Switch&Save vs SumUp | EPOS & Card Payment Comparison UK
SumUp is one of the UK’s best-known card reader brands. But is it the right solution for your established retail or hospitality business? This page compares Switch&Save and SumUp honestly — pricing, features, support, and long-term value.
Why UK Businesses Choose Switch&Save Over SumUp
SumUp works well for very small or occasional traders — market stalls, pop-up events, sole traders with minimal card volumes. But for an established UK retail shop, restaurant, café, or takeaway, SumUp falls short in several critical areas: it’s not a full EPOS system, its 1.69% flat rate becomes expensive as turnover grows, and its customer support has been widely criticised by thousands of UK business owners.
Switch&Save was built for businesses that need a complete, professional EPOS solution — not a card reader with basic POS add-ons bolted on top.
Switch&Save vs SumUp — Key Differences
Here’s how the two solutions compare across what matters most:
Transaction Fees — 1.69% vs Negotiated Rates
SumUp charges 1.69% on every card payment — no exceptions, no volume discount. For a business taking £20,000 per month in card payments, that’s £338 every month in transaction fees. Switch&Save offers negotiated rates based on your business turnover — the more you take, the more competitive your rate.
Full EPOS vs Card Reader with Add-Ons
SumUp is a card reader company. Even with SumUp POS Pro (£49/month) and add-ons (£19/month each), you still don’t get table management, kitchen display systems, or advanced inventory. Switch&Save is a complete, AI-powered EPOS system built for retail and hospitality from the ground up — everything is included.
Account Stability — Fund Holds & Account Closures
SumUp’s terms allow them to close accounts immediately and withhold funds for up to two months. Thousands of Trustpilot reviews from UK businesses describe exactly this happening — accounts closed without warning, funds held during trading. Switch&Save is a dedicated UK business services provider. Your account is managed by a UK team that knows your business.
24/7 UK Support
Switch&Save provides free 24/7 UK-based support. SumUp does not offer 24/7 support — and with over 37,000 Trustpilot reviews, poor customer service is the single most common complaint from UK SumUp users.
Hospitality EPOS
Switch&Save has a dedicated hospitality EPOS with table management, kitchen display system (KDS), split billing, and integrated card payments. SumUp has no equivalent hospitality EPOS capability — it is not a viable solution for restaurants and cafés that need proper table service management.
Switch&Save EPOS — What’s Included
Switch&Save gives you everything a professional UK retail or hospitality business needs:
Card Payment Partners
Switch&Save partners with multiple leading UK card machine providers — including Teya, Dojo, and Takepayments — giving you genuine choice over your payment solution. Unlike SumUp’s flat 1.69% rate with no exceptions, Switch&Save’s card payment partners offer rates negotiated to your business volume. All partners accept major cards, contactless, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
AI-Powered EPOS System
Smart sales forecasting, automated stock reordering, and customer behaviour analytics built into your EPOS — something SumUp’s card reader platform cannot match.
Hospitality & Retail Ready
Table management, KDS integration, inventory management, and staff tools — all included for retail and hospitality businesses. Not available at all with SumUp.
Free Software & Free 24/7 Support
No monthly software subscription. No support charge. Free UK-based support around the clock — at no extra cost.
Business Finance — Switch&Save Only
Switch&Save customers can access flexible business finance through YouLend — repaid as a percentage of card sales, no fixed monthly repayments, decisions in minutes. SumUp does not offer business finance of any kind.
Ready to Switch from SumUp?
SumUp has no long-term contract, so switching is straightforward. Our UK team will help you migrate your products, set up your EPOS, and get you taking payments quickly. Call us on 0333 0389707 to get started.
Visit us at: 3A Perry Common Road, Erdington, Birmingham, B23 7AB
Call us: 0333 0389707
Email: hello@switch-and-save.uk
Monday to Friday: 9am – 5:30pm
Switch&Save Business Services Ltd — complete EPOS systems, integrated card payments, and business finance for UK retail and hospitality businesses.
