Tool profile
SumUp: cost, fit and limits
SumUp is a payments company that sells card readers, a point of sale app and business tools to small merchants, with the register software, hardware and fees priced separately. It operates through entities in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Lithuania and targets micro-merchants and small shops.
What to know first
SumUp starts from the card reader. Reader prices and transaction fees are printed, with a pay-as-you-go option at 1.69 percent and a Payments Plus subscription of 19 pounds a month. The point of sale software is quoted through a form that asks for annual card volume. The pages we read describe no AI feature, though the footer lists a Use of AI page.
SumUp at a glance
| Maker | SumUp, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Entry price | 1.69% per reader transaction, no monthly fee |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Point of Sale Software in 2026, rank 7 of 10 |
| Website | sumup.com |
Who SumUp is best for
Market traders
Tap to Pay on a phone costs 0 pounds for the hardware, and pay-as-you-go has no monthly cost, so a seller pays only when cards are taken.
Shops with steady card sales
The page recommends Payments Plus above 3,300 pounds of monthly sales, with a 0.99% in-person rate on domestic consumer cards.
Restaurants wanting delivery links
The point of sale page lists delivery app integrations for restaurants and e-commerce integrations for retail. Check that your delivery partner is on the list before buying, as integrations differ by country and by product tier.
Owners with an accountant
Xero and QuickBooks are named as accounting integrations, which helps hand sales totals to a bookkeeper. Ask your accountant whether they prefer a Xero or QuickBooks export, since that choice may drive which products you connect.
SumUp plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Pay-as-you-go | 0 pounds per month, 1.69% per reader transaction | No monthly cost. Fee applies to card reader transactions. There is no minimum monthly sales figure, so a seller with irregular trading pays only for the days when cards are taken. |
| Payments Plus | 19 pounds per month, or 189 pounds per year | 0.99% in-person on domestic consumer cards, 1.69% on international, corporate or premium cards including American Express, and 2.50% online. |
| Card readers | Tap to Pay 0, Solo Lite 15, Solo 49, Terminal 99 pounds | Prices exclude VAT. The page also shows higher crossed prices, unlabeled, next to a Black Friday sale mention. |
| POS software | Quote on request | The point of sale page asks for annual card volume and says the team may call to discuss an offer. No plan names are shown. |
Checked November 2026.
What SumUp does
- Tap to Pay
- The SumUp Business app accepts contactless cards on a phone with no reader, priced at 0 pounds for hardware. It suits sellers who trade outdoors or in places without counters, though you should test phone signal and battery life at your usual spots.
- Reader range
- Solo Lite, Solo and Terminal readers are priced at 15, 49 and 99 pounds, covering counter, portable and stationary use. Solo Lite fits a seller who wants the cheapest reader, Solo adds a screen and Terminal suits a fixed counter that needs more features.
- POS hardware freedom
- The register app can be downloaded on your own iPad, or built into a setup with printers, card readers and monitors. This means an existing iPad can become the till, but check that its operating system version is on the supported list.
- Accounting links
- Integrations like Xero and QuickBooks are named for accounting. Accounting links remove retyping, because daily sales totals can reach the books without anyone copying figures by hand from the register.
- Delivery and web links
- Restaurant delivery app integrations and retail e-commerce integrations are listed on the point of sale page. Confirm which delivery platforms are covered in your country before relying on a single order screen, because lists differ.
How SumUp handles your data
SumUp's privacy policy lists three European entities: SumUp Payments Limited in London, SumUp Limited in Dublin and SumUp EU Payments, UAB in Vilnius. It states that for its European business it stores personal data within the European Economic Area. The policy mentions developing machine-learning risk assessment tools for fraud prevention and describes a right to ask for a manual decision where automated decision-making is used. Retention follows legal minimums such as five years for anti-money laundering records and seven to ten years for bookkeeping. A Use of AI page is linked in the footer but could not be opened.
Where SumUp falls short in practice
- Register price is hidden. The point of sale page shows no plan prices and asks for annual card volume in a form. Budget cannot be totaled from the page.
- Fees are the real cost. The 1.69% pay-as-you-go rate is the largest cost for most small sellers, so annual card volume decides whether Payments Plus pays off. Work out your yearly card volume, multiply by each rate, and compare the totals before choosing a plan.
- No AI feature confirmed. The pages we read name no assistant or AI reporting, so a buyer who wants one cannot verify it from them. Ask the vendor which features are live in your country today, and request the answer in writing before relying on it.
Works with
Alternatives to SumUp
SumUp: common questions
When does SumUp Payments Plus pay off?
The card readers page recommends Payments Plus if monthly sales exceed 3,300 pounds. At that point the 0.99% in-person rate on domestic consumer cards, against 1.69% pay-as-you-go, outweighs the 19 pound monthly fee. Check your card mix. Use your last three months of card sales to run the numbers, since the break-even depends on your mix of domestic and international cards.
How much is the SumUp point of sale software?
The point of sale page prints no price. It asks for annual card transaction volume and says a team member may call to discuss an offer. Ask for a written quote that names software, hardware and fees. The quote also depends on hardware, so ask for software, readers and fees on one sheet.
Does SumUp keep my data in Europe?
The privacy policy states that for SumUp's European business, personal data is stored within the European Economic Area. It lists entities in the UK, Ireland and Lithuania. Ask which entity contracts with you, as the controller varies by service. Ask for the contract entity name, since the policy covers several companies.
Do I need a SumUp reader to use the register app?
The point of sale page says you can download the app on your own iPad or build a setup with readers and printers. The page does not say which register features need a SumUp reader. Test the checkout flow before buying.
Is there an AI assistant in SumUp?
The pages we read describe none. The footer links a Use of AI page, which could not be opened, and the privacy policy mentions only machine-learning risk tools for fraud prevention. Ask SumUp which AI features exist today. Ask the vendor which AI features exist today and in which countries.