Square Card Reader Review UK 2026: Is It Worth It?
Editorial review of Square for UK businesses: the 1.75% flat rate costed at two turnover levels, what the free EPOS is actually worth, and where Square falls short.
Quick Verdict
Square is the best software bundle in UK pay-as-you-go payments (a free EPOS, free online store and next-day settlement for a flat 1.75%), but the flat rate becomes a real cost above roughly £4,000/month, and the ecosystem is built US-first.
Small shops, cafes and omnichannel sellers under roughly £4,000/month who want a proper till system and online store without software fees
Higher-volume merchants (£10,000+/month), businesses that cannot risk account holds, and anyone wanting negotiated interchange-plus pricing
Rates checked: August 2026 · Based on providers' published and typical advertised pricing
How we score: this is our editorial assessment of published pricing, features and contract terms, not aggregated user reviews. See our editorial standards.
What is Square?
Square is the payments arm of Block, the US company that effectively invented the phone-paired card reader. In the UK it sells the same proposition that made it huge in America: a flat 1.75% on in-person card payments, hardware you buy outright rather than rent, and (the real differentiator) a free point-of-sale software suite that most competitors would charge a monthly subscription for.
Two hardware routes matter for small businesses. The Square Reader (£19) pairs with your phone over Bluetooth, just like a SumUp Air. The Square Terminal (£249) is a self-contained unit with a built-in receipt printer, WiFi and 4G: a proper countertop machine you own outright instead of renting.
Square Pricing 2026
Pricing Breakdown
| Cost | Square |
|---|---|
| Transaction fee (in person) | 1.75% flat |
| Square Reader | £19 one-off |
| Square Terminal | £249 one-off |
| Monthly fee | £0 (core POS software free) |
| Contract / exit fee | None |
| Settlement | Next working day |
Published pricing, checked August 2026. Online and keyed transactions carry different published rates, so confirm the channel you use. Full market view in our card machine rates table.
Worked Cost Examples: £3,000 and £15,000 a Month
At £3,000/month card turnover
- • Square: £3,000 × 1.75% = £52.50/month (£630/year, plus hardware in year one)
- • SumUp at 1.69%: £3,000 × 1.69% = £50.70/month (£608.40/year)
- • Dojo, best typical quote: £3,000 × 1.2% = £36, + £20 rental = £56/month (£672/year)
SumUp is £1.80/month cheaper on raw processing, £21.60 a year. If the free EPOS or online store saves you a single software subscription, Square wins the exchange comfortably at this volume.
At £15,000/month card turnover
- • Square: £15,000 × 1.75% = £262.50/month (£3,150/year)
- • SumUp at 1.69%: £15,000 × 1.69% = £253.50/month (£3,042/year)
- • Dojo at a 1.2% quote: £15,000 × 1.2% = £180, + £20 rental = £200/month (£2,400/year)
A well-quoted bespoke provider undercuts Square by £62.50/month here, £750 a year. The crossover against a 1.2% + £20/month deal is £20 ÷ (1.75% − 1.2%) ≈ £3,636/month. Bespoke quotes run 1.2%-1.9%, so the comparison only bites if your actual quote lands below about 1.62% at this volume. Get it in writing.
Features: The Free EPOS is the Story
Square's core point-of-sale software costs nothing and covers what most small retailers and cafes actually need: product library, inventory tracking, basic staff management, a customer directory and sales reporting. A free online store is included, so you can sell the same stock in person and online from one system. The Terminal adds a built-in receipt printer and 4G connectivity, and settlement is next working day. Software integrations are broad, covering the mainstream accounting and e-commerce tools.
The caveat is that the ecosystem is built US-first. Some Square products and add-ons reach the UK later or not at all, support is not the seven-day UK phone operation that domestic terminal providers run, and the deeper hospitality features sit behind paid subscription tiers. For a straightforward shop or cafe none of that may matter; for a busy table-service restaurant it can.
Contract and Exit Terms
There is no contract, no monthly fee on the core offer and no exit fee, and you own the hardware outright. The £249 Terminal is the one number to think about: it is sunk cost if you later switch providers, whereas rental hardware goes back. The other exit-adjacent risk is operational rather than contractual: as with all instant-onboarding providers, Square risk-checks accounts after sign-up and has a reputation for occasionally holding funds while it reviews unusual activity. Keep a fallback if card takings are your lifeblood.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free EPOS and online store: the best software bundle at this price (£0)
- Next-working-day settlement: faster than most pay-as-you-go rivals
- No monthly fee, no contract, no exit fee
- Simple flat pricing: 1.75% on everything in person, easy to budget
- You own the hardware: no rental accruing month after month
Cons
- 1.75% is expensive at volume: £3,150/year at £15,000/month vs £2,400 for a well-quoted rival
- US-centric ecosystem: UK gets features later, and support is thinner than domestic terminal providers
- £249 upfront for the Terminal: sunk cost if you switch later
- Account holds happen: instant onboarding means risk checks come after you are trading
- No negotiated or interchange-plus pricing: the rate never improves as you grow
Alternatives to Square
SumUp (1.69% flat, £19 reader) is marginally cheaper on rate, much lighter on software. Pick it if you just need a reader. See Square vs SumUp.
Zettle (1.75% flat)offers the same rate, with the PayPal ecosystem instead of Square's. See Zettle vs Square.
Dojo (bespoke, typically 1.2%-1.9% + £20/month rental) is the natural upgrade above roughly £4,000/month, with weekend settlement and rented hardware. We have seen Dojo quotes as low as 0.29% for high-turnover businesses; your quote depends on turnover, card mix and average transaction value. See Dojo vs Square and our guide to the best card machine for a small business.
Verdict: Is Square Worth It?
For a small or new business that wants more than a card reader (a till, stock control, an online store), Square is the strongest package in UK pay-as-you-go payments, and the free software easily justifies the 0.06% rate premium over SumUp. That is worth 4.2/5. It loses marks where flat-rate products always do: at £15,000/month you are handing over roughly £750/year more than a well-quoted bespoke deal, the rate never improves as you grow, and the US-first ecosystem and account-hold risk are real considerations for UK merchants. Under £4,000/month, buy it with confidence; above £10,000/month, get a negotiated quote and do the arithmetic before renewing your loyalty.
Is 1.75% Flat Right for Your Volume?
Tell us your monthly card takings and we'll compare Square against SumUp, Dojo and the rest at your numbers. Free, no obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Square charge per transaction in the UK?
Square charges a flat 1.75% for in-person card payments, with no monthly fee and no contract. On £3,000 of monthly card takings that is £52.50/month; on £15,000 it is £262.50/month. Different published rates apply to online and keyed transactions, so check Square's pricing page for the channel you use.
How much does Square hardware cost?
The Square Reader costs £19 as a one-off and pairs with your phone. The all-in-one Square Terminal (with built-in receipt printer, WiFi and 4G) costs £249 upfront. There is no rental option in the standard offer, so the terminal is a capital cost rather than a monthly fee.
Is Square's EPOS really free?
Yes. The core Square point-of-sale software is free, including inventory, basic staff management, a customer directory and a free online store. It is the strongest software bundle of any pay-as-you-go provider we track, and the main reason to pick Square over SumUp's slightly cheaper 1.69% rate.
When does Square become poor value?
Against a negotiated rate of 1.2% plus £20/month terminal rental, the break-even is £20 divided by (1.75% minus 1.2%) = about £3,636/month of card takings. Above roughly £4,000/month, a competitive bespoke quote will usually beat 1.75% flat; at £15,000/month the gap is around £62.50/month, or £750/year.
Does Square hold funds or freeze accounts?
Like all pay-as-you-go providers with instant sign-up, Square approves accounts first and risk-checks later, and it has a reputation for occasionally holding funds or restricting accounts while it reviews unusual activity. Businesses in higher-risk sectors or with irregular transaction patterns should factor this in before relying on Square as their only way to take payments.