SumUp suits market traders, mobile businesses and sole traders who want a small card reader, Tap to Pay on a phone and simple money tools, with readers that run all day on one charge. Square suits shops, cafés and salons that want a full point of sale, with free POS software, team tools, a website synced to stock and a bigger hardware range. If you're mostly taking payments on the move, start with SumUp; if you've got a counter, start with Square.
Both let you take card payments in minutes, both offer Tap to Pay on your phone and both have readers that fit in a pocket. The difference is how much of your business each one wants to run. I read SumUp's UK home and card reader pages and Square's UK home and point of sale pages.
SumUp and Square side by side
| SumUp | Square | |
|---|---|---|
| Card readers | Solo Lite, Solo, Terminal, Tap to Pay | Readers, Square Register, Tap to Pay |
| POS software | Free POS tools up to advanced software | Square Point of Sale free to use |
| Payouts | Next-day access with a SumUp Business Account | Free next-day standard payouts |
| Business tools | Invoicing, expense tools, business account | Team management, websites, online orders |
| Scale | Readers for one-person businesses upwards | Trusted by 4 million businesses worldwide |
| Best fit | Mobile and pop-up sellers | Counter service, retail and hospitality |
The battery detail that matters on a market stall
SumUp's card reader page lists how many transactions each reader takes on a single charge: Solo Lite 1,000, Solo 300 and Terminal 250 including receipt printing. Solo Lite pairs with your phone, Solo works on its own with a touchscreen, and Terminal prints receipts. If you're trading all day at fairs or markets, that table tells you more than any feature list, and it's worth checking before you buy.
What Square adds for a counter business
Square says its Point of Sale software is free to use, with no setup or monthly charge for the software itself. Around it sits a wide range of hardware, from readers to the second-generation Square Register, plus team management for shifts and a website that takes online orders and syncs stock with your POS. It describes itself as trusted by 4 million businesses worldwide.
Tap to Pay on your phone
Both offer Tap to Pay, so you can take contactless cards and phone wallets on your own phone with no extra device. Square notes Tap to Pay on iPhone needs a supported app and the latest iOS and isn't available in every market, so check your phone before you rely on it at an event.
Which suits your business
- You sell at markets, events or on the doorstep: SumUp Solo Lite or Tap to Pay.
- You run a shop or café with a counter and staff: Square Point of Sale.
- You want to send invoices and keep business money separate: SumUp's business account and invoicing.
- You want online orders that update your in-store stock: Square.
For a wider look at counter systems, see my guide to POS systems for small businesses, and if you're setting up from scratch, this guide on personal and business accounts explains why to keep them apart.
Money tools around the reader
SumUp pairs its readers with money tools: a business account with next-day access to earnings 365 days a year, free transfers, expense management and invoicing, so a sole trader can run day-to-day business banking in one app. Square leans towards growth tools: for eligible sellers it offers customised loan offers based on their Square sales, plus instant transfers with Square Card.
My advice on SumUp or Square
If you're mobile and take payments in short bursts, buy a SumUp reader that suits your day and keep it charged. If you have a counter, staff and stock, start with Square Point of Sale and add hardware as you grow. Try Tap to Pay on your phone first with either one, because it's free to test and it might be all you'll need at the start.
Do you make card readers, POS or small business payment tools? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place in comparisons like this one.
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Frequently asked questions
How many payments does a SumUp reader take on one charge?
SumUp lists Solo Lite at 1,000 transactions, Solo at 300 and Terminal at 250 including receipt printing.
Is Square's POS software free?
Square says its Point of Sale software is free to use, with no setup or monthly charge for the software.
Can I take payments on my phone?
Yes. Both SumUp and Square offer Tap to Pay, so you can accept contactless payments on a supported phone.
How fast do I get my money?
SumUp offers next-day access to earnings with a SumUp Business Account, and Square offers free next-day standard payouts.
Which reader prints receipts?
SumUp's Terminal has a built-in receipt printer.
Which suits a café?
Square's Point of Sale, hardware and team tools suit counter businesses such as cafés.
