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 Air and the takepayments Plus.
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
Takepayments Plus, Countertop, Portable, Mobile
Payment methods
Contactless, Chip and Pin, Magnetic swipe
Alternative payment methods
Payment link,Over the phone
Apple Pay
Yes
Google Pay
Yes
Connectivity
SIM card,Bluetooth,WiFi
Requires connection to a phone or tablet
No
Battery life
Designed to last all day
The SumUp Air vs the takepayments Plus: product overview
SumUp Air
takepayments Plus
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, however, offers you the flexibility of having no contract at all.
When it comes to settlement periods, SumUp has a current settlement period of 1-3 days, whereas takepayments state that it will payout by the next business day.
Product
OFFER
Product Name
SumUp Air
takepayments Plus
Contract
No contract
12 month
Initial cost
£39
Monthly cost
£0
Transaction cost
1.69%
Subject to status
Transaction cost (card not present)
2.5%
N/A
Settlement
1-3 working days
1 working day
Money-back guarantee
Yes
No
Money-back guarantee details
30-day money-back guarantee
N/A
Chargeback cost
£10
Compare features
Now that you’ve compared the costs that come with the SumUp Air and takepayments plus, 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 takepayments plus is peacocking plenty more features compared to the SumUp Air, 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 Air. Some businesses will be looking for a compact, lightweight machine and the SumUp Air certainly packs a powerful punch in this area.
Another area where the SumUp Air has outstanding performance is its battery life. The SumUp Air has consistent reviews praising its battery life and with the goal of 500 transactions per full charge, it can be argued that it holds the best battery on the market. Whereas the takepayment machine does not specify how much charge the device has, just that it is designed to last all day.
Product
OFFER
Product Name
SumUp Air
takepayments Plus
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
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
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.
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 148 Finder guides across topics including:
In this guide, we compare the most popular card reader products from SumUp and Barclaycard.
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