Square vs Flatpay: which card machine is cheaper?
A like-for-like comparison of Square and Flatpay from their published UK prices, including card fees, monthly fees and the card machine. The answer depends on how much you take on cards.
Who's cheaper at your takings
| Monthly card takings | Square | Flatpay | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| £1,000 | £19 | £15 | Flatpay |
| £2,500 | £45 | £37 | Flatpay |
| £5,000 | £89 | £75 | Flatpay |
| £10,000 | £177 | £149 | Flatpay |
| £20,000 | £352 | quote only | Square |
Monthly totals for each provider's cheapest plan at that level, with a typical mix of 70% UK debit, 25% UK credit and 5% premium cards, and the machine bought outright spread over 12 months.
A worked example: £5,000 a month
With 70% UK debit, 25% UK credit, 5% premium and an average sale of £20:
| Provider | Per month | Where the money goes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flatpay Payment terminal |
£74.50 1.49% of takings |
card fees £74.50 (1.49%) Payment terminal: £0.00 upfront |
Flatpay prices |
| Square Free |
£89.08 1.782% of takings |
card fees £87.50 (1.75%), machine £1.58/mo Square Reader: £19.00 upfront + VAT Contract: none |
Square prices |
Prices compared
Square
- Free: 1.75% UK debit, 3.25% non-UK; no monthly fee; contract: none. Source, checked 2026-10-09.
Flatpay
- Payment terminal: 1.49% on all cards; no monthly fee; published rate up to £200,000 a year. Source, checked 2026-10-09.
Not sure? Compare all providers with your own takings and card mix.