The example: SumUp pay as you go vs Payments Plus
As published in October 2026, SumUp charges 1.69% on pay as you go with no monthly fee, or £19 a month for Payments Plus with a headline rate of 0.99%. The subscription saves 0.70% on eligible card takings, so the break-even point is:
| Monthly card takings | PAYG at 1.69% | Plus: £19 + 0.99% | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| £1,000 | £16.90 | £28.90 | PAYG £12.00 cheaper |
| £2,500 | £42.25 | £43.75 | PAYG £1.50 cheaper |
| £5,000 | £84.50 | £68.50 | Plus £16.00 cheaper |
| £10,000 | £169.00 | £118.00 | Plus £51.00 cheaper |
Simple illustration using headline rates. Check which card types the 0.99% applies to, and whether online, keyed or international payments are charged differently.
Seasonal businesses: count your quiet months
The subscription costs £19 even in months when takings are low. If you trade heavily in summer and barely at all in winter, total the year: an annual plan or switching between plans (if allowed) may change the answer.
Other flat-rate providers
Square and PayPal Point of Sale both publish 1.75% for in-person UK cards with no monthly fee. Square’s paid plans (from £29 a month) add software features rather than lowering the in-person card rate, so compare them on features. Above around £10,000 a month, SumUp and others offer custom pricing, and quoted contracts become worth exploring: see all providers.
How to decide
- Add up your last 12 months of card takings and divide by 12.
- Check your quietest month.
- Compare the yearly cost on each plan, including hardware.
- Get a quote from one or two contract providers if you’re above a few thousand pounds a month.
More detail in our card machine fees guide.
Last updated: 16 October 2026
