Tide vs SumUp vs Square card readers (2026)
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Three popular ways for UK small businesses to take card payments in person. Here's how they compare on the published numbers. We haven't tested the devices.
At a glance (ex VAT)
| Tide | SumUp | Square | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest reader | Nano £25 on Pay As You Go (£15 Essential, £11 Premium) | Solo Lite £25 (source) | Reader £19 (source) |
| Pay-as-you-go rate | 1.5% + 5p (domestic consumer debit) | 1.69% | 1.75% (UK cards) |
| Monthly plans | Essential £17.99: 0.89% + 3p; Premium £19.99 (12-month): 0.69% + 3p | Payments Plus £19: 0.99% on domestic consumer cards | Free plan; paid software plans from £29+ |
| Payouts | Next-day settlement into your Tide account | Next day by 7am, including weekends | Next working day free, or instant for a fee |
| Account needed | Tide business account | No | No |
| Long-term contract | Only on Premium (12 months) | No | No |
Monthly fees at three takings levels
| Monthly card takings | Tide PAYG* | SumUp PAYG | Square | SumUp Payments Plus | Tide Essential* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £500 | £8.75 | £8.45 | £8.75 | £23.95 | £23.19 |
| £2,000 | £35.00 | £33.80 | £35.00 | £38.80 | £38.79 |
| £5,000 | £87.50 | £84.50 | £87.50 | £68.50 | £69.99 |
Checklist: which suits you?
- Already bank with Tide, or happy to open a free Tide account? Tide's PAYG rate (1.5% + 5p) beats SumUp's 1.69% only when your average sale is above about £26, and beats Square's 1.75% above £20.
- Want the lowest upfront cost? Square's Reader is £19.
- Taking more than about £2,700 a month? SumUp Payments Plus starts to pay for itself (see the calculator).
- Need money at weekends? SumUp says payouts arrive by 7am even on weekends.
- Want to avoid long-term contracts? Avoid Tide Premium, which is 12 months.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheapest?
It depends on your takings and average sale. At £500 a month SumUp pay-as-you-go is lowest of the three in our table. At £5,000 SumUp Payments Plus is lowest of the options in the table. Tide's figures assume a £20 average sale.
Do I need a Tide bank account for a Tide reader?
Yes. Tide says its card readers only work with Tide business accounts. Tide says the standard account has no monthly fee.
SumUp offers: SumUp runs time-limited hardware offers. On 26 Oct 2026 we saw sale prices below its usual reader prices. Offers may end without notice, so check SumUp's card reader page for the current price (usual prices Solo Lite £25, Solo £79, Terminal £135 ex VAT, checked 28 Oct 2026).
Last checked: 19 Oct 2026. Prices ex VAT unless stated. Figures come from each provider's official UK page. Check it before you buy, because fees and offers change. Tide says its fees go up on 1 Dec 2026. General information, not financial advice.
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