SumUp
SumUp enables small businesses to accept card payments via mobile devices.
SumUp provides mobile payment infrastructure that enables small and medium-sized businesses to accept card payments via wireless card readers connected to smartphones or tablets. The company processes transactions within 1-2 business days and transfers funds directly to merchant bank accounts. SumUp operates in 36 markets across Europe, the US, Latin America, and Australia, serving over 4 million merchants from single-person operators to major event spaces. The platform differentiates through simplicity, accessibility for non-technical users, and the lowest transaction fees in its category.
Problem solved
Small businesses struggle with the complexity and high costs of traditional point-of-sale systems and payment processors, leaving many unable to accept card payments due to prohibitive fees or lack of infrastructure.
Target customer
Small and medium-sized businesses, freelancers, and mobile merchants including taxi drivers, restaurants, retail shops, medical professionals, and event venues that need simple, low-cost card payment acceptance without traditional POS infrastructure.
Founders
D
Daniel Klein
CEO
Co-founder and CEO of SumUp since 2012.
M
Marc-Alexander Christ
Co-Founder
Former VP at JPMorgan (London and Frankfurt), led Groupon/Citydeal sales, founded MIOSATO online fashion platform, background in investment banking at European Investors in New York, holds Master's in International Business from University of Maastricht.
J
Jan Deepen
Co-Founder
Co-founder of SumUp in 2012.
S
Stefan Jeschonnek
Co-Founder
Co-founder of SumUp in 2012.
Funding history
Debt Financing
$895M
March 2021
Led by Unknown
· Unknown
Series Unknown
$624M
June 2022
Led by Bain Capital Tech Opportunities
· BlackRock, btov Partners, Centerbridge, Crestline, Fin Capital, Sentinel Dome Partners
Growth
$285M
December 2023
Led by Sixth Street Growth
· Bain Capital Tech Opportunities, Fin Capital, Liquidity Group
Series Unknown
$1.5B
May 2024
Led by Goldman Sachs
· Unknown
Conventional Debt
$60M
May 2025
Led by Unknown
· Unknown
Total raised:
$997M
Pricing
Hardware: Air card reader £29 + VAT, 3G Card Reader £99 + VAT, Solo & Printer £139 + VAT. Pay-as-you-go: 1.69% for in-person, 2.50% for online transactions. Subscription: £19/month reduces in-person to 0.99%, online to 1.99%, includes 50% off card readers. No admin fees, annual charges, or monthly minimums.
Notable customers
Over 4 million merchants across 36 markets; specific named customers not disclosed, but serves gastro, taxi drivers, doctors, retail shops, sport stadiums, and major event spaces. As of December 2025, 1.5 million active business account users.
Integrations
Fivestars (acquired October 2021), Shoplo (acquired February 2019), Form3 (real-time SEPA Payments partnership, February 2026), Gong Cha (scaling digital operations in the Americas, November 2025), Terminal Payment SDK for iOS and Android, Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, American Express, Apple Pay, Android Pay, local debit card schemes
Tech stack
React (JavaScript frameworks)
Next.js (Web servers)
Emotion (Development)
core-js (JavaScript libraries)
Webpack
RSS
PWA
Open Graph
Module Federation
Contentful (CMS)
Cloudflare Browser Insights (RUM)
Pinterest Conversion Tag (Analytics)
Linkedin Insight Tag (Analytics)
Hotjar (Analytics)
Google Analytics (Analytics)
Facebook Pixel (Analytics)
Skai (Aanalytics)
Sentry (Issue trackers)
Cloudflare Bot Management (Security)
HSTS (Security)
Node.js (Programming languages)
Apple iCloud Mail (Webmail)
Google Workspace (Email)
Cloudflare (CDN)
Rakuten (Affiliate programs)
Microsoft Advertising (Advertising)
Taboola (Advertising)
Pinterest Ads (Advertising)
Google Tag Manager (Tag managers)
Salesforce (CRM)
Vercel (PaaS)
Amazon Web Services (PaaS)
Rakuten Advertising (Advertising)
Post Affiliate Pro (Affiliate programs)
Optimizely (A/B testing)
Sendgrid (Email)
Amazon SES (Email)
UpSellit (Cart abandonment)
Website
Competitors
Square
Square charges 1.75% for chip and contactless transactions vs SumUp's 1.69%; Square has a more superior free app but SumUp offers simpler ease of use and lowest transaction fees.
PayPal Zettle
PayPal Zettle (rebranded as PayPal Point of Sale) was historically the strongest UK brand but has been surpassed by SumUp and Square as stronger alternatives for cost-conscious merchants.
Nomba
Competitor in the mobile payments space, though specific differentiation not detailed in research.
Clip
Competitor in the mobile payments space, though specific differentiation not detailed in research.
Why this matters: SumUp has grown to $997M in funding and 4 million merchants across 36 markets by focusing relentlessly on simplicity and cost leadership in mobile payments. The company's continued expansion into new markets (Australia in 2025), acquisition of Fivestars (12,000 US businesses), and strategic partnerships signal aggressive positioning to compete with Square globally while maintaining the lowest transaction fees in the industry.
Best for: Small business owners and mobile merchants who need simple, low-cost card payment acceptance without complex POS infrastructure or high transaction fees.
Use cases
Mobile Taxi and Delivery Services
Taxi drivers and delivery service operators can accept card payments directly from passengers using a smartphone-connected card reader, eliminating cash handling and payment delays. Transactions settle within 1-2 business days directly to their bank account.
Restaurant and Cafe Operations
Small gastro businesses and cafes can accept both in-person and online payments with industry-leading low fees (1.69%), reducing payment processing costs compared to traditional POS systems that require expensive hardware and infrastructure.
Healthcare and Professional Services
Doctors, dentists, and other professionals can securely accept patient payments on tablets during appointments without maintaining complex payment infrastructure or high-cost merchant accounts.
Retail and Pop-up Shops
Retail shop owners and pop-up retailers can accept contactless, chip, and magstripe payments anywhere, reducing friction at checkout and enabling sales anywhere within the shop without being tied to a fixed register location.
Event and Venue Management
Sport stadiums and event venues can process concession and ticket payments at multiple points simultaneously using mobile devices, improving customer experience and transaction speed during high-traffic periods.
Alternatives
Square
Square offers a broader ecosystem with superior free app features and market presence, but charges slightly higher transaction fees (1.75% vs 1.69%) and focuses more on mid-market businesses.
PayPal Zettle
PayPal Zettle (now PayPal Point of Sale) offers integration with PayPal's broader payment ecosystem but has lost market share to SumUp and Square as merchants seek lower-cost alternatives.
Stripe
Stripe is stronger for online payments and developer-focused integrations but doesn't specialize in mobile in-person payments and typically requires higher technical sophistication.
FAQ
What does SumUp do? +
SumUp provides mobile payment infrastructure that enables small businesses to accept card payments via wireless card readers connected to smartphones or tablets. Transactions are processed within 1-2 business days with funds transferred directly to merchant bank accounts. The platform operates in 36 markets serving over 4 million merchants.
How much does SumUp cost? +
Hardware costs range from £29 (Air reader) to £139 (Solo & Printer). Transaction fees are 1.69% for in-person and 2.50% for online on a pay-as-you-go basis, or £19/month for a subscription that reduces fees to 0.99% (in-person) and 1.99% (online). No admin fees, annual charges, or minimums apply.
What are alternatives to SumUp? +
Square offers similar mobile payments with a broader app ecosystem but at slightly higher fees (1.75%); PayPal Zettle/Point of Sale integrates with PayPal's ecosystem but has lost market share; Stripe focuses on online and developer payments. SumUp differentiates with the lowest transaction fees and simplest user experience.
Who uses SumUp? +
Small and medium-sized businesses including taxi drivers, restaurants, retail shops, medical professionals, event venues, and freelancers. As of December 2025, over 4 million merchants use SumUp across 36 markets, with 1.5 million active business account users.
How does SumUp compare to Square? +
SumUp offers the lowest transaction fees in the market at 1.69% for in-person payments versus Square's 1.75%, providing better value for high-volume merchants. Both offer wireless card readers for mobile payments, but SumUp emphasizes simplicity and low costs while Square has a more feature-rich free app and broader market presence.
Tags
mobile payments
point-of-sale
card readers
payment processing
small business
FinTech
merchant services