If you're comparing SumUp and Zettle, you're not just choosing a card reader.

You're picking the system your team will use 50 times a day, 7 days a week.

That means:

• Friction at checkout? Lost sale.
  
  

• Delayed payouts? Cashflow pain.
  
  

• “Free” POS with hidden fees? Real cost.

So, here’s what we’ll cover:

• Which system won’t slow down your staff during rush hours?
  
  

• Which one holds up as you scale from 1 to 3 locations?
  
  

• Which one costs more in practice, not just on paper?
  
  

• Is there a no-hardware, mobile-first option like UseTapp that actually works?

This guide breaks it down, based on real user patterns, practical differences, and what most businesses regret after choosing the wrong POS.

SumUp: Simple, Mobile, and Freelancer-Friendly

SumUp is a mobile-first payment solution that helps small businesses accept payments, manage sales, and access basic POS features, all without heavy onboarding or high fees. 

It’s designed for restaurants, cafes, salons, charities, and retail shops that need simple tools to get paid and operate efficiently.

💳 Payments & Hardware Options

SumUp supports a range of payment methods:

• Contactless (NFC), Chip & PIN, Google/Apple Pay
  
  

• Tap to Pay: Accept payments on iPhone or Android without extra hardware
  
  

• Payment Links: For remote or online orders

Popular hardware options:

• Solo: Portable card reader with touchscreen
  
  

• Terminal: Built-in POS + receipt printer
  
  

• Air + cradle: Simple chip + contactless reader
  All devices come pre-integrated with SumUp’s software.

🧾 POS Tools & Management Features

• Custom menus, item variants, modifiers
  
  

• Bill splitting, tipping, and table orders
  
  

• Reservation & scheduling via SumUp Bookings
  
  

• Sales and order tracking via mobile or tablet
  
  

• Free SumUp App for real-time business management

💸 Business Account & Payouts

• Free UK business account with zero monthly fee
  
  

• Comes with a free Mastercard for business spending
  
  

• Funds settled as early as 7 AM the next day
  
  

• No charge for cash withdrawals or transfers

✅ Who It's Best For

• Freelancers & solopreneurs who need a mobile card reader and basic sales tracking.
  
  

• Small hospitality businesses that want to manage tableside service, tips, and orders.
  
  

• Retail and food outlets needing fast, simple POS without deep integrations.

Let’s move on to the next one. 

Zettle (by PayPal): Versatile Hardware and PayPal-Friendly

Zettle (formerly iZettle) is a point-of-sale and payment system now fully integrated with PayPal. 

It’s built for small retailers, cafés, market stalls, and hospitality businesses that need quick setup, affordable hardware, and fast access to funds. 

With tools for inventory, reporting, and mobile payments, it’s best suited for merchants already in the PayPal ecosystem or those looking for a lightweight POS option.

💳 Payment Tools and Hardware

• Accepts major debit/credit cards and mobile wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc.)
  
  

• Supports Tap to Pay on Android and iPhone without extra hardware
  
  

• Offers two main devices:
  
  

  • PayPal Reader (£29+VAT): Compact, connects via Bluetooth or USB-C
    
    

  • PayPal Terminal (£149+VAT): All-in-one POS device with preinstalled software
    
    

• Funds typically settle to your PayPal account within minutes

🧾 POS Features and Inventory Management

• Simple POS app for smartphones and tablets
  
  

• Bulk product upload, inventory sync between in-store and online
  
  

• Real-time low-stock alerts
  
  

• Discounts, refunds, and custom receipts
  
  

• Staff account switching and performance tracking

📦 Integrations and Ecosystem

• Integrates with major tools like Xero, QuickBooks, Shopify, WooCommerce
  
  

• Can also plug into third-party POS systems (like Tabology, Goodtill)
  
  

• Built-in invoice creation and gift card management
  
  

• Syncs sales data for easier bookkeeping

✅ Best For

• Small shops, pop-ups, and new retail businesses
  
  

• Cafés and food trucks with simple POS needs
  
  

• Sellers already using PayPal for other payments
  
  

• Businesses that want quick payouts and plug-and-play devices

Let’s see what value you’re getting for your money.

Zettle vs SumUp: In-Depth Pricing and Feature Comparison

We’ll compare their transaction fees, hardware prices, monthly charges (if any), and whether any sneaky costs are hiding in the fine print.

Summary Highlights

• Zettle is better if you:
  
  

  • Want simple flat fees with no surprises.
    
    

  • Need PayPal integration or use PayPal for other payments.
    
    

  • Don’t want to pay monthly for POS features.

• SumUp is better if you:
  
  

  • Want cheaper fees for domestic card payments.
    
    

  • Need a free business account.
    
    

  • Are willing to pay monthly for advanced POS features (like inventory, staff accounts, etc).

What Do Users Say about SumUp vs Zettle? (From Reviews)

SumUp: Pros and Cons

Zettle: Pros and Cons

What Users Hate About SumUp & Zettle (And How Tapp Fixes It)

Most businesses using SumUp or Zettle eventually hit some similar pain points:

1. Payout delays and frozen funds

Your cash flow is impacted when payouts are withheld without warning.

→ With Tapp, you get reliable, transparent payouts—no random freezes or payout surprises.

2. POS hardware that breaks or malfunctions

Many users complain that their devices fail after the warranty period, and replacements aren’t cheap.

→ Tapp offers solid, modern hardware and responsive support when things go wrong.

3. Hidden costs in “free” plans

Reporting, loyalty programs, or text features suddenly cost extra.

→ Tapp includes text marketing, loyalty, and automation up front, no upsells or pricing tricks.

4. Unreliable customer support

When issues happen, support is often slow, scripted, or missing.

→ Tapp has real humans who respond fast, especially when it matters most.

5. No built-in customer re-engagement

SumUp and Zettle don’t help bring customers back after checkout.

→ Tapp automates re-engagement through text messages, rewards, and segmentation.

Bottom line:

If you're tired of hidden fees, frozen money, or basic tools pretending to be business platforms- Tapp gives you the full stack: POS + Loyalty + Text Automation.

You keep your margins high and your customers coming back automatically.

How to Choose: Zettle vs SumUp vs UseTapp

✅ Choose SumUp if you need:

• Simple card payments
  
  

• Low fees (1.69%)
  
  

• Free account + next-day payouts
  
  

• No frills, no monthly costs

❌ Limited POS features, occasional glitches

✅ Choose Zettle if you want:

• Deeper POS (inventory, analytics)
  
  

• Seamless PayPal integration
  
  

• Flat rates for all card types
  
  

• Great for small shops & cafes

❌ Hardware setup needed, slower support

✅ Choose UseTapp if you care about:

• No hardware needed (mobile-first POS)
  
  

• Text-based loyalty & re-engagement
  
  

• Fast, personalized support
  
  

• Built for retail, food, and consignment

❌ Less known, but more modern & automated

Let’s wrap up this comparison with a few final thoughts.

TL;DR and Conclusion

If you’re a freelancer or microbusiness that just needs a simple card reader with fast payouts, SumUp keeps it lightweight and affordable.

• SumUp → Best for low-cost basics

If you run a café, pop-up store, or retail shop and already use PayPal or need stronger POS hardware, Zettle gives you more versatility.

• Zettle → Best for shops that need more features

But if you want a mobile-first tool with no hardware, built-in loyalty, and text automation, UseTapp is the smarter choice.

• UseTapp → Best if you want sales automation + fewer moving parts

👉 Whether you’re just starting out or scaling fast, Tapp keeps costs low and customer engagement high.

Try Tapp if you want fewer tools, no surprises, and more control.