Dojo vs Zettle: which saves you more?

Dojo starts at 1.4% per transaction against Zettle's fixed 1.75%, with a free terminal on contract, so it works out cheaper for most established businesses as card turnover grows. Zettle wins for very small or occasional sellers who want no contract, no monthly fee and a reader from £29 + VAT.

Rates and contract terms checked July 2026 · Based on providers' published pricing

Our pick for most businesses

Dojo

Transaction
From 1.4%
Setup
£0
Terminal
Free

Zettle (by PayPal)

Transaction
1.75%
Monthly
£0
Reader
From £29

Rates and fees compared

Dojo prices each business individually, so its headline rate is a starting point. Zettle publishes one flat rate for everyone.

FeatureDojoZettle (by PayPal)
Transaction feeFrom 1.4% + 0p (negotiable)1.75% flat (not negotiable)
SettlementNext dayInstant or next day (product / settings)
Setup fee£0£0
Monthly feeVaries by package (quoted)£0
Contract12 months or rollingNone, pay as you go
Card reader / terminalFree terminal on contractFrom £29 + VAT upfront
SupportUK-based supportPrimarily in-app / email
Trustpilot (indicative)4.7 / 53.8 / 5

The takeaway:Dojo's negotiable rate from 1.4% undercuts Zettle's fixed 1.75% once card turnover grows, and the terminal is included on contract rather than bought upfront. The trade is Zettle's £0 monthly fee and no contract, which keep it cheaper for very light or occasional card use.

Feature by feature

FeatureDojoZettle
Transaction feeFrom 1.4% + 0p (negotiable)1.75% flat (not negotiable)
SettlementNext dayInstant or next day (product / settings)
Setup fee£0£0
Monthly feeVaries by package (quoted)£0
Contract12 months or rollingNone, pay as you go
Card reader / terminalFree terminal on contractFrom £29 + VAT upfront
SupportUK-based supportPrimarily in-app / email
Trustpilot (indicative)4.7 / 53.8 / 5

Where Dojo wins

  • Lower fees at scale - from 1.4% + 0p with room to negotiate, against Zettle's fixed 1.75%
  • Free terminal on contract - no upfront hardware spend
  • UK-based support - and a stronger Trustpilot score, 4.7 vs 3.8
  • Full merchant service - next-day settlement as standard, not just a reader and an app

Where Zettle wins

  • No monthly fee - you only pay when you take a payment
  • No contract - pay as you go, walk away any time
  • Low upfront cost - reader from £29 + VAT
  • Simplicity - app-led setup that suits occasional sellers

How we calculated this

We take Dojo's and Zettle'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 Zettle before you commit.

The verdict

Choose Dojo if

  • You take cards regularly and want a negotiated rate
  • You want a free terminal instead of buying kit upfront
  • You want UK-based support you can actually reach
  • You want next-day settlement as standard
  • Card payments are core infrastructure for your business

Choose Zettle if

  • You are a very small or occasional seller
  • You want no contract and no monthly fee
  • You are happy to buy a reader from £29 + VAT
  • You prioritise flexibility over negotiated rates
  • App and email support is enough for your setup

Want this worked out at your exact numbers?

Tell us your monthly card takings and we'll run Dojo, Zettle and 13 other UK providers at your volume. Free, no obligation.

See also the full UK card machine rates table, all 15 providers in one place.