Whether you’re a shop or a restaurant, accepting card payments is essential to your sales process.
A portable card reader can help improve customer satisfaction and increase profitability.
Both Square and Dojo offer affordable card readers with competitive transaction rates.
However, with so many similarities, how should you decide which payment system is best for your business?
Is Square or Dojo Better?
For most businesses, the Square Reader offers the best value for money. With no long-term contracts and an upfront payment of just £19 + VAT, you can get an extremely portable card reader that syncs perfectly with Square’s comprehensive POS system.
However, if you’re willing to commit to an ongoing contract and don’t require access to POS features, you may be able to get lower transaction rates with Dojo.
Square may be better if:
✅ You want a single system that combines POS and payments.
✅ You don’t mind paying an upfront fee for your card reader
✅ You don’t want to commit to a contract or minimum monthly transaction volume.
✅ You want to avoid paying chargeback and refund fees
✅ You want a scalable solution with various hardware options, including terminals, registers and accessories.
✅ You don’t want to pay extra for PCCI compliance.
Dojo may be better if:
✅ You don’t mind committing to an initial 6-month contract to access lower transaction rates
✅ You want to offer more payment options, including Discover and Diners Club.
✅ You process card payments of at least £24.95 each month
✅ You don’t need access to additional features, such as inventory management and marketing
✅ You want a user-friendly card machine that can manage table-side orders
✅ You want a card reader with builtin 3G/4G connectivity
Square vs Dojo Comparison
Square vs Dojo: Payments
| Square | Dojo | |
|---|---|---|
| Contract Length | No contract | Initial six months, then monthly rolling |
| Minimum Monthly Payment Charge | £0 | £24.95 |
| Accepted Payment | Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Apple Pay, Google Pay | Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, American Express, Discover, Diners Club, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay |
| Payment Methods | In-person, Tap to Pay on iPhone, online checkout, payment links, invoices, remote payments, virtual terminal. | In-person, Tap to Pay on iPhone, online checkout, payment links, invoices, virtual terminal |
| Settlement | Next Business Day as standard or Instant for a 1% fee | Next day, including weekends and bank holidays |
| In-Person Consumer Cards | 1.75% | American Express: Variable + 5p All other Cards: 1.4% + 5p |
| Online Consumer Cards | UK Card: 1.4% + 25p Non-UK Cards: 2.5% + 25p | 1.9% + 5p |
| In-Person Business Cards | 1.75% | 1.99% + 5p |
| Online Business Cards | UK cards: 1.4% + 25p Non-UK: 2.5% + 25p | 2.49% + 5p |
| Virtual Terminal (TO/MO) | 2.5% | Consumer = 1.9% + 5pBusiness = 2.49% + 5p |
| Secure Transaction Fee | £0 | 5p per transaction |
| Chargeback Fees | £0 | £28 + VAT |
| Refund Fee | £0 | 5p |
| Bespoke Rates Available | For card turnovers over £200,000 per year | For card turnovers over £150,000 per year |
For most businesses, Dojo offers cheaper rates and a more comprehensive range of payment methods.
Unlike Square, Dojo can accept all cards on the Discover Global network, allowing you to cater to international customer preferences.
Contract
Dojo and Square have a transparent fee structure, but Square’s pricing makes understanding your costs simpler.
Whilst Square is contract-free, Dojo requires businesses to sign up for an initial 6-month contract, after which it becomes monthly.
Unlike Square, Dojo has a minimum monthly payment charge of £24.95, which may be an issue for casual sellers.
Dojo offers quicker settlement of funds than Square, with next-day transfers, including weekends and bank holidays.
While Square does offer instant access to your money, this service has a 1% fee; otherwise, transfers take place the next business day.
Rates
Dojo has a lower in-person transaction rate of 1.4% + 5p for most consumer cards than Square offers. However, the transaction rate for American Express is variable and based on the nature of your business, making it difficult to compare.
In contrast, B2B businesses will find Square’s in-person transaction rate 1.75% more cost-effective than Dojo’s 1.99% + 5p rate.
Square offers a cheaper online transaction rate of 1.4% + 25p for UK consumer and business cards. However, if you accept online payments from international customers, you may find Dojo most cost-effective.
For businesses that accept mail and telephone orders, Dojo’s rate of 1.95% + 5p or 2.49% + 5p is more favourable than Square’s.
Both providers offer bespoke rates if you have a high annual card turnover, with Dojo’s best rates available from the lower threshold of £150,000.
Hidden Fees
Unlike Square, Dojo charges £28 + VAT for chargebacks and 5p per transaction for refunds.
You’ll also have to pay 5p per transaction for point-to-point encryption and PCI compliance, which is included at no extra cost with Square.
Square vs Dojo: Card Readers
| Square Reader | Dojo Go | Dojo Pocket | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | £19 + VAT upfront | £20 per month | £20 per month |
| Accepts | Chip and PIN cards, contactless payments, mobile payments | Contactless, chip and PIN, magstripe and mobile payments | Contactless, mobile payments |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth | 3G/4G SIM card, WiFi | 3G/4G SIM card, WiFi |
| Battery Life | All day | 10 hours | 10 hours |
| Additional Features | Stay Connected mode for automatic pairing, 2-year limited warranty | None | Digital receipts and order management |
| POS Integration | Square POS | Connects with over 600 EPOS systems | Connects with over 600 EPOS systems |
| Optional Accessories | Bosstab Dock – £29 | None | None |
Although Dojo offers a choice of two card readers, most businesses will find Square’s hardware to be the most cost-effective.
Cost
The Square Reader is one of the most affordable card machines available, priced at just £19 + VAT upfront.
In contrast, the Dojo Go and Dojo Pocket require a minimum 1-month contract, with an ongoing charge of £20 per month for terminal rental.
Functionality
Regarding functionality, the Square Reader and Dojo Go are very similar, offering card machine functionality.
Both devices accept various payment options, including chip and PIN, contactless and mobile payments, with the Dojo Go also supporting Magstripe.
The Dojo Pocket offers the most comprehensive features, allowing users to take orders and accept payments from the portable device.
However, although the Dojo Pocket is ideal for hospitality businesses, it can only accept contactless cards and mobile payments, limiting its convenience for customers.
Integrations
As expected, the Square Reader is designed to integrate with Square’s free POS software.
In contrast, Dojo doesn’t have its own POS system but has partnered with over 600 popular EPOS partners to facilitate integration.
Connectivity
The Dojo Go and the Dojo Pocket can connect to Wi-Fi or through the built-in 3G/4G SIM card, which is ideal for businesses that need to process payments on the go.
However, the Square Reader can only connect via Bluetooth, which may be an issue if you have an unreliable or weak signal.
Square vs Dojo: Customer Support
| Square | Dojo | |
|---|---|---|
| Telephone Support | Monday to Friday, 9 am – 5 pm | Account support: 8 am – to 6 pmTechnical support: 8 am – 11 pm |
| Email Support | After raising a ticket | After raising a ticket |
| Live Chat Support | Through the mobile app & Square website | Through the website and mobile app |
| Developer Support | Slack, forum, online form | Discord and resources |
| Paid Support Plans | ✅ | ❌ |
| Resources | Video tutorials, Seller Community, Support Centre | Help Centre |
Dojo’s support is more practical than Square’s, with telephone support available seven days a week between 8 am and 11 pm.
In contrast, Square’s telephone support is only available on weekdays, between 9 am and 5 pm, which could be inconvenient if you experience problems outside these hours.
Square does offer 24/7 support through its paid support plans, but these will increase your costs further.
Both providers also offer live chat and e-mail support, catering to customer preferences.
Developers can get technical support over Slack (Square) or Discord (Dojo).
Square offers more self-guided resources than Dojo, including video tutorials and a Seller Community to connect with other customers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Square and Dojo provide mobile apps for managing transactions?
Yes, both Square and Dojo offer mobile apps for Android and iOS devices that enable users to accept payments, track sales and access additional features included in their plan.
Do Square and Dojo offer special features or tools for specific industries, such as restaurants or retail?
Yes. Square has specialised POS systems for restaurants and retail businesses, including Kitchen Display Systems (KDS), eCommerce solutions, and inventory management. Dojo has a range of restaurant features, including Dojo Bookings for restaurant management and table ordering capabilities through the Dojo Pocket card reader.
How do Square and Dojo compare in terms of user satisfaction and ratings from existing customers?
Square has a ‘great’ average Trustpilot rating of 4.1 out of 5, whilst Dojo has an ‘excellent’ score of 4.7.
Do Square and Dojo offer unique benefits or incentives for new users or businesses?
Yes. Depending on your annual card turnover, Dojo will cover your current provider’s exit fees up to £3,000.
What are the options for scaling up or expanding operations with Square and Dojo as businesses grow?
Square has the best options for scaling businesses, with various hardware options, including terminals and registers. In contrast, Dojo’s hardware is limited to the Dojo Go and Dojo Pocket card readers. Both providers offer bespoke rates for businesses with a high card turnover.
