Dojo vs Barclaycard
2026 ComparisonA lot of business owners stick with Barclaycard because they bank with Barclays and it feels safe. That makes sense. But "safe" does not always mean "good value". We have helped many businesses switch from Barclaycard to Dojo, and the majority have reduced their costs. Here is why.
Barclaycard's standard PAYG rate is 1.6% per transaction, while Dojo offers bespoke rates tailored to your card volume that are typically lower. Barclaycard also charges a £4.80/month PCI fee that Dojo does not. For a business processing £15,000/month in card sales, the difference in transaction fees alone can add up to hundreds of pounds a year. Dojo also offers 7-day UK phone support and next-day settlement including weekends.
Quick Verdict
Barclaycard is a trusted name, no question. But their standard PAYG rate is 1.6%, while Dojo offers bespoke rates tailored to your card volume that are typically lower. They charge £4.80/month for PCI compliance (Dojo does not), and their contracts run 12-18 months. On £15k/month in card sales, switching to Dojo through CapExpand could reduce your costs.
How We Compare
8 providers reviewed | Last updated April 2026
CapExpand is an authorised Dojo partner. Comparisons are based on publicly available pricing and our experience working with UK businesses. We aim to be transparent about where Dojo excels and where other providers may suit different needs.
See What You Would Save
Drag the slider to your monthly card turnover
Barclaycard
£175/mo
1.6% flat (PAYG) or bespoke
Dojo via CapExpand
£105/mo
Bespoke rates tailored to your volume
Your estimated saving
£840/year
That is £70 back in your pocket every month
Estimated cost based on bespoke rates available through CapExpand. Your actual rate depends on your card volume, card mix, and business type. Get a personalised quote to see your exact cost.
What You Are Really Paying
A headline transaction rate does not tell the full story. Here is what most providers do not show you upfront.
| Hidden cost | Barclaycard | Dojo via CapExpand |
|---|---|---|
PCI compliance | Non-compliance fee if not self-certified £20–50/month | Free PCI compliance included £0 |
Terminal rental | Varies by provider and contract £15–30/month | £10 – £15/month per terminal (or £79 to own outright) £10 – £15/month |
Settlement speed | 3–5 business days typical Lost working capital | Next day, including weekends Faster cash flow |
Fraud protection | Basic or not included Chargeback risk | Real-time detection across 49M+ cardholders Small per-tx fee |
UK phone support | Chatbot or email only (many providers) Downtime risk | 7-day UK support, 16-second avg answer time Included |
Contract buyout | Not offered You pay exit fees | Up to £3,000 covered by CapExpand £0 to switch |
Competitor costs are typical ranges based on publicly available information and industry averages. Your actual costs may vary.
Switching Takes Less Than 48 Hours
No downtime. No hassle. We handle everything.
What many businesses use today
Dojo Go with CapExpand
Get your quote
Tell us your monthly card turnover. We come back with your exclusive Dojo rate in minutes.
5 minWe handle the switch
We manage the application, chase your old provider for exit fees, and sort the paperwork.
24 hrsTerminal arrives
Your Dojo Go arrives next working day. Free delivery. Ready to go out of the box.
Next dayStart saving
Take your first payment. Money in your account tomorrow morning. 30-day no-commitment trial.
Day 1Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Dojo | Barclaycard |
|---|---|---|
| In-person transaction fee | Bespoke (tailored to your volume) | 1.6% (PAYG) or bespoke |
| Monthly fee | £10 – £15/mo | From £15/mo (Flex) |
| Contract length | 30-day rolling or 12-month | 12-18 months (Flex/Touch) |
| PAYG option | Not available | Smartpay Anywhere (£29 one-off) |
| Settlement speed | Next day (inc. weekends) | Next day (before 7-9pm) |
| Exit fees | £0 | £0 (but contract lock-in) |
| UK support | 7-day, 8am-11pm | Mon-Fri business hours |
| Hardware | Dojo Go (4G + WiFi) | Flex (Bluetooth/WiFi/4G) |
| PCI compliance | Free if compliant | £4.80/mo PCI fee |
| Bank integration | Standalone | Barclays banking integration |
| Exit fee buy-out | Up to £3,000 | Not offered |
| Transaction speed | Dojo reports 58% faster than average (2-sec auth) | Standard |
| Platform uptime | Dojo reports 99.99% since Feb 2022 | Not published |
| QR code payments | Yes (bill split + Google Reviews) | Not available |
| Restaurant bookings | Full system + 800k diner app | Not available |
| Tipping on terminal | Built-in (Dojo reports up to 2,049% increase for NQ64) | Standard |
| Tap to Pay on iPhone | Free, no extra hardware | Not available |
| EPOS integrations | 450+ partners | Limited |
| Google Reviews boost | Auto-prompt after QR payment | Not available |
| 30-day commitment-free trial | Yes | No (12-18 month contracts) |
| Data intelligence | 49M cardholder dataset + competitor benchmarking | Basic Barclaycard reports |
Dojo rates are bespoke and tailored to your card volume and business type. Every transaction includes a small secure fee that powers real-time fraud detection across 49M+ cardholders, automatically prompting for PIN on suspicious cards to reduce chargebacks.
Why Businesses Choose Dojo
Dojo on Trustpilot
5,200+ reviews. 89-91% five-star. Replies to 93% of negatives within 24 hours.
According to Dojo, a Londis franchisee switched to Dojo and reported a 20% revenue increase, plus 20 extra customers daily from faster payment speeds reducing queue times. They said: "We are guaranteed 48-hour replacement, so we will not lose a week's turnover due to a machine."
What Barclaycard customers flag most: Users often report being completely unable to get through to support, with automatic phone systems that loop endlessly. Card machine merchants specifically report failing security verification when trying to query or cancel their account, despite having all correct details. One merchant called 4 times and failed security each time. Software is widely described as outdated compared to providers like Dojo and Square.
Real Numbers: A Retail Business That Left Their Bank Provider (Real Dojo Client)
Based on a a retail business that left their bank provider (real dojo client) processing £15,000/month in card payments. A Dojo retail client reported eliminating £800/year in manual errors through integrated payments and saving hours on reconciliation..
With Barclaycard
Transaction fees (1.6%): £240 + Rental: £15/mo. PCI fee: £4.80/mo extra.
£255/month
With Dojo via CapExpand
Transaction fees: Bespoke rates + Terminal: £10 – £15/mo. PCI included free.
£215/month
£0/year saved
The Verdict
Choose Dojo If:
- You want a lower transaction rate without negotiating bespoke pricing
- Short contracts with no exit penalties matter to you
- Next-day settlement including weekends is valuable for cash flow
- You want 7-day UK phone support, not just weekday hours
- You are switching from Barclaycard and want exit fees covered (up to £3,000)
Choose Barclaycard If:
- You already bank with Barclays and want integrated banking and payments
- You want a no-contract PAYG reader (Smartpay Anywhere at £29 one-off)
- You process very high volumes (£100k+) and can negotiate bespoke rates below 1%
- You specifically need Barclays banking integration for reporting
Do you currently take card payments?
It only takes a minute. Free, no obligation quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dojo cheaper than Barclaycard?+
Does Barclaycard have exit fees?+
Does Barclaycard charge PCI fees?+
Can I keep my Barclays business account and use Dojo?+
Why apply through CapExpand?+
Get Exclusive Dojo Rates Through CapExpand
As an authorised Dojo partner, we handle everything: application, setup, terminal delivery, and ongoing support. Our clients get access to exclusive rates and a dedicated point of contact.
30-day commitment-free trial · No contract lock-in (30-day rolling or 12-month options) · Terminal delivered next working day
Not looking for a card machine?
Dojo Business Finance gives you access to funds from week one of transacting: up to twice your monthly card sales. Fee-free portion on your first advance, automatic repayment as a percentage of daily sales, and a pay-replenish-repeat model that lets you dip back in without reapplying. Apply in the app or online in minutes, funds within 48 hours.
Competitor rates sourced from the Barclaycard website and independent UK comparison sites, April 2026. Rates may vary by business type and volume. Dojo rates available exclusively through authorised partners like CapExpand. CapExpand is an authorised Dojo partner and does not sell other card machine brands. To get your personalised Dojo quote, apply through CapExpand.