Comparisons · Card payments
Comparison
Square vs Zettle by PayPal
Card payments, till software, invoices and online booking, with a free plan. Card readers and a point-of-sale app from PayPal, with one transaction rate and no monthly fee.
| Square | Zettle by PayPal | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free plan: £0 a month. In person: 1.75% for UK cards (1.75% + 1.95% for non-UK cards); manually keyed: 2.5%. Square Reader from £19 + VAT. Plus: from £29 a month, paid monthly, cancel any time. | 1.75% per card or mobile wallet transaction, including American Express. Invoices and payment links 2.5%. PayPal Reader £29 excl. VAT for new business users (extra readers £69); PayPal Terminal from £149 excl. VAT. No contracts or recurring fees. |
| Free plan | Yes. No set-up or monthly fees; you pay when you take a payment. | Yes. No monthly fee; you pay per transaction and buy the reader. |
| Best for | Shops, cafés and mobile traders taking card payments. | Mobile traders and small shops who want one flat rate and no contract. |
| Watch out for | Transaction fees apply on every payment; check the rates for your payment types. | The £29 reader price is a new-user offer; delivery fees apply. |
| UK notes | UK prices in pounds. | UK prices in pounds, excl. VAT on hardware. |
| Made by | Block | PayPal |
| Checked | 2026-10-15 | 2026-10-15 |
Our verdict
On in-person fees, Square and Zettle by PayPal cost the same in our table below. Device prices differ too: Square Reader £19 + VAT against PayPal Reader £29 excl. VAT for new users. Fees aren't everything: check payout speed, contract terms and support before choosing.
Who should pick which?
- Choose Square for: shops, cafés and mobile traders taking card payments.
- Choose Zettle by PayPal for: mobile traders and small shops who want one flat rate and no contract.
Fees at £1,000, £3,000 and £6,000 a month
In-person card fees a month on the cheaper option for that level of takings, read from each pricing page on 15 October 2026. Assumes an average payment of £150 (this only affects fixed per-payment fees). Device costs are one-off and not included.
| Square | Zettle by PayPal | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry device | Square Reader £19 + VAT | PayPal Reader £29 excl. VAT for new users |
| £1,000 a month | £17.50 1.75% (UK cards, in person) | £17.50 1.75% (cards and mobile wallets) |
| £3,000 a month | £52.50 1.75% (UK cards, in person) | £52.50 1.75% (cards and mobile wallets) |
| £6,000 a month | £105.00 1.75% (UK cards, in person) | £105.00 1.75% (cards and mobile wallets) |
See all five readers side by side, with fee tables and what suits which business, in best card readers for UK small businesses.
Other card payments to consider
SumUp
Card readers and payment links for small traders, with pay-as-you-go fees.
Dojo
UK card machines with next-day payouts, a blended transaction rate for smaller businesses and an optional Plus plan.
myPOS
Standalone card machines with a free business account and instant payouts.
Full details
Square tool page · Zettle by PayPal tool page · How we check prices
Sources
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