SumUp vs myPOS: comparison and review

SumUp and myPOS are two card payment providers that stand out in the market for offering solutions with no fixed monthly fees and very affordable commissions. Both companies have state-of-the-art technology models.

But is SumUp or myPOS better, and which one should you choose? In this article we analyze which Card Reader is better for you and your business.

Comparison chart: SumUp vs myPOS

SumUp Features

SumUp launched its product on the market with the intention of differentiating itself from the competition by offering POS services without fixed monthly fees or contractual obligations. That is to say, with their card readers, payments are flexible, adapted to your invoice, and if you want to cancel the service, you will not have to assume any penalties or commissions.

Instead of applying a fixed fee to its services, SumUp charges its customers according to their turnover, with a transaction fee of 1.69%. This is one of the lowest commissions you will find in the market, which is why many prefer it.

By charging on a commission basis and not with a flat or fixed fee, SumUp is a great option for all customers. If you don’t bill at all one month, SumUp will not charge you.

This allows you to enjoy the POS system even if your business is just taking off, or depends on the different seasons of the year, or your turnover is irregular

How much do SumUp Card Readers cost?

Another way in which SumUp guarantees flexible payment for its services is by offering the purchase of its terminals, instead of renting them. Their prices are the most affordable on the market:

If you consider that the average price for renting a card reader is between 10 and 30 GBP, it is more than clear that it is worth paying this one-time fee and owning the device.

This is especially true if you choose the SumUp Air card reader. This terminal is the brand’s best-seller, not only because of its irresistible price, but also because of its functionalities.

SumUp Air

SumUp Air is a mobile POS device; it connects via Bluetooth to a smartphone or tablet. You must download the SumUp application, compatible with Android and iOS, on the smart device to which you have connected the card reader.

In this application, you will be able to configure a personalised catalogue with the products or services you offer to your customers. When it’s time to collect payment, all you have to do is follow these steps:

• Select the products in the app’s catalogue or enter the total amount on your digital keyboard.
• If you select the products, the total will be calculated automatically.
• Select “Card reader” as payment method.
• Bring the card reader close to the customer and tell them that they can bring their card up to pay with contactless or insert their card into the chip reader.

Once your customer’s payment has been accepted, it will take 24-48 working hours for it to appear in your account balance. If you prefer, you can apply for the SumUp prepaid card and receive payments on the same day.

With this card, you can pay in shops, withdraw cash for free three times a month, or make transfers to your bank account.

SumUp 3G

But if paying with SumUp Air seemed easy to you, you will find it even easier with the next terminal in the SumUp catalogue.

We are talking about the SumUp 3Gcard reader. This model is a wireless POS terminal, with a SIM card included that has access to the mobile phone data network. In other words, this card reader is autonomous, it does not require connection to any smart device.

To cash out with SumUp 3G you only have to enter the total amount of the purchase on the keypad. It is very easy to use, and you can use it wherever you go.

This card reader is compatible with the SumUp printer, so you can buy it together to offer your customers a printed copy of their receipt. Otherwise, you will have to offer the digital copy, which you can send by SMS or email.

Advantages of SumUp

Before deciding whether or not SumUp is the best terminal for you, you need to analyse its pros and cons. These are the main advantages of SumUp dataphone terminals:

• SumUp Air is the best-priced card reader on the market.
• It has two options, one with a connection to a smart device and the other with SIM, so you can choose the one that best suits your business.
• Battery for up to 500 transactions.
• Compatible printer
• Low commission compared to the competition: 1.69% on the transaction.
• Lightweight and user-friendly design.
• App with customisable catalogue, employee profiles and accounting management.
• Easy to set up and use.

Disadvantages of SumUp

Despite having great advantages, SumUp also has some disadvantages. These are the most important ones:

• In the case of high invoicing, it can be disadvantageous, as it only offers customised plans for customers with an annual turnover of more than £100,000.
• To receive immediate payments, you need the SumUp prepaid card, which is not a bank card or account in itself.
• Both terminals send digital receipts. For printing physical copies, you need to buy a separate printer base
  

myPOS Characteristics

You probably think that everything I have told you about SumUp makes it the clear winner in this comparison, but the truth is that myPOS also offers great features to its customers.

This is why choosing which card reader is better is not easy. The competition is very close.

Like SumUp, myPOS offers its customers a service without fixed monthly fees or contractual obligations. In their case, the transaction fee is 1.10% + £0.07.

myPOS Card Readers

myPOS also has its card readers for sale, thus saving the need to pay rental or maintenance fees for its customers. There are currently four alternatives available. These are their prices:

How much does a myPOS Card Reader cost?

The brand’s best-selling terminal is myPOS GO, as it has a great value for its price. It is a pocket-sized card reader, very convenient to use and carry, with a free integrated SIM card with a connection to the mobile data line.

Therefore, this terminal can be used at any time, and whenever or wherever you need it. All you need is cellular coverage.

This device will allow you to send your customers their receipts digitally, via SMS or email.

myPOS Slim

The same applies to the next myPOS card reader model, myPOS Slim. This terminal, with an 8.1. operating system and a shockproof touch screen, includes a barcode reader and two cameras (front and rear) to make it easier to cash up.

Although it is one of the newest myPOS terminals, it does not allow ticket printing. It is an ideal card reader for those who need to collect barcode labelled products away from a counter.

In case you prefer to print receipts, you will have to move on to the following myPOS models, as unlike SumUp, this brand does not offer a printer base compatible with these terminals.

myPOS Carbon

myPOS Carbon, unlike the two previous models, allows printing copies of the customer’s purchase receipt.

It is a high-tech model, with a 5.5″ touch screen, Android 9.0 system and a high-speed quad-core processor (1.4 GHz), which makes it the fastest Card Reader on the market.

Its modern design does not prevent this Card Reader from being rugged. It is designed to withstand the typical shocks that this type of terminals usually suffer in busy sectors such as hotels and restaurants. Being completely wireless, and having enough battery to last a full day, it becomes the favorite alternative for this type of business.

In addition, it can be connected via Bluetooth or to the WiFi network of your premises.

myPOS Combo

myPOS Combo is a traditional terminal, with an ultra-resistant keyboard, long battery life and robust structure. It is the perfect model for classic businesses that charge their customers at the counter or, in the case of restaurants, at the table.

This is because, despite being wireless, it is a slightly heavier model than the others. It has an integrated printer, which will allow you to give a printed copy of the payment receipt to your customers, but it is not the ideal model for itinerant businesses, as was the case with myPOS Go or myPOS Slim.

Like the previous model, myPOS Combo can connect to the WiFi network and establish a Bluetooth connection with other devices.

Bank account and myPOS card

Along with the purchase of these terminals, myPOS offers its customers a series of extras that make it a very attractive option.

On the one hand, it offers a bank account and a commercial VISA card that will allow you to have immediate access to accepted funds. This bank account is compatible with 14 currencies. With the card, you can make payments and withdraw cash, and with the account you can send money and make transfers.

There are no fees associated with either of these products.

In addition, when you contract and purchase a myPOS card reader you will have access to the myPOS application, compatible with Android and iOS.

Advantages of myPOS

These are the main advantages of myPOS:

• Card readers at a fair price
• Two card reader options that print tickets.
• With the card reader, you will have a bank account and a myPOS VISA card without commissions.
• Different designs to suit all tastes.
• SIM connection on all terminals.
• Robust models with long battery life.
• Flexible payment: no fixed monthly fees or contractual obligations.

Disadvantages of myPOS

Despite its many virtues, myPOS also has some disadvantages. These are:

• Money is sent to the myPOS account, it cannot be set up with another bank account from another bank.
• Its cheapest terminal, myPOS GO does not print tickets and there is no compatible printer from the brand.
• Commission with a fixed part, which can be a disadvantage for those who make a lot of low value transactions.

Which is the best POS system? SumUp vs. myPOS

The truth is that on a technological level, both brands are very evenly matched. Their card readers are up-to-date models with great functionalities.

There are two fundamental differences between the two brands, and it is in these differences that we will find the answer to our question.

Firstly, myPOS charges a seemingly lower commission, but with a fixed part. This will be a good thing if you have a business where you do few but high-value sales. Otherwise, it will be a disadvantage.

Let’s imagine a business whose sales have an average value of £10. An extra £0.05 will have to be added to each transaction. The higher the number of transactions, the higher the price to be paid to myPOS.

If we continue talking about prices, it is clear that myPOS card readers are slightly more expensive than those of SumUp, although this price is justified by their solid structure and more traditional design, although not by their functionality, as in this aspect both brands are equal.

The other aspect in which the two brands differ is that their flagship products, i.e. SumUp Air and myPOS GO, have different functions.

While the former is a mobile POS, which works with an app installed on a standalone smart device, myPOS Go is a wireless POS with a SIM card.

All in all, both brands are of high quality, and their differences do not make them objectively superior or inferior to each other. The decision as to which of the two is better is entirely up to you and the characteristics of your business.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about SumUp vs myPOS

Which is the best myPOS card reader?

The best myPOS card reader is myPOS Go. It has the best value for money. Its functionalities are not inferior to the other models, but its price is much more affordable.

How does SumUp Air work?

SumUp Air works by connecting via Bluetooth to a smart device (either a smartphone or tablet) that has the SumUp application installed, through which it makes the payments.