Zettle vs SumUp vs Square: Best Mobile Card Payments for UK Trades
Quick Verdict: Square POS vs Zettle Go vs SumUp POS for UK Trades
If you're a plumber, electrician, or general tradesperson taking card payments on the go, you need something reliable, affordable, and dead simple to use on a job site. Square POS, Zettle Go, and SumUp POS are the three most popular mobile card payment solutions for UK trades — and all three offer a free software tier to get started.
Our top pick for most tradespeople is Zettle Go, thanks to its clean interface and solid UK bank integrations. But the right choice depends on how you work, so read on for the full breakdown.
Square POS vs Zettle Go vs SumUp POS: Pricing Compared
All three platforms follow a freemium model — you pay nothing for the core software, and instead pay a percentage fee per transaction. There are no monthly software fees on the free tiers, which suits trades businesses that don't want fixed overheads.
- Square POS: No monthly fee on the free plan. Card reader hardware available to purchase separately. Transaction fees apply per payment (check Square's UK site for current rates, as these are updated periodically).
- Zettle Go: Free app with no monthly subscription. The Zettle Card Reader 2 is available to buy outright. A flat transaction fee applies per card payment.
- SumUp POS: Free software tier with no monthly commitment. Hardware such as the SumUp Air or SumUp Solo is purchased upfront. Per-transaction fees apply.
For a tradesperson doing occasional on-site payments, all three represent excellent value. If your volume grows, it's worth comparing the per-transaction rates directly on each provider's UK website, as these can change and vary by card type.
Square POS vs Zettle Go vs SumUp POS: Features Compared
Square POS is arguably the most feature-rich of the three on the free tier. It includes invoicing, inventory management, and a customer directory — genuinely useful if you want to track repeat clients or issue VAT invoices on the spot. Square also integrates well with Xero for accounting, which matters if your bookkeeper is already on that platform.
Zettle Go keeps things refreshingly straightforward. The app is quick to learn and works well on both iOS and Android, making it ideal for trades teams where not everyone is tech-savvy. Zettle is owned by PayPal, which means payments can settle into a PayPal account or a linked UK business bank account. It also connects to Xero and QuickBooks, supporting Making Tax Digital compliance when paired with your accounting software.
SumUp POS sits neatly in the middle. The interface is clean and user-friendly, and the app handles product catalogues, tipping, and basic reporting without overwhelming you. SumUp integrates with accounting tools and is GDPR-compliant in how it handles customer payment data — an important consideration for any UK business storing transaction records.
- Best for invoicing on site: Square POS
- Best for ease of use in the field: Zettle Go
- Best all-round simplicity: SumUp POS
- Making Tax Digital (MTD) readiness: All three support integration with MTD-compatible accounting software
- Offline payments: Check individual provider terms — availability varies
Which Should You Choose? Square POS, Zettle Go, or SumUp POS?
If you're a sole trader plumber or small trades business taking occasional card payments at the end of a job, Zettle Go is the easiest starting point. The setup is minimal, the reader is robust, and the app won't slow you down when you're standing in someone's kitchen.
If you run a slightly larger operation — perhaps a team of three or four with a mix of regular clients and one-off jobs — Square POS gives you the most tools without charging extra. The built-in invoicing and Xero integration make it easier to stay on top of your books and meet your Making Tax Digital obligations.
Choose SumUp POS if you want something in between: simple enough to use without training, but with enough reporting to keep things professional. The SumUp Solo reader with built-in SIM is particularly handy for tradespeople working in locations with poor Wi-Fi.
Other Options to Consider
If none of the three above feel quite right, it's worth briefly looking at PayPal Zettle's broader PayPal ecosystem if you already invoice through PayPal, or exploring dedicated trades management software such as Tradify or Jobber, which sometimes include payment features alongside job scheduling and quoting tools.
For accounting integration specifically, FreeAgent (free with most NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland business accounts) and Sage Accounting both work alongside these payment tools and support Making Tax Digital for VAT.