SumUp vs Zettle and Square: Fees, Card Readers and POS Compared (2026)

Key differences at a glance

• In-person fees: SumUp charges 1.69% for all in-person card payments, compared with 1.75% from both Zettle and Square.

• Higher-volume pricing: SumUp businesses can reduce eligible fees to 0.99% with Payments Plus (£19/month). Zettle offers custom pricing for businesses processing £10,000+ per month, while Square does not publish an equivalent UK plan.

• Money management: SumUp is the only provider of the three to offer a dedicated Business Account in the UK. Zettle settles funds into a PayPal Business balance, while Square pays out to an external bank account.

• Hardware range: SumUp offers the broadest range of payment devices, from a £25 Bluetooth card reader to Register (£399), its dedicated countertop POS system.

• Online sales: Square publishes the lowest online transaction fees of the three providers for UK cards.

• PayPal integration: Zettle may suit businesses already using PayPal and wanting payment acceptance built into their existing setup.

Good to know: Zettle by PayPal is transitioning to PayPal Point of Sale. For ease of comparison, we'll continue to use Zettle throughout this article, as it's still the name most UK businesses use when searching for card payment solutions.

SumUp vs Zettle vs Square: side-by-side comparison

SumUp card readers and payment terminals

Whether you're just getting started or ready to upgrade your setup, SumUp offers a range of payment devices designed to grow with your business.

• Solo Lite (£25): a Bluetooth card reader that pairs with your phone

• Solo (£79): a standalone card reader with a built-in 4G SIM card and free unlimited data

• Solo with printer (£109): combines payments and receipt printing

• Terminal (£135): an all-in-one device for payments, POS features and receipts

SumUp's payment devices are built to support businesses at every stage, from taking a first payment to running a busy checkout. Depending on the device, businesses benefit from built-in 4G connectivity, free unlimited data, on-screen tipping, receipt printing and durable designs made for everyday use. As their needs change, businesses can upgrade or add new devices without switching providers.

SumUp point of sale systems

As business needs become more advanced, SumUp Register (£399) combines payments, checkout and business management in a dual-screen POS system.

With SumUp Register, businesses can:

• Run their entire business from the counter with payments, sales and day-to-day operations in one place

• Accept payments directly on the customer screen for a faster checkout experience

• Speed up operations by managing orders, staff and inventory from a single system

• Build customer loyalty by signing customers up to a loyalty programme in seconds

• Get started with free POS software included, with the option to upgrade to a Plus plan for more advanced features as the business grows

Businesses can also expand their setup with accessories such as cash drawers, barcode Businesses can complete their setup with accessories such as cash drawers, barcode scanners and receipt printers that integrate seamlessly with Register. The result is a connected system that supports day-to-day operations from the counter.

SumUp Business Account: pricing, getting paid and features

SumUp is designed for businesses that want a straightforward way to take payments, access their money and manage their business from one place. Key benefits include:

• 1.69% transaction fees for all in-person card payments, including American Express and international cards

• Reduced fees from 0.99% on eligible cards with Payments Plus (£19/month)

• Next-day payouts by 7am, including weekends and bank holidays, with a SumUp Business Account

A free Business Account with a physical and virtual Business Mastercard, invoicing, expense management tools and Making Tax Digital support.