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. £99 to £149 hardware, 1.69% flat per transaction, 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
- Overall rating
- 4.2 / 5
- Manufacturer
- SumUp
- Acquirer
- SumUp
- Form factor
- Portable terminal with built-in receipt printer (Solo Lite is no-printer)
- Contract
- No contract
How SumUp Solo works
SumUp Solo is a portable terminal with built-in receipt printer (solo lite is no-printer) acquired through SumUp. Connectivity covers 4G (free SIM), WiFi, Bluetooth, which determines whether the device runs standalone or pairs with a phone, tablet or POS till.
Cards are read at the device, the transaction is authorised through the acquirer's payment gateway, and funds settle to the merchant's nominated UK bank account on the acquirer's settlement schedule. Pricing is 1.69% per transaction, with a contract length of no contract.
The merchant of record is SumUp. That means card-scheme compliance, PCI handling, dispute and chargeback flows all sit with the acquirer rather than with the merchant. The hardware is the user-facing surface; the underlying processing relationship is with the acquirer. For the full FCA chain, Companies House identifier and contract terms behind this acquirer, see the SumUp processor profile.
Pricing breakdown
| Cost component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Setup / hardware cost | £99 to £149 hardware |
| 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.
Hardware and software
- Form factor: Portable terminal with built-in receipt printer (Solo Lite is no-printer).
- Connectivity: 4G (free SIM), WiFi, Bluetooth.
- Card schemes: Visa, Mastercard, American Express (acquirer-dependent), Maestro.
- Contactless: contactless cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay accepted up to UK contactless limits.
- Software: managed by SumUp; firmware and security updates are pushed by the acquirer.
- Receipt handling: built-in receipt printer.
- POS app integrations: see acquirer's published list (varies by acquirer and country).
Tap to Pay support
Status: Yes (contactless / NFC)
Hardware accepts contactless cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex), Apple Pay and Google Pay up to UK contactless limits.
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 (<£10k 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. You pay per transaction at 1.69% per transaction and can stop using the service at any time.
What does SumUp Solo cost in year 1?
Upfront hardware: £99 to £149 hardware. 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 common UK POS systems?
Integration depends on the underlying acquirer and the POS. SumUp publishes a list of supported integrations. Common UK POS systems with public integrations include Lightspeed, Epos Now, Square POS (own ecosystem) and Goodtill. Confirm directly before purchasing hardware.
How fast does SumUp Solo settle funds?
Next business day to your nominated bank account as standard. Same-day option available on selected SumUp plans.
Can I cancel SumUp Solo early?
Yes. As SumUp Solo runs without a fixed contract, you can stop processing at any time. The hardware is yours; 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.
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SumUp Solo vs Square Terminal
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Reviewed by Oliver Mackman, Director. Last reviewed: 2026-04-26.