Choosing a card-payment platform can feel like a minefield for UK small-business owners; the wrong choice eats into margins and delays your cash flow.
In the next few minutes, you’ll see exactly how SumUp and Square compare in cost, payout speed, hardware, and day-to-day usability, cutting through marketing fluff and hidden fees.
By the end, you’ll know which service matches your setup, whether you’re running a weekend market stall, a busy café, or a growing multi-site retailer, and why.
Sumup vs Square At-a-Glance
Quick take: SumUp is the simplest, lowest-cost route for most UK sole traders and pop-up sellers, while Square’s richer software ecosystem makes it the smarter long-term play for cafés, retailers, and any business that needs advanced POS add-ons.
Why?
- Lower headline fees: SumUp charges 1.69% for any in-person card sale with no monthly costs, undercutting Square’s UK card-present rate (1.75%) and eliminating fixed overheads for side-hustles and seasonal traders .
- Reliable next-day cash: Both brands pay out the next business morning, but Square adds an optional instant transfer (1.5% extra) for urgent cash-flow needs .
- Feature depth: Square layers in free POS software, inventory, marketing and loyalty modules, with paid upgrades when you outgrow the basics . SumUp stays lean and phone-friendly, perfect if you just want to get paid without learning a new system.
Best for…
| SumUp | Square |
|---|---|
| Market stalls, food trucks, mobile pros | Busy cafés, full-service restaurants |
| Seasonal pop-ups with unpredictable takings | Growing retailers needing stock control |
| Trades & home services that invoice on the go | Multi-site operators who crave unified reporting |
| Start-ups prioritising zero fixed costs | Sellers wanting one ecosystem for payments, staff & marketing |
| Visit Site | Visit Site |
*Figures correct as of June 2025 – always confirm the latest rates.
Sumup vs Square Pros & Cons
SumUp
- Lowest flat in-person fee at 1.69%, perfect for side-hustles and seasonal stalls.
- No contracts, no monthly minimums – walk away at any time.
- Free next-morning payout (07:00) to the included SumUp Business Account, with a virtual Mastercard for instant spending.
- Reader is inexpensive and the app takes minutes to set up, making it friendly for first-time card-takers.
- Optional Payments Plus plan can drop the swipe fee to 0.99% once your turnover grows.
- £10 charge-back fee on every dispute that the card scheme upholds.
- No instant-transfer option; payouts to non-SumUp bank accounts can take up to two working days.
- Basic app lacks deep inventory, loyalty or staff-management tools unless you pay extra for POS Pro.
- Trustpilot response rate is lower than Square’s, so public support may feel slower.
Square
- Feature-rich POS suite: inventory, loyalty, online store and appointments can be switched on as you grow.
- Instant Transfer lands funds in your bank within minutes for a 1.5 % fee; valuable for cash-hungry cafés or bars.
- £0 charge-back fee (Square absorbs eligible disputes up to a monthly cap).
- Very high user ratings: 4.8/5 on iOS and 4.6/5 on Google Play, signalling strong day-to-day reliability.
- Active Seller Community forum and quick replies to negative reviews show visible customer-care engagement.
- In-person fee is slightly higher at 1.75%, which can nibble margins on low-ticket sales.
- Sudden spikes in turnover sometimes trigger account reviews that pause payouts until extra checks clear.
- Full countertop hardware (Stand or Register) carries a steeper upfront cost than SumUp’s mobile readers.
- Online sales to non-UK cards incur an extra 25p on top of the 2.5 % rate, squeezing profit on very small orders.
Fees & Pricing – Detailed Cost Breakdown
| Cost area | SumUp (UK) | Square (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry card reader | SumUp Air £34 (ex-VAT) | Square Reader £19 + VAT |
| In-person card fee | 1.69% per tap/chip/PIN | 1.75% per tap/chip/PIN |
| Online/web-store payments | 2.5% per transaction | 1.4% + 25p (UK cards) or 2.5% + 25p (non-UK) |
| Keyed-in/invoice payments | 2.5% | 2.5% |
| Payout speed/ instant option | Next-day 07:00 to a free SumUp Business Account (1–2 working days to other banks); no instant transfer | Next-day free or instant transfer (1.5% of amount) |
| Ongoing monthly costs | £0 – no contracts; optional Payments Plus £19/mo drops card fee to 0.99% | £0 for core POS; paid add-ons for loyalty, marketing, etc. |
Hidden & Ancillary Fees
| Fee type | SumUp (UK) | Square (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| PCI compliance | £0 – fully handled by SumUp | £0 – bundled into processing fees |
| Chargebacks | £10 per dispute | £0 – Square absorbs up to £250 pcm |
| Refunds | Processing fee retained | Processing fee returned on full refunds |
| Cross-border cards | 2.5% surcharge on non-GBP cards | 2.5% + 25p online; 1.75% in-person |
| Early-exit/contracts | None – pay-as-you-go | None – no lock-in |
What this means for you:
- Side-hustles, pop-ups and low-volume traders should focus on the numbers that matter most: a 1.69% swipe rate and no monthly fee keep SumUp the leanest choice, though its reader costs £15 more up front.
- Businesses selling both in-store and online get better blended economics from Square – its 1.4% + 25p web rate and optional instant transfers let cafés or boutiques cover supplier bills the same day.
- Hitting ~£5–6 k+ a month in face-to-face sales? SumUp’s Payments Plus plan can cut your effective in-person cost below 1%, clawing back the £19 subscription within a few busy shifts.
- Risk matters: if you operate in sectors prone to disputes (e.g. rentals, high-ticket remote sales) Square’s £0 chargeback fee avoids the £10 sting SumUp imposes.
- Both providers clear standard payouts the next working morning, so unless you need cash within minutes, everyday cash-flow feels similar.
In short, SumUp offers simplicity and the lowest walk-up rate, while Square layers in more extras (instant cash-out, dispute protection, modular software) that can justify its higher headline fees for some merchants.
Always verify the current UK tariffs with each provider and seek professional advice before locking in a payment partner.
Custom/Bespoke Rates
High-turnover merchants aren’t locked into the headline fees you’ve seen so far.
Both SumUp and Square will discuss tailored processing rates once your annual card volume tops roughly £150k.
These one-to-one deals factor in ticket size, mix of in-person vs online sales and risk profile, so the final percentage varies by business.
How to unlock a lower rate:
- Document your volume: Pull the last 12 months’ statements to prove throughput.
- Bundle services: Providers often shave more off if you adopt their higher-tier hardware or POS add-ons.
- Ask both sides: Even if you’re already with one platform, quoting the other’s offer can help you negotiate.
- Review annually: As turnover climbs, revisit the agreement; rates can fall again once you cross the next volume band.
In short, once you’re clearing six figures a year, treat the sticker price as a starting point, not the final bill.
Hardware & Setup
SumUp:
- Air – pocket-size Bluetooth reader that pairs with any iOS/Android phone via the free SumUp app; battery good for c. 500 transactions on one charge.
- Solo – palm-sized, stand-alone touch-screen reader with built-in SIM & Wi-Fi, so no smartphone needed; ships with a magnetic charging dock.
- 3G + Printer bundle – Solo-style reader clipped to a receipt-printer cradle; ideal for taxis and pop-up food traders who must hand over paper receipts.
- All devices accept chip-and-PIN, contactless, Apple Pay & Google Pay out of the box. Setup is literally: charge, download the app (Air only), link your bank, start taking cards in under ten minutes.
Square:
- Reader – slim Bluetooth puck (needs a phone or tablet running the Square POS app).
- Terminal – all-in-one touch-screen handset with integrated receipt printer and PIN pad; works over Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
- Stand – iPad dock that adds a swivel base, card slot and tap area for a countertop checkout.
- Register – full dual-screen till with dedicated customer-facing display, Ethernet and cash-drawer ports for permanent retail counters.
- Each unit arrives with Square POS pre-installed; turn it on, sign in, and you’re trading. Every model takes all major cards and mobile wallets, with optional accessories like barcode scanners and cash drawers.
Which suits you?
- Ultra-mobile traders (markets, service pros) need nothing more than a phone + SumUp Air or Square Reader – both fit in a pocket.
- Queue-busting cafés and salons lean towards Square Terminal or SumUp Solo: a single handheld replaces separate phone, reader and receipt printer.
- Permanent retail counters will feel at home with Square Stand or Register; SumUp currently lacks a native dual-screen till.
All the above devices are contract-free and owned outright once purchased, so you can mix-and-match as your business evolves without being locked into leases or long-term rentals.
Software & Add-Ons
SumUp – lean, mobile-first toolkit:
SumUp App (iOS/Android): builds a simple product catalogue, records cash as well as cards and exports daily sales to CSV – designed to get you trading in minutes.
Payment Links & QR codes: send a link by text or drop a QR on your stall sign so customers can pay remotely at the same 2.5% rate noted earlier.
Invoicing & Quotes: raise VAT-compliant invoices in the app and add “Pay now” buttons for instant card settlement.
Free Business Account: payouts land by 07:00 next morning; comes with a virtual and optional plastic Mastercard for stock runs.
POS Pro (optional): iPad-based till software with table mapping, ingredient-level stock and staff PIN log-ins – aimed at cafés and quick-service venues that have outgrown the basic app.
Square – full POS stack you can grow into:
Square POS (free): item library with variants, modifiers, barcode scanning and real-time inventory alerts.
Square Online: drag-and-drop shopfront that syncs stock with your till – ideal for click-and-collect or shipping.
Add-on suites: switch on Loyalty, Marketing e-mail campaigns, Gift Cards or Appointments from £0 to c. £45/mo as you need them.
Staff & shift management: clock-in/out, rota planning and tip distribution built into the core POS at no extra cost.
Restaurant & Retail editions: sector-specific dashboards, coursing, kitchen display integration and advanced reporting for multi-site operators.
Take-away for you:
Choose SumUp if you value speed and simplicity: you’ll be live in minutes, can issue payment links on the fly and get a free business account without paperwork.
Pick Square when you expect to layer on extras over time: its modular apps let a weekend stall evolve into a multi-channel retailer without switching platforms, and most upgrades can be trialled free before you commit.
Payouts & Cash-Flow Control
SumUp – predictable next-morning cash:
All card takings settle by 07:00 the next working day when you use the free SumUp Business Account.
Prefer another bank? Expect the money within 1–2 working days.
A virtual (and optional plastic) Mastercard lets you spend the moment funds land, handy for early-morning stock runs.
No instant-transfer option: you can’t hurry a payout for an extra fee, so same-day cash isn’t on the menu.
Square – speed when you need it:
Standard payout: deposits hit your linked bank account the next business morning, mirroring SumUp’s timetable.
Instant Transfer: tap a button in the Square app and money arrives in minutes, 24/7, for 1.5% of the transfer amount; ideal when a supplier insists on payment before dispatch or you’re covering a weekend staff rota.
You choose whether to trigger payouts manually or let them flow automatically every evening.
Which approach fits your flow?
Side-hustles and stable-cash businesses (e.g. weekend market stalls, local services) usually manage fine with SumUp’s free next-day schedule.
Cash-hungry venues (cafés that restock daily, bars paying staff tips at close) often justify Square’s 1.5% fee a few times a week to keep shelves full and teams happy.
If you already bank with SumUp’s Business Account, the 07:00 arrival time gives you predictable access before most wholesale suppliers open.
Remember to factor weekends: both providers delay free payouts taken on Saturday until Monday, unless you trigger Square’s instant option.
Contract Terms & Flexibility
| SumUp | Square | |
|---|---|---|
| Long-term contract | None – fully pay-as-you-go | None – fully pay-as-you-go |
| Monthly minimums | £0 takings requirement | £0 takings requirement |
| Early-exit/cancellation fee | £0 – close the account anytime | £0 – close the account anytime |
| Hardware ownership | Readers bought outright; no leasing | Readers/terminals bought outright; no leasing |
| Switching banks | Change payout account in the dashboard; no fee | Change payout account in the dashboard; no fee |
| Add-on tools | Activate or cancel extras month-to-month | Activate or cancel extras month-to-month |
In a nutshell: both providers keep things friction-free – you buy the kit once, process as much or as little as you like, and walk away without penalties if your needs change. That flexibility is ideal for pop-ups, seasonal traders, or any business still figuring out future volumes.
Customer Support & Resources
| Channel | SumUp (UK) | Square (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| Phone assistance | Mon–Thu 08:00–19:00, Fri 08:00–21:00, Sat 10:00–21:00 | Mon–Fri 09:00–17:00 |
| Live chat/in-app | In-app chat: Weekdays 09:00–17:00, Weekends 10:00–18:00 (24/7 priority chat for paid plans) | Dashboard chat: Mon–Fri 09:00–17:00 |
| Email/ticket | Web form & direct email (response times vary) | Web form & email (response times vary) |
| Self-serve Help Centre | 24/7 online Support Centre with step-by-step guides | 24/7 Support Centre with articles & video tutorials |
| Community forum | Not offered | Active “Seller Community” forum for peer advice |
| Extra learning | Business-tips blog, training webinars | Webinars, podcasts, case-study hub |
Customer Ratings & Reviews
SumUp Reviews
SumUp holds a “Great” Trustpilot rating of 4.0/5 from 26k+ reviews, a 4.7/5 score from about 13k ratings on the Apple App Store, and 4.4/5 from roughly 125k reviews on Google Play.
Most five-star comments come from taxi drivers, market traders and micro-retailers who love the no-contract pricing, quick Bluetooth pairing and 07:00 next-day payouts. Reviewers also highlight the free Business Account as a handy perk for early stock runs.
Low-star posts centre on two themes: a £10 charge-back fee that can sting on slim margins, and ID-verification delays that freeze payouts until paperwork clears.
Overall, merchants think SumUp is great for straightforward, low-volume card sales but point to slower support follow-ups when problems crop up.
Square Reviews
Square shows a “Great” Trustpilot rating of 4.2/5 from around 3k reviews, a 4.8/5 score from approximately 544k ratings on the Apple App Store, and 4.6/5 from about 226k reviews on Google Play.
Praise focuses on the polished hardware, deep POS features (inventory, loyalty, online store) and Square’s habit of replying to nearly every negative Trustpilot post within a week. Café and boutique owners in particular credit it with streamlining daily operations.
The main criticisms are compliance-related: sudden spikes in turnover can trigger account reviews that pause payouts, and a minority of Android users report search-function bugs.
Even so, the sheer volume of high scores, especially on iOS, suggests Square delivers a consistently strong experience for businesses that need more than basic card acceptance.
SumUp vs Square Final Verdict – Which One Suits You?
Choose SumUp if…
You’re a sole trader, pop-up stall or mobile pro who takes most payments face-to-face and values the lowest swipe rate (1.69%).
Predictable next-morning payouts are fast enough, and you don’t need advanced tools like loyalty, staff rotas, or a full webshop.
You want a reader that’s ready in ten minutes and a free business account that lets you spend your takings with a virtual Mastercard at 07:00 the next day.
Choose Square if…
You’re running a café, boutique or service business that juggles in-store, online and click-and-collect orders, and you’d rather grow inside one modular system.
Instant cash-out matters (1.5 % fee), or you prefer the comfort of £0 charge-back fees and rich inventory, loyalty, and marketing add-ons straight out of the box.
You can live with a slightly higher in-person fee (1.75%) in exchange for deeper reporting, stronger app-store ratings and an active seller community.
Still undecided?
Both providers are contract-free, so the cheapest experiment is to buy an entry reader (£34 for SumUp Air, £19 for Square Reader) and process a week’s takings. You’ll discover which app feels natural, how fast payouts hit your bank, and whether you miss any features. After that trial, the right choice usually reveals itself.
FAQs
No. Both SumUp and Square operate on a pay-as-you-go basis with no lock-ins, monthly minimums or exit fees. You can close the account at any time without penalty.
SumUp charges a flat 1.69 % on every tap, chip or PIN sale. Square’s UK rate is 1.75 %. Neither platform adds a fixed pence charge for face-to-face payments.
Standard deposits from both services arrive the next working day. SumUp credits its free Business Account by 07:00; transfers to other banks can take up to two working days. Square’s standard next-day schedule lands funds by the following morning.
Square offers “Instant Transfer”: tap a button and money appears in your bank account within minutes for a 1.5 % fee. SumUp does not currently provide same-day payouts.
Both companies are certified to PCI-DSS Level 1 and encrypt every transaction end-to-end, so you don’t need separate PCI audits or extra security products.
SumUp passes on a £10 fee for each dispute that the card scheme upholds. Square absorbs eligible chargeback costs up to a monthly cap, so you pay nothing in most cases.
Yes. SumUp lets you send payment links and invoices at a 2.5 % rate. Square provides a full online store that charges 1.4 % + 25 p for UK-issued cards (2.5 % + 25 p for non-UK cards).
