Compare Card Payment Providers UK
Compare card payment providers on one number, your effective rate. Dojo publishes the lowest, 1.2% all in for businesses with annual card turnover below £100,000, and through MerchantSwitch its terminal is free with no monthly rental. With no contract, SumUp is cheapest at 1.69% a sale against 1.75% at Square and 1.75% at Zettle. Worldpay, Lloyds Cardnet and Elavon do not publish a rate, so they only win if their quote beats those on your own statement.
Jump to the provider table, the costs at your turnover or the free statement review.
Popular Provider Comparisons
Card payment providers and merchant services compared
Published in-person rates, hardware and the contract terms each provider sets out in its own documents. Where a term is missing, the provider has not published it.
Rates and reader prices checked on the providers' own UK sites on 25 August 2026 (Dojo November 2026); contract and exit terms from published terms documents, checked 25 August 2026 unless the row says otherwise. Where a provider does not publish a term, the cell says so.
| Provider | Published in-person rate | Hardware | Minimum term | Exit fee | Guides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SumUp | 1.69% pay as you go; 0.99% on domestic cards with Payments Plus (£19/month) | Solo Lite £25 ex VAT; Solo £79 ex VAT; Terminal £135 ex VAT | None; pay-as-you-go, subscriptions run monthly or yearly | None stated; unused subscription periods are not refunded | ReviewHow to cancel |
| Square | 1.75% | Reader £19 + VAT | None; terminate from account settings at any time | None stated | ReviewHow to cancel |
| Zettle by PayPal | 1.75% | First reader £29 (then £69); Terminal £149 | None; "no long-term commitments or rentals" | Not addressed in the published terms | ReviewHow to cancel |
| myPOS | Not in our rate check; quote only | Devices are sold; no return-on-closure obligation stated | None; agreement runs until terminated | None: terminate "immediately and without termination charges" with the account in good standing | How to cancel |
| Teya | Not published (quote-only). Source: teya.com/pricing, checked 1 November 2026 | Return non-purchased hardware within 7 working days of ending the agreement | None stated; "no long contracts" | None stated; recurring fees already paid are non-refundable | ReviewHow to cancel |
| Tide (card reader) | 1.5% + 5p (domestic consumer debit cards; other card types priced per Tide terms) | Nano £25 + VAT (from £11 on a subscription plan); Reader £49 + VAT | Pay-as-you-go on a purchased reader: none. Sell In-Person Essential: monthly ("Monthly plan - cancel anytime"). Sell In-Person Premium: 12-month contract | Cancel a subscription early: pay the remaining subscription charges; rented-device tool adds a £50 administration feeChecked 1 November 2026 | How to cancel |
| Dojo | 1.2% all-in blended under £100,000 a year; a custom rate quoted per business above | Dojo Go Max £149 upfront (launch offer, usually £229) or £25/month; Dojo Pocket £239 or £20/month; Dojo Wired £179 or £15/month. Tap to Pay on iPhone needs no hardware at all. Free Dojo terminal (no rental) through MerchantSwitch. | 12 months, then monthly rolling (under £1m annual card turnover; negotiated above) | An early account closure fee can apply if you leave before your minimum term; the amount is not published ("based on your agreed plan"). No early closure fee if you end within the first month | Dojo guideHow to cancel |
| Barclaycard Payments | Bespoke rates | Not published | Countertop and Portable readers: 18 months. Smartpay Touch: 12 months. Smartpay Anywhere: no contract | Countertop/Portable: variable, priced per remaining month. Barclaycard's own examples: "£7 x two months left in your contract = £14 plus VAT cancellation fee" (Countertop) and "£10 x two months left in your contract = £20 plus VAT cancellation fee" (Portable). Smartpay Touch and Anywhere: £0Checked 1 November 2026 | ReviewHow to cancel |
| takepayments | Not in our rate check; quote only | Not published | 12 months ("short 12 month contract"), then rolling monthly | Card machine contract: not published. Online product: 30-day cooling-off with refund; no early-exit amount published | How to cancel |
| Tyl by NatWest | 1.39% + 5p (UK/EU personal cards) or 1.99% + 5p (other cards), published under £50k/year card value; custom quote above | Not published | 12-month contract on card machines | Tyl contradicts itself. Its pricing page lists "Cancelling your contract" among the things there is "no extra charge for"; its help centre still says "There may be a termination fee if you're ending your Tyl contract early". No amount is publishedChecked 1 November 2026 | ReviewHow to cancel |
| Worldpay | Bespoke rates | Not published | Not published | Not published | ReviewHow to cancel |
| Lloyds Cardnet | Bespoke rates | Terminals are rented (£23/month Castles Saturn, £21/month Clover Flex, + VAT); return terms not published | Minimum 6 months: "Your joining fee covers setting up your account and includes a minimum 6-month agreement". Card machine rental is a separate agreement | Not publishedChecked 1 November 2026 | ReviewHow to cancel |
| Elavon | Bespoke rates | Hired terminals go back to Elavon if the hire ends early (s.6.3); a Terminal Recovery Fee is set in the Schedule of Fees, amount not published | None for a business that is not a Large Corporate or Large Charity: it can end the agreement "at any time" on one month's notice (s.25.1.1). The 36-month Initial Term binds Large Corporates and Large Charities only (s.25.1.2). Terminal hire has its own Minimum Hire Period under separate hire terms; length not stated (s.6.3) | Leaving within 6 months of the start date: a Termination Fee covering Elavon's "reasonable costs" (amount not published). After 6 months: "free of charge" (s.25.8). Ending a terminal hire inside its Minimum Hire Period: "certain monies will be payable" (s.6.3)Checked 1 November 2026 | ReviewHow to cancel |
| Handepay | Not in our rate check; quote only | Terminal hire runs through Merchant Rentals Limited, a separate contract; return terms not published | Not published | Own exit fee not published (Handepay advertises contributing to your OLD provider's exit fees when you switch in) | How to cancel |
| Clover (UK) | Not in our rate check; quote only | Devices advertised at £15-£30/month; rental and return terms not published | Not published | Not published | How to cancel |
| Shift4 (UK) | Not in our rate check; quote only | Not published for UK merchants | 24 months from the date you sign, then automatic 12-month renewals | Not published. The Online Terms set no early termination fee; any charge would sit in your signed Merchant Application FormChecked 30 October 2026 | How to cancel |
| EVO Payments UK | Bespoke rates | Terminal hire runs under a separate Terminal Rental Agreement, which is not published; return terms Not published | The fixed term in your Customer Summary; if none is given, 1 year. Then automatic 1-year renewals | Ready Made plans: £150 termination fee on early closure. Any plan closed before the contract term ends: terminal rental for the rest of the term. The Agreement adds that no extra early termination fee applies after the first 6 monthsChecked 30 October 2026 | ReviewHow to cancel |
| Global Payments (UK) | Bespoke rates | Not published. GPUK LLP rents terminals under terminal rental agreements; a terminal supplied by another company may carry its own exit fees | The fixed term on your Service Schedule; if none is shown, an initial term of one year. Then renews automatically for successive one-year terms (Terms of Service cl.14.2) | An early termination charge "at our sole discretion" (cl.14.4). Inside the first six months: £25 a month, "totalling no more than" £150. Cancelling after a notified price change: no additional fee "apart from any outstanding fees up to the date of closure"Checked 1 November 2026 | ReviewHow to cancel |
| Viva Wallet (viva.com) | Not in our rate check; quote only | Pay Monthly POS stays Viva property: return it after paying the Exit Fee, shipping at your cost, replacement cost charged if faulty. Device subscription: keep the device after ending it. Bought devices are yours. 14-day withdrawal window on an unactivated device | Account terms: 12-month Initial Term, renewing automatically for one-year periods. POS Terminal Pay Monthly: 24-month Minimum Term. Bought devices: no device term | Account: no closure fee in the Terms, but the balance must be zero to close. Pay Monthly POS ended inside 24 months: Exit Fee = Minimum Fee x months of the Minimum Term remaining; the Minimum Fee amount is Not published (it is shown in your account). Device subscription: you pay any device cost your transaction revenue has not yet coveredChecked 1 November 2026 | How to cancel |
| AIB Merchant Services (UK) | Not in our rate check; quote only | AIBMS terminals go back immediately on termination via Customer Service. Leases with First Data Global Leasing or MMSL (Clover) must be ended separately with the lessor or debits continue; lease terms Not published | Merchant agreement: no fixed term, it runs until terminated. Terminal rental: 18-month Minimum Rental Term from the first day of the month after installation | No early termination fee is set in the UK Terms; your Fees & Charges Schedule is Not published. Rental is payable for the whole 18-month Minimum Rental Term. Terminal not recovered within 30 days of termination: full replacement value plus recovery costsChecked 1 November 2026 | How to cancel |
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
Which provider is cheapest at your turnover?
Dojo publishes the lowest UK rate, 1.2% all in under £100,000 a year, but you need its terminal. Through MerchantSwitch that terminal is free with no monthly rental, which makes Dojo the cheapest option in the table at every turnover it covers. Bought direct, the rental decides it: with the Dojo Wired at £15/month, SumUp's 1.69% stays cheaper below £3,061 a month.
SumUp is the cheapest no-contract, pay-as-you-go card machine, and its £19/month Payments Plus plan pulls further ahead once domestic card sales pass £2,714 a month. Square and Zettle both charge 1.75%, so between those two the choice comes down to hardware and software, not fees.
The £5,000 a month shop
- Dojo, terminal through MerchantSwitch: £5,000 × 1.2% = £60.00 a month
- Dojo direct with the Dojo Wired: (£5,000 × 1.2%) + £15 = £75.00 a month
- SumUp pay as you go: £5,000 × 1.69% = £84.50 a month
- SumUp Payments Plus: £19 + (£5,000 × 0.99%) = £68.50 a month, if every card is a domestic consumer card
- Square: £5,000 × 1.75% = £87.50 a month
- Zettle: £5,000 × 1.75% = £87.50 a month
Among the no-contract options, Payments Plus saves at best £19.00 a month against Square or Zettle, which is £228.00 a year. The real saving is smaller, because the 0.99% applies to domestic debit and credit cards; premium, international and Amex cards stay at 1.69%. The break-even sum is £19 ÷ (1.69% minus 0.99%) = £2,714 of domestic card sales a month.
Dojo against SumUp, bought direct: £15 ÷ (1.69% minus 1.2%) = £3,061 a month with the Dojo Wired; with the Dojo Go Max at £25/month it is £5,102. Dojo is not pay as you go: any minimum term is set in your application documents, and dojo’s fees schedule also lists a secure transaction fee, a refund fee and a minimum monthly payment, each set by your agreed plan; the amounts are not published.
| Card takings a month | Dojo (1.2%), free terminal through MerchantSwitch | Dojo (1.2%) + Dojo Wired at £15/month | SumUp PAYG (1.69%) | SumUp Payments Plus (best case) | Square (1.75%) | Zettle (1.75%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £1,000 | £12.00 | £27.00 | £16.90 | £28.90 | £17.50 | £17.50 |
| £2,500 | £30.00 | £45.00 | £42.25 | £43.75 | £43.75 | £43.75 |
| £5,000 | £60.00 | £75.00 | £84.50 | £68.50 | £87.50 | £87.50 |
| £10,000 | Custom quote | Custom quote | £169.00 | £118.00 | £175.00 | £175.00 |
| £20,000 | Custom quote | Custom quote | £338.00 | £217.00 | £350.00 | £350.00 |
Cheapest in each row in bold. Above £100,000 a year Dojo quotes a custom rate quoted per business, so those rows show a quote. At £1,000 a month, Dojo with a rented Dojo Wired costs £27.00 against £16.90 on SumUp. Free Dojo terminal: £0 upfront and no monthly terminal rental for the life of your contract when arranged through MerchantSwitch.
Reader prices on top for the no-contract options: SumUp Solo Lite £25 ex VAT, Square reader £19 + VAT, Zettle's first reader £29. Rates checked 25 August 2026; Dojo checked November 2026.
When to stay put. A business on Square or Zettle taking £1,000 a month would save £0.60 a month by moving to SumUp pay as you go (£1,000 × 0.06 percentage points). A new £25 ex VAT reader takes 42 months to pay for itself, so do not switch for the rate alone.
Above these turnovers, Dojo and the other contract providers quote privately, so the only fair test is your own statement. Send us a statement for a free review or run your figures through the costs by turnover guide.
Get your providers compared at your volume
Leave your number and we will compare quotes against your current statement.
Compare transaction fees, monthly charges, and setup costs across all major UK card machine providers. Click any provider name to view full details, pros/cons, and FAQs.
| Provider | Transaction Fee | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Worldpay | Bespoke rates | High-volume businesses |
| Dojo | 1.2% all-in blended rate under £100k/year; custom quote above (as low as 0.29% seen at high turnover) | UK restaurants & cafes (all sizes) |
| Barclaycard Payments | Bespoke rates | Established businesses |
| Zettle by PayPal | 1.75% fixed | PayPal users |
| Elavon | Bespoke rates | Medium to large businesses |
| Lloyds Cardnet | Bespoke rates | Established businesses |
| Revolut Business | In person from 0.8% + 2p (domestic consumer cards); other card types cost more | Tech-savvy businesses |
| Tyl by NatWest | 1.39% + 5p (UK/EU personal cards) or 1.99% + 5p (other cards), published under £50k/year card value; custom quote above | Small businesses |
| Teya (formerly Saltpay) | Not published (quote-only). Source: teya.com/pricing, checked 1 November 2026 | UK SMEs |
| Trust Payments | Bespoke rates | Multi-channel businesses |
Showing 1 to 10 of 17 results
* Rates are indicative and may vary based on business type, transaction volume, and other factors. Contact us for a personalised quote.
Best provider by business type
The right provider depends on how you take payments as much as on the rate. Each guide below compares providers for one trade.
- Best card machines for retail shops
Fixed counter, steady footfall, often a till or stock system to connect.
- Best card machines for cafes and coffee shops
Small average spend, so the per-transaction rate matters more than the hardware.
- Best card machines for restaurants
Portable terminals for the table, tipping and split bills.
- Best card machines for pubs and bars
High volume at peak times, tabs, and a machine that holds up behind the bar.
- Best card machines for salons and barbers
Larger tickets, deposits and no-show charges taken through the booking app.
- Best card machines for tradespeople
Mobile 4G or phone tethered reader on site; card volume is often low and lumpy.
- Best card machines for taxi drivers
In-car payments, signal on the move and battery that lasts a shift.
- Best card machines for market stalls and street food
Outdoor, sometimes offline, seasonal months with almost no card takings.
- Best card machines for hotels and b&bs
Pre-authorisations, deposits and payments taken before the guest arrives.
- Best card machines for gyms and fitness studios
Recurring memberships, so online and card-on-file billing matter as much as the terminal.
- Best card machines for healthcare clinics
Higher tickets, deposits and payment over the phone or by link.
Ready to get personalised quotes?
Our experts will compare all providers and negotiate the best rates for your specific business
Individual Provider Profiles
Researching Dojo? Start with the Dojo card machine review, then Dojo fees and the Dojo Go Max, Pocket and Wired compared.
Every comparison, review and cancel guide
Provider reviews
Head-to-head comparisons
- Square vs SumUp
- SumUp vs Zettle
- Zettle vs Square
- Tide vs Square
- Tide vs SumUp
- Worldpay vs Square
- Worldpay vs Barclaycard
- Worldpay vs Dojo
- Dojo vs Square
- Dojo vs SumUp
- Dojo vs Zettle
- Dojo vs Barclaycard
- Dojo vs Lloyds Cardnet
- Dojo vs Elavon
- Dojo vs Clover
- Dojo vs Handepay
- Dojo vs Tyl
- Dojo vs Tide
- Dojo vs Revolut
- Dojo vs EVO
- Dojo vs Shift4
- Teya vs Dojo
- takepayments vs Dojo
- Global Payments vs Dojo
- iwoca vs YouLend
- YouLend vs 365 Finance
How to cancel your current provider
- Cancel SumUp
- Cancel Square
- Cancel Zettle by PayPal
- Cancel myPOS
- Cancel Teya
- Cancel Tide
- Cancel Dojo
- Cancel Barclaycard Payments
- Cancel takepayments
- Cancel Tyl by NatWest
- Cancel Worldpay
- Cancel Lloyds Cardnet
- Cancel Elavon
- Cancel Handepay
- Cancel Clover
- Cancel Shift4
- Cancel EVO Payments UK
- Cancel Global Payments
- Cancel Viva Wallet
- Cancel AIB Merchant Services
- Cancel Paymentsense
Card payment provider questions
How do I compare card payment providers?
Add up every charge on one month's statement and divide by your card takings. That effective rate is the number to compare, not the headline rate. A quote has to beat the published flat rates all in: at £5,000 a month, SumUp's 1.69% costs £84.50 and Square's 1.75% costs £87.50.
Which card payment provider is cheapest in the UK?
Dojo publishes the lowest rate, 1.2% all in under £100,000 a year, but you need its terminal: free with no monthly rental through MerchantSwitch, or from £149 upfront or £15/month to rent direct. With a rented Dojo Wired at £15/month, SumUp's 1.69% is cheaper below £3,061 a month. Of the no-contract, pay-as-you-go providers, SumUp at 1.69%. Tide's 1.5% + 5p looks lower but covers domestic consumer debit cards; other card types priced per Tide terms, so it is not a like-for-like comparison.
Do I need a merchant account to take card payments?
No. SumUp, Square and Zettle sign you up as a sub-merchant under their own account, so there is no separate merchant account to apply for. Worldpay, Barclaycard, Lloyds Cardnet and Elavon give you a merchant account of your own, priced by quote.
Are card processing rates negotiable?
Quoted rates are. The flat rates are not: SumUp, Square and Zettle charge every business the same published percentage. Negotiation starts to pay once you can show a statement with steady monthly card takings.
Which providers do not publish their exit fees?
Worldpay, Handepay and Clover (UK). We record that as a finding rather than filling the gap with an estimate. Ask for the exit terms in writing before signing.