Square vs SumUp UK 2026: Fees, Features & Which to Choose

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Square and SumUp are two of the most popular card payment providers for small UK businesses in 2026. Both offer no monthly fee on their entry plans, simple flat-rate pricing, and card readers you can buy outright. Square suits businesses that want deeper point-of-sale software, free inventory management, and a broader ecosystem of add-ons. SumUp is the better fit for sole traders and micro-businesses that want the lowest-cost hardware, minimal setup, and a straightforward way to take card payments on the move.

Square vs SumUp: Fee Comparison

What is Square?

Square is a US-founded payment provider, launched in the UK in 2017, that offers card readers, point-of-sale software, and online payment tools under a flat-rate pricing model. Its free plan charges 1.75% per in-person transaction with no monthly fee, and the company backs this up with free stock management, an item library, and staff management tools built into the Square POS app. Square UK Ltd is registered with the FCA as an authorised payment institution. For a full breakdown of fees and features, see the Square UK review on Compare Card Fees.

Square has expanded its hardware range to include the Square Terminal (a standalone device with a built-in receipt printer, priced at around £149 plus VAT) and the Square Register (a full counter-top setup at around £549 plus VAT). Paid software plans, such as Square for Restaurants and Square for Retail, start at around £49 per month plus VAT and add features like floor plan management and advanced reporting. The free tier is genuinely capable, though, and most small businesses will not need to upgrade.

What is SumUp?

SumUp is a Berlin-founded provider that launched in the UK in 2012 and focuses on giving small businesses a fast, low-friction way to accept card payments. Its flagship product is the SumUp Air card reader, a pocket-sized Bluetooth device that pairs with a smartphone app. The standard plan charges 1.69% per in-person transaction with no monthly fee and no contract. SumUp Ltd holds FCA authorisation as an electronic money institution. You can read a detailed breakdown on the SumUp UK review on Compare Card Fees.

In 2023 SumUp introduced SumUp One, a subscription plan at £19 per month plus VAT that drops the in-person transaction rate to 0.99%. At £10,000 monthly turnover that subscription saves around £70 a month compared to the standard rate, so it pays for itself well before you reach that volume. SumUp also offers the SumUp Solo, a standalone card reader with a built-in SIM and touchscreen, priced at around £99 plus VAT. Hardware is sold outright, so there are no rental fees to worry about.

Square vs SumUp: Features Compared

Payment Methods

Both providers accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Apple Pay, and Google Pay in person. Square also supports contactless payments via the Square Reader and all major chip-and-PIN cards. SumUp accepts the same range on the Air and Solo readers. For online payments, Square supports hosted payment pages, a virtual terminal, and an API at 1.4% plus 25p per UK card transaction. SumUp's online rate is a flat 2.5%, which is noticeably higher and makes it a weaker choice for businesses processing a meaningful volume of orders online.

Hardware and Terminals

Square's entry-level Reader is the cheapest way into either provider at around £19 plus VAT. SumUp's Air reader costs roughly double that at around £39 plus VAT, though it is widely regarded as well-built and reliable for its size. Square's Terminal (around £149 plus VAT) is a strong mid-range option for counter-based retail because it prints receipts without needing a separate printer. SumUp's Solo (around £99 plus VAT) has a built-in SIM, removing the need for a Wi-Fi connection entirely, which appeals to outdoor and mobile traders. Neither provider locks hardware to a contract, so switching later does not leave you out of pocket on ongoing payments.

POS Software and Integrations

Square's free POS app is a clear differentiator. It includes unlimited product listings, basic stock management with low-stock alerts, staff logins with individual permission levels, and sales reports by item or staff member. Square also integrates with WooCommerce, Wix, and BigCommerce out of the box, plus a wide range of third-party apps via its developer API. SumUp's app covers the basics well: item catalogues, tipping, and sales history. Its third-party integrations are more limited, though it does connect with tools like Wix, Shopify, and various accounting packages. If you rely on detailed stock tracking or want a single system across your till and online store, Square has a meaningful advantage.

International Support

Square operates in a limited set of markets: the UK, US, Canada, Australia, Japan, Spain, France, and Ireland. If you plan to expand internationally beyond those countries, Square offers no coverage. SumUp operates in over 35 countries, primarily across Europe and Latin America, and supports multiple currencies. For a UK-based business with European ambitions, SumUp is the more practical choice on international reach alone.

Fraud Tools and Security

Square includes end-to-end encryption on all card readers and manages PCI DSS compliance on your behalf, removing the need to complete an annual self-assessment questionnaire on the free plan. Its risk management system monitors transactions in real time and can flag or hold funds if it detects unusual activity. SumUp also handles PCI compliance centrally and uses tokenisation and TLS encryption across its hardware and app. Both providers apply 3D Secure to online transactions in line with Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) rules set by the FCA. Neither provider is notably stronger than the other on security fundamentals.

Customer Support

Square offers phone support, email, and a live chat option through its dashboard, though phone support hours are limited to weekdays during business hours. Its online help centre is thorough and covers most common questions. SumUp provides email and phone support, but a recurring criticism from UK users is that wait times can be long and that support quality varies. Neither provider offers 24/7 UK telephone support, which is a genuine gap for hospitality businesses that trade through evenings and weekends.

Pros and Cons

Square Pros and Cons

Pros

• Free POS software with stock management, staff logins, and sales reporting included at no extra cost
• Cheapest entry-level card reader at around £19 plus VAT
• Lower online transaction rate at 1.4% plus 25p for UK cards, compared to SumUp's 2.5%
• Wide range of hardware from a basic reader up to a full counter-top register
• Integrates with WooCommerce, Wix, BigCommerce, and many third-party apps
• Virtual terminal included, useful for taking payments over the phone

Cons

• In-person transaction rate of 1.75% is slightly higher than SumUp's 1.69%
• Operates in a small number of countries, limiting usefulness for internationally expanding businesses
• Account holds and fund freezes do occur, sometimes with little warning, which can disrupt cash flow
• Advanced POS features for restaurants and retail require a paid plan starting at £49 per month plus VAT

SumUp Pros and Cons

Pros

• Lower in-person transaction rate of 1.69% on the standard plan
• SumUp One subscription at £19 per month plus VAT drops the rate to 0.99%, saving significant money at higher volumes
• SumUp Solo has a built-in SIM, making it ideal for outdoor markets, festivals, and mobile traders
• Operates in over 35 countries, well ahead of Square on international reach
• Simple, quick setup with minimal technical knowledge required

Cons

• Online transaction rate of 2.5% is considerably higher than Square's 1.4% plus 25p
• POS software lacks the depth of Square's free tools, particularly for stock management
• Customer support wait times have been criticised by UK users, with inconsistent response quality
• Entry-level Air reader costs around £39 plus VAT, roughly double the price of Square's Reader

Which is Better For...?

Small Retail Businesses

Square is the stronger choice for small shops. Its free stock management handles unlimited product variants, sends low-stock alerts, and ties in with online sales channels. A boutique processing £8,000 a month in-store pays £140 in transaction fees at Square's 1.75% rate, versus £135.20 at SumUp's 1.69% a difference of under £5 a month. That small saving does not outweigh the advantage of Square's richer software. Square wins here.

Mobile and Market Traders

SumUp has the edge for traders who work outdoors or away from a reliable Wi-Fi connection. The SumUp Solo's built-in SIM means you are not dependent on a venue's internet or your phone's hotspot. SumUp's broader European coverage also helps if you trade at international markets. For a mobile trader keeping things simple, SumUp is the more practical pick.

Online-Only or Hybrid E-commerce Businesses

Square is clearly better for any business taking a meaningful volume of online orders. At Square's online rate of 1.4% plus 25p, a business processing £10,000 a month online pays around £165 in fees. At SumUp's 2.5% flat rate, the same volume costs £250. That is an £85 monthly difference. Unless you rarely sell online, Square's lower online rate makes it the more cost-effective option.

Hospitality and Food Businesses

Square's dedicated Square for Restaurants plan (from £49 per month plus VAT) covers floor plans, course management, and split bills. For a café or small restaurant already on the free Square plan, the core POS tools handle basic table service well enough. SumUp does not have an equivalent hospitality-specific feature set. Square is the better fit for food and drink businesses, though neither competes with the deeper functionality of a full EPOS system from a specialist provider.

Our Verdict

For most UK small businesses in 2026, Square is the more capable all-round provider. Its free POS software, lower online rates, and cheaper entry hardware give it a practical edge over SumUp for anyone running a shop, café, or hybrid business. The 0.06 percentage point difference in in-person rates is too small to matter for the majority of businesses. What does matter is software depth, online pricing, and hardware flexibility and Square leads on all three.

SumUp earns its place for a specific type of business: the sole trader, market seller, or mobile professional who wants the simplest possible setup and processes most sales face to face. The SumUp One subscription is genuinely good value at higher volumes, and the built-in SIM on the Solo is a real practical advantage in locations without reliable Wi-Fi. SumUp's weaker online rates and thinner software make it harder to recommend for any business with serious online sales.

Before committing to either, it is worth checking whether a different provider suits your volume or industry better. 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 see how Square and SumUp stack up against other providers for your specific turnover and transaction mix.