SumUp vs Square UK: Complete Comparison

SumUp vs Square: Overview

Both SumUp and Square are leading pay-as-you-go card machine providers in the UK, offering zero monthly fees, no contracts, and instant approval. They target similar markets – small businesses, startups, mobile traders, and anyone wanting simple card payment acceptance without commitment.

The fundamental difference: SumUp focuses purely on payment processing at the lowest rates, while Square provides a complete business management platform with payment processing included.

Who Are These Providers?

SumUp:

• Founded 2012, headquarters in London
• Operates in 30+ countries
• Processing billions annually for 4+ million merchants
• Known for simple, affordable card readers
• Focus: Straightforward payment acceptance

Square:

• Founded 2009 by Jack Dorsey (Twitter co-founder)
• US-based, UK operations launched 2017
• Processing $200+ billion annually globally
• Known for comprehensive EPOS ecosystem
• Focus: Complete business management platform

Transaction Fees Comparison

Fee Structures

SumUp:

• In-person (card-present): 1.69% flat rate
• Online payments: Not directly supported (use third-party integrations)
• Invoices: 1.69% + 25p via payment links
• No additional fees: No per-transaction fixed fee for card-present

Square:

• In-person (card-present): 1.75%
• Online payments: 2.5% + 25p
• Invoices: 2.5% + 25p
• Keyed-in transactions: 2.5% + 25p

Cost Comparison at Different Volumes

Monthly turnover: £2,000

• SumUp: £2,000 × 1.69% = £33.80
• Square: £2,000 × 1.75% = £35.00
• SumUp saves: £1.20/month (£14.40/year)

Monthly turnover: £5,000

• SumUp: £5,000 × 1.69% = £84.50
• Square: £5,000 × 1.75% = £87.50
• SumUp saves: £3.00/month (£36/year)

Monthly turnover: £10,000

• SumUp: £10,000 × 1.69% = £169
• Square: £10,000 × 1.75% = £175
• SumUp saves: £6/month (£72/year)

Monthly turnover: £20,000

• SumUp: £20,000 × 1.69% = £338
• Square: £20,000 × 1.75% = £350
• SumUp saves: £12/month (£144/year)

The verdict: SumUp is consistently cheaper for in-person transactions. The 0.06% difference seems small but compounds significantly at higher volumes. At £20,000 monthly, you save £144 annually with SumUp.

However, if you process online payments or invoices frequently, Square’s unified pricing might simplify accounting despite being slightly higher for card-present transactions.

Terminal Options and Costs

SumUp Terminals

SumUp Air (Bluetooth reader):

• Cost: £29
• Type: Bluetooth connection to smartphone/tablet
• Best for: Occasional sales, market stalls, mobile services
• Pros: Cheapest option, ultra-portable
• Cons: Requires smartphone, Bluetooth can be unreliable

SumUp 3G + Wi-Fi:

• Cost: £99
• Type: Standalone portable terminal with SIM
• Best for: Mobile businesses, tradespeople, market traders
• Pros: Works anywhere (GPRS connectivity), no phone needed
• Cons: £5/month SIM fee, bulkier than Air

SumUp Solo:

• Cost: £149
• Type: Countertop terminal with printer
• Best for: Fixed locations, retail shops, cafes
• Pros: Receipt printer built-in, fast processing
• Cons: Most expensive SumUp terminal, not portable

Square Terminals

Square Reader (Bluetooth):

• Cost: £39
• Type: Bluetooth connection to smartphone/tablet
• Best for: Market stalls, pop-ups, occasional sales
• Pros: Connects to powerful Square POS app
• Cons: Requires smartphone, Bluetooth connectivity

Square Terminal:

• Cost: £299
• Type: All-in-one touchscreen terminal
• Best for: Retail, cafes, restaurants, salons
• Pros: No phone needed, receipt printer, inventory management on device, Wi-Fi + Ethernet
• Cons: Expensive upfront, Wi-Fi only (no GPRS)

Square Stand:

• Cost: £149 (requires iPad – not included)
• Type: iPad point-of-sale stand with card reader
• Best for: Restaurants, retail needing full EPOS
• Pros: Large screen, full Square POS capabilities
• Cons: Requires iPad purchase separately, countertop only

Terminal Comparison Summary

Budget option: SumUp Air (£29) beats Square Reader (£39) by £10

Mobile/portable: SumUp 3G (£99) works anywhere with GPRS. Square Terminal (£299) Wi-Fi only – not truly mobile for outdoor/remote work.

Countertop: Square Terminal (£299) superior to SumUp Solo (£149) due to touchscreen interface and integrated EPOS, but costs 2× more.

The verdict: SumUp offers cheaper hardware across the board. Square’s terminals cost more but provide significantly more functionality, especially the Square Terminal with its touchscreen EPOS system.

Features Comparison

Payment Processing Features

Feature	SumUp	Square
Contactless payments (up to £100)	✅	✅
Chip and PIN	✅	✅
Magnetic stripe	✅	✅
Email receipts	✅	✅
Tipping function	❌	✅
Split payments	❌	✅
Multi-currency	Limited	✅
Offline mode	❌	✅

Business Management Features

Feature	SumUp	Square
Inventory management	Basic	✅ Advanced
Employee management	❌	✅
Sales reporting	Basic	✅ Advanced
Customer database	❌	✅
Table management (restaurants)	❌	✅
Appointment booking	❌	✅ (Square Appointments)
Loyalty programs	❌	✅
Gift cards	❌	✅

The verdict: Square dominates business management features. If you need anything beyond basic payment acceptance (inventory tracking, employee management, customer database), Square is superior. SumUp keeps it simple – just payment processing.

Integrations

SumUp integrations:

• Limited native integrations
• Works with some accounting software via third-party connectors
• Basic e-commerce integrations available
• Generally requires more manual work for data transfer

Square integrations:

• Extensive native integrations
• Accounting: Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent (automatic sync)
• E-commerce: WooCommerce, Shopify, Wix, BigCommerce
• Booking: Square Appointments, Acuity, Fresha
• Marketing: Mailchimp, Constant Contact
• App marketplace with 100+ integrations

The verdict: Square’s integration ecosystem is significantly more developed. If you use accounting software, booking systems, or e-commerce platforms, Square offers seamless connections SumUp cannot match.

Settlement Speed

SumUp:

• Standard settlement: Next business day
• Funds arrive: Typically within 24 hours of transaction
• Weekend/bank holiday transactions: Settled following business day
• No faster settlement options available

Square:

• Standard settlement: 1-2 business days
• Established businesses: Often next business day after initial period
• New accounts: May have 2-3 day settlement initially
• Instant transfer available: 1.5% fee for immediate access to funds (up to £10,000 per transfer)

The verdict: SumUp offers consistently faster settlement (next business day guaranteed). Square varies but offers instant transfer option for emergencies (though 1.5% fee is expensive).

Reporting and Analytics

SumUp reporting:

• Basic transaction history
• Filter by date, amount, card type
• Export to CSV
• Simple charts showing daily/weekly/monthly totals
• No advanced analytics or insights

Square reporting:

• Comprehensive sales analytics dashboard
• Sales by product/category breakdown
• Employee performance tracking
• Peak sales hours identification
• Customer insights (frequency, average spend)
• Inventory turnover analysis
• Gross margin tracking
• Custom report builder
• Scheduled email reports

The verdict: Square’s reporting is comprehensive and actionable. SumUp provides basic transaction records suitable for simple businesses. If you want insights to improve business performance, Square wins decisively.

Customer Support

SumUp support:

• Email support (24/7)
• Phone support (UK business hours)
• Help center with articles and guides
• Social media support (Twitter, Facebook)
• Average response time: 4-8 hours email, immediate phone
• Reviews: Generally positive, occasional complaints about slow resolution

Square support:

• Email support (24/7)
• Phone support (UK business hours for paid plans, limited for free)
• Live chat support
• Extensive help center and video tutorials
• Community forum
• Average response time: 2-4 hours email, immediate chat/phone
• Reviews: Mixed – praised for comprehensive resources, criticized for difficulty reaching live support on free plan

The verdict: Both offer adequate support. Square has more support channels (chat, forum) but may prioritize paid plan customers. SumUp’s support is more straightforward – everyone gets same access regardless of volume.

Online Payments and E-commerce

SumUp online capabilities:

• Payment links (send via email, SMS, social media)
• Limited e-commerce integrations
• No native online store builder
• Requires third-party solutions for full e-commerce
• Online transaction fee: 1.69% + 25p

Square online capabilities:

• Free online store builder (Square Online)
• Seamless integration with in-person POS
• Unified inventory across online and in-person
• Professional e-commerce features (abandoned cart recovery, SEO tools)
• Integrates with major e-commerce platforms
• Invoice sending with online payment
• Online transaction fee: 2.5% + 25p

The verdict: If you sell online or plan to, Square is vastly superior. SumUp’s online capabilities are basic. Square provides a complete omnichannel solution with free e-commerce website included.

Contract Terms and Flexibility

Both providers:

• No contracts – cancel anytime
• No monthly fees
• No setup fees
• No early termination penalties
• No minimum processing requirements

The verdict: Identical flexibility. Both are pay-as-you-go with zero commitment.

Account Setup and Approval

SumUp:

• Approval time: Instant to 24 hours typically
• Requirements: Business details, director ID, bank account
• Accept most UK businesses
• Occasionally request additional documentation

Square:

• Approval time: Instant to 48 hours
• Requirements: Business details, director ID, bank account
• Slightly stricter underwriting than SumUp
• May decline high-risk industries SumUp accepts

The verdict: SumUp has slightly easier approval, especially for newer businesses or higher-risk industries. Square occasionally declines businesses SumUp accepts.

When to Choose SumUp

Choose SumUp if you:

• Want lowest transaction costs: 1.69% beats Square’s 1.75% consistently
• Need simple payment acceptance only: Don’t need inventory, employee management, advanced reporting
• Want budget-friendly hardware: SumUp terminals cheaper (£29-£149 vs £39-£299)
• Process primarily in-person: SumUp’s strength is card-present transactions
• Prefer simplicity: Less features means easier to learn and use
• Work in mobile environments: SumUp 3G works anywhere with cellular coverage (Square Terminal Wi-Fi only)
• Value consistent settlement: Guaranteed next-day settlement
• Are a sole trader or very small business: Don’t need multi-user systems

Best for: Tradespeople, market traders, mobile services, beauty therapists, personal trainers, dog walkers, photographers, handymen, cleaners, gardeners.

When to Choose Square

Choose Square if you:

• Need comprehensive EPOS features: Inventory, employees, customers, reporting all included free
• Sell both online and in-person: Unified system with free e-commerce site
• Run a restaurant or cafe: Table management, menu customization, kitchen display system
• Operate a retail shop: Advanced inventory tracking, barcode scanning, variant management
• Run a salon or spa: Square Appointments for booking integrated with payments
• Want detailed analytics: Business insights, sales trends, customer behavior tracking
• Need integrations: Accounting software, e-commerce platforms, marketing tools
• Have multiple staff members: Employee logins, permissions, performance tracking
• Accept tips: Built-in tipping prompts (important for hospitality)
• Value ecosystem benefits: Additional Square products (invoicing, payroll, marketing) integrate seamlessly

Best for: Restaurants, cafes, retail shops, salons, spas, gyms, bakeries, boutiques, gift shops, florists, bookstores.

Industry-Specific Recommendations

Restaurants and Cafés

Winner: Square

Reasons:

• Table management essential for full-service restaurants
• Menu customization and modifiers (size, toppings, etc.)
• Kitchen display system for order management
• Tipping function (SumUp lacks this)
• Split payment between multiple cards
• Detailed menu item analytics showing best/worst sellers

Cost consideration: The £6/month you save with SumUp doesn’t justify losing critical restaurant features.

Retail Shops

Winner: Square (unless very low volume)

Reasons:

• Inventory management crucial for retail
• Barcode scanning
• Stock alerts and reorder points
• Product variants (sizes, colors)
• Employee sales tracking

Exception: Very small shops processing under £3,000 monthly with minimal inventory (10-20 products) can use SumUp’s basic inventory and save on fees.

Tradespeople (Plumbers, Electricians, Builders)

Winner: SumUp

Reasons:

• Lowest cost matters when margins are tight
• Don’t need inventory, employees, or advanced reporting
• SumUp 3G works anywhere (construction sites, customer homes) – Square Terminal needs Wi-Fi
• Simple, reliable payment acceptance is all that’s needed
• Hardware cheaper (£99 SumUp 3G vs £299 Square Terminal)

Beauty Salons and Spas

Winner: Square

Reasons:

• Square Appointments handles booking + payments seamlessly
• Client database with service history
• Automated appointment reminders
• Employee commission tracking
• Product inventory for retail sales (shampoos, products)
• Tip functionality for stylists/therapists

Market Stalls and Event Vendors

Winner: SumUp

Reasons:

• Lower fees on typically smaller transaction values
• Cheaper hardware (SumUp Air £29 vs Square Reader £39)
• Works with mobile data (no Wi-Fi at markets)
• Simple, quick transactions needed
• No need for complex EPOS features

Online/E-commerce Businesses

Winner: Square

Reasons:

• Free e-commerce website included (Square Online)
• Seamless integration with major e-commerce platforms
• Unified inventory across online and in-person
• Better online payment features
• SumUp’s online capabilities are minimal

Common Misconceptions

Misconception 1: “Square is only for big businesses”

Reality: Square works perfectly for small businesses. The advanced features are optional – you can use it as simply as SumUp by only accepting payments. You’re not forced to use inventory or employee management.

Misconception 2: “SumUp is only for tiny businesses”

Reality: Plenty of established businesses use SumUp processing £20,000-£50,000+ monthly. If you don’t need EPOS features, SumUp scales fine and saves money at any volume.

Misconception 3: “Square charges monthly fees”

Reality: Square’s basic POS system is completely free. Advanced features (Square for Restaurants, advanced inventory) have optional monthly fees, but the core payment processing and basic POS is £0/month.

Misconception 4: “You can’t switch between them easily”

Reality: Both are pay-as-you-go with no contracts. You can switch between them anytime. Some businesses even use both (SumUp for mobile jobs, Square in shop).

Can You Use Both?

Yes, and some businesses do:

Example scenario:

• Shop uses Square Terminal for in-store sales (needs inventory, reporting)
• Same shop uses SumUp 3G for market stall on weekends (cheaper fees, works anywhere)
• Both settle to same bank account

Another scenario:

• Restaurant uses Square for dine-in (table management, tipping)
• Uses SumUp for delivery drivers taking payment at door (cheaper fees, mobile)

Managing two systems requires more admin work, but can optimize costs and functionality.

The Bottom Line

Choose SumUp if: You want the cheapest transaction fees and simplest payment acceptance without needing business management features. Best for mobile businesses, tradespeople, and sole traders.

Choose Square if: You need comprehensive point-of-sale features, sell online and in-person, run a restaurant/retail shop/salon, want detailed reporting, or need integrations with other business software.

The cost difference: At £10,000 monthly processing, SumUp saves £72 annually. At £20,000 monthly, saves £144 annually. Significant but not huge.

The feature difference: Massive. Square offers 10× more functionality than SumUp.

Decision framework:

• If you need ANY advanced features → Square
• If you only need basic card acceptance → SumUp saves money
• Still unsure → Start with SumUp (cheaper hardware, lower fees), upgrade to Square later if you outgrow it

Reference Data

For comprehensive UK payment processing costs, timelines, and provider comparisons, view our complete UK payment processing data reference guide.

Need Help Choosing?

Still unsure whether SumUp or Square suits your specific business better? We provide independent advice comparing both providers (and others) based on your exact requirements, processing volumes, and industry.

Our service is free to businesses – we’re compensated by providers when we refer customers, keeping our recommendations genuinely independent.

SumUp vs Square – Frequently Asked Questions

Is SumUp cheaper than Square?

Yes, SumUp charges 1.69% transaction fees compared to Square’s 1.75% for in-person payments. At £10,000 monthly processing, SumUp saves £72 annually. SumUp hardware is also cheaper (£29-£149 vs £39-£299). However, Square’s superior features may justify the slightly higher cost for businesses needing EPOS functionality.

Which has better features, SumUp or Square?

Square has significantly more features including advanced inventory management, employee tracking, customer database, table management for restaurants, appointment booking, loyalty programs, and comprehensive reporting. SumUp focuses on simple payment acceptance with basic features only. Choose Square if you need business management tools, SumUp if you only need payment processing.

Can I use Square terminals without WiFi?

No, Square terminals require Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection. They don’t have cellular (GPRS/4G) connectivity. This makes them unsuitable for truly mobile work without reliable Wi-Fi. SumUp offers 3G terminals (£99) that work anywhere with mobile signal, better for tradespeople, outdoor markets, or remote locations.

Which settles funds faster, SumUp or Square?

SumUp offers guaranteed next business day settlement. Square typically settles in 1-2 business days, with new accounts sometimes experiencing 2-3 day settlement initially. Square offers instant transfer (1.5% fee) for immediate access. Overall, SumUp provides more consistent and faster standard settlement.

Does SumUp work for restaurants?

SumUp can process payments for restaurants but lacks critical restaurant features like table management, tipping functionality, split payments, menu customization, and kitchen display integration. For full-service restaurants, Square is far superior. SumUp works adequately for very simple cafes or takeaway-only establishments with basic needs.

Can I sell online with SumUp?

SumUp offers basic payment links for online transactions but has limited e-commerce capabilities compared to Square. No native online store builder, minimal e-commerce integrations, and basic features only. Square includes free e-commerce website (Square Online), seamless platform integrations, and unified inventory. For any serious online selling, Square is vastly better.

Which has better customer support?

Both offer email and phone support during UK business hours. Square adds live chat and extensive community forum. SumUp provides consistent support access regardless of processing volume. Square may prioritize paid plan customers. Overall support quality is similar – adequate but not exceptional for either provider.

Is Square or SumUp better for small businesses?

Depends on business type. SumUp better for: mobile services, tradespeople, sole traders needing simple payment acceptance at lowest cost. Square better for: retail shops, restaurants, salons, businesses needing inventory/employee management, businesses selling both online and in-person. Both work well for small businesses in their respective niches.

Can I switch from SumUp to Square or vice versa?

Yes, both are pay-as-you-go with no contracts. You can switch anytime without penalties. Terminals are provider-locked (can’t reuse SumUp terminal with Square or vice versa) so you’ll need new hardware. Customer data and transaction history don’t transfer – export from old provider before switching.

Do SumUp and Square accept the same card types?

Both accept Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, and American Express. Both support contactless (up to £100), chip and PIN, and magnetic stripe. Card acceptance is identical – differences are in pricing, features, and hardware, not which cards they accept.

Related Payment Processing Guides

• How to Choose a Card Machine Provider
• Best Card Machines for Small Business UK
• How Much Does a Card Machine Cost UK
• Merchant Account Fees Explained
• Card Machine Provider Comparison UK

UK Payment Industry Resources

• SumUp UK Official Site
• Square UK Official Site
• UK Finance – Payment Standards
• Financial Conduct Authority

Get Independent Comparison for Your Business

Not sure whether SumUp, Square, or another provider suits your specific needs? We compare all UK card machine providers based on your industry, volumes, and requirements – providing genuinely independent recommendations.