Global Payments vs Dojo: which saves you more?
Dojo is cheaper for most SMEs. Under £100,000 a year in card turnover it publishes a 1.2% all-in blended rate for all card transactions (£60.00 at £5,000 a month) against Global Payments' typical 1.6 to 2.6% plus £20 to £50 a month and £100 to £250 setup. Above £100,000 Dojo quotes a custom rate, and we have seen quotes as low as 0.29% for high-turnover businesses: even at the published 1.2% as a benchmark, the gap against a 2% Global Payments quote is worth about £80 a month at £10,000 of monthly card sales. Global Payments earns its place for larger multi-location businesses with complex needs.
Rates and contract terms checked 27 August 2026 · Based on providers' published pricing
Dojo
- Under £100k/yr
- 1.2%
- Over £100k/yr
- Custom
- Setup
- £0
Global Payments
- Transaction
- 1.6-2.6%
- Monthly
- £20-50
- Setup
- £100-250
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.
Published costs side by side
Dojo publishes its 1.2% rate for businesses under £100,000 a year in card turnover and quotes above that; Global Payments prices by quote, so its figures are typical ranges rather than fixed tariffs. Your exact rate depends on turnover and business type.
| Cost | Dojo | Global Payments |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction fees | 1.2% all-in blended rate on all cards (under £100k/year); custom quote above | 1.6-2.6% |
| Monthly cost | £0 on the Essential plan (Plus £11.99/month per location); terminal rental from £15/month if you rent (none through MerchantSwitch) | £20-50/month |
| Setup | £0 | £100-250 |
The takeaway: Dojo undercuts Global Payments on the published costs: at £5,000 a month Dojo is 1.2% × £5,000 = £60.00 against £100 to £180 at Global Payments' typical 1.6 to 2.6% plus £20 to £50 monthly, with the terminal free through MerchantSwitch (renting a Dojo terminal adds £15/month to £25/month). At higher volumes the gap runs at roughly 0.4 to 1.4% of turnover on a 1.2% Dojo benchmark, plus the £100 to £250 setup fee you never pay.
Want Global Payments 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 your Global Payments contract carries exit fees, Dojo pays up to £3,000 towards them when you switch through MerchantSwitch (eligibility confirmed at quote). We respond in under 5 minutes.
Feature by feature
| Feature | Dojo | Global Payments |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction fees | 1.2% all-in blended rate on all cards (under £100k/year); custom quote above | 1.6-2.6% |
| Monthly cost | £0 on the Essential plan (Plus £11.99/month per location); terminal rental from £15/month if you rent | £20-50/month |
| Setup cost | £0 | £100-250 |
| Pricing | Transparent | Complex |
| Exit fees | Early account closure fee possible before your minimum term ends (amount not published); none if you end it in the first month | Contract-dependent |
| Terminals | Modern, portable | Comprehensive POS systems |
| Infrastructure | UK-focused | Global |
| Support | Excellent UK support | Enterprise account teams |
Where Dojo wins
- Lower overall costs - £60.00 against £100 to £180 a month at £5,000 of monthly card sales
- Transparent pricing - no complex fee schedules
- No setup fee - £0 to start, and no early closure fee if you leave in the first month
- Modern terminals - with excellent UK support
Where Global Payments wins
- Global infrastructure - built for international operations
- Comprehensive POS systems - deep enterprise tooling
- Multi-location setups - suits larger, complex businesses
Best for restaurants and hospitality
Restaurants and cafes typically prefer Dojo for several reasons:
- Portable terminals suited to table-side payments
- Fast settlement helps with cash flow, important in hospitality
- No early closure fee if you end the agreement in the first month
- At £5,000 a month on cards, £60.00 at Dojo’s 1.2% against £100 to £180 with Global Payments
How we calculated this
We take Global Payments's and Dojo'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 Global Payments and Dojo before you commit.
The verdict
Choose Dojo if
- You are a UK SME under £200k monthly turnover
- You want published pricing with no setup fee
- You run a restaurant, cafe or retail shop
- You want modern portable terminals
- You want UK support you can reach quickly
Choose Global Payments if
- You run a larger business with complex needs
- You operate across multiple locations
- You need global payment infrastructure
- You want a comprehensive enterprise POS system
See also the full UK card machine rates table, every published rate in one place, or head back to the Dojo card machines hub.