Blog · 8 May 2026
What changed in UK card pricing in 2026
A round-up of the rate moves, contract terms, and feature changes from the major UK card payment providers in the first half of 2026 — and what it means for hospitality.
Paul Walton
Founder, CardRate
The UK card-acquiring market doesn't usually move quickly. Pricing changes are quiet, contract terms shift in the small print, and hospitality operators rarely hear about either. Here's what we've tracked so far this year.
Tiered acquirers are sharpening high-volume rates
Two of the traditional acquirers have quietly improved their rates above £25k/month while keeping their entry-level rate flat. The takeaway: if you're processing more than £25k and on a tiered plan signed two years ago, you're probably paying over the odds.
Flat-rate readers stayed flat
SumUp, Square, and Zettle haven't moved their headline rate. Where they have moved is on instant-payout fees and added software charges — worth checking your last three statements for line items you don't recognise.
Contract terms
We're not seeing the 18- and 36-month contracts shorten. If anything, terminal rental is creeping into more deals as a way to amortise hardware while keeping the headline rate competitive. Always read the bottom line.
Run our comparison wizard for a side-by-side at your monthly volume.
Paul Walton
Founder, CardRate
Paul founded CardRate after years building hospitality tech at Seamless POS Ltd. He writes here about UK card payment pricing, contracts, and the comparison market — and only about things he'd recommend a friend's pub.