Key takeaways
- Square and Zettle both charge 1.75% per in-person card payment with no monthly fee, checked on 6 November 2026.
- SumUp's free pay-as-you-go plan charges 1.69% for in-person card payments, including American Express.
- Card reader prices start at £15 for SumUp Solo Lite, £19 ex VAT for the Square Reader and £29 ex VAT for a first Zettle reader.
- Teya does not publish a standard price list; it quotes each business individually based on volume, sector and average sale.
- SumUp pays into its business account by 7am the next day, Teya settles next day including weekends, and Square's standard transfers take one to two working days.
- UK law has banned surcharges on consumer debit and credit card payments since 13 January 2018, so you cannot pass card fees on to most personal customers.
- Card fees are an allowable business expense, so record the gross sale and the fee separately in your books.
Most small businesses can take card payments for between 1.69% and 1.75% a transaction with no monthly fee and a reader costing under £30. We checked Square, SumUp, Teya and Zettle on 6 November 2026 using their own pricing pages. Providers are listed alphabetically and are not ranked; the right one depends on your sales volume, how you sell and how fast you need the money.
Card machine fees compared
This table shows the standard in-person fee and entry reader price on each provider’s own site.
| Provider | In-person card fee | Entry reader |
|---|---|---|
| Square | 1.75% (UK cards) | £19 ex VAT |
| SumUp (pay as you go) | 1.69% | £15 (Solo Lite) |
| Teya | Quoted individually | Not published |
| Zettle | 1.75% | £29 ex VAT (first reader) |
None of the four charges a monthly fee on its entry plan. Prices and promotions change often, so confirm on the provider’s site before you order.
What each provider offers
Square. Square charges 1.75% for UK cards and 1.75% plus 1.5% for non-UK cards. Its free plan has no setup or monthly fee; Plus starts at £29 a month. Hardware prices exclude VAT: Reader £19, Terminal £149, Handheld £169 and Register £699, with monthly instalments on the larger devices. Standard transfers to your bank are free and take one to two working days; Instant Transfers cost 1.95%.
SumUp. SumUp’s pay-as-you-go plan is free and charges 1.69% for in-person payments, including American Express and premium cards. Payments Plus costs £19 a month, or £189 a year, and is aimed at higher volumes; we could not read its card rates on the page. Businesses taking £10,000 or more a month can ask for custom pricing. SumUp’s readers were listed at £15 (Solo Lite), £49 (Solo) and £99 (Terminal), against standard prices of £25, £79 and £135 ex VAT; the page does not say whether the lower prices include VAT. Tap to Pay on a phone is free. Money reaches the SumUp business account by 7am the next day, including weekends.
Teya. Teya says it has no standard price list and quotes each business on volume, sector and average transaction. It adds 0.10% to fees if you are paid into a bank account other than the Teya Business Account. Sales settle the next day, including weekends and bank holidays.
Zettle. Zettle by PayPal charges 1.75% for major cards and mobile wallets, including American Express. A new business’s first reader costs £29 ex VAT and further readers £69 ex VAT. There are no contracts or recurring fees. Funds usually reach your PayPal Business account within minutes.
We could not open Dojo’s pricing pages on 6 November 2026, so Dojo is not included.
What a card machine costs in a year
Your annual cost is the reader price plus your fee rate multiplied by card sales. On £50,000 of card sales a year:
| Fee rate | Annual fees on £50,000 |
|---|---|
| 1.69% | £845 |
| 1.75% | £875 |
The difference between flat rates is small at this level. It matters more above £10,000 a month, where SumUp offers custom pricing and Teya and Square’s Premium plan quote individually. Use our profit margin calculator to see how fees affect what you keep.
Which applies to you?
- If you take a few card payments a week, a pay-as-you-go reader or a phone with Tap to Pay keeps costs lowest.
- If you need the money quickly, compare SumUp’s next-morning payout, Teya’s next-day settlement and Zettle’s PayPal balance.
- If you sell over £10,000 a month by card, ask SumUp, Square and Teya for a quote rather than paying a flat rate.
- If you need a till system, price Square Register or SumUp POS Plus (£39 a month ex VAT) alongside the reader.
- If you are tied into an older terminal contract, check the notice period and any early termination fee before switching.
The Payment Systems Regulator’s card-acquiring market review found in 2021 that terminal contracts with early termination fees could put merchants off switching.
Can I charge customers a card fee?
No, not for most consumer payments. Regulation 6A of the Consumer Rights (Payment Surcharges) Regulations 2012, inserted from 13 January 2018, bans fees for paying with consumer debit and credit cards. The ban does not cover commercial cards, where any fee must not exceed your cost. Build card fees into your prices instead.
How to record card payments in your books
- Record the full sale value as income, not the net payout.
- Record the provider’s fee as a business expense.
- Match each payout to the day’s takings in your bank reconciliation.
- If you are VAT-registered, charge VAT on the full sale price; card processing fees are generally VAT exempt, so there is usually no VAT to reclaim on them.
- Keep the provider’s monthly statement with your records.
If you pay into a business account, see business bank account fees compared for cash and transfer charges.
Frequently asked questions
Which card machines have no monthly fee?
Square’s free plan, SumUp pay as you go and Zettle had no monthly fee when checked on 6 November 2026. Teya quotes individually.
What is the cheapest card machine fee in the UK?
Of the published flat rates we checked, SumUp pay as you go charged 1.69% and Square and Zettle 1.75% for in-person payments.
Can I take card payments on my phone?
Yes. SumUp lists Tap to Pay on a phone at £0, so you can accept contactless without buying a reader.
Are card machine fees tax-deductible?
Yes. Transaction fees and the cost of the reader are business expenses for sole traders and companies.
Can I add a surcharge for card payments?
Not for consumer debit or credit cards. Surcharges have been banned since 13 January 2018; commercial cards can be charged at no more than your cost.
Sources
Rates, thresholds and rules in this guide were checked against HMRC and GOV.UK guidance on 6 November 2026. Tax rules change, so check the current position on GOV.UK or with a qualified adviser before acting. This guide is general information, not personal advice.