout, APIs, and SDKs. Ecommerce integrations include WooCommerce, Wix, PrestaShop, Medusa, and Vendure. Its standard online transaction rate is 2.50%.
If you sell across both online and in-person channels, Square may be a better fit for broader integrations and connected business-management tools, while SumUp offers a simpler route into online selling.
Payment Links
Both providers offer payment links which allow you to accept payments without requiring a full ecommerce website.
Square payment links can be created through the Dashboard or POS and shared directly with customers. Ordinary UK card payment links cost 1.4% + 25p, although recurring or virtual terminal-generated links can follow different pricing.
SumUp payment links fall under its standard 2.50% online transaction rate.
Invoicing
Square offers free and paid invoicing plans, including recurring invoices, estimates, deposits, reminders, and status tracking. Online invoice payments cost 2.5% for UK cards and 4% for non-UK cards.
SumUp also supports invoice creation and recurring invoices through Free and Plus plans. Online card payments made through invoices are charged at the standard 2.50% online rate, while some invoicing features depend on the plan selected.
Virtual and Remote Payments
Square supports manually entered and Virtual Terminal payments, charged at 2.5% for UK cards and 4% for non-UK cards.
SumUp does not currently publish its virtual terminal pricing online; payments are listed at 2.95% + 25p per transaction by a third-party source.
Omnichannel Selling
Businesses that need to manage in-person sales, online payments, invoices, products, customer information, and reporting from one platform are more likely to value a stronger omnichannel setup.
Square may be better suited to retailers, hospitality operations, and service businesses looking for a tighter link between online and in-person sales. If you’re seeking straightforward card acceptance with online checkout, payment links, and invoicing without needing as much wider software functionality, SumUp may be the more suitable option.
Square vs SumUp Contracts, Setup and Settlement
Square and SumUp’s payment processing arrangements are both relatively flexible, and although both offer PAYG pricing, they’re not necessarily “no contract”. Their payment agreements, software subscriptions, and optional products can carry different terms and cancellation conditions.
Contracts
Square’s standard payment agreement can be cancelled without a termination fee, although separate software or hardware arrangements may carry their own cancellation terms.
SumUp’s standard agreements also don’t carry termination charges, but optional subscriptions have their own conditions. Its Payments Plus subscription automatically renews, with cancellation only taking effect at the end of your billing cycle.
For both providers, the key distinction is between the standard payments agreement and any additional software, subscription, or hardware commitment.
Account Setup
Both providers require you to complete registration and verification checks before using payment services.
Square requires identity, beneficial ownership, and business verification and carries out risk checks as part of onboarding. Approval is not guaranteed, and Square can restrict or terminate access if you do not meet their requirements.
SumUp also requires account registration and verification and may suspend or terminate your account if verification requirements are not met.
Neither provider is guaranteed to accept your business.
Settlement
Square offers standard, manual, and instant transfer options. Its standard payout timing depends on cut-off times, bank eligibility, weekends, and bank holidays. Instant transfers cost 1.5%, require an eligible balance, and are subject to limits and account eligibility.
SumUp’s standard process pays funds into the SumUp Business Account and advertises next-day settlement by 7 am, including weekends and bank holidays. You can also have funds sent directly to your business bank account, although this typically settles in 1-2 business days, and some payments may take longer.
SumUp commonly settles funds to its business account, while Square offers transfers to a linked bank account and a paid instant-transfer option.
Square vs SumUp Support, Integrations and Scalability
Square and SumUp both offer multiple support channels and third-party integrations; however, their differences lie in how far they can support more complex business requirements as you grow.
Customer Support
Square’s phone support is available Monday to Friday, 9 am–5 pm, alongside chat, in-app help, its Help Centre, and community resources. You may also qualify for 24/7 phone support depending on your product, subscription, or support query, although this does not apply to all customers.
SumUp provides logged-in and in-app support, Help Centre access, complaints routes, and phone support depending on the issue or eligibility. Priority support is available, but only if you meet specific product, subscription, turnover, or onboarding requirements.
Integrations
Square supports integrations with ecommerce and accounting platforms, including WooCommerce, Wix, BigCommerce, Xero, and Zoho Books. Square’s POS system also has native inventory, appointments, invoicing, and business-management tools.
SumUp also supports third-party ecommerce integrations and APIs, such as WooCommerce, Wix, PrestaShop, Medusa, and Vendure. It also offers native POS, invoicing, bookings, and online-payment tools.
Some advanced software features and third-party integrations may involve additional costs, depending on the provider, product, and integration selected.
Scalability
Square is well placed to support your business if you expect to add more advanced POS, reporting, staff, or multi-location functionality in the future. SumUp may be better suited if you prioritise simpler payments and POS functionality.
As your turnover grows, you may find that both providers no longer offer the most cost-effective option compared to negotiated pricing. If you eventually sign with Square or SumUp, periodically compare your total costs with other providers to ensure you’re still getting the best deal.
Which Is Better for Your Business: Square or SumUp?
Square vs SumUp for Market Traders and Mobile Businesses
SumUp’s strength lies in its portability, simplicity, and low-cost hardware, which are well suited to market trading. Solo Lite costs £25; the standalone Solo device costs £79 and comes with Wi-Fi and 4G connectivity. Tap to Pay software is also available for compatible devices.
That’s not to say Square is a bad choice. The Square Reader costs £19, and Tap to Pay lets you accept contactless payments without separate hardware. If you require broader POS or reporting functionality, then Square may be a better fit.
Square vs SumUp for Retail Businesses
Square has a dedicated retail configuration, offering deeper inventory, reporting, suppliers, stock transfers, staff tools, and connected online and in-person selling functionality. This makes it well-suited if you have more complex retail needs.
SumUp still covers many core retail requirements and may be enough for a smaller shop with simple needs. SumUp may also be a better fit if you require straightforward payments, product management, and POS functionality without paying for a wider software ecosystem.
It’s worth noting that some of Square’s more advanced functionality requires a paid subscription, so if budget is a concern or you run a simple operation, these features may add costs without providing additional value.
Square vs SumUp for Hospitality Businesses
Both providers are well suited to hospitality businesses, so the nuance here lies in what type of venue you run.
Square offers restaurant-specific functionality, including menus, open bills, floor plans, table management, staff tools, and kitchen display options depending on the plan you choose.
SumUp POS Plus also includes hospitality-focused features such as floor plans, kitchen routing, connected ordering devices, employee access, and multiple printers.
For a smaller café, takeaway, or food truck, SumUp’s simplicity may be enough. If you run a more complex operation, such as a full-service restaurant, Square’s advanced functionality may be the stronger option.
Square vs SumUp for Service Businesses
Square may be better suited to service businesses, offering combined payments with dedicated appointment functionality, including calendars, reminders, classes, waitlists, cancellation controls, staff tools, and resources depending on your plan.
These features are particularly relevant if you run a salon, consultancy, or other scheduled services.
SumUp is a solid alternative, though. It offers bookings, invoicing, payment links, mobile card acceptance, and online payments, which may cover what a simpler service business actually needs. SumUp’s portability and simplicity may work better if you’re a mobile service business taking payments on the go.
Square vs SumUp for Ecommerce Businesses
Both providers support online selling, payment links, invoices, and website checkout.
Square supports ecommerce integrations including WooCommerce, Wix, and BigCommerce, while SumUp supports WooCommerce, Wix, PrestaShop, Medusa, and Vendure alongside APIs and SDKs.
Square charges 1.4% + 25p for ordinary UK card online payments, while SumUp’s standard online rate is 2.50%. Square may be the stronger option if you want ecommerce connected with broader POS and business-management tools.
If Square’s wider feature set is overcomplex for your needs, and you just want a simple online checkout, then SumUp may be the way to go.
If ecommerce is your main sales channel rather than an add-on, it may be worth looking for a specialist ecommerce payment provider.
Square vs SumUp for Businesses Needing Richer POS Features
Square offers a broader range of features that may suit more complex operations, including advanced inventory, reporting, staff management, appointments, multi-location functionality, or sector-specific POS tools.
SumUp offers core POS functionality but lacks the breadth of features offered by Square.
More doesn’t necessarily mean better, though. If you don’t actually require in-depth tools, then you will end up paying for unnecessary functionality that doesn’t add any value to your business.
Square Is Likely Better If…
Square is potentially a better choice if:
- You want payments and broader POS or business-management tools in one ecosystem.
- You need more advanced retail, restaurant, appointment, inventory, or reporting functionality.
- You sell both online and in person and want those channels more closely connected.
- You want access to a broader range of integrations.
- You expect your POS or software requirements to become more complex as the business grows.
Square’s main drawback is that although it offers more advanced functionality, some of it is only available on the paid plans. This may result in you paying for features that you don’t actually need.
SumUp Is Likely Better If…
SumUp may better suit your business if:
- You mainly want straightforward card acceptance.
- Portable hardware and mobile selling are priorities.
- You prefer a simpler setup with fewer software and operational requirements.
- You are a market trader, mobile business, sole trader, or smaller merchant with relatively simple POS needs.
- You do not need a large software or integration ecosystem.
- Payments Plus suits your transaction volume and eligible card mix.
- You value simplicity more than advanced management functionality.
The main trade-off is that if you need more complex POS, reporting, integration, or multi-location functionality, you may find SumUp too limited for your needs.
When Neither Square Nor SumUp May Be the Right Fit
Square and SumUp fit a wide range of small-business payment needs, but they may not suit yours. If that’s the case, then you may wish to consider other providers, especially if you:
- Need individually negotiated transaction rates
- Process higher volumes
- Require traditional merchant acquiring
- Operate across multiple countries
- Need specialist ecommerce functionality
- Require high-risk acceptance
- Have more complex integration or enterprise requirements
It’s also important to note that eligibility for all providers is not guaranteed. Some providers may not accept certain sectors, business types, or risk profiles. This may require finding an alternative provider that specialises in high-risk, regulated, or niche markets.
When to Compare a Traditional Merchant-Services Contract
If your card turnover is higher or relatively predictable, then you may find that a traditional merchant-services contract is better suited to your needs.
Always look beyond the advertised headline transaction rate and compare:
- Fixed authorisation charges
- Terminal rental
- Monthly account charges
- Minimum service charges
- PCI fees
- Gateway charges
- Settlement terms
- Contract length
- Cancellation fees
A lower percentage rate does not automatically mean a lower total cost. Fixed charges and longer commitments can offset the savings, especially if you have lower turnover or smaller average transaction values.
When comparing, use the same turnover, transaction count, sales channels, and hardware requirements for a more accurate effective cost.
To learn more, check out our Card Machines for Small Businesses guide.
Square vs SumUp: Final Verdict
Square may be the stronger choice if you want broader POS, ecommerce, reporting, appointments, and business-management functionality alongside payment processing. If straightforward card acceptance, portable hardware, and simple setup are more important, then you may find SumUp the more suitable choice.
If keeping costs down is your priority, the cheaper option depends on your transaction profile and chosen setup rather than the headline transaction rate alone. Your monthly card turnover, transaction count, average transaction value, hardware, software, and any optional subscriptions can all change the overall cost.
You should also think about how your requirements may change. You may only require simple payment acceptance now, but you may need more advanced POS, integrations, reporting, or multi-location tools as you grow.
If you process a large volume of sales, it may also be worth comparing Square and SumUp with traditional merchant-service providers that offer negotiated pricing.
Remember, neither provider is universally better. Compare both using the same turnover, transaction profile, sales channels, hardware requirements, and software needs before making a decision.
At Commercial Experts, we help UK businesses like yours compare offers from a range of merchant-service providers based on your turnover, sales channels, hardware, and software requirements.
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FAQs
Is Square or SumUp cheaper in the UK?
There is no universally cheaper option. Square and SumUp charge different rates depending on how you take payments, while subscriptions, hardware, and paid software can also affect total cost. Compare monthly turnover, transaction count, average transaction value, sales channels, and optional plans before deciding.
Which has the better card reader: Square or SumUp?
The better card reader depends on how you take payments. Square Reader is cheaper at standard pricing, while SumUp offers standalone devices with mobile data connectivity. Compare portability, smartphone dependence, receipt printing, connectivity, POS requirements, and transaction fees rather than choosing on hardware price alone.
Do Square or SumUp charge monthly fees?
Both Square and SumUp offer standard payment processing without a monthly processing subscription. However, optional software and paid plans can add recurring costs. SumUp Payments Plus charges a monthly or annual fee for reduced eligible in-person rates, while Square offers paid POS and software plans.
Which is better for a small business?
Business model matters more than size alone. SumUp may suit businesses wanting straightforward card acceptance, portable hardware, and simpler POS requirements. Square may be more suitable where broader POS, ecommerce, appointments, reporting, or business-management tools are important. Compare functionality alongside total cost.
Which is better for market stalls and mobile businesses?
Both can work well for mobile businesses. SumUp offers portable readers, standalone devices with mobile connectivity, and Tap to Pay, while Square offers a lower-priced entry-level reader and Tap to Pay. Consider connectivity, smartphone requirements, receipts, transaction pricing, and the POS functionality you actually need.
Which has better POS features?
Square offers a broader range of POS and business-management functionality, including retail, restaurant, appointments, inventory, reporting, and staff tools. SumUp covers core POS requirements and offers hospitality features through POS Plus. Businesses with simpler needs may not benefit from paying for Square’s wider functionality.
Can Square and SumUp take online payments?
Yes. Both support online payments, payment links, invoicing, and ecommerce tools. Square integrates with platforms including WooCommerce, Wix, and BigCommerce, while SumUp supports WooCommerce, Wix, PrestaShop, Medusa, and Vendure. Their online processing rates differ, so compare fees alongside integration and software requirements.
How quickly do Square and SumUp pay out?
Square offers standard transfer schedules plus instant transfers for an additional 1.5%, subject to eligibility and limits. SumUp advertises next-day settlement to its business account by 7 am, including weekends and bank holidays, while external-bank payouts generally take one to two business days.
Do Square or SumUp require a contract?
Neither provider should be treated as simply “no contract”. Their standard payment arrangements are relatively flexible, but separate subscriptions, software products, and hardware commitments can have their own terms. Always check cancellation conditions, billing periods, renewal terms, and any additional commitments before signing up.
Can I switch from SumUp to Square or vice versa?
Yes, businesses can generally change payment providers, but switching may require new account verification, new hardware, integration changes, and data migration. Check any existing subscription or equipment commitments first, then plan the changeover carefully so payment acceptance and business operations are not unnecessarily disrupted.
What are the main alternatives to Square and SumUp?
Alternatives include providers such as Zettle, Stripe, Dojo, Takepayments, Barclaycard, and Worldpay, although suitability depends on your requirements. Some businesses may prioritise mobile card acceptance, while others need ecommerce, hospitality tools, negotiated pricing, or traditional acquiring. Compare providers using the same transaction profile and requirements.
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Find out more about Card Machines
Card Processing Fees: What They Are and How They Work
While having a merchant account boosts profits, understanding their cost is important. While having a merchant
Credit Card Chargebacks: All You Need to Know
You may have heard of them before, but what are credit card chargebacks how can you
