Dojo vs Handepay UK 2026: Fees, Features & Which to Choose

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Dojo and Handepay are two of the most widely used card payment providers for UK face-to-face businesses, but they target quite different merchants. Dojo suits fast-moving hospitality and retail businesses that want next-day settlement and a modern, app-connected terminal. Handepay appeals to small and medium-sized businesses looking for a negotiated monthly rental deal with a dedicated account manager. This page compares their fees, contracts, hardware, and support so you can decide which fits your business in 2026.

Dojo vs Handepay: Fee Comparison

What is Dojo?

Dojo is a UK-based card payment provider founded in 2019 and authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority as a payment institution. It offers countertop, portable and mobile card terminals alongside an app that shows live sales figures, covers, and team performance. Dojo targets hospitality and retail businesses specifically and has grown to serve more than 100,000 UK merchants. Its headline offering is next-business-day settlement funds arrive in your account by 7am which matters significantly in the hospitality sector where daily cash flow is tight.

Pricing starts at 1.4% per transaction on its pay-as-you-go model, with no mandatory monthly fee for the terminal. Businesses processing higher volumes can negotiate custom interchange-plus rates. Dojo also integrates with EPOS systems including Lightspeed, Tevalis, and Access Hospitality, making it a practical choice for sites running a full point-of-sale setup. For a full breakdown of fees and features, read the Dojo review on Compare Card Fees.

What is Handepay?

Handepay is a Manchester-based payment services reseller founded in 2009. It does not hold its own acquiring licence. Instead, it resells Worldpay's acquiring infrastructure under its own brand, registered with the FCA as an appointed representative. Handepay's model centres on face-to-face sales, negotiated rates, and a dedicated account manager for each merchant. It provides countertop, portable and mobile terminals from manufacturers including Ingenico and Verifone, and markets itself primarily to small and medium-sized UK businesses.

Handepay uses interchange-plus pricing, which is generally more transparent than blended rates for merchants who process a varied mix of card types. The downside is that pricing is not published openly. You need to request a quote, and the rate you receive depends on your monthly volume and card mix. Settlement typically takes two to three working days. For the full picture, see the Handepay review on Compare Card Fees.

Dojo vs Handepay: Features Compared

Payment Methods Accepted

Both providers accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and contactless payments including Apple Pay and Google Pay. Dojo terminals also support contactless payments up to the standard UK limit and handle split bills natively useful for restaurants. Handepay terminals support the same card schemes but split-bill functionality depends on the EPOS system rather than the terminal itself. Neither provider currently supports cryptocurrency payments.

Hardware and Terminals

Dojo manufactures its own branded terminals rather than reselling third-party hardware. The Dojo Go is a portable 4G and Wi-Fi terminal with a long battery life and a clean touchscreen interface. The design is notably modern compared with older-generation Ingenico and Verifone devices. Handepay offers a broader range of hardware options, including the Ingenico Desk 5000 countertop terminal and the Ingenico Move 5000 portable device, as well as the PAX A920 for businesses wanting an Android-based terminal. Handepay's wider hardware range gives merchants more choice, though the Dojo Go is generally considered faster and more intuitive by front-of-house staff.

Integrations

Dojo has built direct integrations with a range of hospitality EPOS platforms, including Lightspeed Restaurant, Tevalis, Access Hospitality, and Zonal. These integrations allow the terminal and till to communicate directly, reducing manual keying errors and speeding up table turns. Handepay integrates with fewer EPOS systems natively, though it does connect with some popular setups. Businesses running complex multi-site EPOS configurations should verify Handepay's compatibility before signing any contract.

International Support

Both providers focus on UK domestic acquiring. Dojo accepts international Visa and Mastercard cards at its standard rate, with foreign card fees applying on top. Handepay similarly processes international cards through its Worldpay acquiring arrangement. Neither provider is designed for businesses with significant cross-border transaction volumes. If you need multi-currency acquiring or overseas settlement, providers such as Adyen or Stripe are better suited.

Fraud Tools and Security

Dojo terminals are PCI DSS compliant and support 3D Secure for any card-not-present transactions processed through its virtual terminal. The terminals use point-to-point encryption (P2PE). Handepay's terminals, processed through Worldpay's infrastructure, also carry PCI DSS compliance and P2PE. Both providers charge a PCI compliance fee Dojo typically includes this within its pricing structure, while Handepay may levy a separate monthly PCI fee of around £5. Check your quote carefully on this point.

Customer Support

Dojo offers 24/7 phone and in-app support, which is a genuine differentiator for hospitality businesses that trade evenings and weekends. Response times are generally rated positively in independent reviews on Trustpilot, where Dojo holds a score above 4.5 out of 5 from several thousand reviews as of June 2026. Handepay assigns a dedicated account manager to each merchant, which suits businesses that prefer a single named contact. However, out-of-hours technical support is less consistent than Dojo's round-the-clock helpdesk. For urgent terminal faults on a Saturday night, Dojo's model is more reliable.

Pros and Cons

Dojo Pros and Cons

Pros

• Next-business-day settlement by 7am, improving daily cash flow
• 24/7 customer support via phone and in-app messaging
• Real-time sales analytics and team performance data in the Dojo app
• Modern, purpose-built terminals with fast transaction speeds
• Strong EPOS integrations with major hospitality platforms
• Rolling monthly contracts available with no long-term lock-in

Cons

• The 1.4% blended rate is not competitive for businesses processing above £50,000 a month Handepay's interchange-plus pricing will often be cheaper at that volume
• Hardware is proprietary, so you cannot use an existing third-party terminal
• Limited hardware variety compared with Handepay's range of Ingenico and PAX devices
• No built-in support for MOTO (mail order and telephone order) payments on the standard plan

Handepay Pros and Cons

Pros

• Interchange-plus pricing is transparent and often cheaper for mid-to-high volume businesses
• Dedicated account manager for each merchant
• Wide choice of terminal hardware from multiple manufacturers
• Backed by Worldpay's acquiring infrastructure, one of the most established in the UK
• Suitable for businesses that want rates negotiated face to face

Cons

• Contract terms of 18 to 36 months create significant early termination liability always read the exit clause before signing
• Settlement takes two to three working days, which is slower than Dojo's next-morning model
• Pricing is not published; you must request a quote, making direct comparisons harder
• No equivalent to Dojo's real-time analytics app
• Out-of-hours technical support is less reliable than Dojo's 24/7 helpdesk

Which is Better For...?

Small Retail and Hospitality Businesses

Dojo is the stronger choice for small cafés, restaurants, pubs, and independent retailers. The 24/7 support means a terminal fault at 8pm on a Friday does not leave you without a machine for the weekend. Next-day settlement keeps your cash position healthy. At typical small business volumes of £5,000 to £15,000 a month, Dojo's 1.4% blended rate is straightforward to budget for and the lack of a monthly rental fee keeps fixed costs low.

Medium-Volume Businesses Processing £20,000 or More Per Month

At monthly volumes above £20,000, Handepay's interchange-plus pricing starts to look more attractive. A business processing £25,000 a month at a blended debit-heavy rate might pay around 0.5% all-in through Handepay versus 1.4% with Dojo, a difference of roughly £225 a month. That saving comfortably covers the £25 monthly terminal rental. The trade-off is accepting a longer contract and slower settlement. If cash flow is not a daily concern and you process mostly UK debit cards, Handepay often wins on cost alone at this volume.

Multi-Site Businesses with EPOS Systems

Dojo is the better fit here. Its direct integrations with hospitality EPOS platforms mean terminals communicate with the till in real time across multiple sites, and the management app gives a single view of all locations. Handepay can support multi-site deployments, but the EPOS integration ecosystem is narrower and the analytics tools are limited by comparison. Businesses running Lightspeed, Tevalis or Zonal setups across two or more sites will find Dojo's infrastructure more capable.

Businesses That Prioritise Personal Service Over Technology

Handepay suits merchants who prefer a traditional account management relationship over an app-driven experience. If you want a named contact who can renegotiate your rates at renewal, help you understand your merchant statement, and visit in person if needed, Handepay's model works well. Sole traders and micro-businesses with simple payment needs and no EPOS integration requirements often find Handepay's setup straightforward. Just ensure you understand the contract exit terms before you sign.

Our Verdict

Dojo is the better all-round choice for most UK face-to-face businesses in 2026, particularly in hospitality and retail. Next-day settlement, 24/7 support, modern hardware, and strong EPOS integrations give it a clear operational edge. The 1.4% blended rate is easy to understand and budget for, and the absence of a long-term contract removes the risk of being locked in if your circumstances change.

Handepay makes more financial sense for established businesses with consistent monthly volumes above £20,000, a stable card mix, and no urgent need for same-day cash flow. The interchange-plus pricing model genuinely can reduce your effective rate at scale. The catch is the contract length. Early termination fees on Handepay agreements can run to hundreds of pounds, so you need to be confident in your volume before committing. Read the contract in full, and pay particular attention to the auto-renewal clause.

If you are still weighing up the two providers, Compare Card Fees is a free, independent advisory service that has helped UK businesses find better card payment deals since 2012. Use the Compare Card Fees comparison tool to get quotes from Dojo, Handepay, and other leading UK providers side by side, with no obligation to proceed.