Dojo vs SumUp UK (2026): Which Card Payment Provider Is Better?

Dojo vs SumUp UK is a comparison many small business owners make when choosing a card payment provider. While both companies help businesses accept card payments, they take very different approaches.

SumUp focuses on simplicity, transparent pricing and low-cost card payment solutions. Businesses can start accepting payments with no long-term contract, no monthly fee requirement and relatively inexpensive hardware.

Dojo takes a different approach. Rather than targeting sole traders and start-ups, it positions itself as a more advanced payment provider for established businesses. Its offering includes bespoke pricing, business intelligence tools, EPOS integrations and a stronger focus on retail and hospitality businesses.

This means the comparison is not simply about which card reader is better.

For many businesses, the real question is:

Do you need a simple, contract-free payment solution, or would your business benefit from a more advanced merchant-style provider?

In this guide, we’ll compare fees, hardware, software, payouts and overall value to help you decide which provider is the better fit for your business.

If you’re comparing providers, you may also find our guides to Best Card Payment Machines UK, Cheapest Card Readers UK, Card Machine Fees Explained, SumUp Fees UK, Dojo Fees UK, Square vs SumUp UK, Square vs Dojo UK and SumUp vs Zettle UK helpful.

Comparison Table

📱 Viewing on mobile? Swipe left and right to see the full table.

Feature	SumUp	Dojo
Standard pricing	Publicly available	Mostly quote-based
Monthly fee required	No	Depends on package
Long-term contract	No	Often required
Entry-level hardware	Lower cost	Higher cost
Tap to Pay	Yes	Yes
Retail POS	Yes	Yes
Hospitality features	Basic to moderate	Strong
Business reporting	Good	Advanced
EPOS integrations	Limited compared to Dojo	Extensive
Next-day payouts	Standard settlements	Next-day available
Best for	Small businesses and sole traders	Retail, hospitality and growing businesses

Which Is Cheaper?

Pricing is one of the biggest differences between Dojo and SumUp, but comparing the two is not as straightforward as it first appears.

SumUp uses a simple flat-rate pricing model. Businesses pay a standard transaction fee of 1.69% for in-person payments, with no monthly fee required and no long-term contract. This makes costs easy to calculate and predictable from day one.

Dojo takes a different approach.

For businesses processing less than £100,000 per year in card payments, Dojo advertises a package costing £39.99 per month. This includes card transactions up to £3,999 per month, with a 1% rate applied to transactions above that level. Larger businesses are typically offered bespoke pricing based on turnover and requirements.

This means the answer to “which provider is cheaper?” depends largely on how much your business processes through card payments each month.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

If your business processes relatively low card volumes and values flexibility, SumUp is likely to be the cheaper and simpler option. There are no monthly commitments, costs are easy to understand and businesses only pay when they take payments.

For businesses processing higher card volumes, Dojo’s package may offer lower overall payment costs. This is particularly relevant for established retailers, cafés and hospitality businesses that consistently take several thousand pounds in card payments each month.

Hardware Comparison

Both Dojo and SumUp offer modern payment hardware, but they are designed with slightly different customers in mind.

SumUp focuses on affordability, simplicity and flexibility. Businesses can start accepting payments with Tap to Pay or a low-cost card reader and gradually add more advanced hardware if required.

Dojo’s hardware is aimed more at established businesses that want dedicated payment terminals, hospitality workflows and deeper integration with their wider business systems.

Entry-Level Options

Both providers offer Tap to Pay, allowing businesses to accept contactless payments directly on a compatible smartphone without purchasing a separate card machine.

For businesses just getting started, this can be the cheapest way to begin taking card payments.

SumUp also offers several affordable hardware options, including:

• Solo Lite
• Solo
• Solo + Printer
• Terminal

This gives businesses multiple entry points depending on their requirements and budget.

Dojo’s hardware range is more focused on dedicated payment terminals, including:

• Dojo Go Max
• Dojo Pocket
• Dojo Wired

These devices are designed for businesses taking card payments regularly and often include features aimed at retail and hospitality environments.

Hardware for Small Businesses

For sole traders, market traders and mobile businesses, simplicity and cost are often the most important considerations.

In these situations, SumUp’s hardware range has a clear advantage.

A business can start with Tap to Pay or an inexpensive card reader and begin accepting payments almost immediately.

This makes SumUp particularly attractive for:

• Tradespeople
• Market traders
• Mobile businesses
• Start-ups
• Occasional sellers

Many of these businesses simply do not require the additional functionality offered by more advanced payment terminals.

Retail and Hospitality Businesses

Retail shops, cafés and hospitality businesses often have different requirements.

They may need:

• Dedicated payment terminals
• Countertop setups
• Receipt printing
• Staff workflows
• EPOS integrations
• High transaction reliability

This is where Dojo’s hardware ecosystem becomes more attractive.

The hardware is designed to work closely with Dojo’s broader payment and business management platform, making it easier to create a more integrated setup.

For example, a busy café or restaurant may benefit more from a dedicated payment terminal and integrated workflow than a simple card reader.

Which Hardware Is Better?

The answer depends heavily on the type of business.

If your priority is keeping costs low and getting started quickly, SumUp’s hardware range is difficult to beat.

If your business requires a more sophisticated payment environment, particularly in retail or hospitality, Dojo’s hardware may be the better fit.

Software & Features

Software is arguably the biggest difference between Dojo and SumUp.

Both providers offer much more than simple card payment processing, but they focus on different types of businesses.

SumUp’s software ecosystem is designed around accessibility and ease of use.

Dojo’s software ecosystem is designed around business performance, reporting and operational insight.

Integrations

This is another area where Dojo has a clear advantage.

Dojo supports a large number of EPOS integrations and is designed to work within more complex business environments.

For businesses already using specialist retail or hospitality software, this can be a significant benefit.

SumUp also offers integrations and POS functionality, but its ecosystem is generally aimed at smaller businesses with simpler requirements.

If integrations are critical to your business, Dojo is likely to be the stronger option.

Hospitality Features

Hospitality is one of Dojo’s strongest sectors.

Features such as:

• Bill splitting
• Tipping
• Pre-authorisations
• Pay-at-table workflows

make it particularly attractive for:

• Restaurants
• Cafés
• Bars
• Hospitality venues

SumUp can still work well for many smaller hospitality businesses, but it does not offer the same depth of hospitality-focused functionality.

Simplicity vs Capability

This comparison is not really about which platform is “good” and which platform is “bad”.

Both are capable.

The question is whether your business benefits from the additional complexity.

Many small businesses will never need advanced reporting, competitor benchmarking or extensive integrations.

For them, SumUp’s simpler ecosystem may actually be preferable.

Businesses that require deeper insight and operational tools, however, may find Dojo’s platform significantly more valuable.

Payouts & Payments

Receiving payments quickly is important for any business, particularly those with regular cash flow requirements.

Fortunately, both providers perform well in this area.

SumUp Payments

SumUp supports:

• In-person payments
• Online payments
• Payment Links
• Online invoices
• QR Code payments
• Ecommerce integrations

The platform is designed to make accepting payments as straightforward as possible.

For many small businesses, this simplicity is a major advantage.

Everything can be managed from a single dashboard without requiring extensive setup.

Dojo Payments

Dojo offers many of the same payment capabilities but places greater emphasis on fast settlement and business support.

One of Dojo’s most widely promoted features is next-day payouts.

For businesses processing significant card volumes, receiving funds quickly can help improve cash flow and simplify day-to-day operations.

Dojo also offers a range of payment options designed to work alongside its wider business management tools.

Which Provider Has Better Payouts?

For many small businesses, the practical difference may not be huge.

Both providers offer reliable payment processing and straightforward settlement procedures.

However, Dojo’s emphasis on next-day payouts gives it a genuine advantage for businesses where cash flow is particularly important.

This is especially relevant for:

• Restaurants
• Cafés
• Retail businesses
• Higher-volume merchants

Which Is Best For Your Business?

The best card payment provider depends largely on how your business operates, how many card payments you process and whether you value simplicity or advanced functionality.

Here’s how Dojo and SumUp compare across different business types.

Sole Traders

Winner: SumUp

Most sole traders prioritise:

• Low costs
• Simplicity
• Flexibility
• No long-term commitment

SumUp performs extremely well in all of these areas.

Businesses can start accepting card payments with minimal upfront investment and no contract, making it one of the easiest ways to begin taking card payments.

For many sole traders, Dojo’s additional features will simply not be necessary.

If you’re a self-employed professional, consultant or service provider looking for a straightforward payment solution, SumUp is likely to be the better choice.

Market Traders

Winner: SumUp

Market traders typically need:

• Portable payment solutions
• Low setup costs
• Reliable mobile payments
• Flexibility

SumUp’s low-cost hardware and contract-free approach make it particularly attractive for businesses operating at markets, events and pop-up locations.

While Dojo can certainly process payments effectively, its strengths are less relevant in this environment.

Most market traders are unlikely to need advanced reporting, hospitality features or extensive integrations.

Tradespeople

Winner: SumUp

Tradespeople often want a simple way to accept payments on-site without adding unnecessary complexity.

This includes businesses such as:

• Electricians
• Plumbers
• Builders
• Landscapers
• Decorators
• Mobile repair services

SumUp’s combination of low-cost hardware, Tap to Pay functionality and contract-free pricing makes it a strong fit.

The ability to accept payments immediately after completing a job can improve cash flow without requiring a large investment in hardware or software.

Retail Shops

Winner: Dojo

Retail businesses often require more than basic payment acceptance.

As businesses grow, requirements may include:

• Reporting
• Staff management
• Inventory systems
• EPOS integrations
• Customer insights

This is where Dojo becomes increasingly attractive.

Its reporting tools, integrations and business intelligence features can help retailers gain deeper insight into performance and operations.

Smaller independent retailers may still be perfectly happy with SumUp, but larger or growing retail businesses should strongly consider Dojo.

Cafés & Hospitality Businesses

Winner: Dojo

Hospitality is arguably Dojo’s strongest category.

Restaurants, cafés, bars and food venues often need:

• Fast payment processing
• Tipping functionality
• Bill splitting
• Pay-at-table workflows
• Strong support
• EPOS integrations

Dojo is designed with these requirements in mind.

The combination of hospitality-focused features and business intelligence tools makes it particularly appealing for businesses where operational efficiency can have a direct impact on profitability.

SumUp remains a viable option for smaller cafés and food businesses, but Dojo generally offers the stronger hospitality proposition.

Growing Businesses

Winner: Dojo

This is where the comparison becomes most interesting.

As businesses grow, they often need:

• More detailed reporting
• Better integrations
• More sophisticated workflows
• Enhanced support
• Potentially lower negotiated transaction rates

Dojo is built to support these requirements.

While SumUp can comfortably support many growing businesses, there comes a point where some businesses may benefit from a more advanced platform.

For businesses reaching that stage, Dojo is likely to become increasingly attractive.

Is Dojo or SumUp Better Value?

Value is about more than simply comparing transaction fees.

The provider that offers the best value depends on how much benefit your business receives from the features included.

For many small businesses, SumUp offers excellent value because:

• There is no contract requirement.
• Pricing is transparent.
• Hardware costs are relatively low.
• The platform is easy to understand.
• Businesses can start accepting payments quickly.

For a sole trader processing a modest volume of card payments, these advantages are often more valuable than advanced reporting or integrations.

However, value looks different for larger businesses.

A retailer or hospitality business may benefit significantly from:

• Better reporting
• Improved operational insight
• EPOS integrations
• Faster settlements
• Dedicated support

In those situations, Dojo’s additional functionality may justify the extra complexity.

For most small businesses, SumUp offers the stronger value proposition. The combination of transparent pricing, contract-free flexibility, affordable hardware and straightforward setup will be difficult for many businesses to beat.

However, value is not simply about keeping costs low.

For established retailers, cafés, restaurants and growing businesses, Dojo’s reporting tools, integrations, support and operational insights may provide benefits that justify the additional commitment.

If we were starting a new small business today with no special requirements, we would choose SumUp. Its flexibility and low barrier to entry make it the better value option for the widest range of UK businesses.

🏆 Overall Value Winner: SumUp

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to Learn More?

Before making a decision, it’s worth taking a closer look at each provider’s pricing, hardware and software offering. Our detailed provider guides explain transaction fees, card machine costs, optional subscriptions and business features in more detail, helping you choose the provider that best fits your business both today and as it grows.