Square is one of the most popular card reader providers but how does the UK-based takepayments compare?
Square vs takepayments: provider overview
Square has just 2 products: the basic, mobile Square Reader, and the larger, more versatile Square Terminal. takepayments has a range of 4 – Mobile, Portable, Countertop and Plus – but does it offer twice the quality?
Products
Square Reader, Square Terminal
Payment methods
Contactless, Chip and Pin
Alternative payment methods
Payment link,Over the phone
Apple Pay
Yes
Google Pay
Yes
Connectivity
Bluetooth
Requires connection to a phone or tablet
Yes
Battery life
Designed to last all day
Warranty period
24 months
Products
Takepayments Plus, Countertop, Portable, Mobile
Payment methods
Contactless, Chip and Pin
Apple Pay
Yes
Google Pay
Yes
Connectivity
SIM card,Bluetooth,WiFi
Requires connection to a phone or tablet
No
Battery life
All day
The Square Reader vs the takepayments Mobile: product overview
The lightweight takepayments Mobile is takepayments’ equivalent to Square’s flagship Square Reader: here’s how they compare.
Square Reader
takepayments Mobile
Compare rates and fees
One of the most important things to look at when you’re comparing card readers is the difference in the rates and fees each provider charges: not just the headline cost of each product, but the more ‘hidden’ fees too. For further explanations of the different charges you might come across in your research, use our handy guide.
Unfortunately, it’s hard to compare takepayments card readers against other providers when it comes to fees and rates, because takepayments doesn’t advertise its costs upfront, but offers personalised quotes instead.
Product
Product Name
Square Reader
takepayments Mobile
Contract
No contract
12 month
Initial cost
£19
Monthly cost
£0
Transaction cost
1.75%
Subject to status
Transaction cost (card not present)
2.5%
N/A
Settlement
1 working day
1 working day
Money-back guarantee
No
No
Chargeback cost
£0
Compare features
Since we can’t directly compare the costs of these 2 card readers, let’s have a look at how else they differ. Both accept contactless as well as chip and PIN; both have batteries that last all day so you can charge them overnight. One difference is that the takepayments Mobile has an integrated receipt printer, whereas you’ll need to hook the Square Reader up to a third party printer if you want to provide physical receipts.
For a full insight into the different features you should look out for when comparing card readers, you can use our helpful guide.
Product
Product Name
Square Reader
takepayments Mobile
Networks
Connectivity
Bluetooth
SIM card, Bluetooth, WiFi
Payment methods
Contactless, Chip and Pin
Contactless, Chip and Pin
Alternative payment methods
Payment link, Over the phone
Requires connection to phone or tablet
Battery life
Designed to last all day
All day
Printer attached
Add ons
Dock
Phone mount
Compatible with a range of third-party receipt printers and barcode scanners
Bottom line
We don’t love takepayments’ lack of clarity around pricing: Square are straight up about fees and charges, and we like that. However, it’s clear that takepayments’ approach is all about being tailored to your business: you’ll be quoted a bespoke price and takepayments will send a consultant out to help you choose the best card reader for you. However, we’d advise against being pressured into accepting takepayments’ quote straight away, when Square or another provider might be a better fit for you. Once you’ve got a better idea of what you’d pay for the takepayments card reader(s) you need, compare it against the Square range below to make sure you’re choosing the right card reader for your business.
Table: sorted by transaction cost, promoted deals first
We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables has the source: Moneyfacts Group PLC. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.
Grace was a Finder writer specialising in credit and loans. She's been writing about personal finance for several years and enjoys helping consumers sort the facts from the fluff. See full bio
In this guide, we compare the most popular card reader products from SumUp and Barclaycard.
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