In a Nutshell
pros
- Straightforward, per-transaction pricing
- No monthly fees
- Can process international cards
cons
- Lacks 24/7 phone support
- No support for high-risk merchants
No support for high-risk merchants
SumUp offers user-friendly card readers that accept all major credit cards, as well as Apple Pay and Google Pay. With storefront, mobile, and remote payment options, you get a lot of flexibility in how you choose to take payments from customers.
SumUp’s pricing is straightforward and transparent, with the same transaction fee being charged no matter the type of card used. There’s no monthly fee, and the per-transaction pricing is competitive.
You can perform inventory management with SumUp through an app, and detailed analytics can help you increase customer reach. Ultimately, SumUp should be considered an excellent all-around solution for taking credit card and contactless payments at your business.
What’s On Offer
SumUp offers a good mix of point-of-sale hardware and software solutions for companies looking to accept a range of payment methods. With SumUp, you can accept swipe, chip, and contactless forms of payment, and there are several hardware options to meet most budgets.
Larger businesses can choose SumUp, too, as SumUp’s full-scale POS systems include a tablet, receipt printer, and cash register.
Portable and desktop POS hardware options
Secure payments with excellent support for the latest security standards
Inventory tracking
Customer database
Reports and analytics
Cashier tagging
Support for gift cards
Optional business bank account
Ease of Use
To start with SumUp, create an account via the SumUp website or SumUp mobile or tablet app, register your information, activate your account, and purchase a reader. Delivery of the card reader takes four to five business days.
The application process sometimes requires you to verify your account by uploading scans of:
Bank account details
Business type details
Proof of address, such as utility bills
Social security number
ID, such as a passport scan or driver’s license
While your card is in the post, you can create employee accounts and add products and prices to your SumUp account via the SumUp website. The interface is well laid out and straightforward to use.
If you choose the entry-level SumUp Plus device, the first time you use it, you’ll need to pair the device with your smartphone or tablet running the SumUp App. This is done by typing $1.00 on the keypad and pressing Charge. The card reader will then pair with your mobile device.
The other devices have similar, simple setup procedures. Overall, SumUp offers one of the best onboarding processes I’ve tested, and it’s hard to go wrong with it.
What’s Unique About SumUp?
SumUp doesn’t necessarily stand out from the crowd of POS solutions for unique features. Instead, it stands out for its commitment to simplifying processes. Policies and contracts are simple, with no monthly fees and a straight fee-per-transaction.
There are no hidden costs, and transaction fees don’t change based on the card a customer uses, though you do pay a bit more for some special cases, such as remote payments and online invoicing.
The simplification of in-person payment doesn’t stop there, SumUp has some of the more user-friendly hardware I’ve tested, alongside a well-thought-out online portal for product and customer management.
SumUp does offer some more advanced features like loyalty reward programs, optimized promotions, and customer analytics, but they’re all optional, and a business that just needs payment processing that works every time is well served here.
Customer Support
Customer support is available over the phone Monday-Friday, 9am-7pm EST. Support is also available by email, with an average turnaround of about 24 hours. You can also browse the SumUp support site, which includes around 200 articles and guides on how to use the SumUp products and services.
Pricing (Software and Hardware)
There are two fees associated with SumUp: a one-off fee for the hardware you purchase and a per-transaction fee for every payment processed.
The most economical hardware choice is the SumUp Plus, which costs $25. It’s a simple battery-powered card reader with a keypad for PIN entry. It’s portable, connects to your device via Bluetooth, and its battery is charged via USB. A variant of the SumUp Plus with a cradle costs $49.
Another option is the SumUp Solo at $99. This device has a built-in SIM card, offers unlimited mobile data, and supports WiFi. This means it doesn’t need to be used with a separate mobile device.
You’re charged 2.75% for every in-person card or contactless payment. For remote payments, which include gift cards, you’re charged 3.75% plus $0.15 per transaction. Payments that include an online invoice for customers cost 2.90% plus $0.15 per transaction.
SumUp also offers a complete point-of-sale hardware solution with a till, customer touchscreen, and receipt printer. Custom rates are applicable, but SumUp states you’ll typically pay a one-off installation fee of $400, $199 per month, and 2.6% + $0.10 per transaction.
This option, called SumUp POS, includes several extra features like menu management, foot traffic reporting, and support for QuickBooks account software.
Contract Terms
SumUp doesn’t have a monthly fee for most customers, but the SumUp POS plan does have a monthly subscription. This will renew automatically until canceled, but you’re free to cancel it anytime and still have access to the service until the end of the subscription period.
There are several types of businesses that can’t sign up for SumUp, known as restricted businesses. These include businesses offering:
Coaching, consulting, and advisory
Insurance
Internet and telecommunication services
Travel agencies and tour operators
New or used motor vehicle sales
Real estate
Sales or marketing services
Financial services
Bottom Line
SumUp does a better job than many of its competitors at delivering a straightforward, sensible solution for taking in-person credit card and contactless payments. All you need to do is choose the hardware that best suits your business and pay the per-transaction fee.
It’s a well-rounded solution with support for remote payments, gift cards, receipt printing, and invoicing. The SumUp POS plan includes some great extras, such as enabling customer signup from the touchscreen, as well as on-screen tipping. And you can use the SumUp website to manage your menu, pricing, and promotions.
Finally, another big reason businesses may be drawn to SumUp is its lower startup cost and no monthly fee.
About SumUp
SumUp was founded in 2012 in London, UK, with investors including Goldman Sachs, American Express, and Bain Capital Credit. SumUp continued to grow and add new products over the following decade. Its main products are its chip-and-pin card terminals, point-of-sale systems, and online store Ecommerce platform.
SumUp enables third parties to integrate its end-to-end payment infrastructure into their products, enabling them to accept cards in their apps and through their websites.
SumUp currently serves over three million merchants across 34 countries. The service was first introduced in the US in 2016.
Physical Address
SumUp Inc. in the US is headquartered at 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, DE, 19801-0801.
FAQs
How much does SumUp cost?
With SumUp, you typically pay a one-off fee for hardware ($35-$99 per terminal) and a per-transaction fee of 2.75% for in-person payments. Remote payments cost 3.75% plus $0.15 per transaction. Payments with an online customer invoice are charged at 2.90% plus $0.15 per transaction.
For larger businesses, the SumUp POS solution that includes a cash register and receipt printer has custom pricing. Typically, you’ll pay $400 for installation, $199 per month, and 2.6% + $0.10 per transaction.
Is SumUp legit?
SumUp is a legitimate company with over three million business customers. Founded in 2012, the company operates in over 34 countries and has over 3,000 staff spread out across 23 locations.
