takepayments vs SumUp – compare card readers

Offering flexible payment plans and long-life payment machines, we compare the top card readers from SumUp and takepayments.

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Emily Herring

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In an increasingly cashless society it is important to invest in a good card reader for your business. In this battle of the card readers, we compare the best products from SumUp and takepayments.

SumUp vs takepayments: provider overview

When looking at card readers, there are 3 main types to consider: countertop, portable and mobile. Countertop and portable are quite often referred to as payment terminals and mobile machines are often called readers. Both SumUp and takepayments offer these options and you can compare the full range below.

In this guide, we are comparing their 2 most popular “on-the-go” machines, the SumUp Solo Lite and the takepaymentsplus.

SumUp
ProductsSumUp Solo Lite, SumUp Solo, SumUp Terminal, SumUp Tap to Pay
Payment methodsContactless, Chip and Pin
Alternative payment methodsQR code,Payment link
Apple PayYes
Google PayYes
ConnectivityBluetooth
Requires connection to a phone or tabletYes
Battery life1000 sales on a full charge
Warranty period12
takepayments
Productstakepaymentsplus, A920 Pro
Payment methodsContactless, Chip and Pin, Magnetic swipe
Alternative payment methodsPayment link,Over the phone
Apple PayYes
Google PayYes
ConnectivitySIM card,Bluetooth,WiFi
Requires connection to a phone or tabletNo
Battery lifeDesigned to last all day

The SumUp Solo Lite vs the takepaymentsplus: Product overview

SumUp Solo Lite

SumUp Solo Lite

takepaymentsplus

takepaymentsplus

Compare rates and fees

Card readers come with a range of rates and fees, these costs are usually made up of the cost of the machine and the cost of transactions made. However, there are often some additional fees to be aware of. Use our guide for further explanations of the different charges you might come across in your research.

Some of the most important ones to note are payment plans.

Unlike other card reader providers, takepayments creates personalised payment plans for the individual businesses and depending on your company’s turnover this could be more expensive or less expensive than its competitors. But you will have the reassurance that the payment plans will be fair.

Another thing to note is that takepayments works on a contract basis, whether that is a rolling month-by-month or annual contract. This is great for businesses that like the stability of having a consistent contract in place. SumUp offers you the flexibility of having no contract at all.

When it comes to settlement periods, takepayments states that it will pay out by the next business day. SumUp has a current settlement period of 1–3 days, though you can open a SumUp business account if you want your money paid out the next day.

ProductSumUp Solo Litetakepaymentsplus
Product NameSumUp Solo Litetakepaymentsplus
ContractNo contract12 month
Initial cost£25
Monthly cost£0
Transaction cost1.69%Subject to status
Transaction cost (card not present)2.5%N/A
Settlement 1-3 working days1 working day
Money-back guaranteeYesNo
Money-back guarantee details30-day money-back guaranteeN/A
Chargeback cost£10

Compare features

Now that you’ve compared the costs that come with the SumUp Solo Lite and takepaymentsplus, it is time to turn your head to the features. There are several different features you should look out for when comparing card readers, you can use our guide to find out more information on what these are.

At a glance, you will see that the takepaymentsplus is peacocking plenty more features compared to the SumUp Solo Lite, and that’s great if you’re looking for a card machine that has a printer attached, that accepts cards by magnetic swipe or even a machine that can work without the need of a smartphone or tablet.

But, you can’t underestimate the SumUp Solo Lite. Some businesses will be looking for a compact, lightweight machine and the SumUp Solo Lite certainly packs a powerful punch in this area.

Another area where the SumUp Solo Lite has outstanding performance is its battery life. The SumUp Solo Lite has consistent reviews praising its battery life and with the goal of 1,000 transactions per full charge, it can be argued that it holds the best battery on the market. Whereas the takepaymentsplus machine doesn’t specify how much charge the device has, just that it is designed to last all day.

ProductSumUp Solo Litetakepaymentsplus
Product NameSumUp Solo Litetakepaymentsplus
Networksgoogle pay iconapple pay iconamerican express iconvisa iconmastercard icongoogle pay iconapple pay iconamerican express iconvisa iconmastercard icon
ConnectivityBluetoothSIM card, Bluetooth, WiFi
Payment methodsContactless, Chip and PinContactless, Chip and Pin, Magnetic swipe
Alternative payment methodsQR code, Payment linkPayment link, Over the phone
Requires connection to phone or tablet
Battery life1000 sales on a full chargeDesigned to last all day
Printer attached
Add ons

Bottom line

So, who is winning today’s battle of the card readers? Well, at the end of the day, it’s up to you and your business to decide what card machine will work best for you.

Both SumUp and takepayments offer products at the different ends of the card reader spectrum. One offers compact and lightweight readers perfect for SMEs on-the-go and the other offers portable terminals that are great options for restaurants or independent retailers.

Depending on whether you want to commit to a contract for more personalised fees or if you want to pay for a one-off machine, you can compare the SumUp and takepayments range below.

Compare the SumUp and takepayments range

8 of 8 results
Updated regularly
Initial cost Monthly cost Transaction cost Contract Networks Key benefits
takepaymentsplus image
takepaymentsplus
Subject to status
Subject to status
Subject to status
12 month
google pay iconapple pay iconamerican express iconvisa iconmastercard icon
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SumUp Virtual Terminal image
SumUp Virtual Terminal
Subject to status
£0
visa iconmastercard icon
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takepayments Countertop image
takepayments Countertop
Subject to status
Subject to status
Subject to status
12 months
google pay iconapple pay iconamerican express iconvisa iconmastercard icon
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takepayments Virtual Terminal image
takepayments Virtual Terminal
Subject to status
£0
google pay iconapple pay iconamerican express iconvisa iconmastercard icon
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SumUp Solo image
SumUp Solo
£79
£0
1.69%
google pay iconapple pay iconamerican express iconvisa iconmastercard icon
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SumUp Terminal image
SumUp Terminal
£135
£0
1.69%
google pay iconapple pay iconamerican express iconvisa iconmastercard icon
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SumUp Solo Lite image
SumUp Solo Lite
£25
£0
1.69%
google pay iconapple pay iconamerican express iconvisa iconmastercard icon
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SumUp Tap to Pay image
SumUp Tap to Pay
£0
£0
1.69%
google pay iconapple pay iconamerican express iconvisa iconmastercard icon
Go to site View details
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Table: sorted by transaction cost, promoted deals first
Our “Best for” picks highlight top options in specific categories based on our independent evaluation (see our full methodology), while “Promoted” tags indicate sponsored placements. Selected products may not suit everyone. We track selected market offers, which may not cover every product. Products are listed in no particular order unless specified, and inclusion or ordering may be influenced by popularity or commercial agreements. Most comparison table data is provided by Defaqto or sourced directly from providers. Always evaluate your own circumstances and consider independent advice before making major financial decisions.
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Emily Herring is a Publisher at Finder specialising in credit-based products including credit cards and business and personal loans. Emily has recently joined the Investments team. She has a Masters in Creative Writing & Publishing and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication & Media. See full bio

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Emily has written 83 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Loans & credit cards
  • Building credit
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