Dojo Go vs SumUp Solo: Which UK Card Machine Wins in 2026?
The most-asked UK card terminal pairing of 2026. Dojo Go is the strongest fit for hospitality and high-volume retail with same-next-day settlement, blended pricing and a 12-month contract. SumUp Solo is the no-contract default for sole traders and low-to-medium-volume businesses with a flat 1.69% rate and £99 hardware. They are aimed at different volume bands; the right answer is dictated almost entirely by how much you take a month on the card.
Quick verdict
Pick Dojo Go for hospitality, retail and any merchant doing more than £10k a month on card. Pick SumUp Solo for sole traders, mobile traders, market stalls and sub-£10k monthly volume. The contract is the bigger trade-off than the rate.
On £15k monthly volume Dojo saves roughly £170 in year one vs SumUp, before its settlement-speed advantage.
Side-by-side
| Dojo Go | SumUp Solo | |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Dojo | SumUp |
| Acquirer | Dojo (in-house) | SumUp |
| Form factor | Portable countertop terminal | Portable terminal with built-in receipt printer (Solo Lite is no-printer) |
| Connectivity | 4G, WiFi, Bluetooth | 4G (free SIM), WiFi, Bluetooth |
| Upfront cost | £0 with rolling monthly fee | £99 to £149 hardware |
| Rate | 1.4% to 1.9% blended | 1.69% per transaction |
| Contract length | 12 months minimum | No contract |
| Best for | Hospitality (restaurants, pubs, cafés); Retail with high contactless volume; Mobile traders | Sole traders, mobile traders, market stalls; Low-to-medium volume (<£10k monthly); Seasonal businesses |
| Overall rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Last reviewed | 2026-04-26 | 2026-04-26 |
When Dojo Go wins
Hospitality and retail with £10k+ monthly card flow where the blended rate beats SumUp's 1.69%. You need same-next-day settlement including weekends; cashflow during a Friday to Sunday peak benefits materially. You want robust hardware proven across busy hospitality settings. Multi-network connectivity (4G + WiFi + Bluetooth) reduces downtime if your WiFi drops.
When SumUp Solo wins
Sole traders, mobile beauticians, plumbers, electricians, market stalls. Sub-£10k monthly card volume where 1.69% covers more than the contract savings. Pop-up retail, weekend events, seasonal trading. You will not commit to 12 months of any provider.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Dojo Go or SumUp Solo?
Below £8k monthly card volume, SumUp wins on cost because there is no contract and no monthly fee. Above £15k monthly volume, Dojo wins because the blended 1.4% to 1.9% beats SumUp's flat 1.69%. The crossover sits roughly in the £10k to £15k monthly band.
Does Dojo Go have a contract?
Yes. 12-month minimum rolling commitment. SumUp Solo has no contract; you can stop using it at any time.
Which is faster to settle into your bank account?
Both offer same-day or next-day settlement. Dojo includes weekends, which SumUp generally does not. For hospitality trading Friday to Sunday, Dojo's weekend settlement is a real cashflow advantage.
Which works for sole traders or market traders?
SumUp Solo. The £99 hardware, no contract and 1.69% flat rate is built for sole traders, market stalls, mobile beauticians and pop-up retail. Dojo Go's 12-month contract is overkill for that profile.
Dojo Go or SumUp Solo: which is the better UK card machine in 2026?
Dojo Go scores higher overall in our 2026 review at 4.4 of 5 versus 4.2 for SumUp Solo. That said, the right answer depends on what you trade. Dojo Go is the stronger pick for hospitality (restaurants, pubs, cafés), while SumUp Solo is the stronger pick for sole traders, mobile traders, market stalls. If your business sits inside one of those use cases, ignore the headline rating and pick the right fit.
What does each contract look like, Dojo Go vs SumUp Solo?
Dojo Go runs a 12 months minimum contract. SumUp Solo runs a no contract contract. Headline transaction rates are 1.4% to 1.9% blended for Dojo Go and 1.69% per transaction for SumUp Solo. Hardware cost on Dojo Go is £0 with rolling monthly fee; on SumUp Solo it is £99 to £149 hardware. Always verify the live commercials before signing because acquirer pricing moves and bespoke rates are common above £20k monthly volume.
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Get quotes →Reviewed by Oliver Mackman, Director. Last reviewed: 2026-04-26. Editorial by Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937).