{"id":450422,"date":"2022-05-13T13:11:59","date_gmt":"2022-05-13T12:11:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/uk\/?p=450422"},"modified":"2026-11-04T11:51:12","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T11:51:12","slug":"sumup-vs-square","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/uk\/card-readers\/sumup-vs-square","title":{"rendered":"SumUp vs Square \u2013 compare card readers"},"content":{"rendered":"

When investing in card readers for your business, you have to choose something that will work for you and your business\u2019s needs. SumUp and Square are 2 of the most popular card reader providers. In this guide, we compare their most sought-after products \u2013 the SumUp Solo Lite and the Square Reader.<\/p>

SumUp vs Square: Provider overview<\/h3>

So, what are the main differences between Square and SumUp? Both providers have a wide range of card readers. This means you have plenty of choice from both, so you should consider if there are additional features that you might not have considered before. <\/p>

\"SumUp\"
<\/figure>
\n \n
Products<\/th>SumUp Solo Lite, SumUp Solo, SumUp Terminal, SumUp Tap to Pay<\/td><\/tr>
Payment methods<\/th>Contactless, Chip and Pin<\/td><\/tr>
Alternative payment methods<\/th>QR code,Payment link<\/td><\/tr>
Apple Pay<\/th>Yes<\/td><\/tr>
Google Pay<\/th>Yes<\/td><\/tr>
Connectivity<\/th>Bluetooth<\/td><\/tr>
Requires connection to a phone or tablet<\/th>Yes<\/td><\/tr>
Battery life<\/th>1000 sales on a full charge<\/td><\/tr>
Warranty period<\/th>12<\/td><\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table><\/div><\/div>
\"Square\"
<\/figure>
\n \n
Products<\/th>Square Reader, Square Terminal<\/td><\/tr>
Payment methods<\/th>Contactless, Chip and Pin<\/td><\/tr>
Alternative payment methods<\/th>Payment link,Over the phone<\/td><\/tr>
Apple Pay<\/th>Yes<\/td><\/tr>
Google Pay<\/th>Yes<\/td><\/tr>
Connectivity<\/th>Bluetooth<\/td><\/tr>
Requires connection to a phone or tablet<\/th>Yes<\/td><\/tr>
Battery life<\/th>Designed to last all day<\/td><\/tr>
Warranty period<\/th>24 months<\/td><\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table><\/div><\/div><\/div>

The SumUp Solo Lite vs the Square Reader: Product overview<\/h3>

Although both card reader providers offer other machines, the SumUp Solo Lite and the Square Reader continue to be the \u201cgo-to\u201d products in their range.<\/p>

\"SumUp
<\/figure>

SumUp Solo Lite<\/em><\/p><\/div>

\"Square
<\/figure>

Square Reader<\/em><\/p><\/div><\/div>

Compare rates and fees<\/h4>

When comparing card readers, it is a good idea to compare the rates and fees that the provider charges. For further explanations of the different charges you might come across in your research, use our handy guide<\/a>.<\/p>

The SumUp and Square card readers have some of the lower fees for card machines on the market, but there are still some large differences to consider. For example, the Square Reader charges a slightyly higher transaction fee compared to the SumUp Solo Lite. However, the SumUp Solo Lite charges a \u00a310 chargeback fee, where Square doesn\u2019t charge anything for this. SumUp also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. <\/p>

\n \n
Product<\/th>\"SumUp<\/a><\/td>\"Square<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Product Name<\/th>SumUp Solo Lite<\/td>Square Reader<\/td><\/tr>
Contract<\/th>No contract<\/td>No contract<\/td><\/tr>
Initial cost<\/th>\u00a325<\/td>\u00a319<\/td><\/tr>
Monthly cost<\/th>\u00a30<\/td>\u00a30<\/td><\/tr>
Transaction cost<\/th>1.69%<\/td>1.75%<\/td><\/tr>
Transaction cost (card not present)<\/th>2.5%<\/td>2.5%<\/td><\/tr>
Settlement <\/th>1-3 working days<\/td>1 working day<\/td><\/tr>
Money-back guarantee<\/th>Yes<\/td>No<\/td><\/tr>
Money-back guarantee details<\/th>30-day money-back guarantee<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
Chargeback cost<\/th>\u00a310<\/td>\u00a30<\/td><\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table><\/div>

Compare features<\/h4>

Each of SumUp and Square\u2019s card readers have unique features for the different machines they offer. <\/p>

For example, with the Square Reader, you can accept chip & pin payments but the buyer will have to use your separate device to enter their pin, whereas the Square Terminal has a built-in screen.<\/p>

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<\/a>.<\/p>

\n \n
Product<\/th>\"SumUp<\/a><\/td>\"Square<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Product Name<\/th>SumUp Solo Lite<\/td>Square Reader<\/td><\/tr>
Networks<\/th>\"google\"apple\"american\"visa\"mastercard<\/td>\"google\"apple\"american\"visa\"mastercard<\/td><\/tr>
Connectivity<\/th>Bluetooth<\/td>Bluetooth<\/td><\/tr>
Payment methods<\/th>Contactless, Chip and Pin<\/td>Contactless, Chip and Pin<\/td><\/tr>
Alternative payment methods<\/th>QR code, Payment link<\/td>Payment link, Over the phone<\/td><\/tr>
Requires connection to phone or tablet<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Battery life<\/th>1000 sales on a full charge<\/td>Designed to last all day<\/td><\/tr>
Printer attached<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Add ons<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td>
  • Dock<\/li>
  • Phone mount<\/li>
  • Compatible with a range of third-party receipt printers and barcode scanners<\/li>
    <\/ul><\/td><\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table><\/div>

    Bottom line<\/h3>

    If you\u2019re looking for a card reader provider that is convenient and you know what you\u2019re getting, you can\u2019t fault fan-favourite SumUp. With its large range of products, you can choose the perfect one for your business. But, if you\u2019re looking for a card provider that doesn\u2019t sting you with a chargeback fee or a longer warranty period, there are other options out there.<\/p>

    However, if you\u2019re looking for something on-the-go, the Square Reader is another great choice for SMEs, particularly with its low transaction fees. With the added feature of a phone mount, you won\u2019t need to worry about wires or juggling machines. But the downside of this is that you need a connection to an additional device such as a smartphone or tablet. And if you opt for the Square Reader\u2019s big sister, you will need to have a Wi-Fi connection, which limits how far you can take your machine. <\/p>

    So, Square or SumUp? The decision ultimately depends on what you want for your business. You can compare the SumUp and Square range below:<\/p>

    Compare the SumUp and Square range<\/h3>
    \n
    \n <\/div>\n
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    <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
    \n
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