Worldpay vs Elavon 2026: Card Processing Fees, Merchant Accounts & Which Is Better? Quick Answer
Worldpay and Elavon are two established merchant services providers worth comparing for UK businesses that regularly accept card payments.
Worldpay currently advertises a 1.50% Simplicity transaction rate for eligible Visa and Mastercard payments, alongside tailored pricing for businesses needing a more complex arrangement.
Elavon currently advertises 0.99% for eligible Visa and Mastercard personal cards on selected Business Booster plans, with card machine rental from £15 per month.
Your business priority Provider to compare first
Simple advertised transaction pricing
Worldpay Simplicity
Lower published eligible personal-card percentage
Elavon Business Booster
Established retail or hospitality business
Both
One provider for in-person and online payments
Both
Multi-site or high-volume card processing
Request tailored quotes from both
Shorter published terminal agreement
Elavon
Our View: Elavon’s published personal-card rate looks attractive for established businesses, but comparing 0.99% against Worldpay’s 1.50% is only the starting point. The complete cost depends on the card mix, terminal charges, other transaction fees and the length of the agreement.
For businesses processing more than £100,000 annually, we would request written quotes from both providers rather than choose based on the advertised rates alone.
Key Takeaways
Worldpay and Elavon both provide card machines, payment processing and online payment services for UK businesses.
Worldpay Simplicity currently advertises 1.50% on eligible Mastercard and Visa transactions.
Elavon Business Booster advertises 0.99% on eligible Visa and Mastercard personal debit and credit cards.
Worldpay currently advertises promotional £0 monthly terminal hire for selected 18-month agreements.
Elavon Business Booster terminal rental starts from £15 monthly, with 12-month contracts advertised.
Both providers offer tailored solutions for larger merchants.
Elavon has an entry-level mobile reader option with a £5 device price and 1.75% advertised processing.
Worldpay offers next-business-day settlement on its relevant card-machine plans, while Elavon offers next-day funding on eligible services and arrangements.
Our View: Compare the full contract cost rather than choosing the lower transaction percentage or cheapest card terminal.
How Do We Work?
Our comparisons are researched and reviewed by the Compare Your Business Costs editorial team using published provider information, official pricing and UK business buying criteria. See how Compare Your Business Costs works .
Authored by: Ally Cox – Business Technology & B2B Services Specialist, 10+ years’ experience.
Last Updated: November 2026
Contents
Worldpay vs Elavon: Side-by-Side Comparison
Feature Worldpay Elavon
Provider type
Payment processor and merchant services provider
Payment processor and merchant services provider
Advertised processing option
1.50% Simplicity rate on eligible Visa/Mastercard transactions
0.99% on eligible personal cards on Business Booster plans
Custom pricing
Available for qualifying merchants
Available for qualifying merchants
Countertop terminals
DX4000
Tetra Desk
Mobile/portable terminals
DX8000
Tetra Move, Elavon Mobile
Published terminal pricing
Promotional £0/month on selected plans
From £15/month on Business Booster
Advertised contract term
18 months for relevant card-machine plans
12 months for published plans
Online payments
Yes
Yes, including Elavon Payment Gateway and Opayo
Payment links
Available through relevant services
Available through relevant services
Virtual terminal
Yes
Yes
Settlement
Next-business-day on eligible plans
Next-day funding available, depending on plan and terms
Advertised prices are subject to eligibility, card type, service selection and current promotional conditions. They are not necessarily equivalent quotations.
Worldpay vs Elavon Card Processing Fees: Which Is Cheaper? Transaction processing charges will often make up the largest part of a merchant’s ongoing payment costs – however, both providers offer different pricing structures, so the most useful comparison is based on an actual business’s transaction history.
Worldpay Transaction Fees Worldpay currently advertises its Simplicity pricing option for businesses wanting a straightforward transaction rate.
Published features include:
1.50% for eligible Visa and Mastercard transactions.No separate authorisation fee on the Simplicity tariff.
No minimum monthly service charge under the advertised plan.
No premium transaction charges under the advertised plan, subject to its applicable card-category terms.
Different charges for certain other card schemes.
Worldpay also offers custom pricing for qualifying businesses, which may involve variable rates according to payment type.
Our View: Worldpay Simplicity is useful as a transparent benchmark, especially for merchants who want predictable pricing. However, a business processing substantial debit-card turnover should also request Worldpay’s custom rates, which may be more competitive than the headline blended option.
Elavon Transaction Fees Elavon publishes different payment plans according to business requirements and turnover.
Elavon plan Advertised eligible personal-card rate Published hardware charge
Start Simple / Elavon Mobile
1.75%
£5 one-off device cost
Business Booster – Desk
0.99%
£15/month terminal fee
Business Booster – Move
0.99%
£18/month terminal fee
Core All-in-One
0.99%
£15/month terminal and gateway fee
Elavon advertises different turnover ranges for its plans, and additional charges can apply to business, international and other card types. For example, its published Business Booster plans are aimed at businesses processing approximately £40,000–£200,000 annually, depending on the product.
Our View: Elavon’s 0.99% rate deserves attention from retailers and hospitality businesses with substantial UK consumer-card turnover. However, merchants receiving more corporate, overseas or card-not-present payments should request a full card-type breakdown before comparing it with Worldpay.
Compare UK Card Processing Fees
Worldpay vs Elavon: Worked Cost Examples These examples compare the published Worldpay Simplicity rate with Elavon’s Business Booster Desk rate.
Assumptions:
All transactions are eligible Visa or Mastercard personal-card payments.
Worldpay processing is calculated at 1.50%.
Elavon processing is calculated at 0.99%.
Elavon terminal rental is £15 per month.
Worldpay terminal rental uses its advertised promotional £0-per-month offer.
Additional charges, VAT, refunds and other card types are excluded.
These are illustrative published-rate comparisons, not personalised quotations. Worldpay’s promotional terminal rate is time-limited and subject to conditions.
Monthly card turnover Worldpay Simplicity Elavon Business Booster Desk Illustrative monthly difference
£5,000
£75.00
£64.50
Elavon £10.50 lower
£10,000
£150.00
£114.00
Elavon £36.00 lower
£15,000
£225.00
£163.50
Elavon £61.50 lower
All examples assume sustained annual turnover within the intended Elavon plan range and eligible card payments. Actual Worldpay custom pricing may be lower than the published Simplicity rate.
Example: Retailer Processing £10,000 a Month Suppose a retailer processes £10,000 monthly through eligible personal cards.
Worldpay Simplicity
Processing: £10,000 × 1.50% = £150.
Promotional terminal rental: £0.
Illustrative monthly total: £150.
Elavon Business Booster Desk
Processing: £10,000 × 0.99% = £99.
Terminal rental: £15.
Illustrative monthly total: £114.
Difference: £36 per month, or £432 over 12 months.
However, this does not mean Elavon will always be £432 cheaper annually.
Worldpay may offer tailored processing rates, and actual merchant costs can vary by card mix, additional services and contract conditions.
Our View: Use a Break-Even Comparison, Not Just a Rate Comparison Under the assumptions above, Elavon’s processing percentage is 0.51 percentage points lower than Worldpay’s Simplicity rate, but Elavon has a £15 monthly terminal charge.
The monthly transaction-fee saving would offset that £15 difference at approximately £2,941 in eligible monthly card sales .
That is a useful mathematical benchmark, but the relevant Elavon Business Booster plans are generally intended for higher annual turnover than this.
For established merchants, the better approach is to request comparable quotes using the correct plan for their transaction volume.
Worldpay vs Elavon Card Machines Both companies offer payment terminals for fixed retail counters and businesses needing portable card payments.
Worldpay Card Machines Worldpay currently promotes two main card-machine models:
Worldpay DX4000
Countertop payment terminal.
Contactless, chip and PIN, and mobile-wallet payments.
Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Suitable for shops, reception desks and fixed checkouts.
Worldpay DX8000
Mobile and portable card terminal.
Wi-Fi and 4G connectivity.
Suitable for restaurants, mobile businesses and table payments.
Worldpay currently advertises promotional £0 monthly terminal hire on selected 18-month agreements, subject to eligibility and promotional conditions.
Elavon Card Machines Elavon’s published hardware includes:
Tetra Desk
Countertop card payments.
Suitable for shops and fixed checkout locations.
Business Booster Desk currently advertises £15 monthly terminal rental.
Tetra Move
Portable terminal for payments around a venue.
Suitable for hospitality and businesses requiring mobility.
Business Booster Move advertises £18 monthly rental.
Elavon Mobile
Compact mobile card reader.
£5 advertised one-off reader cost.
1.75% transaction fee for eligible Visa and Mastercard payments.
No monthly reader fee under the advertised arrangement.
Our View: Match the Terminal to the Business A retailer operating one fixed checkout may not need a portable terminal with mobile connectivity but a restaurant, by contrast, may benefit from portable terminals that allow customers to pay at their tables.
We would compare hardware only after establishing whether both systems can support the business’s real payment workflow.
Check terminal replacement, connectivity, battery life, EPOS compatibility and support arrangements before deciding.
Worldpay vs Elavon Contracts and Additional Fees Card-machine contracts are an important difference between the two providers’ currently advertised packages.
Worldpay Contracts Worldpay’s current small-business card-machine packages advertise an 18-month minimum agreement .
Some offers include promotional terminal-hire discounts, but businesses should confirm:
Whether the promotional rental applies throughout the agreed term.
When the promotional offer ends.
Contract renewal arrangements.
Any early termination charges.
What happens when a terminal is returned or replaced.
Elavon Contracts Elavon’s currently advertised plans specify 12-month contracts, so you should check:
Monthly terminal rental.
Processing and authorisation fees.
PCI DSS compliance requirements.
Additional gateway charges.
Early termination conditions.
Notice periods and renewal terms.
Our View: The Shorter Contract Has Commercial Value Elavon’s advertised 12-month agreement can be advantageous for businesses that expect their payment requirements to change.
For example, a growing café may open another branch, change its EPOS provider or want to renegotiate card rates after a year.
Worldpay’s 18-month term may still be attractive where the pricing is sufficiently competitive and the merchant is comfortable with the commitment.
We would compare total contract costs, exit charges and renewal arrangements rather than treating the shorter agreement as automatically better.
Worldpay vs Elavon Settlement Times Payment settlement affects how quickly customer card takings reach your business bank account.
Worldpay Settlement Worldpay advertises free next-business-day settlement for its current eligible card-machine plans.
This means funds are normally remitted to the business account on the next working day, subject to its contractual conditions.
Elavon Settlement Elavon offers next-day funding on eligible arrangements, but the availability and cost can depend on the plan and settlement service chosen.
Some services offer faster funding for an additional fee.
Our View: Weekend Trading Changes the Calculation Restaurants and retailers should ask specifically when Friday, Saturday and Sunday card takings become available.
A provider advertising next-day settlement may still operate according to business-day schedules.
For a hospitality business relying heavily on weekend trading, knowing exactly when funds arrive can be more useful than a generic next-day settlement promise.
Worldpay vs Elavon for Online Payments Both providers offer online payment services, making them relevant for businesses accepting payments through websites, payment links or over the telephone.
Worldpay Online Payments Worldpay offers ecommerce payment processing, payment links and virtual terminal functionality and their virtual terminal service allows eligible businesses to accept telephone payments using an internet-connected device without needing a separate card terminal.
Worldpay states that the virtual terminal is included with relevant ecommerce arrangements without a separate virtual-terminal monthly charge, although standard ecommerce payment charges still apply.
Elavon Online Payments Elavon offers online payment services through Elavon Payment Gateway and Opayo.
Capabilities include:
Online checkout and hosted payment pages.
Pay By Link.
Virtual Terminal.
Recurring payments.
Fraud screening and reporting.
Payment integration options.
Elavon’s Core All-in-One package includes a terminal-and-gateway offer, with a published 16p gateway-related transaction charge for the relevant service.
Our View: Omnichannel Merchants Should Compare One Combined Quote A retailer taking payments both online and in-store should not compare the card-machine rates in isolation.
We would ask Worldpay and Elavon to show a consolidated quote covering:
In-person payments.
Online card processing.
Payment gateway charges.
Payment links.
Refunds and chargebacks.
Settlement reporting.
One lower card-present rate can be outweighed by more expensive online payment services.
Worldpay vs Elavon: Which Is Better for Your Business?
Business What matters most Recommended comparison
Independent retailer
Personal-card fees, countertop terminal, reporting
Compare both using monthly turnover
Restaurant
Portable terminals, tips, EPOS and settlement
Compare both with hospitality-specific quotes
Café
Transaction count, average sale value and fixed costs
Compare both, including Elavon’s mobile plan if appropriate
Salon or clinic
Portable payments and payment links
Compare total hardware and service costs
Online retailer
Gateway charges, fraud tools and ecommerce integration
Request separate ecommerce and combined quotes
Multi-site retailer
Central reporting, device numbers and negotiated rates
Request tailored quotes from both
High-turnover merchant
Card mix, effective rate and negotiated fees
Obtain custom pricing from both
For Small Retailers Elavon’s published 0.99% Business Booster rate may be attractive for qualifying retailers with regular personal-card transactions.
Worldpay’s Simplicity pricing may appeal to businesses preferring one advertised rate and reduced terminal costs under its current promotion.
For Restaurants and Hospitality Both providers offer portable card terminals.
Restaurants should also compare:
Tipping and gratuity functionality.
EPOS integration.
Bill splitting.
Settlement arrangements.
Support availability during busy trading hours.
For High-Volume Merchants Businesses with substantial annual card turnover should ask about custom pricing rather than assume publicly advertised rates are the best available.
Even a small difference in the effective processing rate can generate meaningful savings at scale.
Our View: A high-volume merchant should send both providers the same transaction statement or card mix breakdown and ask for a full annual cost estimate. This is more commercially useful than relying on general rate comparisons.
Should You Compare Alternatives to Worldpay and Elavon? Yes. Comparing an additional provider gives businesses a useful benchmark when assessing merchant services quotes.
Alternative Why compare it?
Dojo
Hospitality, integrated payments and established SME card processing
Tyl by NatWest
NatWest-backed merchant services and published smaller-business pricing
Barclaycard Payments
Another established merchant acquiring option
Square
Simple payments and POS functionality
SumUp
Low-commitment card payments and mobile sellers
Clover
Integrated EPOS hardware, software and payments
Our View: For businesses processing significant monthly card sales, we would compare at least three suitable providers. Including a third quote can help establish whether Worldpay or Elavon’s offer is genuinely competitive rather than merely cheaper than the other.
Compare UK Merchant Account Providers
How to Compare Worldpay and Elavon Quotes Before requesting quotes, prepare your actual payment information.
Annual and monthly card turnover.
Average transaction value.
Approximate monthly transaction count.
Personal debit and credit card mix.
Corporate and international card share.
Number of terminals required.
In-person, online and telephone payment requirements.
Current payment provider and contract end date.
Existing EPOS and accounting systems.
Example Merchant Account Quote Request A retailer might request a quote based on:
£25,000 monthly card turnover.
£35 average customer transaction.
Two countertop terminals.
Mostly UK consumer debit and credit cards.
Some corporate and international cards.
£5,000 monthly online payments in addition to in-store turnover.
Central reporting and next-business-day settlement.
Ask both providers to show:
Cost category What to request
Card processing
Fees by card type and transaction channel
Authorisation
Any additional per-transaction charge
Terminal rental
Monthly charge per terminal
Online gateway
Monthly and per-transaction charges
PCI compliance
Included services and potential non-compliance charges
Refunds and chargebacks
Applicable processing and administration fees
Contract
Minimum term, renewal and termination costs
Settlement
Funding timetable and additional charges
Annual cost
Estimated total based on your card mix
Our View: Ask for an Effective Processing Rate The most useful figure is the estimated total cost divided by the total value of payments processed.
For example, a business paying £450 per month in processing and account fees on £30,000 card turnover has an effective all-in cost of:
£450 ÷ £30,000 × 100 = 1.50%.
That includes the agreed fees used in the calculation rather than relying on one advertised percentage.
Ask Worldpay and Elavon to calculate this figure using the same transaction data, then compare their total costs and service terms.
Our Verdict: Is Worldpay or Elavon Better? Elavon is our stronger starting point for qualifying merchants prioritising a lower published personal-card transaction rate, while Worldpay deserves particular consideration for straightforward blended pricing and established payment services.
Elavon’s current Business Booster pricing offers a competitive advertised 0.99% eligible personal-card rate, while Worldpay’s Simplicity option offers a published 1.50% rate without a separate authorisation fee on qualifying transactions.
Compare Elavon First If:
You qualify for its Business Booster pricing.
Most of your sales use UK or European personal debit or credit cards.
You want to compare a 12-month card-machine arrangement.
You need countertop or portable payment terminals.
You are comfortable comparing card-specific fees and additional services.
Compare Worldpay First If:
You prefer its advertised Simplicity pricing structure.
You qualify for the current terminal-hire promotion.
You want a combined payment and POS solution.
You need a merchant-services provider offering in-person, online and telephone payments.
You want to compare tailored processing rates for substantial turnover.
CYBC’s View: There Is No Universal Winner Our recommendation is to start with the difference between published processing rates, but decide using the final merchant agreement.
Elavon appears attractive for qualifying businesses with a high share of personal-card payments, but Worldpay may offer a better overall deal after custom pricing, promotional hardware and other charges are considered.
We would especially avoid signing an 18-month agreement solely because terminal rental is temporarily advertised at £0. The saving needs to be weighed against the processing charges and cancellation terms over the full contract.
For merchants with higher turnover, ask both providers for a full breakdown based on your actual transaction data.
Compare Worldpay, Elavon and Other Merchant Account Providers
Free quotes • No obligation • Compare merchant account fees for your business
Worldpay vs Elavon FAQs Is Worldpay or Elavon cheaper? Elavon advertises a lower eligible personal-card rate on selected Business Booster plans, while Worldpay offers Simplicity and custom pricing. The cheapest provider depends on your card mix, turnover, terminal requirements and additional fees.
What are Worldpay’s card processing fees? Worldpay currently advertises a 1.50% Simplicity rate on eligible Visa and Mastercard transactions. Tailored pricing is also available for qualifying businesses.
What are Elavon’s card processing fees? Elavon currently advertises 0.99% on eligible personal cards under selected Business Booster plans and 1.75% for its entry-level Elavon Mobile option. Other card categories and services may have different charges.
Is Elavon cheaper for businesses processing £10,000 monthly? Under an illustrative eligible personal-card comparison, Elavon’s published Business Booster Desk fees would total approximately £114 monthly, versus £150 under Worldpay Simplicity with promotional £0 terminal hire. Actual quotes may differ.
Does Worldpay charge card machine rental? Worldpay advertises card-machine hire arrangements, including promotional £0 monthly rental on selected plans. Confirm current eligibility, the minimum contract and what happens when the promotion ends.
How much does an Elavon card machine cost? Elavon advertises a £5 one-off Elavon Mobile reader, plus Business Booster countertop and portable terminal plans from £15 and £18 per month respectively.
Does Worldpay require a contract? Worldpay currently advertises an 18-month minimum term on relevant small-business card-machine packages.
Does Elavon require a contract? Elavon’s published merchant payment plans advertise 12-month contracts. Check your specific agreement for notice and termination conditions.
Which provider is better for restaurants? Both Worldpay and Elavon offer portable payment solutions. Restaurants should compare terminal functionality, tipping, EPOS integration, support and total monthly costs.
Which is better for an online business? Both offer ecommerce processing and payment gateway services. Compare online card rates, gateway fees, fraud tools, payment links and compatibility with your ecommerce platform.
Does Worldpay offer next-day settlement? Yes. Worldpay currently advertises next-business-day settlement on eligible card-machine plans, subject to its contractual conditions.
Does Elavon offer next-day funding? Elavon offers next-day funding through eligible services and arrangements. Availability and additional charges can vary.
Can I negotiate Worldpay or Elavon merchant account fees? Both providers offer tailored pricing options. Businesses with substantial transaction volumes should request quotes based on their actual card mix and processing requirements.
Should I compare providers besides Worldpay and Elavon? Yes. Dojo, Tyl by NatWest, Barclaycard and other merchant services providers can provide useful comparison quotes for established businesses.
Related Merchant Account Guides
Compare Worldpay, Elavon and Other UK Merchant Account Providers If your business regularly accepts card payments, comparing merchant services quotes can help you understand whether you are paying a competitive rate.
Compare providers based on your transaction volume, card mix, terminal requirements, settlement preferences and contract terms.
Hi, I’m Ally Cox , a senior copywriter and blogger at CompareYourBusinessCosts.co.uk, the UK’s trusted platform for comparing business services.over a decade of experience in the B2B sector, I specialise in simplifying complex topics like leased lines, VoIP, business energy, HR and payroll solutions, accounting software, and EPOS systems .HR, copywriting, and business operations- from clocking-in systems to card machines and office technology .informed, confident decisions when choosing products and services that improve efficiency and save money.
