At a Glance
SumUp and Square are two mobile card processors that made card acceptance accessible to micro-businesses. Both give you a terminal and accept payments without multi-month bank contracts. But one grew in Europe, the other in the US — and that difference defines everything.
Comparison Table
| Parameter | SumUp | Square |
|---|---|---|
| Countries | 35+ (Europe, Brazil, Chile) | 8 (US, Canada, UK, Australia, Japan, Ireland, France, Spain) |
| Card fee | 1.69% (Europe) | 1.75% (UK/Europe), 2.6% + $0.10 (US) |
| Online payments | 2.5% + €0.25 | 2.9% + $0.30 |
| Payment methods | Visa, MC, Maestro, Apple/Google Pay, SEPA | Visa, MC, Amex, Apple/Google Pay, Cash App Pay, Afterpay |
| Terminal (price) | SumUp Air: €29, Solo: €79 | Reader: free (first), Terminal: $299 |
| POS software | Basic product catalog | Full POS with analytics |
| Accounting | CSV export, API integration | Built-in accounting, tax, reports |
| Cash withdrawal | Yes | No |
| Business lending | SumUp Cash Advance (Europe) | Square Loans (US) |
| Partner program | 10% of client fees, 12 months | $10–20 per activation |
| API / integrations | REST API + WooCommerce, Shopify | REST API + 300+ ecosystem integrations |
When to Choose SumUp
SumUp is a European product for European businesses. Key advantage: 35 countries vs Square’s 8. If you’re in Italy, Poland, or Croatia — Square simply isn’t available. Best value: 1.69% is among the lowest mobile acquiring rates in Europe. Cash withdrawal support is a bonus.
Partner program: 10% of referred merchant’s fees for 12 months — recurring income model.
When to Choose Square
Square is not just card acquiring — it’s a business ecosystem: payroll, loyalty, marketing, appointments, banking. If you need an operating system for your business, not just a terminal, Square wins decisively.
Partner program: $10–20 per signup and first transaction. Plus Square for Developers partnership.
Geographic Verdict
Outside the US, Square loses on coverage. In Europe, SumUp is simply available in more countries and has better banking relationships. Meanwhile, SumUp doesn’t work in the US — Square remains the only choice there.
Choose SumUp if: you’re in Europe beyond UK/Ireland/France/Spain; need simple card acceptance; minimal fees matter; need cash withdrawal.
Choose Square if: you’re in the US or UK; need POS with analytics; value the ecosystem; accept Afterpay and Cash App.