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Square vs SumUp: Which is Better For Your Business?
They’re two major players in the mobile card machine game, but which is better?
Where many card machine and merchant account providers offer complex systems with advanced software and hardware, both Square and SumUp put simplicity at the heart of what they do. They both cater to businesses that want to take card payments without the typical hassle associated with them and, by and large, succeed in doing just that.
Having said that, it’s probable one will suit your business better than the other, which is why we’ve written this comparison article. On this page, we examine the core services and products of each company, from the card machines they provide to the fees they charge.
If, at the end of this article, you’re still unsure of what kind of card machine or merchant account would best suit your business, you can use our free tool to get a tailored quote from one of our partners in the industry.
Square Vs SumUp: Card Machine Comparison
Card machines are the hardware that makes in-person card transactions possible. They are the only part of the payment-taking process that your customers actually interact with so, probably with this in mind, both Square and SumUp offer card machines that are both neat-looking and easy to use.
This article is focused on card readers specifically, so we won’t delve into the fully-fledged EPOS systems offered by both Square and SumUp. We will only compare the card readers provided by each company. With this approach, you will be able to see how your business could use the card readers specifically, making it easier to assess how viable each company’s card readers are for your business.
If you do want to read about the more advanced EPOS systems offered by the companies, read our Square review and Sumup review, which each go into more detail on all of the payment solutions offered by each business.
Square Reader vs SumUp Air
Both Square and SumUp offer a range of card machines to suit different needs. The companies’ entry-level card machines, the Square Reader and the SumUp Air, both go about doing the same thing – giving businesses the most basic payment solution possible.
| Card Machine | Square Reader | SumUp Air |
| Price (excluding VAT) | £19 | £39 |
| Monthly Rental Fee | £0 | £0 |
| Payment Types Accepted | Accepts Chip & PIN, contactless, and mobile payments. | Accepts Chip & PIN, contactless, and mobile payments. |
Like many other mobile card readers, they also both require a connection to a mobile app to work. The Square Reader can be linked up with more advanced payment systems, making it more suited to busy shop floors than the SumUp Air, which can only be used in conjunction with a charger.
Somewhere the two card machines also differ, notably, is in their price. While neither machine comes with rental fees, the SumUp Air costs £39 (excluding VAT) whereas the Square Reader is only £19. This is quite a price difference when you consider that both card readers at their most basic offer the same functionality – the ability to accept chip & PIN, contactless, and mobile payments.
Square Terminal vs SumUp Solo
The Square Terminal and the SumUp Solo are the more advanced card readers offered by each of the companies further up the price chain. These card readers offer more functionality and come with the ability to do things like print receipts, provide transaction reports, and access advanced point-of-sale software.
| Card Machine | Square Terminal  | SumUp Solo |
| Price (excluding VAT) | £149 | £79 |
| Monthly Rental Fee | £0 | £0 |
| Payment Types Accepted | Accepts Chip & PIN, contactless, and mobile payments. | Accepts Chip & PIN, contactless, and mobile payments. |
This time it’s Square that charges more; the Square Terminal costs £149, compared to the £79 price tag for the SumUp solo. It does, however, come with a built-in receipt printer which comes as an expensive add-on with the SumUp Solo.
While the Square Terminal is more expensive, it comes with what is essentially fully-fledged EPOS software. This makes it a good option for businesses that want access to EPOS software but don’t want (or can’t afford) the expensive hardware that tends to come with it. The software means you can access sales reports, process returns, manage bookings, and manage your business smoothly all on one device. Better still, the software can be adapted to suit your industry so, whether you operate in retail or hospitality, the Square Terminal can work for you and your business.
The SumUp Solo, meanwhile, continues to put simplicity at its heart. The minimal design keeps ease of use at the top of its agenda but the touch screen still ensures you have access to more functionality, such as the ability to add tips and access sales reports. Although you won’t be able to manage your business to the extent you can with the Square Terminal.
All in all, when it comes to the Square Terminal vs the SumUp Solo, the Square Terminal offers more functionality and would be more able to adapt to the environments in which it’s used than the SumUp Solo. That said, the SumUp Solo is a simple and effective card machine that is more than capable of holding its own in a variety of shops and other settings. Ultimately it will boil down to what your business will want to use its card reader for.
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Square Vs SumUp: Processing Fees Comparison
Even if you’re brand new to the world of accepting card payments, you’re probably well aware that no card transaction happens for free. Even in the cases where a card machine company offers you the chance to buy their machines outright, as both Square and Sumup do, there’s still the question of processing fees.
It gets quite complicated when it comes to fees for each of the companies, so we’ve broken it all down into this table, handy, right?
| SumUp | Square | SumUp |
|---|---|---|
| In-person transactions | 1.75% | 1.69% or 1.49% if you have a SumUp Business Account or 0.99% if you have SumUp One (£19 per month). |
| Online transactions | 1.4% + 25p for UK cards and 2.5% + 25p for non-UK cards | 2.5%, or 0.99% if you have SumUp One |
| Over-the-phone transactions | 2.5% | 2.95% + 25p |
| Refunds | Free | Free |
| Chargebacks | Free | £10 |
You’ll notice these fees are quite high compared to other merchant fees from different card machine providers, but remember there’s no card machine rental with either Square or SumUp and no requirement for a traditional merchant account, as both companies take the role of providing you with their own version of one.
You’ll also notice that SumUp can offer you significantly lower rates if you have a SumUp one account, which costs £19 per month. This would make them a much better option than Square, which doesn’t make a similar offer. However, only you know if the £19 per month is worth it to get access to those lower rates. It will ultimately depend on how many transactions your business makes in a typical month.
When it comes to chargebacks, Square comes out on top with its zero chargeback fee. Chargebacks are, however, usually a rare thing so this should only really be a consideration for you if your business operates in a high-risk industry.
Want to know more about merchant account fees?
If you want to know more about merchant account fees, you’re in luck. We’ve written a merchant account fee guide that breaks down all of the associated fees like card processing fees, payment gateway fees, card machine rental, and more. Check it out to find out all you need to know.
Square vs SumUp: The Verdict
One of the biggest advantages of both of the providers is the lack of monthly costs. There is also no sign-up fee when you set up an account with either of the companies. Principally, they both focus on making it easier for small businesses like yours to take payments.
While Square offers more functionality with its higher-end card machine, your business might not require such functionality. If your business doesn’t require the added functionality but does take a lot of card transactions, then SumUp is almost certainly for you given the option to access such low fees.
If you work in a busy environment and want to manage your business more effectively from your card machine, Square is the provider for you.
FAQs
Is Square better than SumUp?
While Square offers mobile card machines with more functionality than SumUp, that doesn’t mean to say that SumUp is the weaker of the two. SumUp works well with businesses that don’t need to manage their businesses straight from their card reader and, as well as this, it offers cheaper card processing fees than Square if you use SumUp One.
It fundamentally comes down to your business. How many card transactions do you make? Do you need lots of functionality? Would you be happy with a more basic card machine? The answers to these questions will tell you the answer.
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