SumUp vs Lopay: Which Is Right for Your Business? (2026)

Provider	Online transaction fee	In-person fee	Monthly fee	Hardware	Action
SumUp	DRAFT online fee	DRAFT in-person fee	DRAFT monthly fee	DRAFT hardware	Visit →
Lopay	DRAFT online fee	DRAFT in-person fee	DRAFT monthly fee	DRAFT hardware	Visit →

Which Is Better for Small UK Businesses?

DRAFT: 2-3 paragraphs naming the use case and the decisive trade-off.

SumUp vs Lopay Fees and Charges

Card Transaction Fees

DRAFT: card transaction fees side-by-side from gemini-output.md

Monthly, Setup and Contract Costs

DRAFT: monthly/setup/contract costs from gemini-output.md

Other Fees to Watch

DRAFT: chargeback, refund, FX, payout fees from gemini-output.md

Fee Verdict — Who Costs Less

DRAFT: which is cheaper, when, and why. Cite break-even points.

SumUp vs Lopay Payment Methods and Checkout

Cards, Wallets and Alternative Payment Methods

DRAFT: cards/wallets/APMs from gemini-output.md

Checkout Experience

DRAFT: checkout UX from gemini-output.md

Methods Verdict

DRAFT: which provider wins on payment methods, for whom

SumUp vs Lopay Hardware, POS and In-Person

Card Readers and Terminals

DRAFT: card readers/terminals from gemini-output.md

POS Software and Hardware Add-ons

DRAFT: POS software/hardware add-ons from gemini-output.md

In-Person Verdict

DRAFT: in-person winner with concrete reader scenarios

SumUp vs Lopay Online Payments and Integrations

Hosted Checkout, Payment Links and APIs

DRAFT: hosted checkout/links/APIs from gemini-output.md

Platform Integrations

DRAFT: Shopify/WooCommerce/Xero/QuickBooks integrations from gemini-output.md

Online Verdict

DRAFT: online winner with concrete e-commerce scenarios

SumUp vs Lopay Payouts, Contracts and Risk

Settlement Speed and Payout Schedule

DRAFT: settlement speed/payouts from gemini-output.md

Contract Length and Exit Terms

DRAFT: contract length/exit terms from gemini-output.md

Reserves, Holds and Account Stability

DRAFT: reserves/holds/account stability from gemini-output.md

SumUp vs Lopay Customer Reviews and Reputation

Trustpilot and Independent Review Themes

DRAFT: Trustpilot/independent review themes from gemini-output.md

Support Channels and Response Times

DRAFT: support channels and response times from gemini-output.md

Reputation Verdict

DRAFT: which provider has cleaner reputation, for whom

SumUp vs Lopay for International Payments

DRAFT: 2-3 paragraphs on the variable factor (international/recurring/high-risk/etc.)

Downsides of SumUp and Lopay

Downsides of SumUp

DRAFT: SumUp downsides from gemini-output.md

Downsides of Lopay

DRAFT: Lopay downsides from gemini-output.md

Alternatives to SumUp and Lopay

DRAFT: 3 alternative providers with 2-3 lines each. Affiliate-first.

Best for Startups

Best for: Sole traders and startups wanting the lowest hardware entry cost

Watch out: Battery degrades in cold weather and Bluetooth fails if phone dies mid-shift

Not ideal if: Businesses expecting to scale past £5,000/month quickly — a plan switch will be needed

£15 hardware price is the lowest entry point on the market

Next-day 7am settlement is faster than Square’s standard 1–2 working days

Payments Plus at 0.99% is a credible upgrade path above £4,000/month

Amex accepted at the flat rate — no separate premium-card policy needed

Hardware battery degrades in cold weather — unreliable on winter outdoor markets

Bluetooth-to-phone fails if the phone dies on a busy shift

Payments Plus break-even is £3,800/month — most small users should not subscribe

Best for Low Fees

Best for: UK sole traders and small businesses wanting the lowest per-transaction cost with no monthly commitment

Watch out: Lopay Essential (0.79%) requires weekly payouts — cash-flow-sensitive businesses should use Standard (0.99%) for next-day settlement. Business Terminal is a 12-month contract despite the ‘no lock-in’ messaging.

Not ideal if: Businesses with significant Amex or international card volume, or those needing a full POS ecosystem beyond basic card acceptance

Eligibility: UK businesses only

Not ideal if: Businesses with significant Amex or international card volume, or those needing a full POS ecosystem beyond basic card acceptance

0.79%–0.99% per transaction is significantly cheaper than Square’s 1.75% flat rate

No monthly fee on reader tiers

Free POS app with unlimited team members included

Instant payouts available 24/7 via TrueLayer open banking

Tap to Pay on phone — no hardware cost to start

Xero integration included

UK-only — cannot process international merchants or non-GBP transactions without a 2% FX surcharge

Amex and international cards attract a 1% surcharge, narrowing the rate advantage

Business Terminal requires a 12-month commitment

Founded 2022 — shorter track record than Square (UK since 2017)

Payment links cost an extra 0.49% versus in-person rate

Weekly-payout tier may not suit businesses with tight cashflow

Final Verdict: SumUp or Lopay?

DRAFT: final verdict — which to pick, for whom, with the decisive rate or feature.

Frequently Asked Questions

DRAFT: FAQ 1 from SERP intent

DRAFT: FAQ 1 answer

DRAFT: FAQ 2 from SERP intent

DRAFT: FAQ 2 answer

DRAFT: FAQ 3 from SERP intent

DRAFT: FAQ 3 answer

DRAFT: FAQ 4 from SERP intent

DRAFT: FAQ 4 answer

How we reviewed Sumup vs Lopay

Ranking criteria. We compared Sumup and Lopay on pricing, fees, feature set, eligibility, and contract terms. We also verified regulatory status and deposit protection where applicable.

Data sources. Every provider’s pricing page, terms, and product docs were checked directly in May 2026. No comparison sites, no press releases, no affiliate material. FCA register cross-checked for regulatory status.

Update cadence. We re-verify every provider on this page at least monthly, and whenever a provider changes pricing, eligibility, or terms. The verification date on the page reflects the most recent full review. Some links on this page are affiliate links, see our editorial policy.