Takepayments is one of the UK’s largest independent card payment providers, processing transactions for thousands of small businesses across retail, hospitality, and services. Part of the DNA Payments Group, the company offers bespoke pricing from as low as 0.3% per transaction – significantly cheaper than flat-rate providers like Square (1.75%) or SumUp (1.69%) for businesses with higher volumes.
We rate takepayments 7.5 out of 10. The combination of competitive negotiated rates, 12-month contracts (vs the industry standard 18-36 months), and next-day settlement makes it a strong choice for established small businesses. The main drawback: pricing isn’t published online, so you need to call for a quote.
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This review covers takepayments’ card machines, EPOS systems, pricing structure, online payment tools, and how it compares to Square, Worldpay, and other UK providers.
- Transaction rates from 1.2% plus monthly terminal rental - competitive for businesses processing £3,000+ monthly
- Ideal for established retailers with high volumes - 20+ years UK experience, strong hospitality focus
- 12-60 month contracts with early exit penalties - less flexibility than no-contract providers like Square
- 0.5% lower rates than Square at high volumes - but monthly fees make it expensive for occasional users
Takepayments Pricing and Fees
Takepayments uses bespoke pricing from 0.3% to 2.5% depending on turnover, card mix, and industry – rates aren’t published online and require a quote.
Unlike flat-rate providers that charge the same fee regardless of volume, takepayments negotiates rates based on your annual card turnover, average transaction value, industry category, and sales channels. Higher volumes unlock better rates.
Transaction Fee Examples
| Business Profile | In-Person Debit | In-Person Credit | Online Debit |
|---|---|---|---|
| High volume (£500K+/year) | From 0.35% + 2p | From 0.5% + 2p | From 0.5% + 2p |
| Mid volume (£50K-100K/year) | From 1% + 2p | From 1.5% | From 1.35% + 2p |
| Business/corporate cards | 1.5%-2.75% (all channels) | ||
Every transaction also carries a 3p authorisation fee. The key advantage over flat-rate providers: if you process enough volume, your effective rate can be substantially lower than Square’s fixed 1.75%. For a business processing £200,000/year, the difference between 0.5% and 1.75% is £2,500/year in saved fees.
Monthly Costs
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Terminal rental | £12.50/terminal/month |
| Minimum monthly service charge | £20 |
| PCI DSS compliance fee | £4.80/month |
| Payment gateway | £0 (included) |
| Setup fee | £0 (most equipment) |
| Chargeback fee | £20 per incident |
The minimum monthly service charge means you’ll pay at least £20/month in transaction fees even in quiet months. Terminal rental at £12.50/month is competitive – Worldpay charges £19.95+ and Elavon charges £10+. Payment gateway access is included free, which saves £15-25/month compared to providers that charge separately.
Card Machines and Hardware
Takepayments rents three card machines – the flagship takepaymentsplus with touchscreen and cash handling, the mobile A920 Pro, and the compact DX8000 countertop terminal.
All hardware is rented on 12-month contracts with no setup fees. Unlike PAYG providers where you buy the device outright, takepayments includes ongoing support, replacements, and software updates in the rental fee.
| Device | Type | Key Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| takepaymentsplus | Countertop/portable | Touchscreen, real-time reporting, cash + card, receipt printer | Shops, cafes, salons |
| A920 Pro | Mobile | Built-in GPRS SIM, 24hr battery, touchscreen, receipt printer | Tradespeople, deliveries, markets |
| DX8000 | Countertop | Broadband/phone/WiFi, compact, integrated receipt printer | Fixed retail locations |
The takepaymentsplus is the flagship device – it handles both cash and card transactions with a touchscreen interface and real-time sales reporting built in. It’s the only card machine in the UK market that combines cash register and card terminal in one device.
The A920 Pro is the mobile option with a built-in GPRS SIM card, so it works anywhere with 4G signal. Battery lasts up to 24 hours – enough for a full day at a market or on delivery rounds. It includes a thermal receipt printer.
All machines accept chip & PIN, contactless (up to £100), Apple Pay, Google Pay, and support Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, and American Express.
EPOS Systems
Takepayments offers two EPOS packages from £45/month with integrated card payments, stock management, and cloud backup – priced below most standalone EPOS providers.
| System | Retail | Hospitality | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| tPOS Counter | £45/month | £55/month | 12.5″ touchscreen, portable card machine, stock management, cloud backup |
| tPOS Complete | £55/month | £65/month | 15.6″ dual screen, customer display, high-speed printer, integrated card reader |
Both systems include stock management, unlimited users, real-time reporting, and cloud backup. Hospitality versions add table management, reservations, and menu modifiers. All EPOS features work offline and sync automatically when reconnected.
At £45-65/month including the card machine, takepayments undercuts most standalone EPOS systems that charge separately for software and hardware.
Online Payment Tools
Takepayments includes a payment gateway, virtual terminal, pay-by-link, and a mobile payment app (beepaid) – all with next-day settlement and no extra monthly fees.
The payment gateway integrates with 16 ecommerce platforms including WordPress and WooCommerce. The checkout is customisable to match your branding. Gateway access is included in the monthly fee – no separate charge.
The virtual terminal lets you take card payments over the phone through any web browser – no physical terminal needed. The pay-by-link feature sends payment links by email or SMS, useful for deposits, invoices, or customers who can’t visit in person.
Beepaid is takepayments’ mobile payment app for taking card-not-present payments on the go. All online and remote payment methods settle next working day, same as in-person transactions.
Security and Settlement
Takepayments provides next-day settlement at no extra charge, PCI DSS compliance support, 3D Secure for online payments, and AVS fraud detection for MOTO transactions.
Next-day settlement is included as standard via Barclaycard merchant accounts. Card transaction funds arrive in your business bank account the following working day at no extra cost. Most traditional providers charge extra for faster settlement or default to weekly payouts.
PCI DSS compliance support costs £4.80/month on your statement. All terminals use end-to-end encryption. Online transactions are protected by 3D Secure (the e-commerce equivalent of chip & PIN), which shifts fraud liability from the merchant to the card acquirer. MOTO transactions use Address Verification Service (AVS) to cross-check billing addresses.
Takepayments is FCA-regulated (reference 663112), Cyber Essentials certified, and licensed by both Mastercard and Visa Europe as an Independent Sales Organisation.
Support and Customer Service
Takepayments offers 7-day UK-based support with dedicated account managers and a Welcome Team for onboarding – rated 4.8/5 on Trustpilot from 22,000+ reviews.
Customer support is available seven days a week from UK-based teams. New customers get a dedicated Welcome Team for onboarding and an account manager as a single point of contact. Phone support (01606 566 600), WhatsApp (07888 863 182), and email are all available.
On Trustpilot, takepayments scores 4.8/5 from over 22,000 reviews, with 94% rated 5 stars. That’s the highest volume of positive reviews among UK card payment providers. The company responds to 99% of negative reviews within 24 hours.
The one caveat: some reviews note that support quality can vary between the sales process and ongoing service. Sales teams are highly responsive during onboarding, but day-to-day support can occasionally lag. Worth asking about dedicated support guarantees during the quote process.
Pros and Cons
Takepayments offers the best rates for volume-based businesses with shorter contracts, but the lack of published pricing makes comparison harder than PAYG alternatives.
Takepayments vs Alternatives
Takepayments beats flat-rate providers on per-transaction cost for established businesses but has higher monthly overheads – the right choice depends on your volume.
| Provider | Transaction Fee | Monthly Fee | Contract | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| takepayments | From 0.3% | From £12.50 | 12 months | Established businesses wanting low rates |
| Square | 1.75% | £0 | None | Simple PAYG with free POS software |
| SumUp | 1.69% | £0 | None | Cheapest flat rate for low volumes |
| Worldpay | From 0.75% | £19.95+ | 0-36 months | Enterprise businesses with complex needs |
| Dojo | From 1.4% | From £20 | None | Restaurants wanting flexible pricing |
The breakeven point between takepayments and a flat-rate provider like Square depends on your volume. At around £5,000-8,000/month in card transactions, takepayments’ lower per-transaction rate starts to offset the monthly fees. Below that, the simplicity and zero monthly cost of Square or SumUp usually works out cheaper.
For a full comparison of UK card payment options, see our guide to the best card machines for small business or compare card machine costs.
Our Verdict
We rate takepayments 7.5/10 – the best option for established UK businesses processing enough volume to negotiate rates well below flat-rate providers.
Best for businesses processing £5K+/month who can negotiate rates well below PAYG providers — 12-month contracts and next-day settlement are genuine differentiators
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Takepayments fills an important gap in the UK payments market: the space between no-commitment PAYG providers (Square, SumUp) and large enterprise processors (Worldpay, Global Payments). If you’re processing £5,000+/month in card payments and want rates that reward your volume, takepayments is worth getting a quote.
The 12-month contracts are a genuine differentiator – most traditional providers lock you in for 18-36 months. Next-day settlement at no extra cost, 7-day UK support, and a strong Trustpilot track record add real value. The EPOS systems are competitively priced for businesses that need integrated tills.
Where it falls short: the complete lack of published pricing makes comparison shopping difficult, and the £20 minimum monthly charge plus terminal rental means you’re paying even in quiet periods. If you’re a micro-business processing under £3,000/month, stick with Square or SumUp. If you need maximum flexibility with no monthly commitment, see our cheapest card machines guide.
