SumUp vs Square: Fees and Total Cost Compared
Compare SumUp and Square with the same UK card sales, then account for software, hardware and the way your business trades.
The short answer
For the simplified in-person UK consumer-card scenarios below, SumUp’s published processing options cost less than Square’s standard in-person rate. That is a fee comparison under stated assumptions, not a finding that SumUp is the best complete system for every business.
In this guide
The tariffs used in this comparison
For ordinary in-person UK consumer-card payments, this example uses SumUp pay-as-you-go at 1.69%, SumUp Payments Plus at 0.99% plus £19 monthly, and Square’s standard UK-card rate of 1.75% with its Free plan. Published terms checked 15 October 2026.
The reduced SumUp rate has card-eligibility conditions. Square prices non-UK cards and remote payments differently. Custom quotes, annual billing, promotions, zero-fee SumUp-card transactions and optional subscriptions are excluded from the table.
Monthly processing and plan costs
| Monthly eligible sales | SumUp PAYG | SumUp Plus, monthly | Square Free |
|---|---|---|---|
| £1,000 | £16.90 | £28.90 | £17.50 |
| £5,000 | £84.50 | £68.50 | £87.50 |
| £10,000 | £169 | £118 | £175 |
At £1,000 sales, the pay-as-you-go difference is only 60p monthly. At £5,000, the monthly-plan comparison is £19 lower for SumUp Plus than Square Free in this model. Neither amount should be described as a complete saving until the rest of the setup is priced.
For SumUp’s own plans, the monthly crossover is about £2,714 of eligible sales. A mixed card profile changes the result; see the SumUp fee guide.
When equipment changes the first-year result
Use the £5,000 scenario. If, purely for illustration, the required SumUp setup costs £250 more upfront than the required Square setup, its £19 monthly fee advantage totals £228 over twelve months. It would still be £22 more expensive in year one.
The extra upfront cost would be recovered during month 14 if the £19 difference continued. The £250 is a hypothetical equipment difference, not a claim about either provider’s hardware prices.
The reverse can also occur. Obtain the actual device and software specification before choosing on processing alone.
Compare what your business needs to do
| Your requirement | What to test with each provider |
|---|---|
| Simple mobile selling | Compatible device, connectivity, receipt method and battery needs. |
| Retail | Stock, variants, returns and online inventory requirements. |
| Hospitality | Modifiers, kitchen workflow, staff permissions and split bills. |
| Appointments | Booking, reminders, deposits and cancellation workflow. |
| Online trade | Payment fees, order sizes, website costs and reconciliation. |
Choose the lowest-cost plan that meets your actual requirements. A function you do not need has little value, while an essential integration can justify a higher subscription.
A practical decision route
Start with your card mix, sales channels and must-have functions. Price the same working setup with both providers, using the published tariff or a valid custom offer. Test a quiet month and a busy month, then add the initial cost and any existing contract liability.
Use our individual Square cost guide and SumUp guide for the inputs. The calculator can compare your final totals and show whether a monthly difference survives first-year equipment and switching costs. This comparison covers two providers; it is not a whole-market ranking.
Common questions
Which is cheaper for £5,000 monthly UK consumer-card sales?
In the stated processing-and-plan example, SumUp Payments Plus is £68.50 monthly and Square Free is £87.50. Hardware, other card types and optional services can change the complete result.
Can I use this table for online sales?
No. The table is for qualifying in-person payments. Calculate online fees separately using the relevant percentages and per-transaction charges.
Put your own figures to work.
Use the free calculator to organise your costs and keep a report. If something is unclear, you can ask for a free initial review.
No registration required. Calculator entries stay in your open browser page unless you choose to share a report in a review request.
Sources and how to use this guide
Primary references checked on 15 October 2026:
- SumUp UK pricing
- SumUp Payments Plus: card eligibility and billing
- Square UK pricing and processing fees
Business profiles are fictional. Examples either use the explicitly identified published tariff or clearly labelled hypothetical prices. They are not customer results, market averages or personalised provider quotations. Unless stated otherwise, they use a consistent VAT basis and include only the costs listed. Provider prices, eligibility and terms can change. Check your written agreement before deciding.
Our guides explain costs and comparison methods. They do not rank the whole market or claim hands-on product testing. Source links are references, not a claim of partnership. Read the calculation method and limitations, or about the service.