Shift4 vs Dojo vs SumUp: The Honest UK Card Machine Comparison (2026)
20 Jan 2026 · 10 min read
Cut your monthly card machine overheads. A no-spin comparison of Shift4, Dojo and SumUp on rental, rates, payouts and contracts for UK small businesses.
If you're searching 'Dojo card machine' or 'SumUp card reader', you're probably weighing up monthly cost against speed of payouts and hardware quality. This guide compares all three on the numbers that actually hit your bank account.
The headline numbers
Shift4 Card Machine: £0 monthly rental, 1.25% blended on all cards under £10,000/month card turnover, next-day payouts, 18-month agreement with no early exit fees. Dojo: typically £15–£25/month rental on an 18-month contract, next-day payouts, rates negotiated per merchant. SumUp: no monthly fee on the entry reader but a flat 1.69% per transaction and standard payouts in 1–2 business days.
Monthly cost on £5,000 turnover
Shift4 at 1.25% blended = £42.50/month, no rental. Dojo at ~1.4% + £20 rental = £90/month. SumUp at 1.69% flat = £84.50/month. On £10,000/month turnover the gap widens further in Shift4's favour.
Contracts
Dojo's biggest catch is the 18-month tie-in with auto-renewal. SumUp is contract-free but the flat rate punishes higher-turnover businesses. Shift4 through our partner programme runs an 18-month agreement with no early exit fees and no minimum monthly service charge, so a quiet month costs you nothing.
Hardware
Shift4 One is a modern 4G Android terminal with contactless, chip & PIN and Apple/Google Pay, shipped free. Dojo Go is comparable hardware but rented, not owned. SumUp Air is a card reader that pairs to your phone; SumUp Solo is a standalone terminal you buy upfront (£79–£99).
Payouts
Shift4 and Dojo both settle next business day as standard. SumUp settles in 1–2 business days on the standard plan; instant payouts cost extra.
Support
You get a named UK account manager with Shift4 Card Machine, Jamie answers the phone. Dojo and SumUp route through general support queues.
Who each one suits
SumUp: very low-volume traders under £1,000/month who want no commitment. Dojo: mid-size venues already tied into the ecosystem. Shift4: any UK business doing £2,000/month or more that wants to stop paying rental and cut their blended rate.
How to switch
Send your last merchant statement through the quote form on this site and we'll come back within a day with a like-for-like quote and your projected monthly saving. No pressure, no obligation.
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