SumUp Fees UK: Card Reader Costs & Pricing
SumUp is easy to start with, but the cheapest plan changes as your card turnover grows. We break down PAYG, Payments Plus, card-reader prices, online fees and when it is worth comparing a negotiated merchant-service quote.
See how SumUp compares at your turnover
Use your expected card sales and payment setup to compare SumUp with other card-machine providers. The right answer can change considerably as turnover grows.
SumUp fees at a glance
PAYG keeps fixed costs at zero. Payments Plus lowers eligible in-person transaction fees in exchange for a monthly or annual plan.
| Fee or product | Current price | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| PAYG monthly fee | £0 | No monthly processing subscription |
| PAYG in-person payments | 1.69% | Standard flat rate for card-reader payments |
| Payments Plus | £19/month or £189/year | Lower rate for eligible domestic consumer cards |
| Payments Plus domestic consumer cards | 0.99% | Eligible domestic debit and credit cards |
| Payments Plus premium, international and Amex | 1.69% | These stay at the higher in-person rate |
| Personal SumUp Card payments | 0% | Eligible in-person payments made with a personal SumUp card |
| Online payments / Payment Links | 2.50% | Same headline rate on PAYG and Payments Plus |
| Tap to Pay | £0 hardware | Use a compatible smartphone with the SumUp Business app |
| Solo Lite | £25 + VAT | Phone-paired entry reader |
| Solo Lite + charging station | £35 + VAT | Same reader with countertop charging dock |
| Solo | £79 + VAT | Standalone reader with built-in mobile data |
| Solo with printer | £109 + VAT | Standalone Solo bundled with receipt printing |
| Terminal | £135 + VAT | Standalone handheld POS with built-in receipt printer |
| Register | £399 + VAT | Dual-screen fixed POS |
Which SumUp plan should you choose?
Low or irregular card turnover: start on PAYG. Around £3,000+ of regular qualifying in-person sales: calculate Payments Plus. Confident you will use Payments Plus all year: the £189 annual option reduces the effective plan cost to £15.75 a month. Much higher turnover: compare SumUp against a negotiated merchant-service quote rather than assuming the public tariff remains cheapest.
How much does SumUp charge per card payment?
On standard PAYG, SumUp charges 1.69% for in-person card-reader payments. There is no monthly payment-processing subscription.
Because the normal PAYG fee is percentage-only, the calculation is straightforward:
| Sale value | 1.69% fee | Amount left after processing fee |
|---|---|---|
| £10 | £0.17 | £9.83 |
| £25 | £0.42 | £24.58 |
| £50 | £0.85 | £49.15 |
| £100 | £1.69 | £98.31 |
| £500 | £8.45 | £491.55 |
Who is SumUp PAYG best for?
PAYG is usually the strongest starting point if card turnover is low, seasonal or unpredictable.
- sole traders testing card payments;
- market traders and craft sellers;
- mobile services;
- tradespeople taking occasional card payments;
- seasonal businesses that want no monthly processing subscription.
At £1,000 of monthly card turnover, the 1.69% PAYG fee is £16.90. A £19 monthly Payments Plus subscription would only make sense once the lower eligible-card rate saves more than the plan costs.
See our card machines for sole traders and mobile card reader guide.
When does Payments Plus become cheaper?
Payments Plus costs £19 per month or £189 per year and reduces eligible domestic consumer debit and credit card payments from 1.69% to 0.99%.
If every transaction qualified for 0.99%, the mathematical break-even on the monthly plan is about £2,715 of in-person card turnover.
The annual plan works out at £15.75 a month. On the same all-qualifying assumption, its mathematical break-even is about £2,250 a month. The annual option therefore improves the maths if you are confident you will use Payments Plus throughout the year.
Use a real-world buffer rather than the mathematical break-even
Premium, international and American Express cards stay at 1.69% on Payments Plus. SumUp’s current UK guidance positions Payments Plus at businesses processing roughly £3,300 or more per month. Your own card mix decides whether the plan saves money.
PAYG vs Payments Plus examples
These examples assume every transaction qualifies for the 0.99% rate. Real costs can be higher where some cards stay at 1.69%.
| Monthly card sales | PAYG 1.69% | 0.99% + £19 | Simplified difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| £1,000 | £16.90 | £28.90 | PAYG £12 cheaper |
| £2,500 | £42.25 | £43.75 | PAYG £1.50 cheaper |
| £3,000 | £50.70 | £48.70 | Payments Plus £2 cheaper |
| £5,000 | £84.50 | £68.50 | Payments Plus £16 cheaper |
| £10,000 | £169.00 | £118.00 | Payments Plus £51 cheaper |
| £20,000 | £338.00 | £217.00 | Payments Plus £121 cheaper |
The £189 annual plan lowers the effective subscription cost to £15.75 a month. On an all-qualifying card mix, that moves the simplified break-even down to around £2,250 monthly in-person turnover.
Which transactions stay at 1.69% on Payments Plus?
The 0.99% rate is not universal. SumUp currently charges 1.69% for premium, international and American Express cards under Payments Plus.
If your business serves tourists, corporate buyers or customers who frequently use premium cards, inspect your real card mix before assuming most turnover will move to 0.99%.
What is the 0% SumUp Card rate?
SumUp currently charges 0% for eligible in-person payments made with a personal SumUp card. It is a useful extra, but most businesses should still base their decision on the cards customers normally use.
SumUp Solo Lite: £25 + VAT
Solo Lite is the low-cost entry reader. It pairs with a compatible phone or tablet and works through the SumUp Business app.
It is a natural fit for owner-operated businesses that want inexpensive hardware and are happy using a phone during checkout. SumUp also currently sells Solo Lite with a charging station for £35 + VAT.
If you do not want any separate hardware, Tap to Pay has a £0 hardware cost on a compatible smartphone.
SumUp Solo: £79 + VAT
Solo is a standalone touchscreen reader with a built-in SIM and free unlimited mobile data. It works without being permanently paired to your phone.
That makes it more practical if several people need to use the device or you want card payments separated from your personal phone. A current Solo bundle with receipt printer is £109 + VAT.
SumUp Terminal: £135 + VAT
Terminal is the more capable handheld option. It combines payment acceptance, basic POS features and a built-in receipt printer.
It is better suited to cafés, salons, food businesses, shops and venues that want a more complete checkout device.
Read our full SumUp Card Reader review for the hardware-focused comparison.
SumUp Register and POS costs
SumUp Register currently costs £399 + VAT. The current Full POS Kit is £599 + VAT and the Retail POS Kit is £649 + VAT.
Once you are shopping at this level, compare the whole till and payment setup rather than only the card fee. See our EPOS systems guide.
How much does SumUp charge for online payments?
SumUp currently charges 2.50% for online payments, including standard Payment Links and other digital payment products.
That is materially higher than its face-to-face PAYG rate. If ecommerce is a major part of your business, compare dedicated online payment processing companies as well.
How quickly does SumUp pay out?
If you use the free SumUp Business Account, SumUp says card-reader and Tap to Pay earnings are available by 7am the following day, including weekends and bank holidays.
Payouts to an external bank account are working-day based and can take longer. SumUp’s current Business Account information says other-account payouts can take 1 to 3 business days, depending on the payout setup.
If cash flow matters, compare where the money actually lands. Next-day access inside a provider account is not necessarily the same thing as next-day settlement into the business bank account you already use.
Does SumUp have a long contract?
Standard PAYG has no traditional terminal-rental agreement. You buy the hardware and pay processing fees when you use it.
Payments Plus is also much more flexible than a conventional long card-machine rental agreement. The monthly option suits businesses that want to test whether the lower rate works before committing to an annual payment.
How average transaction value affects SumUp
Because standard SumUp PAYG is percentage-only, average transaction value does not change the effective percentage.
A café taking 500 payments of £10 and a consultant taking 50 payments of £100 would both pay £84.50 on £5,000 of PAYG turnover at 1.69%.
This matters when comparing SumUp with providers that add a fixed pence charge to every transaction.
SumUp vs Square
Square Reader starts from £19 + VAT and standard in-person payments cost 1.75%.
SumUp has the slightly lower standard percentage. Square’s advantage is the breadth of its free core POS ecosystem, particularly for products, appointments and customer management.
At £5,000 monthly turnover, the difference between 1.69% and 1.75% is only £3. Software and workflow can therefore matter more than the fee difference at modest turnover.
Read our Square Card Reader review.
SumUp vs PayPal Point of Sale
PayPal’s first Reader currently costs £29 excluding VAT, with standard card and contactless payments at 1.75%.
SumUp is cheaper on the standard in-person percentage and has a lower-cost entry reader. PayPal becomes more relevant when PayPal already handles a significant part of your online or invoice payments.
Read our PayPal Card Reader review.
SumUp vs Tide
Tide Nano starts from £15 + VAT, making it cheaper upfront than Solo Lite.
Tide’s card-reader pricing uses a percentage plus a fixed pence fee for its headline domestic debit-card rates, while its Sell In-Person subscription can reduce eligible debit-card pricing further.
The major difference is the banking relationship. Tide’s card-reader proposition is designed around Tide business banking, while SumUp can be considered more independently as a payment provider.
Read our Tide Card Reader review.
What SumUp could cost as your turnover grows
The percentage looks small until card turnover becomes substantial. At the standard 1.69% PAYG rate:
- £10,000/month costs £169 in processing fees.
- £20,000/month costs £338.
- £30,000/month costs £507.
- £40,000/month costs £676.
This is why a provider that is excellent for a new sole trader can become less competitive for an established business. Payments Plus should be your first comparison, followed by a tailored merchant-services quote once monthly fees become material.
When should you compare Dojo, Worldpay or takepayments?
SumUp is strongest when simplicity and low fixed costs matter. Once card turnover becomes substantial, the percentage rate can become the biggest cost.
At £20,000 monthly turnover, 1.69% equals £338 every month. At £40,000 it is £676.
That is the point where a lower negotiated or blended merchant rate can outweigh terminal rental or service charges.
Compare Dojo, Worldpay, takepayments and our broader card machine provider guide.
Review SumUp as your business grows
A plan that is excellent at £1,500 monthly turnover may be expensive at £30,000. Check PAYG against Payments Plus first, then compare full merchant-service quotes once processing fees become a meaningful monthly cost.
Questions to ask before choosing SumUp
- How much will I take in person each month?
- What proportion of my customers use domestic consumer cards?
- Would Payments Plus save money using my actual card mix?
- Do I want to use my phone during every payment?
- Do I need printed receipts?
- Will staff need to share the device?
- Do I need seven-day next-day access to takings?
- How much of my business is online rather than face to face?
- Would a negotiated merchant quote beat SumUp at my turnover?
Not sure whether SumUp is still the cheapest option?
Compare SumUp against other card-machine providers using your real monthly turnover. The difference becomes much more important as the business grows.
Frequently asked questions
How much does SumUp charge per transaction?
SumUp PAYG currently charges 1.69% for normal in-person card-reader payments. Payments Plus reduces eligible domestic debit and credit cards to 0.99% for £19 per month or £189 per year.
Does SumUp have a monthly fee?
Not on PAYG. The standard plan is £0 per month. Payments Plus is optional and costs £19 monthly or £189 annually.
When is Payments Plus worth it?
If every transaction qualified for 0.99%, the mathematical break-even is about £2,715 a month on the £19 monthly plan and roughly £2,250 a month when the £189 annual price is spread across the year. In practice, use a higher buffer because some card types remain at 1.69%.
What is the cheapest SumUp card reader?
Solo Lite currently costs £25 + VAT. Tap to Pay has no dedicated hardware cost if you have a compatible smartphone.
How much is SumUp Terminal?
SumUp Terminal currently costs £135 + VAT and combines card payments, basic POS features and a built-in receipt printer.
How much does SumUp charge for online payments?
Online payments and standard Payment Links currently cost 2.50% per transaction.
How quickly does SumUp pay businesses?
SumUp says earnings paid into its Business Account are available by 7am the following day, including weekends and bank holidays. External-account payouts are working-day based and can take around 1 to 3 business days depending on the payout setup.
Our verdict
SumUp remains one of the strongest payment options for UK sole traders and small businesses that want low fixed costs and straightforward pricing.
PAYG is difficult to fault when turnover is low or unpredictable. Solo Lite is inexpensive, the 1.69% rate is easy to understand and there is no traditional terminal-rental commitment.
Payments Plus materially improves SumUp once turnover becomes regular. At roughly £3,000 or more in qualifying monthly in-person payments, calculate the monthly plan properly. If that level of turnover is dependable throughout the year, also compare the £189 annual option because its lower effective monthly cost improves the break-even point.
At much higher turnover, SumUp should become the benchmark rather than the automatic choice. Compare full merchant-service quotes and see whether a lower negotiated rate saves more than SumUp’s simplicity is worth.
Compare SumUp with other card-machine providers
Use your real turnover and payment mix to see whether SumUp PAYG, Payments Plus or another provider offers the better overall deal.
Compare Card Machine QuotesCompare fees, hardware, settlement and contract terms before committing.
