SumUp Solo vs PayPal Reader: Which UK Card Machine Wins in 2026?
Two of the most popular no-contract UK card-acceptance products for sole traders and mobile businesses. PayPal Reader is a Bluetooth reader (£29 + VAT for your first one as a new business user) that pairs with your phone or tablet, suited to merchants already inside the PayPal ecosystem. SumUp Solo is a £79 + VAT standalone terminal with its own screen and SIM; receipts print only if you add SumUp's Solo printer. Different hardware shapes, similar economics, slightly different ecosystem fit.
Published prices from each provider's own UK page (rates read 8 October 2026; price pages checked between 25 September 2026 and 21 October 2026), £25 average sale, hardware (excluding VAT) spread over 12 months. An estimate, not a quote.
Quick verdict
Pick PayPal Reader if you already accept PayPal online and want one ecosystem across web and in-person. Pick SumUp Solo if you want a standalone device that does not need a phone. SumUp wins marginally on rate (1.69% vs 1.75%) and on settlement speed.
On rate alone SumUp is 0.06 percentage points cheaper, which is about £58 a year on £8k a month of card sales (0.06% of £96,000). Zettle's cheaper first reader takes most of that back in year one, so ecosystem fit and standalone-vs-paired hardware become the decider.
Side-by-side
Full reviews: SumUp Solo · PayPal Reader
| Compared on | SumUp Solo | PayPal Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | SumUp | PayPal |
| Acquirer | SumUp | PayPal |
| Form factor | Portable standalone touchscreen terminal (no built-in printer; Solo Lite is the cheaper phone-paired version) | Compact card reader with colour touchscreen (pairs with phone or tablet) |
| Connectivity | 4G (free SIM), WiFi, Bluetooth | Bluetooth (paired with mobile device), USB-C (charging) |
| Upfront cost | £79 + VAT list price (SumUp often discounts it) | £29 first reader, £69 each extra (ex VAT) |
| Rate | 1.69% per transaction | 1.75% per transaction |
| Contract length | No contract | No contract |
| Best for | Sole traders, mobile traders, market stalls; Low-to-medium volume; Seasonal businesses | Existing PayPal merchants; Pop-up retailers, market traders; Low card volumes |
Price sources: SumUp Solo: SumUp card readers page, checked 25 September 2026; PayPal Reader: PayPal Reader page (zettle.com), checked 21 October 2026.
When SumUp Solo wins
You want a standalone device, no paired phone or tablet required. Your customers want printed receipts (mobile beauty, plumbers, market stalls). Marginally lower rate at 1.69% adds up across higher monthly volumes. Next-day access to takings in a SumUp Business Account matters for cashflow.
When PayPal Reader wins
You already accept PayPal online and want one ecosystem. At £29 + VAT for your first reader, it is one of the cheapest ways to start taking cards in the UK. You always have a phone or tablet at hand and do not need a printed receipt. Pop-up retail and seasonal trading where you only take cards a few days a month.
FAQ
What is the headline difference?
PayPal Reader is a Bluetooth card reader that pairs with a phone or tablet, costs £29 + VAT for your first reader as a new business user (£69 + VAT for each extra one), and runs at 1.75% per transaction. SumUp Solo is a standalone terminal with its own screen and SIM (receipt printing needs SumUp's add-on Solo printer), costs £79 + VAT, and runs at 1.69%. Both are no-contract.
Do I need a phone for either?
You need a phone or tablet for the PayPal Reader: it pairs with the PayPal Point of Sale app on your phone or tablet over Bluetooth. SumUp Solo is fully standalone with its own screen and SIM; you can take payments without a paired device.
Which integrates better with my online sales?
PayPal Reader integrates with the PayPal ecosystem, useful if you already accept PayPal online. SumUp Solo integrates with SumUp Online Store and a similar third-party plugin set. For PayPal-heavy online sales, Zettle is the cleaner stack.
Which is faster to settle?
SumUp Solo gives next-day access in a SumUp Business Account by 7am, 365 days a year. Zettle pays into a PayPal Business account, where funds typically arrive within minutes, and transfers to your bank carry no added fee. Both are quick (provider pages read 19 October 2026).
SumUp Solo or PayPal Reader: which is the better UK card machine in 2026?
SumUp Solo is the stronger pick for sole traders, mobile traders, market stalls, while PayPal Reader is the stronger pick for existing PayPal merchants. If neither describes your business, the rate and contract rows in the table above will usually settle it.
What does each contract look like, SumUp Solo vs PayPal Reader?
Contract: SumUp Solo, no contract; PayPal Reader, no contract. Hardware: SumUp Solo, £79 + VAT list price (SumUp often discounts it); PayPal Reader, £29 first reader, £69 each extra (ex VAT). Always check the live prices before signing, because provider pricing changes and larger businesses are often quoted their own rate.
Related comparisons
Other UK card machine head-to-heads involving SumUp Solo or PayPal Reader:
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An earlier version of this page was reviewed by Derren Powell on 22 October 2026.