SumUp's UK fees are 1.69% per card transaction on pay-as-you-go, with no monthly charge, or 0.99% on Payments Plus for 19 pounds a month (189 pounds a year). Businesses processing 10,000 pounds or more a month can ask for custom pricing, and payments made with a SumUp personal card cost the business 0%.
SumUp is one of the most common card readers for UK sole traders, market stalls, salons and pop-ups because there's no contract and no monthly minimum on the basic plan. The fee question comes down to one decision: stick with pay-as-you-go, or pay a monthly fee for a lower rate. Here are SumUp's published UK prices and the maths that decides it.
SumUp UK plans at a glance
| Plan | Transaction fee | Monthly cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pay-as-you-go | 1.69% | 0 pounds | Sales that vary or are under a few thousand a month |
| Payments Plus | 0.99% | 19 pounds a month, or 189 pounds a year | SumUp suggests 3,000 pounds or more a month |
| Custom pricing | Bespoke | Agreed with SumUp | 10,000 pounds or more a month |
The break-even point
The difference between the two rates is 0.7 percentage points. Divide the 19 pound monthly fee by 0.7% and you get roughly 2,714 pounds. Below that monthly card turnover, pay-as-you-go is cheaper. Above it, Payments Plus saves you money. On the annual price of 189 pounds, the break-even is lower, at around 2,250 pounds a month. These sums are mine, worked from SumUp's published percentages, and they line up with SumUp's own suggestion of 3,000 pounds or more a month for Payments Plus.
| Monthly card takings | Pay-as-you-go (1.69%) | Payments Plus (0.99% + 19 pounds) |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 pounds | 16.90 pounds | 28.90 pounds |
| 3,000 pounds | 50.70 pounds | 48.70 pounds |
| 6,000 pounds | 101.40 pounds | 78.40 pounds |
Worked from SumUp's published percentages, before any VAT considerations or hardware costs.
What you get on pay-as-you-go
- The SumUp app with point-of-sale features.
- A Business Account with a business Mastercard.
- Tap to Pay, so you can take card payments on your phone without a reader.
- Payment Links, reporting and invoicing.
SumUp also advertises no setup fees, no hardware rentals and no monthly minimums on pay-as-you-go. You buy the card reader once rather than renting it, and on hardware orders over 90 pounds you can spread the cost over up to 12 months.
The 0% fee catch
SumUp says that when a customer pays with a SumUp personal card, you're charged 0% and the customer gets 5% cashback, with limits and terms. That sounds great, but in practice it only applies to the share of your customers who use that specific card. Don't build your pricing around it: plan on paying the standard rate on almost everything you sell.
Who SumUp suits
- Market traders, craft sellers and pop-ups who need a reader without a contract.
- Mobile services like hairdressers, cleaners and tradespeople who want Tap to Pay on their phone.
- Small cafes and shops whose card takings are steady enough to make Payments Plus worthwhile.
- Anyone who invoices as well as takes cards, since invoicing and Payment Links are included.
Seasonal businesses
If you trade heavily in summer and barely at all in winter, the monthly fee works against you in the quiet months. Because pay-as-you-go has no fixed cost, many seasonal traders stay on it all year. Others switch to Payments Plus for the busy months only. Check the current terms for switching before you rely on that, and remember the annual price is only cheaper if you'd keep the plan all year.
How to work out your own effective rate
- Add up your card takings for the last three months and divide by three for a monthly average.
- Multiply the average by 1.69% for pay-as-you-go.
- Multiply it by 0.99% and add 19 pounds for Payments Plus.
- Compare the two, and repeat with your busiest and quietest months.
- Divide the total cost by your takings to get your effective percentage on each plan.
The effective percentage is the number to compare across providers. A low headline rate with a monthly fee can work out dearer than a higher rate with none, if your takings are modest.
Costs beyond the transaction fee
The transaction fee isn't the only cost of taking cards. You'll buy the reader itself, unless you use Tap to Pay on your phone, and you may want accessories like a charging dock or receipt printer. SumUp's no-rental model means the hardware is a one-off purchase, which you can spread over up to 12 months on orders over 90 pounds. Factor that into your first year's sums.
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SumUp vs the alternatives
SumUp competes with other card readers and payment providers, each with its own rates and monthly plans. The fair comparison is the effective rate at your own monthly takings, including any monthly fee, not the headline percentage. Run your last three months' card sales through each provider's pricing before you switch, and include any monthly fees.
My verdict
Start on pay-as-you-go: it's simple, has no fixed cost and lets you see your real monthly takings before you commit to anything. Once your card takings are reliably above about 2,700 pounds a month, Payments Plus will usually be cheaper. For other options, see my guides to the best POS systems for small businesses and sole trader vs limited company if you're setting up.
Frequently asked questions
What are SumUp's fees in the UK?
1.69% per transaction on pay-as-you-go, or 0.99% on Payments Plus for 19 pounds a month or 189 pounds a year.
Is SumUp Payments Plus worth it?
Usually once you take roughly 2,700 pounds or more a month by card. SumUp suggests it for 3,000 pounds or more.
Does SumUp charge a monthly fee?
Not on pay-as-you-go. Payments Plus has a monthly or annual fee.
Does SumUp have custom pricing?
Yes, for businesses processing 10,000 pounds or more a month.
What is SumUp's 0% fee offer?
When a customer pays with a SumUp personal card, the business pays 0% and the customer gets 5% cashback, subject to limits and terms.
