Unlock Seamless Payments & Grow Your Business: Compare Top Merchant Accounts & Card Machines

We connect you with tailored solutions to boost your revenue and simplify payments.

Julian, Author
Last updated: August, 2025

Our Top Picks

When it comes to merchant accounts in the UK, Square, Tide, and takepayments each provide excellent solutions to help businesses of all sizes accept payments and manage their finances.

Square leads the way, offering a straightforward, contract-free approach that’s perfect for small businesses and those just starting out. With its free plan, there are no monthly fees for payment processing—you only pay a transparent transaction fee when you make a sale. Square provides a range of free tools, including a free EPOS system, an online store builder, and invoicing software. Its hardware, from the simple Square Reader to the all-in-one Square Terminal, is easy to set up and use. This makes Square a highly attractive, low-risk option for businesses that want flexibility and transparent, pay-as-you-go pricing.

Tide is another powerful contender, standing out as a digital business banking platform with integrated payment solutions. It’s an ideal choice for businesses looking to streamline their banking and payment management in a single app. Tide offers a free business account with no monthly fee, with various paid plans available as your business grows. Its features include in-app invoicing, payment links, and ‘Tap to Pay’ on iPhone, all designed to make getting paid a breeze. Tide’s emphasis on accounting and tax tools, with features like automatic transaction categorisation, makes it an excellent choice for businesses prioritising financial organisation.

takepayments rounds out the trio, excelling in providing tailored, flexible solutions for growing businesses. Unlike the flat-rate models, takepayments offers custom pricing structures based on your business type and sales volume, which can lead to lower transaction fees for high-volume merchants. They provide a comprehensive suite of hardware, including card machines and all-in-one EPOS systems, and boast next-day payouts to improve your cash flow. takepayments is a strong choice for businesses that need a more personalised, supported service and a wide range of payment tools, though many of their packages include a monthly fee for hardware rental and services.

In summary, Square stands out for its simplicity and transparency, making it the top choice for new and small businesses seeking a contract-free solution. Tide offers a compelling all-in-one platform for businesses that want to integrate their banking and payments, with a focus on financial management. Meanwhile, takepayments provides a feature-rich, customised approach with flexible pricing and hardware, ideal for growing businesses with specific needs.

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Most Popular
9.8

Best for:

  • In Person
  • Transaction fee = 1.75%
  • No monthly Fees
  • No long-term commitments or contracts
  • Over 4 million sellers around the world
View Deals

Square’s merchant account service stands out for its simplicity and ease of use, making it an ideal choice for small businesses and startups. With no lengthy contracts or hidden fees, Square offers a transparent pricing model, charging a flat rate per transaction. This straightforward approach helps businesses avoid unexpected costs and simplifies budgeting.

In addition to its competitive pricing, Square provides a comprehensive suite of tools to support business operations. These include point-of-sale (POS) systems, invoicing, and inventory management, all integrated into a user-friendly platform. The service also features robust analytics, enabling merchants to track sales, manage customer relationships, and make data-driven decisions.

Furthermore, Square’s flexibility and accessibility are significant advantages. It supports various payment methods, including credit and debit cards, contactless payments, and e-commerce transactions. With no need for a dedicated merchant account or gateway, businesses can start accepting payments quickly and efficiently, making Square an excellent option for those seeking a hassle-free and scalable payment solution.

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9.3

Best for:

  • In person
  • Transaction fee = 0.9% + 5p
  • Use Code 'GETPAIDSUMMER' to get promotion low transaction fees
  • Trusted by over 600,000 UK businesses
View Deals Get £200 Cash Reward, 0.99% + 3p transaction fees with code GETPAID200

Tide’s merchant account service is designed specifically for small businesses and freelancers, offering a seamless and efficient way to manage finances. Tide provides a straightforward application process with quick approvals, enabling businesses to start accepting payments promptly. With competitive transaction fees and no hidden charges, Tide ensures cost transparency and predictability.

A standout feature of Tide’s service is its integration with business banking. This allows merchants to manage both their payments and banking needs from a single platform, simplifying financial management. Tide offers tools such as invoicing, expense tracking, and instant account statements, all accessible through an intuitive mobile app.

Moreover, Tide’s commitment to customer support and innovation makes it a strong contender in the market. Businesses benefit from dedicated support and ongoing improvements to the platform, ensuring they have the latest features at their disposal. Tide’s focus on simplicity, combined with comprehensive banking and payment solutions, makes it an excellent choice for entrepreneurs seeking an all-in-one financial service provider.

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9.6

Best for:

  • In Person
  • Online
  • Transactions fees tailored to work for your business
  • UK’s most trusted card payment provider
  • Next day settlement
  • 7 days a week customer support
View Deals Tailored pricing for your business

Takepayments’ merchant account service excels in providing tailored solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. Known for its personalized approach, Takepayments offers a free, no-obligation consultation to understand each business’s unique needs and recommend the most suitable payment solutions. This customized service ensures that businesses get the best fit for their specific requirements.

Takepayments stands out with its flexible contract options and transparent pricing. Businesses can choose from various contract lengths, including short-term agreements, which provide greater flexibility and control. Additionally, Takepayments offers competitive rates with no set up fees, helping businesses manage costs effectively.

Another key advantage of Takepayments is its comprehensive support and onboarding process. The service includes a welcome team to get you up and running quickly and confidently, along with extensive training and 24/7 customer support. This ensures that businesses can seamlessly integrate their payment systems and receive ongoing assistance, making Takepayments a reliable and supportive partner for managing merchant accounts.

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9.4

Best for:

  • Online
  • Accept payments quickly, easily and securely
  • Take contactless payments with just your iPhone or Android phone
  • Simple, transparent pricing
  • No hidden fees
Visit Square

Square’s online payment solution is a leading choice for businesses seeking a user-friendly and flexible platform to manage transactions. Supporting a wide range of payment methods, including credit cards, digital wallets, and buy now, pay later options, Square is designed to cater to the diverse needs of modern e-commerce.

A standout feature of Square is its seamless integration with other Square tools, such as its POS systems and invoicing software, creating a cohesive ecosystem for managing both online and offline sales. The platform also offers transparent, flat-rate pricing with no hidden fees, making it an affordable option for businesses of all sizes.

Square provides advanced features like real-time analytics, fraud prevention, and customizable checkout options to enhance the customer experience and boost conversions. Backed by excellent customer support and a commitment to innovation, Square’s online payment solution is an excellent choice for businesses looking to streamline their operations and scale efficiently.

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