Comparing UK’s top payment processors: Zettle vs SumUp vs Square

Choosing the right payment processor is paramount for the smooth operation and success of your business. It’s not just about accepting payments, but how efficiently, securely, and cost-effectively you can do so. The right payment processor integrates seamlessly with your existing systems, enhances customer experience, and supports your business as it grows. It should provide the flexibility to accept various payment methods, offer transparent pricing, and ensure quick, reliable transaction processing. A poor choice can lead to frustrated customers, interrupted cash flow, and potentially damaging effects on your reputation. Therefore, taking the time to research and select a payment processor that aligns with your business needs can make a significant difference to your bottom line and overall success.

Zettle, SumUp, and Square have a lot in common, but recently, they’ve been diversifying their services in distinctive ways. What they’re most recognized for in the UK are their mobile card readers: Zettle Reader, Square Reader, and SumUp Air. These pocket-sized terminals cost less than £50 each and operate alongside a smartphone or tablet app, making them exceptionally accessible for any small business.

In the ever-evolving world of digital payments, three companies have set themselves apart in the UK market: Zettle, SumUp, and Square. Known for their mobile card readers and innovative payment solutions, these firms are revolutionizing how businesses handle transactions.

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Zettle

What is Zettle?

Formerly known as iZettle, this Swedish company, now a member of the PayPal family, has been making waves with its Zettle Reader. It’s a compact, stylish device that accepts contactless payments, chip and pin transactions, and mobile wallets. The reader connects to a smartphone or tablet through Bluetooth and works with the Zettle Go app, allowing businesses to take payments anywhere.

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• Mobile Card Reader: The Zettle Reader accepts chip and pin, contactless, and mobile payments. It’s a compact and portable device, which makes it ideal for businesses of all types, including those operating on-the-go or at pop-up locations.
• POS App: Zettle Go app turns your smartphone or tablet into a powerful point of sale system. It lets you accept payments, track sales, manage inventory, and generate sales reports.
• Inventory Management: Zettle’s system allows you to keep track of your inventory levels in real-time. You can add products, create product categories, and upload images for easier organization.
• Sales Reporting and Analytics: Zettle provides in-depth sales reports and analytics that help you understand your business performance. You can view sales data by hour, day, month, or year.
• Invoicing: Zettle’s system lets you create and send professional invoices directly from the app. You can customize your invoices with your logo and business details.
• Multi-Location Support: If you operate multiple stores or sales points, Zettle lets you manage all of them from a single account.
• Integration: Zettle seamlessly integrates with other software, such as accounting programs and e-commerce platforms, allowing for streamlined business operations.
• Employee Management: You can add employees to your Zettle account and track their sales. This is particularly useful for businesses with multiple staff members handling sales.

So let’s dive in and discover which tool can help take your social media strategy to the next level.

Overview

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Buffer

Grow your audience on social and beyond.

Buffer  is a versatile scheduling tool that allows users to manage multiple social media accounts seamlessly.

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• Multi-platform scheduling: Schedule and publish posts across various social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
• Team collaboration: Collaborate with team members and assign specific roles and permissions for efficient content creation and scheduling.
• Analytics and reporting: Monitor post performance, track key metrics, and generate detailed reports to measure the effectiveness of your social media campaigns.
• Browser extension: Easily add content to your Buffer queue while browsing the web with the browser extension.

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Later

Social media management made easy.

Later is a robust social media scheduling tool designed to simplify content planning and management across various platforms

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• Visual content calendar: Organize and visualize your social media posts with a user-friendly calendar interface.
• Instagram-centric functionality: Leverage Later.com’s specialized tools for scheduling Instagram posts, including automatic posting to Instagram Stories.
• Linkin.bio: Create a shoppable Instagram feed by linking posts to external content.
• Analytics: Gain insights into post performance and audience engagement to optimize your strategy.

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Planable

If you plan content in sheets or task managers, this is for you.

Planable is a collaborative scheduling tool designed
to simplify the approval process for social media content.

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• Content collaboration: Seamlessly collaborate with team members, clients, and stakeholders by providing a centralized platform for reviewing, editing, and approving content.
• Content preview: Visualize how your posts will appear on different social media platforms, ensuring a consistent and visually appealing feed.
• Commenting and feedback: Facilitate communication and feedback exchange within the platform, eliminating the need for multiple email threads.
• Integration with other tools: Connect Planable with tools like Buffer and Slack for a streamlined workflow.

Which platform is the best? 

When comparing Later, Buffer, and Planable, it’s essential to consider your specific needs and priorities. If you have a strong focus on Instagram and visual content, Later stands out with its specialized features like the visual content calendar and Linkin.bio functionality. Buffer, on the other hand, offers versatility by supporting multiple platforms and providing robust analytics and reporting features. It excels in team collaboration and offers a browser extension for seamless content addition. Planable shines in streamlining the approval process and facilitating efficient collaboration with its content preview and commenting features. 

Depending on your requirements, such as the nature of your social media presence, team dynamics, and content approval workflow, you can choose the scheduling tool that aligns best with your specific needs. 

Pricing

Comparing UK’s top payment processors: Zettle vs SumUp vs Square

• 1What is Zettle?
• 2Grow your audience on social and beyond.
• 3Social media management made easy.
• 4If you plan content in sheets or task managers, this is for you.