SumUp Solo review
SumUp Solo is the strongest no-contract UK card terminal for sole traders, mobile businesses and sub-£15k monthly card volume in 2026. £79 + VAT hardware at list price, 1.69% per transaction on pay-as-you-go, no contract, no monthly fee, free 4G SIM. Same-day or next-day settlement. Locked to SumUp as the acquirer; uncompetitive above £15k monthly because the flat rate stops winning vs blended-rate contracts (Dojo, Tyl).
At a glance
- Manufacturer
- SumUp
- Acquirer
- SumUp
- Form factor
- Portable standalone touchscreen terminal (no built-in printer; Solo Lite is the cheaper phone-paired version)
- Contract
- No contract
How SumUp Solo works
SumUp Solo is a card terminal supplied through SumUp. Form factor: Portable standalone touchscreen terminal (no built-in printer; Solo Lite is the cheaper phone-paired version). Connectivity: 4G (free SIM), WiFi, Bluetooth.
Cards are read at the device, the transaction is authorised through SumUp, and funds settle to your nominated UK bank account on that provider's schedule. The pricing table below shows the rate and contract.
SumUp processes the card payments, but you are still the merchant. The contract sets your PCI DSS obligations and your liability for chargebacks, so read those terms before you sign. For the FCA chain, Companies House identifier and contract terms behind this acquirer, see the SumUp processor profile.
Pricing breakdown
| Cost component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Setup / hardware cost | £79 + VAT list price (SumUp often discounts it) |
| Transaction rate | 1.69% per transaction |
| Monthly fee | No standing monthly fee |
| Contract length | No contract |
| Exit fee | None (no fixed contract) |
Verify pricing directly with SumUp before signing. UK card-acceptance pricing varies by sector, ticket size and processing volume. Source: SumUp card readers page, checked 2026-09-25. Full published price table: SumUp fees.
Hardware and software
- Form factor: Portable standalone touchscreen terminal (no built-in printer; Solo Lite is the cheaper phone-paired version).
- Connectivity: 4G (free SIM), WiFi, Bluetooth.
- Card schemes accepted depend on your acquirer.
- Contactless: cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay, up to the contactless limit.
- Receipts: digital receipts by SMS or email, with no built-in printer.
- POS integrations: ask the acquirer for its current list.
Contactless payments
Status: Accepts contactless cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay
This terminal has its own contactless reader. That is different from Tap to Pay on iPhone, which turns a phone into the reader: see our Tap to Pay on iPhone review for that product. Read the Tap to Pay on iPhone review
Settlement and funds
Next business day to your nominated bank account as standard. Same-day option available on selected SumUp plans.
Pros and cons
Pros
- + No contract, no monthly fee.
- + Single transparent rate (1.69%).
- + Hardware is well-built; battery life solid for a day of trading.
- + Same-day or next-day settlement.
Cons
- − 1.69% is uncompetitive at higher volumes.
- − No interchange-plus option.
- − Locked to SumUp acquirer.
Best for and avoid if
Best for
- · Sole traders, mobile traders, market stalls
- · Low-to-medium volume (under about £15k monthly)
- · Seasonal businesses
Avoid if
- · High-volume retail
- · £15k+ monthly card flow
FAQs
Does SumUp Solo require a contract?
No. SumUp Solo is offered with no fixed contract (no contract). You pay per transaction and can stop using the service at any time.
What does SumUp Solo cost in year 1?
Upfront hardware: £79 + VAT list price (SumUp often discounts it). Transaction rate: 1.69% per transaction. Contract: No contract. First-year cost depends on your card volume; MerchantHQ's quote tool will model the effective cost against alternatives.
Can I integrate SumUp Solo with my till or POS software?
Integration depends on the acquirer and the till software. Ask SumUp for its current list of supported integrations, and confirm your till software is on it before you buy hardware.
How fast does SumUp Solo settle funds?
Next business day to your nominated bank account as standard.
Can I cancel SumUp Solo early?
Yes. As SumUp Solo runs without a fixed contract, you can stop processing at any time. Check the acquirer's account-closure policy.
Compare SumUp Solo
How SumUp Solo stacks up against the closest UK alternatives. Pick a head-to-head matchup or jump to the full alternatives shortlist.
SumUp Solo vs Zettle Reader 2
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SumUp Solo vs Revolut Card Reader
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SumUp Solo vs Square Terminal
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SumUp Solo vs Dojo Go Max
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SumUp Solo vs PAX A77
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All alternatives to SumUp Solo
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Official site: SumUp
MerchantHQ is owned and operated by Best Business Loans Ltd, directed by Oliver Mackman. Last updated:
Payments review: Derren Powell, payments and fintech specialist, formerly Vice President, Business Development (Merchants) at Mastercard. Independent reviewer; the MerchantHQ editorial team retains control of the final content.