Dojo vs Takepayments 2026: Card Machines, Fees & Costs Compared Quick Answer
Dojo and takepayments are both established UK card-machine providers, but their current propositions are quite different.
Dojo currently publishes a 1.2% blended transaction rate for businesses taking less than £100,000 per year in card payments and businesses above £100,000 can receive custom pricing.
Takepayments does not publish one standard transaction percentage. Instead, it creates personalised pricing based on your business, card turnover and payment setup and both can provide card machines and next-working-day settlement, but we’d pay particular attention to Dojo if EPOS integration, payment technology, flexible higher-turnover pricing and transparent sub-£100k pricing matter.
Takepayments if you are an independent SME that values personalised pricing, a straightforward 12-month card-machine contract and hands-on support.
The cheaper option cannot be determined from headline rates alone.
For a meaningful comparison, get both providers to quote against the same turnover + transaction volume + card mix + number of terminals.
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Key Takeaways
Dojo currently publishes a 1.2% blended transaction rate for businesses below £100,000 annual card turnover.
Dojo offers custom pricing above £100,000 annual card turnover.
Takepayments creates personalised pricing according to factors including turnover, business type and card machine.
Takepayments promotes a 12-month card-machine contract.
Dojo currently offers qualifying higher-turnover merchants a choice between a 12-month fixed plan and 30-day rolling pricing.
Both providers offer next-working-day settlement, subject to their respective terms.
Takepayments offers card machines including the A920Pro and takepaymentsplus.
Dojo has a particularly strong emphasis on EPOS-integrated payments.
Takepayments specialises heavily in independent SMEs.
We wouldn’t choose between them using the advertised transaction percentage alone. Compare your total annual payment cost.
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How do we work?
Our comparisons are researched and reviewed by the Compare Your Business Costs editorial team using provider information, official UK guidance and business buying criteria. See how Compare Your Business Costs works .
Authored by: Ally Cox (Business Technology & B2B Services Specialist, 10+ Years’ Experience)
Last Updated: October 2026
Contents
Dojo vs Takepayments: What’s the Difference? The biggest difference isn’t simply the card machine.
It’s how the two providers position their payment service.
Dojo Dojo’s proposition is increasingly built around:
Modern payment technology
Fast card payments
EPOS integration
Payment resilience
Business insights
Flexible packages at higher turnover
and they also now publish a headline blended transaction rate for businesses below £100,000 annual card turnover.
Takepayments Takepayments focuses strongly on:
Independent UK SMEs
Personalised pricing
Card machines
Online payments
POS
Personal support
Its pricing is tailored rather than based around one publicly advertised transaction percentage.
Our take
The decision isn’t really “Which card machine looks better?”
It is closer to Do you want Dojo’s technology/integration-led payments proposition or takepayments’ SME-focused personalised merchant service?
Then you need the numbers to determine whether that operational preference also makes financial sense.
Dojo vs Takepayments Fees Dojo Fees Dojo currently divides pricing according to annual card turnover.
Below £100,000 annual card turnover
Dojo currently advertises 1.2% blended transaction pricing.
This is designed to provide a relatively simple, predictable transaction rate.
Above £100,000 annual card turnover
Dojo offers custom pricing.
Businesses can discuss pricing based on their individual payment profile.
Above £5 million annual card turnover
Dojo offers more bespoke pricing options including lower blended rates, card-mix pricing and flexible hardware arrangements.
Takepayments Fees Takepayments does not publish one universal card-processing percentage so instead, pricing is personalised according to factors such as:
Business type
Card turnover
Payment requirements
Card machine selected
A takepayments pricing package can include:
Transaction fees
Authorisation fees
Card-machine rental
Businesses can also have a separate agreement with an acquiring bank, under which transaction and other charges can apply.
Our take
This makes a direct online price comparison difficult – Dojo gives a smaller merchant a useful starting figure 1.2%.
Takepayments requires a personalised quote.
But that doesn’t mean Dojo will automatically be cheaper and a personalised takepayments quote could potentially produce a lower overall cost depending on turnover + card mix + transaction volume + fixed charges.
The only reliable comparison is total annual cost.
Dojo vs Takepayments Contracts Takepayments Contract Takepayments currently promotes a 12-month card-machine contract which is relatively straightforward compared with some longer merchant-service arrangements.
However, businesses should still check:
Notice periods
Acquirer terms
Any separate agreements
Terminal conditions
What happens after the initial term
before signing.
Dojo Contract Dojo’s current pricing page gives businesses above £100,000 annual card turnover
the option to lock in a rate through a 12-month fixed plan
or choose 30-day rolling.
Terms depend on the package and customer circumstances.
Our take
This could make Dojo particularly interesting to an established merchant that values flexibility.
But don’t choose based solely on contract length.
A flexible contract isn’t useful if the service costs materially more.
Likewise, a 12-month contract isn’t necessarily a problem if the commercial terms are significantly better.
Dojo vs Takepayments Card Machines Dojo Card Machines Dojo’s payment hardware is designed around modern portable payments and connectivity and their proposition particularly emphasises:
Fast payments
Connectivity
EPOS integration
Payment resilience
Portable use
Dojo also advertises99.99% uptime.
Takepayments Card Machines Takepayments offers several terminal options.
These currently include A920Pro – a
4G connectivity
Portable use
Long battery life
Takepaymentsplus
A smart terminal combining payments with additional functionality including:
Card payments
Cash transaction recording
Real-time reporting
Takepayments also provides other terminal options depending on business requirements.
Our take
For a business that literally needs “a reliable machine to take card payments” takepayments has a perfectly credible proposition.
Dojo becomes more differentiated when the card machine needs to interact closely with the rest of your payment and EPOS environment.
Dojo vs Takepayments Settlement Times Both providers promote next-working-day settlement subject to their respective conditions.
Takepayments says eligible card-machine customers can receive funds the next working day where the relevant banking-window requirements and acquirer terms are met.
Dojo also promotes next-business-day settlement.
Our take
For many businesses this makes settlement less of a differentiator than it first appears.
Instead, ask both providers:
What time is the settlement cut-off?
When exactly will yesterday’s money reach our account?
What happens at weekends?
What happens on bank holidays?
Do online payments settle differently?
Compare the answer for your actual payment setup.
Dojo vs Takepayments EPOS Integration This is an area where we think Dojo deserves particular attention and Dojo says its integrated payments can connect with more than 450 EPOS providers.
Integrated payments can allow transaction information to move between the EPOS and payment terminal automatically and potential advantages include:
Less manual keying
Fewer amount-entry errors
Faster checkout
Easier reconciliation
Better pay-at-table workflows
Dojo can also allow the payment terminal to switch from integrated to standalone operation if required.
Takepayments also offers POS systems and payment solutions and its takepaymentsplus terminal adds additional business-management functionality.
Our take
If you already have an EPOS system don’t ask whether a card provider “supports EPOS”.
Ask “Does it integrate with our exact EPOS platform and what does that integration actually do?”
For a busy restaurant, saving staff from manually typing every bill total into a payment terminal could be considerably more valuable than saving a few pounds on terminal rental.
Dojo vs Takepayments Customer Support Takepayments places considerable emphasis on:
Its Welcome Team
Support seven days a week
Local payment consultants
Personalised setup
Dojo similarly emphasises:
UK-based support
Fast access to support
Self-service support
Account and device management
Our take
Support matters more in payments than it does with many other business products.
If your card machine stops working at 8pm on a Saturday you’re potentially losing revenue immediately.
For hospitality and retail businesses, we’d ask both providers “If our terminal stops processing payments on Saturday evening, exactly how do we get help?”
The answer is more useful than a generic “excellent customer service” claim.
Dojo vs Takepayments for Restaurants & Hospitality Both providers can work for hospitality, but we’d pay particularly close attention to Dojo where you need:
EPOS integration
Pay at table
Fast service
Portable terminals
Payment resilience
Automated reconciliation
Dojo’s payment technology and EPOS integration make it especially relevant to:
Restaurants
Pubs
Bars
Cafes
Multi-site hospitality
Takepayments remains worth comparing for independent hospitality businesses wanting:
Portable card machines
Personalised pricing
Next-day settlement
A relatively straightforward merchant service
Our take
For hospitality, we wouldn’t demo these machines by simply taking a £10 test payment.
Ask the provider to demonstrate a busy Friday-night workflow.
Can staff retrieve a bill?
Split it?
Add a tip?
Take payment at the table?
What happens if Wi-Fi fails?
How does it reconcile at the end of the night?
That’s the test that matters.
Dojo vs Takepayments for Retail Retailers should compare:
Transaction cost
Payment speed
EPOS integration
Terminal reliability
Refunds
Reporting
Settlement
Support
Dojo may particularly appeal
Takepayments may particularly appeal
For higher-turnover retailers get both providers to quote.
Small differences in transaction economics become increasingly important as turnover grows.
Dojo vs Takepayments for Small Businesses Takepayments explicitly focuses on small and independent businesses.
That can make its personalised approach attractive to:
Independent shops
Salons
Cafes
Tradespeople
Service businesses
Dojo’s introduction of published 1.2% blended pricing below £100,000 annual turnover also makes it much easier for smaller businesses to evaluate than when pricing was entirely quote-led.
Our take
For a small business, we’d ask how complicated does our payment setup actually need to be?
If you need one terminal + straightforward payments + personal support takepayments deserves comparison.
If you value payment technology + EPOS integration + broader operational functionality
Dojo becomes increasingly compelling.
But get both quotes.
Dojo vs Takepayments for Higher-Turnover Businesses This is where the comparison changes.
Above £100,000 annual card turnover
Dojo moves from its published 1.2% blended rate into:
custom pricing.
Takepayments already uses personalised pricing.
So at higher turnover both become quote-led which is useful because you can negotiate using:
Annual card turnover
Number of transactions
Average transaction value
Card mix
Number of terminals
Locations
Current merchant statements
Our take
Once your card turnover is substantial don’t compare websites.
Compare actual written quotes based on the same merchant data.
A difference of just 0.2 percentage points on £500,000 annual card turnover represents £1,000 per year.
Dojo or Takepayments: Which Should You Choose? Consider Dojo particularly closely if you want:
A published blended rate below £100,000 annual card turnover
Strong EPOS integration
Modern payment technology
Integrated hospitality workflows
Flexible pricing options at higher turnover
Advanced payment and business functionality
Consider takepayments particularly closely if you want:
Personalised SME pricing
A 12-month card-machine contract
Hands-on onboarding
Local payment consultants
Portable card machines
A provider strongly focused on independent businesses
But these are reasons to shortlist each provider, not reasons to sign a contract.
The final decision should be based on your personalised quote.
How to Compare Dojo and Takepayments Quotes Properly Give both providers exactly the same information:
Annual card turnover
Monthly card turnover
Number of transactions
Average transaction value
Consumer debit-card percentage
Consumer credit-card percentage
Commercial-card percentage
International-card percentage
Number of terminals
Number of locations
Current EPOS
Current provider
Then ask each provider for estimated total annual cost.
Check:
Transaction percentage
Authorisation fees
Terminal rental
Monthly charges
PCI fees
Minimum service charges
Refund fees
Chargeback fees
International-card charges
Commercial-card charges
Contract length
Notice requirements
Only then are you comparing like with like.
Our View: Dojo vs Takepayments We think this comparison has become much more interesting.
Historically, comparing quote-led merchant-service providers could be frustrating because neither price was visible until you spoke to sales.
Dojo’s current published 1.2% blended rate below £100,000 annual card turnover gives smaller businesses a useful benchmark.
Takepayments takes the opposite approach tell us about your business and we’ll price around it.
Neither approach is inherently better.
The transparent rate is useful because you immediately know the starting economics.
Personalised pricing is useful because your business may not look like the average merchant.
The operational difference may be more important.
We think Dojo has a particularly compelling proposition where payments are an important part of the customer experience, so think:
Busy restaurants
Pubs
Bars
High-volume retail
EPOS-heavy businesses
Its integration story is meaningful because payment errors and slow reconciliation have real operational costs.
Takepayments has a different appeal – for an independent business that wants a card machine + personalised quote + human support + relatively simple 12-month arrangement i t deserves serious comparison.
But the decision shouldn’t be “Dojo charges 1.2%, therefore Dojo is cheaper.”, a nd it shouldn’t be “Takepayments gives personalised pricing, therefore they’ll negotiate lower.”
Neither conclusion follows automatically.
Our preferred test is simple – Give both providers your last three months of merchant data.
Ask each to calculate what those exact transactions would have cost.
Then compare annual cost + contract + settlement + support + integration.
That’s a much better Dojo vs takepayments comparison than headline percentage vs headline percentage.
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Dojo vs Takepayments FAQs Is Dojo cheaper than takepayments?
Not necessarily. Dojo currently publishes a 1.2% blended transaction rate for businesses below £100,000 annual card turnover, while takepayments provides personalised pricing. You need a takepayments quote before making a meaningful cost comparison.
How much does Dojo charge?
Dojo currently advertises a 1.2% blended transaction rate for businesses below £100,000 annual card turnover. Businesses above £100,000 can receive custom pricing.
How much does takepayments charge?
Takepayments uses personalised pricing based on factors including your business, card turnover and terminal requirements. Transaction, authorisation, terminal and other merchant-service charges can therefore vary.
Does takepayments have a contract?
Takepayments currently promotes a 12-month contract for its card-machine service. Check the complete terms, including any separate acquiring agreement, before signing.
Does Dojo have a contract?
Dojo offers different arrangements according to the package and business. Its current pricing for businesses above £100,000 annual turnover includes the option of a 12-month fixed plan or 30-day rolling pricing.
Which is better for restaurants, Dojo or takepayments?
Both can serve restaurants. Dojo is particularly worth investigating where EPOS integration, pay-at-table workflows and payment technology are important. Takepayments is also relevant to independent restaurants wanting portable terminals, personalised pricing and support.
Which is better for small businesses?
Both target SMEs. Takepayments has a strong independent-business focus and personalised pricing, while Dojo now gives businesses below £100,000 annual card turnover a clear published blended transaction rate.
Does Dojo integrate with EPOS?
Yes. Dojo says its integrated-payment service works with more than 450 EPOS providers.
Does takepayments offer POS?
Yes. Takepayments offers POS solutions alongside card machines and online payments.
Does Dojo offer next-day settlement?
Dojo promotes next-business-day settlement. Check the exact settlement terms for your package.
Does takepayments offer next-day settlement?
Yes, eligible takepayments card-machine customers can receive next-working-day settlement subject to acquiring approval, banking-window requirements and applicable terms.
Can Dojo buy me out of my existing card-machine contract?
Dojo currently advertises contract buyout of up to £3,000, subject to its terms and eligibility.
What card machines does takepayments offer?
Its current range includes terminals such as the A920Pro and takepaymentsplus, alongside other payment solutions.
Which provider has better transaction rates?
You cannot determine this universally. Dojo publishes a 1.2% blended rate for sub-£100,000 annual card turnover, whereas takepayments pricing is personalised. Higher-turnover Dojo pricing is also custom.
What information should I give Dojo and takepayments when asking for quotes?
Provide the same annual turnover, transaction count, average transaction value, card mix, number of terminals, locations and existing payment setup to both providers.
Should I choose the provider with the lowest transaction rate?
Not automatically. Include fixed fees, terminal costs, authorisation charges, card-specific fees, contract terms, settlement, support and EPOS requirements when calculating total value.
Compare Dojo & Takepayments Quotes Before deciding, compare:
Transaction rates
Authorisation charges
Terminal rental
Monthly fees
Card mix
Settlement
EPOS integration
Hardware
Support
Contract length
Exit terms
Total annual cost
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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.
