Worldpay vs Square: which is right for your business?

This one splits by size. Square wins for smaller businesses taking under £20,000 a month on cards: no monthly fees, no contracts and a simple app. Worldpay wins at £50,000 a month and above, where custom rates, a dedicated account manager and a 99.9% uptime guarantee earn their keep.

Rates and contract terms checked 27 August 2026 · Based on providers' published pricing

Our pick for smaller businesses

Square

Monthly fee
£0
Contract
None
Best under
£20k/mo

Worldpay

Rates
Custom
Support
24/7 phone
Best from
£50k/mo

Where each provider wins

Where Square wins

  • No monthly fees - you only pay when you take a payment
  • No contracts - full flexibility to leave whenever you like
  • Simple, intuitive app - quick to set up and easy to run
  • Small business fit - built for startups and businesses under £20k/month

Where Worldpay wins

  • Custom rates at volume - negotiated pricing from £50k/month
  • 24/7 phone support - and a dedicated account manager
  • 99.9% uptime SLA - an enterprise-grade reliability guarantee
  • Multi-site businesses - built to handle several locations

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How we calculated this

We take Worldpay's and Square'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 Worldpay and Square before you commit.

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Worldpay or Square?

Square is better for small businesses (under £20k/month) - cheaper, no contracts, easier to use. Worldpay is better for larger businesses (£50k+/month) - custom rates, enterprise features, 24/7 phone support, 99.9% uptime guarantee.

The verdict

Choose Square if

  • You process under £20k a month
  • You want no monthly fees
  • You prefer a simple, intuitive app
  • You want no contracts and full flexibility
  • You run a small or startup business

Choose Worldpay if

  • You process £50k or more a month
  • You need 24/7 phone support
  • You want a dedicated account manager
  • You require a 99.9% uptime SLA
  • You run a multi-site business
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See also the full UK card machine rates table, every published rate in one place.