Square vs SumUp: Comparison of Payment Terminals

Square took over the payment market in the United States in just a few years. Now, the company aims to export its model to Europe. Do they have what it takes to compete against SumUp, the king of European payment?

SumUp Air
	Transaction fee: 1.69% Price: £34 + VAT £25 + VAT To SumUp
SumUp Solo
	Transaction fee: 1.69% Price: £79 + VAT £69 + VAT To SumUp

 

• Who has the best terminals?
• Who has the best services?
• How to choose the best reader?

 

Comparison of SumUp and Square Terminals

SumUp and Square terminals target small merchants.

Air vs Reader

Square made its name with the Reader, a nomadic reader that you can connect to your phone or tablet via Bluetooth. The major strength of this mobile payment terminal is its more than affordable price (£19 + VAT).

We also appreciate its sleek design and ultra-light format. It allows you to easily carry it and accept payments from anywhere.

The Air works almost exactly like the Reader. The price is attractive (£39 + VAT). Here again, you have a small terminal that you can connect to your phone via an app.

Both readers allow you to accept credit card payments or mobile payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay).

The Air has a keypad, while the Reader does not have buttons or a screen.

If you opt for the Reader, your customers will have to enter their PIN code on your phone, and you might lose time with each transaction. This is a blocking point for us.

Verdict: advantage SumUp. The presence of a keypad for your customers to directly enter their PIN code on the terminal is a real plus.

Square Terminal vs Sumup Solo + Printer

Square Terminal is a top product with a great design that has everything you need for payments.

The reader works with Square applications. These software are free and easy to use. Thanks to them, you can manage your cash register directly from your terminal.

However, the Square Terminal does not have a 4G SIM. The reader needs to connect via WiFi or Ethernet cable to accept payments.

SumUp’s Solo terminal has a 4G chip, so you can take payments without needing WiFi.

Verdict: advantage SumUp. In our opinion, the Square Terminal is more interesting if you appreciate the ecosystem. Otherwise, the Solo (with printer) is a better option.

Price comparison

Square and SumUp have adopted the same model: no subscription, no long-term commitment, and no hidden fees. The prices of the readers are competitive. And once you have purchased your terminal, it belongs to you.

The Price of Card Readers

The SumUp Air is one of the most accessible terminals on the market. You can buy this wireless reader for £39 + VAT. The SumUp Solo is at £79 + VAT.

We find quite similar prices at Square. The Reader is available at a price of £19 + VAT. The Square Terminal costs £149 + VAT.

Verdict: advantage SumUp. The SumUp Solo is cheaper than the Square Terminal. The SumUp Air costs twice as much as the Square Reader because it has a keypad for easier PIN code payments.

Transaction Fees

To earn money, Square and SumUp do not charge a subscription or rental fees.

Transaction fees are slightly lower at SumUp (1.69%) than Square (1.75%). If you handle a large amount of money monthly, experts recommend using Yavin or banks.

Verdict: advantage SumUp.

Online Payments

Both have developed an omnichannel offer.

The advantage of this approach is that you can manage all your payments from a single interface.

However, this service comes at a price. SumUp takes a commission of 2.5% on each online payment you make. Square, for its part, charges 1.4% + 25p per transaction (for UK cards).

No verdict.

Services Associated with

Pick the right payment terminal carefully because you will have to use the whole ecosystem with.

Both companies offer free and easy-to-use cash register software. Some features include online payments, stock management, and gift card creation. These are basic services that are available.

But Square and SumUp also offer more advanced features. Like the ability to manage your employees’ schedules or your invoicing. Check carefully all the services that come with both solutions.

No verdict.

Conclusion

Our hearts lean towards SumUp. Its software has already stood the test of time in Europe. And we prefer SumUp’s approach to payment terminals, which have a 4G chip and a keypad for entering the PIN code.

But tomorrow, Square could make a difference with its innovative payment services. A great duel in perspective.