SumUp Plus Card Reader (Bluetooth)

$54.00

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7.5/10 (Expert Score)

Product is rated as #6 in category Credit Card Machines

SumUp Plus Card Reader Review: Pricing, Features & Alternatives

Updated January 2026 • Verified Q1 2026

The SumUp Plus is a $54 Bluetooth card reader that connects to your smartphone or tablet to accept chip, swipe, and contactless payments. It’s aimed at small businesses, mobile vendors, and service providers who want a simple pay-as-you-go solution without monthly fees or contracts.

At 2.6% + 10¢ per transaction, SumUp’s rates are competitive with Square. The main appeal is simplicity: buy the reader, download the free app, and start taking payments. No merchant account applications, no long-term commitments.

But is it the right choice for your business? Here’s what you need to know.

Pros & Cons

PROS:

Low upfront cost ($54)
No monthly fees or minimums
No contracts — cancel anytime
Accepts chip, tap, swipe, mobile wallets
500 transactions per charge
Next-day deposits available
No chargeback fees

CONS:

Customer support hard to reach
Account verification/closure complaints
Requires smartphone or tablet
Higher rate for keyed transactions (3.5%)
Limited advanced features vs. Square
No offline mode
US features lag behind Europe

SumUp Plus Pricing

Hardware

Product	Price	Notes
SumUp Plus Card Reader	$54	One-time purchase, Bluetooth, connects to phone/tablet
Plus Cradle Bundle	Contact SumUp	Includes charging cradle for countertop use
SumUp Solo	$99	Standalone reader with screen (no phone needed)

Processing Fees

Transaction Type	Rate
In-Person (tap, dip, swipe)	2.6% + 10¢
Online / Keyed-In	3.5% + 15¢
Invoicing	2.9% + 15¢

What’s Free

SumUp mobile app (iOS and Android)
Account setup
Chargeback handling (no dispute fees)
SumUp Business Account (optional, enables next-day deposits)

No Monthly Fees

SumUp has no monthly minimums, no statement fees, and no PCI compliance fees. You only pay the transaction fee when you process a sale.

Compare SumUp to other card readers

Compare Card Readers

Hardware Specs

Spec	Detail
Payments Accepted	Chip (EMV), Swipe (magstripe), Contactless (NFC)
Card Brands	Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover
Mobile Wallets	Apple Pay, Google Pay
Connectivity	Bluetooth (pairs with smartphone/tablet)
Battery	Li-ion, 500+ transactions per charge
LED Display	Yes (transaction status indicator)

Features

Payment Processing

The SumUp Plus accepts chip, swipe, and contactless payments including Apple Pay and Google Pay. All major card brands (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover) are supported at the same flat rate.

Free Mobile App

The SumUp app (iOS/Android) lets you ring up sales, create a product catalog, track transactions, customize receipts, and manage your account. It’s required to use the Plus reader.

Invoicing

Send invoices directly from the app with a payment link. Customers can pay online at 2.9% + 15¢ per transaction. Free to send — you only pay when the customer pays.

Payouts

SumUp Business Account: Next-day deposits (even weekends)
Regular bank account: 1-2 business days

Receipt Options

Send digital receipts via email or SMS. Receipts can be customized with your business logo and information. No built-in printer — you’ll need a compatible Bluetooth printer if you want paper receipts.

What Real Users Say

SumUp has a 4.1/5 rating on Trustpilot (36,000+ reviews). Reviews are mixed — most praise the simplicity and pricing, but a significant number report customer service issues.

✅ What users like:

“SumUp is the perfect payment system for me. I have a small business and work from many different locations. All I need is a phone signal to take a payment from anywhere.”
— Trustpilot reviewer

“Since we’ve had our SumUp card reader, sales have increased. The ease of use and portability of SumUp is great. We use it when we go off-site for sales, and it’s easy-peasy.”
— Annie M., SumUp user

“It was really easy to get started with SumUp. The battery lasts ages. As a first time card payment user it was a simple process.”
— Capterra reviewer

❌ Common complaints:

“You have to argue with an AI to get to a human, and then the simplest questions that could be solved in a 5-minute phone call can take hours in the chat.”
— Capterra reviewer (July 2025)

“I got to the event and the reader declined ALL payments because of a security issue. I lost thousands of dollars in sales because nobody carries cash anymore.”
— Capterra reviewer (account verification issue)

“The machines are designed to fail if they get the slightest knock, which for a portable device is a massive flaw.”
— Capterra reviewer

Key takeaway: SumUp works well when it works, but customer support is a common pain point. Account verification issues have caused some merchants to lose sales at critical times.

SumUp Plus vs. Competitors

Feature	SumUp Plus	Square Reader	PayPal Zettle
Reader Price	$54	$59	$29 (first reader)
In-Person Rate	2.6% + 10¢	2.6% + 10¢	2.29% + 9¢
Keyed-In Rate	3.5% + 15¢	3.5% + 15¢	3.49% + 9¢
Monthly Fee	None	None	None
Deposits	Next day (with SumUp account)	Next day (free)	1-2 days
Offline Mode	No	Yes	No
App Ecosystem	Basic	Extensive	Moderate

Choose SumUp if: You want a cheap, simple reader and don’t need advanced features.

Choose Square if: You want a larger ecosystem with free POS software, invoicing, appointments, and more integrations.

Choose Zettle if: You want the lowest processing rate and already use PayPal.

Who SumUp Plus Is For

✅ Good Fit

Mobile vendors and market sellers
Food trucks
Service providers (handymen, cleaners, etc.)
Pop-up shops and events
Low-volume businesses
Anyone wanting simplicity over features

❌ Not Ideal For

High-volume businesses (per-transaction fees add up)
Businesses needing offline payments
Those requiring advanced POS features
Merchants who need phone-based customer support

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does SumUp Plus cost?

The SumUp Plus card reader costs $54 (one-time purchase). There are no monthly fees or minimums. You pay 2.6% + 10¢ per in-person transaction.

Does SumUp charge monthly fees?

No. SumUp has no monthly fees, no minimums, and no contracts. You only pay the transaction fee when you process a sale.

How fast are SumUp payouts?

With a SumUp Business Account (free), you get next-day deposits even on weekends. With a regular bank account, deposits take 1-2 business days.

What payment methods does SumUp accept?

SumUp accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. You can process chip, swipe, and contactless payments.

Does SumUp work offline?

No. The SumUp Plus requires a Bluetooth connection to your smartphone or tablet, which needs internet access to process payments.

Is there a money-back guarantee?

Yes. SumUp offers a 30-day money-back guarantee from the date of delivery.

How is SumUp's customer support?

SumUp offers US-based support via phone, email, and chat during business hours (Mon-Fri). However, many users report difficulty reaching human support and slow response times. This is the most common complaint in reviews.

Our Verdict

The SumUp Plus is a solid budget card reader for small businesses and mobile sellers who want simple, pay-as-you-go payment processing. At $54 with no monthly fees and competitive 2.6% + 10¢ rates, it’s an affordable way to start accepting cards.

The main weakness is customer support. Multiple reviews mention difficulty reaching humans and slow response times. Account verification issues have caused some merchants to lose sales at events — a serious problem if you’re counting on the reader for a market or pop-up.

If you’re a casual seller who processes occasional transactions, SumUp is fine. If your business depends on reliable payment processing with responsive support, Square is the safer choice — it has better support, more features, and proven reliability, even if the reader costs a few dollars more.

Compare SumUp to other card readers

Compare Card Readers

About the Author

Jason Feemster
POS systems expert and founder of POSUSA.com, a trusted industry resource since 2011. With over a decade of hands-on experience testing and reviewing point-of-sale systems, he helps business owners choose solutions that actually fit their needs.