Tool profile
Zettle: cost, fit and limits
Zettle is a point of sale and card payment service, now branded PayPal Point of Sale, that sells card readers, terminals and a register app tied to a PayPal Business account. It is operated for UK customers by PayPal UK Ltd and targets small sellers.
What to know first
Zettle has almost no software price: the page says no contracts or recurring fees, the POS app is free and the cost is hardware plus a 1.75 percent fee on major cards. Hardware starts at 29 pounds for new eligible business users. There are no subscription tiers on the pages we read, and no AI feature is named. Check the current name on your contract before you sign.
Zettle at a glance
| Maker | PayPal UK Ltd, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Entry price | From 29 pounds for a reader, 1.75% per transaction |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Point of Sale Software in 2026, rank 10 of 10 |
| Website | zettle.com |
Who Zettle is best for
Pop-up and market sellers
A card reader from 29 pounds and no recurring fees keep the startup cost low for a seller who trades a few days a month.
Sellers who already use PayPal
Funds typically arrive in the PayPal Business account within minutes, with automatic bank transfers at no added fee. That suits sellers who need cash quickly for stock, though you should check the payout terms in your own account.
Phone-only sellers
Tap to Pay on a phone needs no extra hardware and the page says there are no extra fees. Test the contactless flow with a few customers at your usual spot, since mobile signal affects how quickly payments complete.
Small shops with a barcode scanner
Terminals from 149 pounds can be combined with a scanner, printer and dock, and the app manages products and gift cards.
Zettle plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| POS app | No additional cost | Manage products and inventory, gift cards, real-time sales reports, channel integrations and staff tracking. Check whether the app includes the features you need before buying hardware, since no paid tier is listed. |
| Card transactions | 1.75% per transaction | Applies to major cards and mobile wallets including American Express. This rate applies to the sales you make in person, and online sales have a separate fee listed on the same page. |
| Hardware | Reader from 29 pounds, terminal from 149 pounds | Reader price applies to new eligible users, extra readers cost 69 pounds. Store kits start at 169 pounds. |
| Invoice and links | 2.5% per transaction | Zettle Invoice and Payment Links, the latter temporarily unavailable for new sellers. Because Payment Links are unavailable for new sellers, a new shop should not plan around them. |
Checked November 2026.
What Zettle does
- Tap to Pay
- Contactless cards and wallets work in the PayPal POS app on a phone. Contactless cards and digital wallets work in the PayPal POS app on a phone, which suits sellers without a counter or a fixed reader.
- Gift cards
- Gift cards can be created and redeemed in the app. Sellers who give gift cards at the till can create them in the app and redeem them later without any extra tool.
- Real-time reports
- Sales reports update as transactions happen. Owners can see what sold today without waiting for an export, which helps when deciding how much stock to bring tomorrow.
- Staff tracking
- Staff performance is tracked inside the POS software. A seller who employs part-timers can see who sold what, which helps when judging performance or setting commission.
- Store kits
- Customised store kits start at 169 pounds. Kits bundle hardware for a store counter, though the page does not list contents, so ask what is in each before you buy.
How Zettle handles your data
PayPal UK Ltd, with a registered office at 76 Upper Ground, London, operates the PayPal Point of Sale brand formerly known as Zettle. Its privacy policy never uses the terms AI or artificial intelligence, and covers automated decision-making, defined as decisions made without human involvement, with a right to request a manual process. Retention follows legal minimums: at least five years for anti-money laundering and fraud records, seven years for bookkeeping and up to ten years for contract records. Recorded support calls are kept up to 90 days, or two years for fraud investigations.
Where Zettle falls short in practice
- Thin on software. The pages describe a free POS app but list no tiers, restaurant features or multi-store tools. A restaurant or a multi-store retailer will need to look elsewhere for table service, stock transfers and deeper reporting tools.
- Reader discount is conditional. The 29 pound reader price applies to new eligible business users only, with delivery fees and terms. Delivery fees and terms apply, and returning to full price for added readers can raise the total cost for a growing team.
- No AI named. No AI function appears on the pages we read. The pages we read name no AI function, so a buyer who wants an assistant must ask or choose another vendor.
Works with
Alternatives to Zettle
Zettle: common questions
Does Zettle charge a monthly fee?
The pricing page says no contracts or recurring fees and lists the POS app at no additional cost. You pay for hardware and a 1.75% fee per transaction on major cards. Hardware and a 1.75% fee per transaction on major cards are the real costs, and delivery fees apply to hardware orders.
Is Zettle the same as PayPal Point of Sale?
The privacy policy says PayPal UK Ltd operates the PayPal Point of Sale brand, formerly Zettle by PayPal, while the site still carries the Zettle name. Check the name on your contract. Check the name on your contract and your account page when you sign, since the brand has changed over time.
How much does Zettle hardware cost?
The page lists a reader from 29 pounds for new eligible users, additional readers at 69 pounds, a terminal from 149 pounds and store kits from 169 pounds, excluding VAT. All prices exclude VAT, and delivery fees and terms apply to hardware orders, so compare the full basket.
How fast do Zettle payouts arrive?
The page says funds typically arrive in the PayPal Business account within minutes and that automatic transfers to your bank carry no added fee. Payout speed can depend on your account status and bank, so test with a small sale first.
Does Zettle have AI features?
The pages we read do not mention AI, and the privacy policy never uses the term. It does describe a right to ask for manual processing in place of automated decisions. If AI matters to you, ask PayPal in writing what is planned and whether sales data is used for it.