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Barclaycard vs SumUp – compare card readers
SumUp vs Barclaycard, how do these 2 payment giants compare against each other when you put their best products head to head?
Since before the pandemic began it was clear that more and more people are choosing to pay for their everyday purchases using a tiny bit of plastic or their smartphones over the “historic” paper currency. So, to keep your business in the now, it is becoming more important to invest in a card payment device.
In this guide, we compare 2 of the major players in the card reader market, SumUp and Barclaycard. However, you can compare a full range of devices from different providers here.
SumUp vs Barclaycard: provider overview
SumUp and Barclaycard are both offering highly popular card readers. SumUp offers a range of cost effective products for a variety of business sizes, whilst Barclaycard has 2 products that pack a powerful punch and flexible payment plans.
In this guide, we are comparing their 2 most popular “on-the-go” machines, the SumUp Air and the Barclaycard Anywhere.
| Products | SumUp Air, SumUp Air and Cradle, SumUp Solo, SumUp 3G and Printer |
|---|---|
| Payment methods | Contactless, Chip and Pin |
| Alternative payment methods | QR code,Payment link |
| Apple Pay | Yes |
| Google Pay | Yes |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth |
| Requires connection to a phone or tablet | Yes |
| Battery life | 500 sales on a full charge |
| Warranty period | 12 months |
| Products | Flex mobile card reader, Barclaycard Anywhere |
|---|---|
| Payment methods | Contactless, Chip and Pin, Magnetic swipe |
| Apple Pay | Yes |
| Google Pay | Yes |
| Connectivity | SIM card,Bluetooth,WiFi |
| Requires connection to a phone or tablet | Yes |
| Battery life | Designed to last all day |
| Warranty period | 12 months |
The SumUp Air vs the Barclaycard Anywhere: product overview
Although both card reader providers offer other machines, the SumUp Air and the Barclaycard Anywhere continue to be the “go-to” products in their range.
SumUp Air
Barclaycard Anywhere
Compare rates and fees
When choosing the right card machine for your business, some of the most important things to consider are the rates and fees. Card machines feature a range of fees, use our guide for further explanations of the different charges you might come across in your research.
SumUp is known for having some of the most competitive rates on the card machine market, but at a glance, the Barclaycard product does seem to be beating the competition in terms of transaction cost and settlement periods. However, Barclaycard is a little more modest when promoting fees like transaction costs when cards are not present or chargeback costs. So, the transparency of SumUp definitely helps give a better idea of what product might work out at a lower cost in the long run.
Both card readers are on a pay-as-you-go contract and are currently retailing at the same price.
| Product | OFFER  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Product Name | SumUp Air | Barclaycard Smartpay Anywhere |
| Contract | No contract | No contract |
| Initial cost | £39 | £29 |
| Monthly cost | £0 | £0 |
| Transaction cost | 1.69% | 1.6% |
| Transaction cost (card not present) | 2.5% | A fixed 0.25% on all CNP transactions |
| Settlement | 1-3 working days | 1-2 working days |
| Money-back guarantee | Yes | |
| Money-back guarantee details | 30-day money-back guarantee | |
| Chargeback cost | £10 |
Compare features
Round 2, features. If you would like to learn about all the different features you should look out for when comparing card readers, you can use our helpful guide.
Both the SumUp Air and the Barclaycard Anywhere have very similar features when it comes to connectivity and payment methods. The Barclaycard Anywhere offers the additional magnetic swipe method, but the SumUp Air offers the alternative methods of payment links and QR codes. Neither of these products have printers attached and you cannot add any on. Although, the SumUp Air does have the option to add a charging cradle at a bundle price.
So, there is a rather large blue elephant in the room – Amex. Yes, that’s right, the Barclaycard Anywhere is one of the only card readers that does not accept Amex payments, albeit that others do but just charge a few bob more. But will this be the deciding factor if you should buy a SumUp or Barclaycard card reader? That is ultimately yours and your business decision.
| Product | OFFER | |
|---|---|---|
| Product Name | SumUp Air | Barclaycard Smartpay Anywhere |
| Networks |      | |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth | SIM card, Bluetooth, WiFi |
| Payment methods | Contactless, Chip and Pin | Contactless, Chip and Pin, Magnetic swipe |
| Alternative payment methods | QR code, Payment link | |
| Requires connection to phone or tablet | ||
| Battery life | 500 sales on a full charge | Designed to last all day |
| Printer attached | ||
| Add ons |
|
Bottom line
So, the bottom line is that they are both great options, offering competitive rates and portable products perfect for SMEs or businesses on-the-go. However, one of the main drawbacks of the Barclaycard Anywhere could impact a few of your sales, not accepting Amex. But ultimately, the decision is yours and if you could like without taking payments from Amex, they are both brilliant options.
Compare the SumUp and Barclaycard range
Table: sorted by transaction cost, promoted deals first
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