Dojo vs Handepay: which saves you more?
Dojo is the stronger pick for most businesses: a straightforward published plan price (the Fix plan is £39.99 a month covering card turnover up to £3,999 a month, then 1% flat above £4,000, for businesses under £100,000 a year; custom quotes above that, and we have seen quotes as low as 0.29% for high-turnover businesses), next-day settlement against Handepay's typical 3 to 5 days, and a 30-day trial then a 12-month price-locked plan against 18-month tie-ins on leased kit. Handepay's from-0.29% interchange++ headline looks cheaper, but actual costs vary with scheme fees and card mix.
Rates and contract terms checked 27 August 2026· Based on providers' published pricing
Dojo
- Fix plan
- £39.99/mo
- Settlement
- Next day
- Terminal
- From £179
Handepay
- Rate from
- 0.29%++
- Settlement
- 3-5 days
- Terminal
- Leased
The MerchantSwitch route: Free Dojo terminal (no rental) through MerchantSwitch. Up to £3,000 towards your exit fees when you switch through MerchantSwitch. We have seen Dojo quotes as low as 0.29% for high-turnover businesses. Get the offer.
Feature by feature
Transparent pricing versus interchange++ headline rates, settlement speed, contract terms, and the real-world costs for your business.
| Feature | Dojo | Handepay |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Fix plan: £39.99/month covers card turnover up to £3,999/month, then 1% flat above £4,000 (under £100k/year); custom quote above | Claims from 0.29% on interchange++; scheme fees and card mix mean actual costs are typically higher than the headline figure |
| Settlement | Next day as standard | Typically 3-5 days |
| Setup fee | None | Varies by agreement |
| Contract | 30-day trial, then a 12-month price-locked plan | 18-month contracts; early termination fees can apply |
| Terminal / equipment | From £179 upfront; free via MerchantSwitch | Equipment leased |
| App & dashboard | Modern app and dashboard | Provider tools, varies by package |
| Support | UK-based support | UK phone support |
| Trustpilot (indicative) | 4.3 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
The takeaway: Handepay's 0.29% headline is an interchange++ figure, so the price you actually pay moves with scheme fees and card mix. Dojo gives you a published plan price (£39.99 a month with a 1% flat rate above £4,000 a month of card turnover, under £100,000 a year), money in your account the next day instead of 3-5 days, and shorter terms. Both score well on Trustpilot - 4.3 / 5 for Dojo, 4.5 / 5 for Handepay.
Want Handepay and Dojo priced at your numbers?
Tell us your monthly card takings and we will quote both, honestly. Free Dojo terminal with no rental if Dojo wins it, and if you are inside a Handepay 18-month term, Dojo pays up to £3,000 towards your exit fees when you switch through MerchantSwitch (eligibility confirmed at quote). We respond in under 5 minutes.
Where Dojo wins
- Pricing clarity - a published plan price, £39.99 a month with 1% above £4,000 a month under £100,000 a year, is easier to budget and compare like for like
- Cash flow - next-day settlement against a typical 3-5 day payout window
- No upfront friction - no setup fee, a terminal you own rather than leased equipment, free through MerchantSwitch
- Contract risk - a 30-day trial then a 12-month price-locked plan against 18-month tie-ins with early termination fees
- Tools - a modern app and dashboard built for day-to-day trading
Where Handepay wins
- Headline rate - interchange++ from 0.29% can work out cheaper for some card mixes at high volume
- Reputation - a strong 4.5 / 5 indicative Trustpilot score of its own
- Support - established UK phone support
How we calculated this
We take Dojo's and Handepay's published or typical advertised rates and apply them to example monthly card volumes. Total cost is worked out as transaction fees plus fixed monthly fees over 12 months. Rates change and individual pricing can often be negotiated, so treat these figures as a like-for-like guide rather than a quote. Always confirm current pricing with Dojo and Handepay before you commit.
The verdict
Choose Dojo if
- You want a plan price you can budget against, not a moving interchange++ figure
- Next-day settlement matters to your cash flow
- You want no setup fee, with the terminal free through MerchantSwitch
- You prefer a 30-day trial and a 12-month price-locked plan over an 18-month tie-in
- You want a modern app and dashboard with your card machine
Choose Handepay if
- Your card mix genuinely suits interchange++ and you can verify it on statements
- You are comfortable with an 18-month term and leased equipment
- A 3-5 day settlement cycle works for your cash flow
- You want an established provider with a solid Trustpilot record
See also the full UK card machine rates table, every published rate in one place, or head back to the Dojo card machines hub.