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

vs

SumUp and takepayments are two of the most widely considered card payment providers for UK small businesses, but they suit very different types of merchant. SumUp charges a flat 1.69% per transaction with no monthly fee and no contract, making it a strong fit for sole traders, market stall holders, and businesses with low or unpredictable card volumes. takepayments operates on a monthly contract model with interchange-plus pricing and dedicated account management, and it tends to work out cheaper for established businesses processing more than around £5,000 per month. This page breaks down their fees, hardware, features, and honest pros and cons so you can decide which provider fits your business in 2026.

SumUp vs takepayments: Fee Comparison

What is SumUp?

SumUp is a Berlin-headquartered fintech founded in 2012 that operates across more than 30 countries. In the UK, it is one of the most recognised names in pay-as-you-go card acceptance. Merchants buy a card reader outright, download the free app, and start taking payments within minutes. There is no monthly fee on the standard plan and no fixed contract, which is why it appeals strongly to sole traders, market traders, mobile hairdressers, and anyone whose card volumes vary month to month. The flat 1.69% rate covers all UK and European consumer Visa and Mastercard transactions, chip and PIN, contactless, and Apple Pay or Google Pay.

SumUp has expanded well beyond the basic card reader. Its product range now includes the SumUp Solo (a standalone Android terminal with a built-in SIM), a POS lite system, a pay-by-link tool, and a basic online store builder. For businesses that want a lower transaction rate, the SumUp One subscription at £19 per month reduces the rate to 0.99% per transaction. That works out cheaper than 1.69% if you process more than around £2,900 per month. You can read the full provider review on our SumUp review page.

What is takepayments?

takepayments is a UK-based card payment provider founded in 2017 and headquartered in Leeds. It focuses specifically on the SME market and positions itself as a more personal alternative to the large acquiring banks. Merchants sign a contract, typically 12 to 18 months, and receive a terminal on a rental basis. takepayments uses interchange-plus pricing, which means your rate is made up of the underlying card scheme interchange cost plus a fixed markup. For high-debit-card environments such as pubs, cafés, and independent retailers, this can result in effective rates meaningfully below 1.69% on most transactions.

The takepayments model includes a named account manager for every merchant, which distinguishes it clearly from SumUp's self-service approach. Support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by phone from a UK-based team. takepayments also offers MOTO payment terminals for businesses that take card payments over the phone. The product range is less varied than SumUp's on the online side, but the in-person terminal hardware is more sophisticated, with options including countertop, portable, and mobile GPRS units. Read the full breakdown on our takepayments review page.

SumUp vs takepayments: Features Compared

Payment Methods Accepted

Both providers accept Visa and Mastercard by chip and PIN, contactless, and mobile wallets including Apple Pay and Google Pay. SumUp additionally supports American Express on its card readers. takepayments supports Amex through separate arrangements depending on your contract. SumUp's pay-by-link tool lets you send a payment request via SMS or email to any customer, which is genuinely useful for service businesses invoicing remotely. takepayments' MOTO terminal fills a similar gap for phone-order businesses. Neither provider natively supports Buy Now Pay Later at the point of sale, though both integrate with third-party EPOS systems that may do so.

Hardware and Terminals

SumUp sells its hardware outright. The SumUp Air is a Bluetooth card reader that pairs with your smartphone for £39. The SumUp Solo is a standalone touchscreen terminal with a built-in 4G SIM, priced at £79. Both are compact and well suited to mobile use. You own the device and are not tied to a contract. takepayments provides countertop terminals (typically Ingenico or PAX devices), portable terminals with a charging base, and mobile GPRS units for on-the-go use. These are rented rather than owned, bundled into the monthly fee. The takepayments hardware is generally more robust for high-traffic fixed-location use, and replacement units are dispatched within 24 hours if a terminal develops a fault.

Integrations

SumUp integrates with a range of third-party platforms including WooCommerce, Wix, and several EPOS providers. Its own POS app is functional for basic retail and hospitality but lacks the depth of dedicated EPOS software. takepayments integrates with a smaller set of EPOS and accounting platforms, though its sales team can advise on compatible systems. Neither provider matches the developer-focused integration depth of Stripe or the enterprise integration capability of Adyen, so if your business runs on a complex tech stack, both SumUp and takepayments may require workarounds.

International Support

SumUp operates in over 30 countries, so if you trade at markets or events abroad, your existing SumUp account and reader will likely work in those markets. Its standard 1.69% rate applies to UK and European consumer cards. Non-European or commercial cards attract a higher rate. takepayments is a UK-only provider. It does not support multi-currency settlement or international acquiring. If you sell internationally online or have trading operations outside the UK, takepayments is not designed for that requirement.

Fraud Tools and Security

Both providers handle PCI DSS compliance as part of their service, meaning card data is never stored on your device or passed through your system. SumUp's hardware uses point-to-point encryption and tokenisation. takepayments includes PCI compliance support as part of the contract, and its account managers can guide you through the annual self-assessment questionnaire. SumUp's self-service model means PCI compliance is your responsibility to manage, though the process is straightforward. For 3D Secure on online transactions, SumUp supports it through its online checkout product. Neither provider offers advanced machine-learning fraud scoring of the kind offered by Stripe Radar or Adyen's RevenueProtect.

Customer Support

This is one of the clearest differences between the two providers. takepayments provides 24/7 UK phone support and a named account manager from day one. SumUp's support is primarily live chat and email, available during business hours on standard plans. There is no dedicated account manager unless you are on an enterprise or higher-volume arrangement. For a sole trader who rarely needs help, SumUp's support level is usually adequate. For a busier retail or hospitality business where a terminal going down at 7pm on a Friday night is a serious problem, takepayments' 24/7 phone line is a meaningful advantage.

Pros and Cons

SumUp Pros and Cons

Pros

• No monthly fee and no contract on the standard plan, so there is no cost in quiet months
• Card reader available from £39 with no rental commitment
• Quick setup most merchants are taking payments within 30 minutes of signing up
• Supports online payments, pay by link, and a basic e-commerce store within the same account
• Operates in over 30 countries, useful for businesses trading at European markets or events
• SumUp One subscription at £19/month reduces the transaction rate to 0.99%, competitive at volumes above £2,900/month

Cons

• 1.69% flat rate is expensive for high-volume merchants. At £20,000/month it costs £338 in fees, compared to potentially £150 £200 with interchange-plus pricing
• No dedicated account manager on standard plans, and phone support is limited
• Funds are held for up to five business days for new accounts before the standard next-day settlement begins, which can cause early cash-flow issues
• The SumUp POS app lacks the depth needed for larger retail or hospitality operations
• SumUp has been known to freeze accounts with little notice pending identity or transaction reviews, which can disrupt trading

takepayments Pros and Cons

Pros

• Interchange-plus pricing is transparent and typically cheaper than 1.69% for debit card transactions, which make up the majority of UK consumer payments
• 24/7 UK-based phone support and a named account manager included as standard
• Replacement terminal dispatched within 24 hours if hardware develops a fault
• MOTO payment capability available for businesses that take card payments over the phone
• No upfront hardware cost terminal is rented as part of the monthly agreement

Cons

• Fixed 12 18 month contracts with early termination fees, so leaving before the term ends can be costly
• Online payment tools are limited compared to SumUp. takepayments is primarily an in-person and phone-order solution
• Monthly fees mean you pay even in months when card volumes are low or the business is closed
• takepayments is UK-only, with no support for international acquiring or multi-currency settlement

Which is Better For...?

Small Retail Businesses and Market Traders

For a sole trader or market stall holder taking under £3,000 per month by card, SumUp is the cleaner choice. The absence of a monthly fee means low-volume months cost nothing beyond the transaction percentage. A market trader taking £1,500 per month in card payments pays £25.35 in SumUp fees. The same volumes with takepayments would cost the transaction fees plus the monthly charge, making takepayments more expensive at that level. Once monthly card turnover consistently exceeds £5,000 £7,000, the maths shifts in takepayments' favour.

Established Cafés, Pubs, and Hospitality Venues

A busy café or pub processing £15,000 per month in card payments would pay £253.50 per month in SumUp transaction fees at 1.69%. With takepayments' interchange-plus pricing, where most UK debit transactions attract interchange of around 0.2% plus a modest markup, the same volume might cost £120 £180 including the monthly fee. The saving is real. Add in takepayments' 24/7 support and next-day terminal replacement, and for a fixed-location hospitality business, takepayments is the stronger proposition.

Online-Only or Mixed Online and In-Person Businesses

SumUp has the edge here. Its pay-by-link feature, online checkout, and basic store builder mean a business can manage in-person and remote payments from one account. takepayments' online payment capability is limited. If you sell at markets and through an online store, or if you invoice clients remotely, SumUp's multi-channel tools are more practical. For a pure e-commerce business, providers such as Stripe or Shopify Payments are worth comparing alongside SumUp before deciding.

Mobile and Field-Based Service Businesses

Tradespeople, mobile therapists, and field service engineers tend to take irregular payments in different locations. SumUp's Solo terminal with its built-in SIM works without a smartphone nearby and handles those scenarios well. takepayments' mobile GPRS terminal is capable, but the monthly contract commitment is harder to justify if work is seasonal or unpredictable. For most mobile service businesses, SumUp's no-contract model is the more sensible starting point.

Our Verdict

SumUp and takepayments are genuinely good at different things, and the right choice depends almost entirely on your monthly card volume and whether you need a contract-backed managed service or a simple self-service tool. For businesses processing under £5,000 per month in card payments, SumUp's no-contract flat rate is hard to beat on simplicity and cost. For businesses consistently processing above that level, takepayments' interchange-plus pricing and included account management justify the monthly fee and the contractual commitment.

Neither provider is a clear winner for every merchant. SumUp's account-freezing history and limited phone support are real weaknesses for time-sensitive businesses. takepayments' contract lock-in and weak online payment tools are genuine limitations for businesses with variable volumes or a significant online presence. Be honest about your actual monthly card turnover before committing to either.

Compare Card Fees is a free, independent advisory service that has helped UK businesses find better card payment deals since 2012. If you are not certain which provider suits your volumes and business type, use the Compare Card Fees comparison tool to get tailored quotes from multiple providers, including both SumUp and takepayments, without any obligation.