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Takepayments vs Zettle: Which is Better For Small Businesses?
We explore the hardware, software, and pricing structures of two of the UK’s most popular merchant account providers.
If your business is modern and forward-thinking you already know the benefits of taking card payments. You might also already know that to take card payments, you need a merchant account. Finally, you might also know that some merchant accounts suit one business better than another, and it’s these facts that have led you to this article.
The Best Merchant Account for Small Businesses
Here, we directly compare two of the most popular merchant account providers for small businesses; takepayments and Zettle. Both companies focus on providing robust payment solutions to small businesses like yours, and both succeed in doing so. However, it would be counterproductive to use them both, so you need to know which is better…
Takepayments Vs Zettle: An Overview
While takepayments and Zettle aren’t the only merchant accounts available, they are two of the leaders in the small business sphere. Zettle is part of PayPal, which makes Zettle an obvious choice for many small businesses. Takepayments is more of a standalone provider, offering businesses an all-in-one solution.
Both providers will naturally be on your list of considerations and this article will dive into the hardware, software, and pricing structures of each of them. So, without further ado, let’s get to it.
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Takepayments Vs Zettle: Card Machine Comparison
Card machines are the hardware provided by many merchant account providers that make in-person card transactions possible.
They are the principal physical part of the payment-taking process. You and your staff will use them daily while they’re interacting with customers, which means they need to be simple to use. Both takepayments and Zettle provide such card machines.
Takepayments provides two card readers, the A920 and the DX8000. The DX8000 (also provided by Worldpay) focuses on doing the basics with its Android operating system, allowing you to take a range of payment methods including contactless and mobile payments. The more advanced A920 features a range of connectivity, which includes wifi, 4G and Bluetooth. It also comes with an integrated printer as standard and can be used out of the box in just three taps.
Like takepayments, Zettle also provides card machines to businesses that use them. Its entry-level card reader, the Zettle 2, needs to be paired with the Zettle app and offers an easy way to pay with its ability to accept a range of payment methods. The Zettle Terminal is the next step up. It’s a stand-alone card machine that doesn’t rely on an app and allows you to manage your inventory and view reports with its built-in EPOS software. There’s also the option to add a printer for a further layer of usability.
Both takepayments and Zettle also offer businesses a complete alternative to card machines with a free app. With the apps (the beepaidGO app and Zettle app) you can essentially turn your mobile device into a card machine, which gives you the option to completely bypass the cost of a card machine. This puts both providers in front of many of their competitors in terms of their cost-saving options.
Takepayments Vs Zettle: EPOS System Comparison
As well as basic and advanced card machines, both takepayments and Zettle provide software that can make running your business smoother. This software, commonly known as EPOS software, allows you to track inventory, monitor sales and view reports (sometimes straight from your card machine).
Such software often comes included with fully-fledged EPOS hardware like terminals and desktop screens. Both takepayments and Zettle offer something like this.
Takepayments hardware (called the tPOS) can be configured with software that’s made for either hospitality or retail. The all-in-one software makes booking a reservation, managing stock, logging staff hours and completing payments easy. You can even synchronise your front-of-house service with your back-office admin to ensure communication flows smoothly.
Zettle also provides something similar with its EPOS systems, its EPOS systems use an upscaled version of the software available on its app and card machines. Like takepayments, its software means you can easily manage products, accept payments, and make use of an all-in-one payment terminal.
Where they differ is in their range. Zettle offers much more in terms of hardware, providing a selection of ready-made payment kits to suit various needs. While takepayments does offer feature-rich software, Zettle offers more flexibility.
Takepayments Vs Zettle: Pricing Comparison
The card machines Zettle provides come with a reasonable price tag. Its most basic card reader, the Zettle Reader, is yours for a one-off payment of £29 and its more advanced cousin comes in at £149. If neither of the card machines suits your business, you can use the Zettle app on your mobile device, which is free.
Its full EPOS system starts at around £169, which is what you pay for their cheapest kit, the Zettle Store Kit. This is, again, a reasonable price and means you can develop your point-of-sale system into a more capable system for a reasonably low cost.
While these prices are competitive, Zettle’s pricing isn’t so competitive with its transaction fees. Each payment charges 1.75%, regardless of the device you use to take it and payment links take a 2.5% fee, as do Zettle invoices. For this reason, the lack of card rental fees and free membership might not save you the money you think.
Takepayments’ pricing, meanwhile, is bespoke. This means there’s no way easy way of knowing exactly what you’re likely to pay if you choose them as your merchant account provider. To get an idea, you need to go through the process of getting a quote directly from its website. However, its tailored pricing system does mean the price you pay is the right one; you won’t be paying for any services you don’t need.
It is, however, a hindrance to our ability to effectively guide you to choose between the two in terms of price, as we can’t be sure how much you’re likely to pay. The advantage we have with Zettle is being able to give you an accurate idea of how much their products and services cost.
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. Check it out to find out all you need to know.
Takepayments Vs Zettle: The Verdict
Ultimately, both providers allow businesses like yours to take full advantage of a cashless society by providing card processing, card machines, fully-fledged EPOS systems, and online payment gateways. As well as that, you also get hold of the money you take quickly; in Zettle’s case in three minutes and, in the case of takepayments, the next working day. With all this considered, it’s likely your small business would get on well with either takepayments or Zettle.
However, after consideration of the products, services, and pricing structures on offer from both takepayments and Zettle, it’s arguable that Zettle is better suited to smaller businesses thanks to its ability to provide a wider range of services. It’s also easy to set up and equally easy to leave, whereas takepayments require you to sign a contract right from the start.
That said if you do like the look of what takepayments offers, and there’s not much reason you wouldn’t, you should get in touch with the company directly for a quote. This way you’ll be able to factor the cost into your decision, rather than making your decision based on other, perhaps less consequential things, so you can be sure you’re getting the best deal you can for your business.
FAQs
Is takepayments better than Zettle?
It’s arguable that Zettle is better suited to smaller businesses thanks to its ability to provide a wider range of services. That said, both providers allow businesses like yours to take full advantage of a cashless society by providing card processing, card machines, fully-fledged EPOS systems, and online payment gateways.
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Takepayments vs Zettle: Which is Better For Small Businesses?
We explore the hardware, software, and pricing structures of two of the UK’s most popular merchant
