SumUp vs Zettle
SumUp and Zettle are both card readers with a point-of-sale app for small shops. SumUp lists 1.69% per transaction pay-as-you-go or 0.99% with a GBP 19 monthly subscription; Zettle is owned by PayPal, has been renamed PayPal Point of Sale, and lists a first reader at GBP 29 excluding VAT. The pages checked were UK pages, so figures are in GBP.
Choose SumUp if
you want published transaction fees you can compare, a no-monthly-fee option, and a subscription that lowers the per-transaction rate.
Read the SumUp reviewChoose Zettle if
you already use PayPal, want a low first-reader price (GBP 29 excl. VAT) and a free mobile POS app.
Read the Zettle reviewSumUp and Zettle side by side
| SumUp | Zettle | |
|---|---|---|
| Company | SumUp Limited | Zettle by PayPal |
| Headquarters | Berlin, Germany | Stockholm, Sweden |
| Jurisdiction | EU (Germany) | EU (Sweden), owned by PayPal |
| Where the data sits | EU | EU |
| Pricing | From 1.69% per transaction | From 1.75% per transaction |
| Entry-level list price (vendor site, checked 8 October 2026) | 1.69% per transaction pay-as-you-go (GBP 0 a month); 0.99% with Payments Plus at GBP 19 a month (UK page) | First reader GBP 29 excl. VAT, additional readers GBP 69 excl. VAT; transaction fees not shown (UK page) |
| Free tier or trial | Pay per transaction, no monthly fee on entry plans | Pay per transaction |
| Certifications and checks | GDPR, PCI DSS | GDPR, PCI DSS |
| Source code | Closed source | Closed source |
| Usually replaces | Square, iZettle | Square, PayPal Here |
| Position in our POS Software guide | #1 of 14 | #6 of 14 |
Both are listed in our European POS Software guide. The table is built from the same directory data as those entries, except the list price, which is quoted from each vendor's own pricing page (see Sources below); how we check it is described in the editorial process.
Where SumUp and Zettle differ
Across the four points below, SumUp has the edge on 1 point, Zettle on 1 point and 2 are a tie. A count like that is a summary, not a verdict: the point that matters to you may be the one the other product wins.
Published fees
SumUp's UK page lists 1.69% per transaction on pay-as-you-go and 0.99% with Payments Plus at GBP 19 a month. Zettle's UK page says fees apply with the PayPal Reader but does not state percentages there.
Edge: SumUp
Hardware price
Zettle lists the first reader at GBP 29 excluding VAT and extra readers at GBP 69 excluding VAT, with delivery fees. SumUp's page mentions card readers and a cashback of up to GBP 100 on selected hardware but no reader prices.
Edge: Zettle
Ownership and branding
SumUp says it operates as SumUp Payments Limited, authorised by the UK FCA, with London named on the UK page. Zettle states it is owned by PayPal and is becoming PayPal Point of Sale. Both are relevant if you want a non-PayPal provider or a PayPal-integrated one.
No clear winner on this point.
Software
Zettle lists a free mobile app on the App Store and Google Play and Tap to Pay. SumUp's page checked did not detail its POS app. We did not verify features further.
No clear winner on this point.
When neither SumUp nor Zettle fits
If neither fits, browse the POS software category. We did not verify other tools for this page.
SumUp vs Zettle: questions
SumUp lists 1.69% pay-as-you-go and 0.99% with GBP 19 a month. Zettle's fees were not shown on the page we checked.
Zettle is owned by PayPal and the UK page says it becomes PayPal Point of Sale.
SumUp lists GBP 0 on the standard option and GBP 19 on Payments Plus. Zettle's monthly fees were not shown.
No. The pages we read were UK pages in GBP, so EU fees may differ.
Sources
Facts, prices and plan details on this page were checked on the vendors' own websites on . Prices and plans change; the vendor's current page is authoritative.