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This payment service provider gives Square and PayPal a run for their money with its many processing features and services.
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WRITTEN & RESEARCHED BY
Expert Contributor
Last updated onUpdated
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REVIEWED BY
Expert Contributor
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SumUp
| Total Rating |
4.5 |
|---|---|
| Fees & Rates4.8 | |
| Products & Services4.2 | |
| Contract4.4 | |
| Sales & Advertising Transparency5.0 | |
| Customer Service4.2 | |
| User Reviews4.0 | |
SumUp At A Glance
- Payment service provider with flat-rate processing
- Card readers include SumUp Plus & SumUp Solo
- POS systems include POS Lite & POS Pro
Pros
- No monthly fee or long-term contract for basic mobile processing
- Inexpensive card readers
- No monthly minimums
- Predictable flat-rate pricing
- Can be used internationally
Cons
- Account stability issues
- Does not accept high-risk merchants
- Requires 1-year contract & hardware purchase to fully unlock features
Table of Contents
What Is SumUp?
SumUp is a payment service provider that offers in-person payment processing through its SumUp app, mobile SumUp card readers, and POS systems. The SumUp app is similar to its closest competitors, Square and PayPal Zettle, making SumUp a good option for low-volume and mobile sales.
Besides SumUp’s fees being lower than Square’s for small tickets, SumUp’s pocket-sized credit card reader has some features the Square mobile reader doesn’t have, giving SumUp a slight leg up on its competition (though SumUp’s software features are slightly more basic). SumUp’s quality as a mobile processing solution is reflected in the many positive SumUp reviews, at least from its many international users.
SumUp offers more payment processing features and merchant services in the UK and Europe than it does in the United States. Nonetheless, it’s a viable alternative to Square for mobile and brick-and-mortar merchants due to its affordable processing equipment and competitive processing rates.
SumUp Products & Services
| Products & Services4.2 |
|---|
| Software & Services 4.3 |
| Hardware & Equipment 4.0 |
Mobile credit card processing is SumUp’s core feature, but the app also has many free POS features, as well as advanced POS features that require a paid plan and countertop processing hardware.
The SumUp app features all of the standard mobile POS features, including:
- Item library
- Item variants
- Quick-sale mode
- Tipping
- Cash recording
- Basic analytics
- Multiple tax rates
- Email/SMS receipts
- Receipt printer connectivity
- Remote payments (including payment links and virtual gift cards)
- QR code payments
The remote payment features, even if basic, are nice to have. SumUp lets you send customers a payment link, allowing them to pay you on their phone or computer. You can also share a digital gift card link on your social media, website, or directly with customers. Just keep in mind that you’ll pay the higher card-not-present fee for those types of transactions.
As you can see below, SumUp offers nearly all core/basic POS features that small businesses need, though some features require a POS subscription rather than the free mobile plan. Overall, the feature set is somewhat more basic than Square’s but should still be sufficient for most small, mobile businesses.
SumUp Features Overview
| SumUp Features | Availability |
|---|---|
| Multi-Store Support | |
| Contactless Payments | |
| Multi-Channel Selling | |
| Gift Cards | |
| Customer Loyalty | |
| Marketing Tools | |
| Online Ordering | |
| Inventory Management | |
| Reporting | |
| Menu Management | |
| Delivery Management | via paid Deliverect integration |
| EBT Acceptance | |
| Employee Management | |
| Text Messaging |
SumUp Features In Detail
Here are some further details about SumUp’s best software features and hardware.
Virtual Terminal & Mobile Payments
Another SumUp feature is its virtual terminal, which allows merchants to process card-not-present transactions without a card reader (over the phone, for example). Unfortunately, you have to apply for approval to use the virtual terminal, and not everybody will be approved. Established SumUp users (or established businesses in general) appear to stand a better shot at getting permission to use the virtual terminal.
The virtual terminal is accessible from your online dashboard or within your SumUp mobile app.
You can also accept mobile SumUp payments using a payment link that you can text, email, or send over social media. You can accept payments from a customer who is not physically present; it’s also a selling option for customers who want to stay socially distant during a transaction.
Mobile Invoicing
SumUp merchants can email customers invoices on their smartphones, tablets, or computers. There is no cost to use the SumUp invoicing service — you only pay a processing fee when the customer pays their invoice through the payment link attached to the invoice.
SumUp does not charge a fee for invoices paid via cash or check. You can also check the payment status of invoices from your SumUp app or online dashboard.
SumUp Credit Card Readers
SumUp’s card readers work with most Android phones, tablets, iPhones, and iPads. A handy tool within the app can check whether your device is compatible with the card reader. The company currently offers two models: the SumUp Plus (sold as the SumUp Air in the UK) and the SumUp Solo.
The entry-level SumUp Plus credit card reader works similarly to how a lot of other EMV card readers work these days, including Clover Go and PayPal Zettle. It connects to your phone or tablet via Bluetooth and supports magstripe, EMV/chip cards, and contactless NFC payments (including Apple Pay and Google Pay), all in one. Notably, the reader has an integrated magstripe reader, which sets it apart from Square’s Contactless + Chip Reader.
Another thing that makes the SumUp Plus reader superior to Square’s is that it has an OLED display and a PIN pad, allowing businesses to accept debit cards with chip + PIN verification.
The SumUp Solo is my favorite of SumUp’s lineup. It’s a standalone terminal similar to the Square Terminal, but it’s less expensive and has a smaller form factor. You can use the Solo by itself or with a connected phone/tablet. The Solo includes a color touchscreen and can accept EMV and NFC-based payment methods (but not magstripe).
SumUp Solo connectivity is via WiFi or a built-in SIM card with free unlimited mobile data (the Square Terminal can only connect via WiFi). SumUp Solo features a smart tipping function, and you can access reports directly from the device’s touchscreen display.
This battery-operated device comes with an included stand for charging or use as a countertop terminal. The Solo can send digital receipts and also has an option that includes a built-in printer.
SumUp Point Of Sale (POS) Systems
SumUp has recently released a dedicated POS system in the US that features a large touchscreen register for countertop use. One option, Point of Sale Lite, includes a connected SumUp Solo. The more expensive Point of Sale Pro has a separate customer-facing display with built-in payment acceptance. There’s also a self-service kiosk add-on option.
SumUp Point of Sale also includes POS software features, including POS software, sales reporting and analytics, inventory tracking, and menu management features.
While the SumUp POS includes a wide variety of features and options, it’s also quite expensive in comparison to the company’s other, more bare-bones hardware.
SumUp Fees & Rates
| Fees & Rates4.8 |
|---|
| Pricing 4.6 |
| Affordability 5.0 |
Like most payment service providers (PSPs), SumUp uses a simple, flat-rate pricing plan that makes it easy to anticipate what your overall processing costs will be in advance. SumUp’s rates compare favorably with its main competitors, PayPal and Square.
SumUp will deliver your funds (minus its fees) to your bank in one to two business days (two to three business days in the UK). There’s no instant deposit option, but this timeframe is standard for card processing.
Pricing Overview
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Pricing Range | $0-$289/month |
| Account Setup Fee | $0 |
| Contract Length | Month-to-month with mobile card reader only; POS plans require a 12-month subscription |
| Processing Model | Flat-rate |
| Card-present Transaction Fee | 2.6% + $0.10 |
| eCommerce Transaction Fee | 3.5% + $0.15 |
| Keyed-in Transaction Fee | 3.5% + $0.15 |
| Equipment Cost | $54-$799+ |
Note that customized processing fees are available to US merchants processing over $10,000/month.
Monthly Plans
| SumUp Plans | Price | When To Use |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | $0/month (plus one-time purchase of $54 SumUp Plus or $99 SumUp Solo) | If you want free mobile credit card processing with a SumUp card reader. |
| POS Lite | $0/month (plus one-time $499 hardware purchase) | If you want a free countertop POS and do not need advanced back-office features. |
| SumUp POS | $99-$289/month (plus one-time $799 hardware purchase) | If you want a countertop POS with advanced back-office features and customer loyalty. Includes Connect Lite, Connect Plus, and Connect Pro tier options. |
As you can see, the POS plans do charge a monthly fee; they also require a 1-year commitment.
Extra Costs
| SumUp Extra Costs | Price |
|---|---|
| Invoice transactions | 2.9% + $0.15 |
| Online ordering | $19/month |
| Chargeback fee | $10/incident |
Like Square, SumUp has no account setup fee, no hidden monthly fees, no PCI compliance fees, no monthly minimums, and no early termination fees if you close your account early.
Sales & Advertising Transparency
| Sales & Advertising Transparency5.0 |
|---|
| Sales Practices 5.0 |
| Web Presence 4.9 |
Overall, SumUp is straightforward and transparent in its operations. The pricing is clearly laid out, and the contract terms are fair. There are no gimmicky offers on the site and no undeliverable promises. The complaints against SumUp are the standard fare. They’re not unique or even uncommon, which are the sort of problems typically indicative of more significant issues.
Like most other mPOS providers, SumUp relies on word of mouth and online advertising. You will not encounter a sales team in the field offering demos. We like this approach because independent resellers and sales reps tend to promise the world to merchants — but they rarely deliver.
One word of caution: If you are a high-risk merchant, SumUp will not do business with you. (Examples of businesses considered “high risk” by payment processors include pawn shops, adult entertainment, and debt service businesses.) Instead, you’ll need to find a reputable high-risk merchant account.
While this is true with other payment service providers as well, it has generated a lot of unfounded complaints from merchants who signed up and then had their accounts terminated once they started processing — and after they’d already purchased a SumUp card reader. We feel the company could do a much better job at clarifying this restriction before merchants sign up.
Contract Length & Early Termination Fee
| Contract4.4 |
|---|
| Commitment 4.7 |
| ETF & Other Fees 4.0 |
SumUp uses a pay-as-you-go model, and the basic mobile plan has no long-term contract or early termination penalty for canceling your account at any time. However, SumUp POS plans require a 12-month commitment. This isn’t ideal, and the plan also requires a hardware bundle purchase, which is a commitment in and of itself— if you purchase all this POS equipment you can’t use with another provider, you probably aren’t going to give up and switch to another POS within a year (unless the service is really, really bad).
There is no commitment or monthly minimum required for the free mobile processing plan; however, if your account is inactive for two years, SumUp will terminate it and follow the standard procedure in your state for the disposal of any funds in the account, if there are any (there probably won’t be).
The terms of use are pretty standard for a mobile processor. Like Square and PayPal, SumUp’s Terms of Use include the right to implement a rolling reserve fund on your account and to hold funds if it notices something suspicious. Although SumUp’s terms are very loose and don’t contain any truly unpleasant surprises, we strongly encourage you to read the Terms & Conditions section very closely before you sign up for an account. There are a lot of provisions that you’ll want to be familiar with before you start taking credit card payments.
Customer Service & Technical Support
| Customer Service4.2 |
|---|
| Personal Support 3.8 |
| Self-Service 4.6 |
SumUp offers email/ticket-based support. You can access it through the SumUp app and the website. SumUp’s US-based Support Center site has answers to lots of commonly asked questions and extensive documentation for the SumUp app and its card readers. You’ll also find SumUp’s exhaustive list of restricted businesses, although it’s very unlikely that you’ll stumble across it before signing up for an account.
You can also reach SumUp via telephone on weekdays from 9 AM-7 PM EST. SumUp reviews concerning the quality of phone support are not 100% glowing but are largely positive. True 24/7 phone support is also now available to customers who subscribe to one of SumUp’s Point-of-Sale plans.
SumUp Customer Support Channels
| SumUp Customer Service | Availability |
|---|---|
| Phone Support | |
| Email Support | |
| Support Tickets | |
| Live Chat | |
| Dedicated Support Representative | |
| Knowledge Base or Help Center | |
| Videos & Tutorials | |
| Company Blog | |
| Social Media |
SumUp User Reviews
| User Reviews4.0 |
|---|
| Customer Feedback 4.0 |
| Review Site Aggregate 4.0 |
SumUp app reviews are mostly positive, though there are more international reviews than US reviews (and more Android than Apple users, it would seem).
SumUp has an entry on the BBB website with a D- rating, though it isn’t accredited. The company has received 22 BBB complaints over the past three years, with 8 of them coming in within the last twelve months. This isn’t a high complaint volume considering the company’s size, though the D- rating is due to the fact that the company hasn’t responded to its BBB complaints.
On the Google Play store, SumUp has an average rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars, based on 119K reviews. On the Apple App Store, SumUp has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars based on 12,825 reviews. It’s clear the app is more popular among Android users.
Final Verdict On SumUp
| SumUp Review Summary | |
|---|---|
| Pricing Range | $0-$289/month |
| Choose If You Need |
|
Despite a few minor shortcomings, SumUp is a good choice for many small businesses. The card readers are robust enough for just about any type of mobile sales, and the optional POS plans make SumUp well suited to a broader variety of businesses. It’s easy to sign up for an account online, and setting up your hardware is also very straightforward.
Like any other payment service provider (or third-party payment processor), SumUp’s aggregated accounts run a higher risk of holds, freezes, or terminations. However, this risk is still very low for a low-risk business that only takes card-present transactions. As your business grows, transitioning to a traditional merchant account will minimize this risk and cost less overall.
SumUp may be an imperfect solution, but it scores well overall and can meet the needs of most small, retail-only US businesses. For more on how SumUp stacks up against Square, read our SumUp VS Square comparison to see more details on these two providers.
If you’d like to see even more payment processing choices for your business that include not just mobile processors but also true merchant account providers, check out the best credit card processors for small businesses.
Content Featuring SumUp
Frank Kehl
Expert Contributor at Merchant Maverick
Frank has been writing about payment processing and business services since 2015. He is a retired Air Force officer and a former practicing attorney. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from The Pennsylvania State University and a Juris Doctorate degree from the Ventura College of Law.
View Frank Kehl's professional experience on LinkedIn.
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