SumUp and Square both offer cost-effective card readers for a range of business types, but which one is better? We compare both card machine providers in this guide.
When investing in card readers for your business, you have to choose something that will work for you and your business’s needs. SumUp and Square are two of the most popular card reader providers. In this guide, we compare their most sought after products – the SumUp Air and the Square Reader.
SumUp vs Square: provider overview
So, what are the main differences between the Square and SumUp? If you’re looking for a provider with a range of options, SumUp currently has one of the largest card reader artileries on the market, especially when you compare it to the 2 products Square has. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that more is better, it just means that there could be additional features that you might not have considered before.
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
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
The SumUp Air vs the Square Reader: product overview
Although both card reader providers offer other machines, the SumUp Air and the Square Reader continue to be the “go-to” products in their range.
SumUp Air
Square Reader
Compare rates and fees
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.
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 higher transaction fee by 0.6% when compared to the SumUp Air. However, the SumUp Air charges a £10 chargeback fee, where Square doesn’t charge anything for this. SumUp also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Product
OFFER
Product Name
SumUp Air
Square Reader
Contract
No contract
No contract
Initial cost
£39
£19
Monthly cost
£0
£0
Transaction cost
1.69%
1.75%
Transaction cost (card not present)
2.5%
2.5%
Settlement
1-3 working days
1 working day
Money-back guarantee
Yes
No
Money-back guarantee details
30-day money-back guarantee
Chargeback cost
£10
£0
Compare features
Each of SumUp and Square’s card readers have unique features for the different machines they offer.
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.
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.
Product
OFFER
Product Name
SumUp Air
Square Reader
Networks
Connectivity
Bluetooth
Bluetooth
Payment methods
Contactless, Chip and Pin
Contactless, Chip and Pin
Alternative payment methods
QR code, Payment link
Payment link, Over the phone
Requires connection to phone or tablet
Battery life
500 sales on a full charge
Designed to last all day
Printer attached
Add ons
Dock
Phone mount
Compatible with a range of third-party receipt printers and barcode scanners
Bottom line
If you’re looking for a card reader provider that is convenient and you know what you are getting, you can’t fault with fan-favourite SumUp. With its large range of products, you can choose the perfect one for your business. But, if you’re looking for a card provider that doesn’t sting you with a chargeback fee or a longer warranty period, there are other options out there.
However, if you’re 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’t need to worry about wires or juggling machines. But the downside of this is that you have to have a connection to an additional device such as a smartphone or tablet. And if you opt for the Square Reader’s big sister, you will need to have a wifi connection, which limits how far you can take your machine.
So, Square or SumUp? The decision ultimately depends on your business’s needs and wants. You can compare the SumUp and Square range below:
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.
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
Emily's expertise
Emily has written 134 Finder guides across topics including:
In this guide, we compare the most popular card reader products from SumUp and Barclaycard.
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