An honest look at UK card processing costs
MerchantSwitch is an independent comparison site. We read the contracts, do the maths, and tell you which provider actually works out cheapest for your business.
What we do
Card processing pricing is deliberately opaque. Headline rates hide terminal rental, PCI compliance fees, authorisation charges, minimum monthly service fees, and exit penalties buried in long contracts. Two providers quoting “1.5%” can cost wildly different amounts once everything is added up.
We compare 17 UK card payment providers and maintain 130+ guides and cost breakdowns plus 22 head-to-head comparisons. For each one we work out the total cost at real monthly card volumes, not just the headline rate, and we name a winner. Where a provider is only cheaper above or below a certain volume, we say so.
For many businesses, switching is worth 20-40% of their card processing bill. The reason more do not switch is that the fine print is hostile: notice periods, auto-renewals, and cancellation fees are designed to make staying put feel easier. Our guides walk through exactly how to get out and what it costs.
How we make money
MerchantSwitch is free to use. When you request a quote through the site and go on to take a deal, the provider may pay us a referral commission. That commission never affects what we recommend: providers cannot pay for rankings, and our comparisons are based on published pricing and contract terms, not on who pays us.
If the numbers say a provider we have no relationship with is the best deal for your volume, that is who we name. Anything else would make the research worthless.
How we work
We read the contracts
Terminal hire terms, exit fees, PCI charges, auto-renewal clauses. The fine print is where card processing gets expensive, so that is where we spend our time.
We do the maths
Headline rates are marketing. Every comparison we publish works out the total monthly cost at real card volumes, so you can see what you would actually pay.
Providers cannot pay for rankings
Our comparisons name winners based on the numbers. A provider cannot buy a better position, and commercial relationships never change a verdict.
Free for you, always
Comparing, reading guides, and requesting quotes costs you nothing and carries no obligation. You never pay us a penny.
Questions about a comparison?
If you spot a price that has changed, a contract term we have missed, or you just want help making sense of a quote, get in touch. Call 0333 041 3933 or email hello@merchantswitch.com. We keep our research current and corrections make it better.
See what your card payments should cost
Free comparison across 17 UK providers. No obligation, no pressure.