SumUp

What Is SumUp?

The European small business payment market has a clear dividing line. Above it sit enterprise platforms like Adyen and full-stack providers like Stripe, serving businesses with technical teams and significant transaction volume. Below it — for the market stall owner, the plumber, the food truck, the independent yoga instructor — there was, until recently, very little. Cash or nothing.

SumUp occupies this underserved space with a proposition that has remained remarkably consistent since its founding in Berlin in 2012: affordable card readers, flat-rate transaction fees, no monthly charges, no contracts. The company now serves over 4 million merchants across 36 markets, making it the most widely available small business payment solution in Europe — and the most direct European competitor to Square.

What started as a simple Bluetooth card reader paired with a smartphone app has expanded into a broader small business toolkit: point-of-sale systems for restaurants and retail, an online store builder, invoicing tools, payment links, and a business bank account with a Mastercard debit card. But SumUp's core value remains accessibility. A new business can order a card reader for under €40, download the app, and start accepting card payments the same day — no underwriting process, no merchant account application, no technical integration.

SumUp is headquartered in Berlin with additional offices across Europe, and processes all payment data within EU infrastructure. For the millions of European small businesses and sole traders that the enterprise payment world has overlooked, SumUp has become the default path to card acceptance.

Key Features

Card Readers and Hardware

SumUp's product line starts with the SumUp Air, a compact Bluetooth card reader that pairs with the SumUp mobile app. At under €40 for a one-time purchase, it is one of the most affordable entry points to card acceptance available. The SumUp Solo is a step up — a standalone device with its own touchscreen, WiFi, and optional mobile data connectivity, meaning it works without a smartphone. For businesses that need a full countertop solution, the SumUp POS combines a tablet-based interface with receipt printing, inventory management, and table management for hospitality. All hardware accepts contactless, chip, and swipe payments, plus Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Flat-Rate Pricing

SumUp's pricing is its competitive advantage for small businesses. Every card transaction is charged at a flat 1.69% — no matter the card type, brand, or whether it is a domestic or European transaction. There are no monthly fees, no minimum transaction requirements, and no long-term contracts. This predictability is transformative for small businesses that need to know exactly what each sale will cost them. Compare this to traditional merchant account providers, which charge different rates for different card types, add monthly gateway fees, and require multi-year contracts.

SumUp Business Account

SumUp has expanded beyond payments into basic business banking. The SumUp Business Account provides an IBAN, a free Mastercard debit card, and instant settlement of SumUp transactions (rather than the standard next-business-day timeline). For sole traders and micro-businesses, this eliminates the need for a separate business bank account with the associated fees and paperwork. The account includes basic financial management features like categorized spending and transaction search.

Online Payments

While SumUp's core strength is in-person payments, the company offers a growing set of online payment tools. Payment links let merchants send a link via text, email, or social media that customers click to pay — no e-commerce site needed. The online store builder provides a basic storefront with product listings and checkout. Invoicing tools allow merchants to create and send invoices with embedded payment options. These features are functional but basic compared to dedicated e-commerce platforms.

SumUp POS for Hospitality and Retail

SumUp's point-of-sale system goes beyond simple card acceptance into business operations. The restaurant-focused POS includes table management, menu customization, order management, and kitchen display integration. The retail POS handles inventory tracking, barcode scanning, and basic reporting. While less feature-rich than dedicated POS systems like Lightspeed or Toast, SumUp POS provides essential functionality at a fraction of the cost.

Pricing

SumUp's pricing model is designed for simplicity above all else. The core transaction fee is 1.69% across all card types — no distinction between debit and credit, domestic and European. No monthly fees. No setup fees. No minimum contract terms. The card reader hardware is a one-time purchase starting from approximately €39 for the SumUp Air.

Online payments carry a slightly higher fee: payment links at approximately 2.5% + €0.25 per transaction. The online store and invoicing features are included at no additional monthly cost. The SumUp Business Account is free, with no monthly maintenance fees.

For businesses comparing SumUp to traditional merchant accounts, the total cost of ownership calculation is straightforward. A traditional provider might offer lower per-transaction rates on some card types but adds monthly fees, gateway charges, terminal rental, and minimum volume requirements. For small businesses processing under €10,000 per month, SumUp's flat rate almost always works out cheaper.

The tradeoff is that SumUp does not offer volume-based rate negotiation. A business processing €100,000 per month pays the same 1.69% as one processing €1,000. At that volume, Mollie or Stripe would typically offer better rates.

EU Compliance & Data Privacy

SumUp is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, and operates as an EU-based company across all 36 of its European markets. Payment data is processed within EU infrastructure, and the company maintains GDPR compliance across its operations.

SumUp holds e-money institution licences that allow it to issue the SumUp Business Account and process payments across European markets. The company is PCI DSS compliant and integrates Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) as required by PSD2.

For small businesses that may not have compliance teams or legal departments, SumUp handles regulatory requirements transparently. SCA is built into the payment flow by default, PCI compliance is handled at the platform level, and GDPR-compliant data handling requires no merchant configuration.

Who It's Best For

Sole traders and micro-businesses entering card acceptance for the first time. The low hardware cost, zero monthly fees, and instant onboarding remove every traditional barrier.

Mobile merchants — food trucks, market stalls, delivery services, trades people — who need portable card acceptance that works with a smartphone or standalone.

Small hospitality and retail businesses that need a basic POS system without the cost and complexity of enterprise solutions like Lightspeed or Zettle.

European small businesses in markets where Square is unavailable or poorly localized. SumUp's 36-market presence across Europe far exceeds any competitor.

The Verdict

SumUp has done for European small businesses what smartphones did for computing — made something previously complex and expensive into something simple and affordable. The flat 1.69% rate, sub-€40 hardware, and zero monthly fees create a value proposition that is hard to argue with for small businesses. The limitations are real — no advanced e-commerce features, limited integrations, basic customer support — but they are the trade-offs of a product built for simplicity, not enterprise complexity. For the millions of European businesses that just need to accept cards without friction, SumUp delivers exactly that.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SumUp GDPR compliant?

Yes. SumUp is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, and processes payment data within EU infrastructure. The company maintains GDPR compliance and holds e-money institution licences within the EU.

How much does SumUp cost?

SumUp charges a flat 1.69% per card transaction with no monthly fees. Card readers start from approximately €39. Online payment links are charged at 2.5% + €0.25. The business account is free.

How does SumUp compare to Square?

SumUp is the European equivalent of Square, available in 36 European markets compared to Square's limited EU presence. Square offers a more mature software ecosystem (especially for restaurants). SumUp has simpler pricing, lower hardware costs, and wider European availability.

Can SumUp handle online payments?

Yes, but with limitations. SumUp offers payment links, a basic online store builder, and invoicing — suitable for small-scale online sales. For serious e-commerce, dedicated platforms like Mollie or Shopify Payments are better choices.

Does SumUp offer a business bank account?

Yes. The SumUp Business Account provides an IBAN, a free Mastercard debit card, and instant settlement of SumUp transactions. It is designed as a complement to the payment tools, not a full-featured business bank.