The AI TillOur picks
Best card payments tools for UK small businesses (2026)
We compared 2 card payments tools using prices and plan details checked on each provider's own page on 2026-10-14. We haven't been paid for any placement; see how we make money.
Quick picks
- Best free starting point: Square. Square has a free plan: No set-up or monthly fees; you pay when you take a payment.
- Best priced in pounds: SumUp. SumUp publishes UK prices: £15.75 (Payments Plus, a month equivalent of £189 a year), so there are no exchange-rate surprises.
All card payments tools compared
| Tool | Cheapest paid plan | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square | £29 (Plus, per month, from) | Yes | Shops, cafés and mobile traders taking card payments. |
| SumUp | £15.75 (Payments Plus, a month equivalent of £189 a year) | Yes | Market traders and mobile businesses taking occasional card payments. |
Square
Card payments, till software, invoices and online booking, with a free plan.
- Price: Free plan: £0 a month (you pay per transaction). Plus: from £29 a month.
- Watch out for: Transaction fees apply on every payment; check the rates for your payment types.
- UK notes: UK prices in pounds.
SumUp
Card readers and payment links for small traders, with pay-as-you-go fees.
- Price: Pay-as-you-go: 1.69% per transaction, no monthly fee. Payments Plus: £189 a year with 0.99% per transaction.
- Watch out for: Payments Plus only pays off at higher volumes; SumUp suggests it for £3,000+ a month.
- UK notes: UK prices in pounds.
How to choose
- Start with a free plan or trial if there is one, and test it on a real job.
- Prefer pound pricing if you want a predictable monthly cost.
- Check what counts towards limits (calls, minutes, seats, contacts or credits) before comparing headline prices.
Head-to-head comparisons
Sources
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