Takepayments is a UK card payment provider serving thousands of small businesses across retail, hospitality, and services. Part of the DNA Payments Group, the company offers bespoke, quote-only pricing. It no longer publishes rates, but its earlier published examples started at around 0.3% for high-volume businesses, well below flat-rate providers like Square (1.75%) or SumUp (1.69%).
We rate takepayments 6.4 out of 10. The combination of competitive negotiated rates, 12-month contracts (shorter than Worldpay’s 18-month card-machine hire), 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.
FREE QUOTE COMPARISON
Compare Merchant Account Quotes from Trusted Suppliers
✓ Save up to 40% on card processing fees
100% free • No obligation • Takes under 2 minutes
This review covers takepayments’ card machines, EPOS systems, pricing structure, online payment tools, and how it compares to Square, Worldpay, and other UK providers.
- Quote-only rates plus monthly terminal rental - earlier published examples started near 0.3%, competitive for businesses processing £5,000+ monthly in card payments
- Ideal for established retailers with high volumes - established UK provider with a hospitality-specific EPOS option (tPOS from £55/month)
- 12-month contracts with early exit penalties - shorter than Worldpay’s 18-month card-machine hire and in line with Elavon and Global Payments, but less flexible than no-contract Square
- Rates can undercut Square at high volumes - negotiated rates versus Square’s flat 1.75%, but monthly fees make it pricey for occasional users
Takepayments Pricing and Fees
Takepayments uses bespoke pricing that depends on turnover, card mix, and industry. It no longer publishes rates online, so you need a quote; its earlier published examples ranged from about 0.3% to 2.5%.
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.
Earlier Published Fee Examples (Indicative Only)
These rates were published by takepayments in earlier pricing examples and no longer appear on its website. Treat them as a guide to the range, not a quote.
| 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 £17.50+ and Elavon charges £15+. 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 combines a 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. Settlement speed varies between providers, so check this when comparing quotes.
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 67,000+ 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 67,000 reviews, with 94% rated 5 stars – one of the strongest review profiles among UK card payment providers.
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 | Quote only | 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 | 1.50% (Simplicity) | £17.50 hire (£0 offer to 31 Dec 2026) | 18 months | Enterprise businesses with complex needs |
| Dojo | 1.2% blended (under £100K turnover) | £24.95 minimum monthly charge | 30-day rolling or 12 months | 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 6.4/10 – 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 below PAYG providers; 12-month contracts and next-day settlement add flexibility
FREE QUOTE COMPARISON
Compare Merchant Account Quotes from Trusted Suppliers
✓ Save up to 40% on card processing fees
100% free • No obligation • Takes under 2 minutes
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 shorter than Worldpay’s 18-month card-machine hire, though Elavon and Global Payments now also offer 12-month terms. 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.
