
PayPal Zettle is a popular payment solution for businesses, but have you ever wondered how much it costs to use their services? The good news is that PayPal Zettle offers a transparent pricing structure, with fees that are easy to understand.
You can expect to pay a flat fee of 2.5% + 5p per transaction, which is a competitive rate compared to other payment processors. This fee applies to all transactions, regardless of the payment method used.
PayPal Zettle also offers a payment plan that allows you to pay a flat monthly fee of £9 + VAT, in addition to the transaction fees. This plan is ideal for businesses that process a high volume of transactions.
Whether you choose the standard transaction fee or the payment plan, PayPal Zettle's fees are calculated automatically, so you don't have to worry about keeping track of your costs.
Pricing Comparison
Zettle's pricing is competitive among the big players, but it's not the cheapest in the UK market.

In-person card transaction fees are often slightly cheaper with other providers, such as SumUp (1.69%), Tyl (1.39% + 5p), Stripe (1.4%), and Revolut (0.8% + 2p).
However, Zettle's in-person card transaction fees match Square's at 1.75%.
Here's a quick look at the prices and fees you can expect with other top-rated mobile merchant account providers:
Zettle's transaction fees are competitive, but it's essential to consider other factors like fund transfer time when choosing a provider.
Fund transfer time varies among providers, with Zettle taking 1-2 working days, Square next day, Revolut up to 3 working days, SumUp next working day, Stripe up to 3 working days, and Tyl by Natwest up to 3 working days.
Card Payments and Fees
Zettle by PayPal offers a range of card payment options, including major cards and mobile wallets.
You can take card payments on your phone using Tap to Pay, or pair your device with a Zettle Reader. No hardware rental is required.
Zettle's card reader sets up in minutes and connects to your device via Bluetooth. It accepts major payment methods and can be attached to a countertop Dock at an additional cost.
The price of a Zettle Reader is £29 excluding VAT, with additional card readers priced at £59 excluding VAT. Delivery fees apply, with delivery time taking approximately 1 to 2 business days.
Zettle's transaction fees are 1.75% for card payments and PayPal QR code transactions, 2.5% for online payment links and invoices, and 3.4% + £0.20 for manual card entry (non-present card transaction).
Here's a comparison of Zettle's transaction fees with other top-rated mobile merchant account providers:
Keep in mind that Zettle's fees are subject to change, and custom card payment rates are available for businesses taking over £10,000 in card payments every month.
Free Plans and Costs
Zettle offers a single free plan with no monthly fee, and users have access to all its features and functionality.
This plan is ideal for businesses that want to try out Zettle without committing to a paid plan.
You can set up a demo account in Zettle to test its software development kit, but this might not be helpful for customers who just want to test the interface and features.
Setting up a free account is a better option for testing out Zettle's interface and features.
Hardware and Costs
Zettle's hardware costs are quite reasonable, with the cheapest card reader costing £29 + VAT, a one-off payment with no monthly fees. This beats some competitors, such as Tyl, which charges £9.99 per month for its cheapest card reader.
If you need a more comprehensive EPOS setup, Zettle's Payment Terminal starts at £149 + VAT, which includes a touchscreen EPOS system and a payment terminal. This is a great option for larger enterprises or businesses that are scaling.
The costs for additional hardware are also manageable, with subsequent readers costing £59 + VAT each. You can also use multiple hardware devices simultaneously on one Zettle account, making it easy to add to your hardware options over time.
Here are the costs for Zettle's hardware options:
- Card Reader 2: £29 + VAT (first reader), £59 + VAT (subsequent readers)
- Payment Terminal: £149 + VAT (base model), £199 + VAT (with scanner)
- Terminal + Printer & Dock: £199 + VAT (base model), £249 + VAT (with scanner)
Zettle's Fees
Zettle's fees are a crucial consideration for any business looking to use this payment service. The good news is that there's no monthly fee, which is a big plus.
Zettle charges a per-transaction fee, which can be broken down into four types. The first type is for card-present transactions, which cost 2.29% + 9 cents. This includes when a credit or debit card is swiped or inserted, as well as QR code transactions.
For keyed-in transactions, Zettle charges a higher fee of 3.49% + 9 cents. This is when a card number is physically typed into the system.
Invoice fees are a bit higher, at 3.49% + 49 cents for PayPal payments and 2.99% + 49 cents for cards or alternative payment methods.
Cash transactions, on the other hand, are free.
Zettle also offers custom card payment rates for businesses taking over £10,000 in card payments every month, but these rates are subject to a specific agreement between the parties.
Here's a breakdown of Zettle's transaction fees:
- Card-present transactions: 2.29% + 9 cents
- Keyed-in transactions: 3.49% + 9 cents
- Invoice fees: 3.49% + 49 cents (PayPal), 2.99% + 49 cents (cards/alternative methods)
- Cash transactions: free
- Card payments (non-present): 1.75%
- Online payment links/invoices: 2.5%
- Manual card entry (non-present card transaction): 3.4% + £0.20
Hardware Costs
Hardware costs can be a significant investment for small businesses, but with Zettle, you can expect a one-off cost for their card readers and terminals. You'll pay £29 + VAT for the first Zettle Card Reader 2, and £59 + VAT for each subsequent reader.
This is a cost-effective option, especially when compared to other payment processors. For example, Square's low-cost hardware costs £19 + VAT, while Tyl charges £9.99 per month for its cheapest card reader.
If you're looking for a more comprehensive EPOS setup, Zettle's Payment Terminal starts at £149 + VAT. This includes a touchscreen EPOS system and a payment terminal, making it suitable for larger enterprises or businesses that are scaling.
Here's a breakdown of the costs:
- First Zettle Card Reader 2: £29 + VAT
- Subsequent Zettle Card Reader 2: £59 + VAT
- Zettle Payment Terminal: £149 + VAT
- Zettle Payment Terminal with scanner: £199 or £249
PayPal Pricing Details
Zettle has no monthly fee, which is a big plus for small businesses and pop-up stores.
The service charges per-transaction fees, with four types of fees to consider: 2.29% + 9 cents for card-present transactions, 3.49% + 9 cents for keyed-in transactions, 3.49% + 49 cents for PayPal payments, and 2.99% + 49 cents for cards or alternative payment methods.

For cash transactions, Zettle charges no fee at all.
While Zettle's pricing is generally reasonable, it may become prohibitive with numerous transactions, making it a better fit for small retail businesses and food trucks rather than established restaurants.
Zettle's pricing scores a strong 4.2/5, thanks to its generous free plan and reasonable transaction fees.
However, Square and Clover POS offer more features while remaining competitively priced, earning slightly better pricing scores than Zettle.
Zettle's fees are comparable to other solutions like Toast and Clover, which can be more expensive and involve more time and hardware commitments.
If you're looking for a low-cost payment solution with ease of use and no setup fees or monthly fees, the PayPal Here app is worth considering, with no setup fees or monthly fees and low transaction fees.
Final Thoughts and Value
Zettle is free to get started, which makes it a potential pick for smaller operations that want to get off the ground quickly.
However, it lacks features like email marketing, offline mode, or loyalty tools compared to Square, which is also free.
Zettle offers great pricing options, including its hardware and transaction fees, but it's not the cheapest option in terms of transaction fees.
Its free EPOS store and no ongoing fees make it a competitive choice in the UK market, especially when considering its cheapest hardware options.
The lowest price transaction fees can be found with Revolut, but Zettle remains a good option for those looking for a balanced service.
Final Thoughts
Zettle is a solid option for smaller operations that want to get started quickly, as it's free to begin with.
While Zettle lacks some features compared to Square, such as email marketing and loyalty tools, it still offers great pricing options, including competitive transaction fees.
The free EPOS store and no on-going fees make it an attractive choice, especially when combined with some of the cheapest hardware around.

Our research team ranks Square higher overall, but Zettle isn't bad, and its strong compliance and security measures make it a top pick in several key areas.
If you're looking for the lowest price transaction fees, Revolut might be the way to go, but Zettle's fees are still competitive in the UK market.
Using our free quote tool can help you compare fees with other merchant accounts and find the best fit for your business.
Good Value?
Assessing whether Zettle's overall service is good value for money is a nuanced task. Comparing pricing with other merchant accounts and card reader providers is a good starting point.
Pricing is just one aspect to consider, as Zettle's features and services can greatly impact the overall value. The article mentions comparing Zettle's pricing with other merchant accounts and card reader providers, which is essential for making an informed decision.
Ultimately, determining good value depends on individual business needs and priorities. Zettle's pricing is a crucial factor, but it's not the only consideration.
Testing and Comparison
PayPal Zettle's fees are competitive with other payment processing options, with a flat rate of 2.9% + 0.30 per transaction, regardless of the payment method used.
In comparison, Square's fees are 2.6% + 10¢ per transaction for in-person payments, and 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction for online payments.
Zettle's flat fee structure makes it easier to budget and forecast costs, as it eliminates the need to worry about varying transaction fees.
Testing Merchant Account Providers
We tested 18 merchant account providers to determine the best options on the UK market. We assessed each provider across five main areas of investigation and 23 subcategories.
To get a comprehensive understanding of each provider, we looked at five key areas: hardware, software, help and support, pricing, and ease of use.
We evaluated the hardware of each merchant account, considering factors such as card machine size, weight, portability, connectivity, interface, receipt printing, and battery life. This helped us understand the practicalities of using each provider's card reader.

We also examined the software of each merchant account, looking at the number of payment types accepted, payout times, reporting and security features, EPOS functionality, and system integrations. This gave us insight into the features and functionality of each provider.
We assessed the help and support offered by each merchant account provider, considering the types of support available, as well as the responsiveness and availability of the support team.
We compared the pricing of each merchant account, including monthly fees, card machine costs, transaction fees, and contract lengths. We also evaluated the value for money of each provider based on the features of their card reader.
We put each card machine through its paces, testing its ease of use and how quickly everyday tasks could be completed. This helped us understand how user-friendly each provider's card reader was.
We used a comprehensive evaluation process to assign an overall score to each merchant account provider. This score was based on their performance in the five main areas of investigation and 23 subcategories.
What's New?

In August 2024, Zettle made a price hike for PayPal invoice payments, increasing the cost to 3.49% + 49 cents per transaction.
The previous rate was 3.49% + 9 cents per transaction, which was in effect at the start of the year.
What is and Basics
PayPal Zettle fees can be a bit confusing, but let's break it down to the basics.
PayPal Zettle is a payment processing system designed for small businesses and individuals who want to accept card payments on the go.
The fees associated with using PayPal Zettle can be broken down into several categories, including transaction fees, payment processing fees, and card payment fees.
Transaction fees are charged on every transaction, and they range from 2.5% + 0.30 USD per transaction for in-person payments to 2.9% + 0.30 USD per transaction for online payments.
Payment processing fees are charged for every payment processed through PayPal Zettle, and they range from 2.5% + 0.30 USD per transaction for in-person payments to 2.9% + 0.30 USD per transaction for online payments.

Card payment fees are charged for every card payment processed through PayPal Zettle, and they range from 2.5% + 0.30 USD per transaction for in-person payments to 2.9% + 0.30 USD per transaction for online payments.
PayPal Zettle also charges a monthly subscription fee of 0.50 USD per month, regardless of the number of transactions processed.
The fees charged by PayPal Zettle can add up quickly, so it's essential to understand how they work and factor them into your business's budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zettle cheaper than PayPal?
Zettle's standard transaction fee of 1.75% is generally lower than PayPal's fees, which can vary depending on your business model and sales volume. This makes Zettle a potentially more cost-effective option for small businesses.
How much is the PayPal fee per $100?
For a $100 transaction, the PayPal fee is 3.98 dollars, calculated as 3.49% of 100 plus a fixed fee of 0.49 dollars. This leaves the recipient with a total of 96.02 dollars.
Sources
- https://tech.co/pos-system/paypal-zettle-fees
- https://www.zettle.com/gb/pricing
- https://www.expertmarket.com/uk/merchant-accounts/zettle-fees-costs
- https://www.trustradius.com/products/paypal-zettle/pricing
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/could-square-zettle-paypal-costing-your-sme-business-vs-stanborough-gqcse
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