Cheapest Card Machine Fees in the UK by Turnover Band

LAST REVIEWED 2026-09-06

What is the cheapest card machine fee in the UK for 2026?

For 2026, the lowest published pay-as-you-go rate is SumUp's 1.69%, followed by Zettle and Square at 1.75%. These rates apply to in-person transactions. Providers with fixed monthly fees, like Tide at £2.99, do not publish their percentage rates, making direct comparison impossible.

The table below shows the monthly fee cost at different turnover levels. At £2,000, SumUp charges £33.8, while Zettle and Square charge £35. At £10,000, SumUp charges £169, Zettle and Square £175. The difference is small but consistent.

For businesses processing over £10,000 monthly, a contract acquirer with a lower percentage and a monthly fee might be cheaper, but published rates are not available for most. See the Card Machine Fees Explained: Interchange, Scheme Fees and Acquirer Margin for a breakdown of costs.

Which card machine is cheapest for under £2,000 monthly turnover?

For monthly card turnover under £2,000, SumUp's 1.69% rate results in the lowest fee. At £2,000, SumUp costs £33.8, while Zettle and Square cost £35.

Providers with fixed monthly fees, such as Tide at £2.99, may seem attractive, but their percentage rate is not published. Without that rate, it is impossible to calculate the total cost. Worldpay charges £20.00 per terminal monthly, but again, the rate is not published.

For very low turnover, a pay-as-you-go model with no monthly fee is often the most cost-effective. However, businesses should consider other costs like hardware. Zettle charges from £29 for a card reader, while SumUp's hardware cost is not published. See the table above for a comparison.

Which card machine is cheapest for £2,000 to £10,000 monthly turnover?

In the £2,000 to £10,000 range, SumUp remains the cheapest pay-as-you-go option. At £10,000, SumUp charges £169, while Zettle and Square charge £175.

At £10,000, the monthly fee for SumUp is £169, which is higher than Tide's fixed £2.99, but Tide's rate is not published. But without the rate, it is not possible to compare.

The table below shows the fee costs for pay-as-you-go providers.

Which card machine is cheapest for above £10,000 monthly turnover?

For monthly turnover above £10,000, the pay-as-you-go rates become more expensive in absolute terms. At £40,000, SumUp charges £676, while Zettle and Square charge £700.

At this level, a contract acquirer with a lower percentage rate and a monthly fee might be cheaper. However, such rates are not published by most providers.

Barclaycard offers a monthly fee of £0 for 12 months, then £18, but the rate is customised. Worldpay charges £20.00 per terminal, but the rate is not published. Businesses should request quotes from multiple acquirers to compare.

How do debit-heavy and credit-heavy businesses compare in fees?

The published rates from SumUp, Zettle, and Square are blended rates, meaning they do not differentiate between debit and credit cards. However, the underlying interchange fees differ. Debit card interchange is typically lower than credit card interchange, but the provider's rate is the same.

For a business that processes mostly debit cards, the effective rate might be lower than the published rate if the provider passes on interchange savings. But with pay-as-you-go providers, the rate is fixed, so there is no difference.

For credit-heavy businesses, the published rate might be higher than the actual interchange, but again, the rate is fixed. Businesses should check their statements to see if the effective rate matches the published rate. See the UK Card Machine Providers Compared 2026: 10 Providers With Published Rates for more details.

What costs do the cheapest options leave out?

The cheapest pay-as-you-go options, like SumUp at 1.69%, have no monthly fee, but they may charge for hardware. Zettle charges from £29 for a card reader, while SumUp's hardware cost is not published. Barclaycard charges a one-off £29 for hardware.

Other costs include chargeback fees, which are not published by most providers. Some providers may charge for PCI compliance, but this is often included. Settlement times vary: Zettle settles within minutes to a PayPal Business account, while SumUp settles next day.

Businesses should also consider the cost of a dedicated terminal vs. a mobile reader. The table above shows only the percentage fee, not hardware or other fees. For a full breakdown, see the Card Readers With No Monthly Fee: UK Options and What They Really Cost.

How does the monthly fee affect the total cost for a business?

Monthly fees can significantly affect the total cost, especially for low turnover.

For a business processing £2,000 monthly, SumUp's fee is £33.8, which is higher than Tide's £2.99, but Tide's rate is not published. But without the rate, it is impossible to know.

Businesses should calculate their effective rate by dividing the total fees by the total turnover. This includes monthly fees, transaction fees, and any other charges. The table below shows the fee costs for pay-as-you-go providers at different turnover levels.

What should a business check in a card machine fee statement?

When reviewing a fee statement, a business should check the transaction rate applied to each transaction. The rate should match the agreed rate, such as 1.69% or 1.75%. Any discrepancy should be questioned.

Check for monthly fees, which may be listed as a fixed amount. Also check for any additional fees, such as chargebacks or PCI compliance. These may not be published on the provider's website.

Compare the effective rate (total fees divided by total turnover) with the published rate. If the effective rate is higher, there may be hidden charges. The table above shows the expected fees at different turnover levels for pay-as-you-go providers.

How do contract lengths affect the cheapest option?

Pay-as-you-go providers like SumUp, Zettle, and Square have no contract, giving flexibility. Contract acquirers like takepayments require a 12-month contract, while Barclaycard requires 18 months. These contracts may have early termination fees.

For a business that expects to grow, a contract might lock in a lower rate. But if the business closes, the contract could be costly. The table above shows that pay-as-you-go providers have no monthly fee, but their rates are higher.

Businesses should consider their long-term plans. If they are likely to switch providers, a no-contract option is cheaper. If they are stable, a contract might offer a lower rate. See the UK Card Machine Providers Compared 2026: 10 Providers With Published Rates for contract details.

What is the effective rate for a business processing £10,000 monthly?

For a business processing £10,000 monthly with SumUp, the effective rate is 1.69%, as there are no other fees. The monthly fee is £169. For Zettle and Square, the effective rate is 1.75%, with a monthly fee of £175.

If a business uses Tide with a £2.99 monthly fee, the effective rate depends on the transaction rate. But since the rate is not published, it is not possible to compare.

Businesses should calculate their effective rate by dividing total fees by total turnover. This helps in comparing different providers. The table below shows the fee costs for pay-as-you-go providers.

Glossary: card payment terms explained

Pay-as-you-go: A pricing model with no monthly fee, but a higher percentage rate per transaction. Examples include SumUp at 1.69% and Zettle at 1.75%.

Blended rate: A single percentage rate applied to all transactions, regardless of card type. SumUp's 1.69% is a blended rate.

Interchange fee: A fee paid by the acquirer to the card issuer, typically a small percentage of the transaction. It is a component of the overall rate.

Effective rate: The total cost of card processing divided by total card turnover, expressed as a percentage. It includes all fees.

Monthly fee: A fixed charge per month for using a card machine service, regardless of transaction volume. Tide charges £2.99.

Contract acquirer: A provider that requires a fixed-term contract, often with lower transaction rates but monthly fees. Examples include takepayments and Barclaycard.

Checklist: what to check on a fee statement or contract

• Check the transaction rate on your statement matches the published rate, e.g., 1.69% for SumUp.
• Look for any monthly fees, such as Tide's £2.99 or Worldpay's £20.00.
• Calculate your effective rate by dividing total fees by total turnover.
• Compare the effective rate with the published rate to spot hidden charges.
• Review your contract length and early termination fees.
• Check if hardware costs are included or extra, like Zettle's £29 reader.

Each item above maps to a line that must appear in the PSR summary box or the contract schedule, so a missing entry is itself a question for the provider.

Frequently asked questions

Is a no-monthly-fee reader always cheapest?

No. A no-monthly-fee reader with a higher percentage rate can be more expensive for high turnover. However, such low rates are not published by most providers. For low turnover, no-monthly-fee is often cheaper, but always calculate the total cost.

How do I calculate the effective rate?

Divide your total card processing fees by your total card turnover for a given period. For example, if you pay £169 in fees on £10,000 turnover, your effective rate is 1.69%. This includes all charges, such as transaction fees and monthly fees. Compare this with the published rate to see if you are paying more than expected.

Do cheap readers charge more for credit cards?

Pay-as-you-go providers like SumUp and Zettle charge a single blended rate for all cards, so credit and debit cards cost the same. However, the underlying interchange fees differ, but the provider absorbs the difference. Some contract acquirers may charge different rates for credit and debit, but this is not common in pay-as-you-go models.

Is it cheaper to negotiate directly with an acquirer?

Negotiating directly with an acquirer like Barclaycard or Worldpay can result in lower rates, especially for high turnover. However, these rates are not published and depend on your business profile. For small businesses, pay-as-you-go rates may be more competitive. Always compare quotes from multiple providers.

Do fees drop as turnover grows?

With pay-as-you-go providers, the percentage rate stays the same, so fees increase proportionally with turnover. However, some contract acquirers offer tiered rates that decrease as volume increases. Such rates are not published, so you need to negotiate.