SumUp vs Zettle: Which One Is Right for Your Business in 2025?

Please note: information in this article is based on the providers’ official websites and public sources as of September 2025. It may be subject to change.

SumUp and Zettle by PayPal are among the most widely used payment providers for small businesses in the UK and continental Europe. Both platforms are designed to make accepting card payments straightforward, but they serve slightly different purposes depending on the size and type of business. For merchants in particular, the decision between the two can shape the checkout experience, influence customer conversion rates, and have a direct effect on cash flow and day-to-day operations.

In this comparison, we take a closer look at the essentials that matter most to merchants: fees, supported payment types, settlement times, customer support, compliance, and the availability of developer tools. We also highlight how Noda stands apart as a modern alternative, offering instant open banking payments, near-real-time settlement, and broader European coverage – features that neither SumUp nor Zettle currently provide.

SumUp vs Zettle Overview

While SumUp focuses on quick onboarding and affordability, Zettle offers a richer POS ecosystem and integrates seamlessly with PayPal, making it attractive for merchants who sell both online and offline or who already rely on PayPal for payments. 

Supported payment types

Both platforms cover the basics: card payments in-person and online, contactless and mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay, and payment links or QR codes for remote sales. Online checkout forms are also available.

Neither platform highlights open banking payments or recurring subscription tools for UK e-commerce, which means both still rely heavily on card rails. This can add cost and sometimes delay settlement compared with newer alternatives.

SumUp vs Zettle Key differences

When comparing SumUp and Zettle, the differences come down to business size, budget, and ecosystem needs. SumUp is the simpler and more affordable choice, making it best suited for micro businesses, sole traders, market stalls, and pop-up shops that need quick onboarding and low-cost hardware. 

Zettle, on the other hand, is a stronger fit for growing retailers who require more advanced POS features, deeper reporting, and seamless integration with PayPal. While SumUp wins on simplicity and price, it has limitations regarding advanced POS tools and recurring payment transparency. Zettle offers more robust retail features, but its hardware is generally more expensive, and the ecosystem is less flexible for bespoke integrations.

In short, SumUp wins on simplicity and price. Zettle wins if you want PayPal integration and stronger retail tools.

Fees and pricing

SumUp charges 1.69% per transaction for in-person payments, with card reader prices starting at £19 with the Air card reader, and then ranging from £79 towards the hundreds. Zettle applies a rate of 1.75% per transaction, with hardware ranging from £29 to £149. For online payments, SumUp charges a flat fee of 2.5% across all payment methods, including payment links, QR codes, and invoices. 

In contrast, Zettle does not have online pricing as its offer is catered specifically towards in-person merchants. Neither provider charges monthly fees on standard plans, and refunds are generally free. While SumUp charges £10 per disputed transaction, chargeback and dispute fees are not clearly disclosed by Zettle.

Overall, SumUp has slightly simpler and lower pricing, while Zettle costs more but offers a broader feature set through PayPal.

SumUp vs Zettle: Pricing Comparison

SumUp vs Zettle: Customer support

Both providers offer email and phone support during business hours. Zettle’s customers may also use additional support through PayPal’s wider customer service network.

SumUp’s simplicity helps small sellers resolve issues quickly, while Zettle’s more complex POS tools can help larger retailers – but may also make troubleshooting more involved.

Settlement and payouts

SumUp and Zettle differ slightly in how quickly they release funds. SumUp promises that payments taken before midnight will usually arrive in the merchant’s bank account by 7 am the following morning, and it claims this applies even on weekends and bank holidays. However, the exact timing can still depend on the merchant’s bank. 

Zettle, by contrast, settles funds within one to two business days, and deposits are not scheduled on weekends or UK bank holidays. However, Zettle offers a clear advantage for those using a PayPal wallet, where money typically arrives within minutes of a sale, giving merchants near-instant access that can then be transferred to a bank account.

Security and compliance

SumUp and Zettle are fully PCI DSS compliant and authorised by the FCA in the UK. They both meet the necessary standards for secure card processing and data protection.

Zettle benefits from PayPal’s established fraud and dispute management infrastructure, giving larger retailers an extra layer of protection.

Developer tools and integrations

SumUp provides straightforward APIs and SDKs for iOS, Android, and web, mainly geared towards rolling out card readers, payment links, and mobile payments quickly. It also offers e-commerce integrations with WooCommerce, Wix and PrestaShop. Its developer tools cover essentials such as checkouts, refunds, and receipts, but the scope is best suited to small businesses wanting rapid setup rather than deep system customisation.

Zettle, by contrast, offers a broader suite through PayPal, including a Reader Connect API, inventory and product library management, and multi-site reporting. On its own, Zettle offers integrations with Shopify, WooCommerce, Adobe and many other e-commerce, POS and accounting systems. This makes Zettle more attractive to merchants scaling operations across multiple locations.

SumUp vs Zettle: Final verdict

In conclusion, SumUp is best suited to micro-merchants, sole traders, and small shops that need a low-cost, straightforward way to start taking payments. It’s designed for simplicity, making it ideal for traders who want to get up and running quickly without complex setup. Zettle, by contrast, is better for retailers who are scaling across multiple channels or want the advantage of PayPal’s ecosystem for payments, POS, and broader integrations.

That said, both providers remain tied to traditional card payment rails, which come with unavoidable transaction fees and slower settlement times. For e-commerce merchants, these limitations can mean higher costs and cash-flow delays.

This is where Noda offers a modern alternative. Built around open banking, it provides faster settlement, lower processing costs, a smoother checkout flow, and physical in-store solutions like QR code payments for just 20p (with no card reader rentals needed), helping small and mid-sized e-commerce businesses reduce cart abandonment and improve conversion compared with card-based providers like SumUp or Zettle.

Why Choose Noda?

• Ultra-low fees from 0.1% to boost margins
• Coverage across 2,000+ banks in 28 countries in Europe and beyond, with multi-currency support
• Instant account-to-account settlement with no intermediaries
• Bundle with cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay for broader reach
• Plug and play integration via plugins for WooCommerce, Magento, OpenCart and PrestaShop
• Instant payment links to collect payments without a website or coding
• No chargebacks, reducing fraud risk
• Personal assistance with a dedicated account manager

Book a free demo to see how Noda can help you improve checkout and drive conversions.