Dojo vs Square
2026 ComparisonSquare is probably the first name most people think of when they hear "card reader". It has good marketing and strong brand recognition. But there are two things that keep coming up in reviews that I think every business owner should know about before committing.
Square is popular because it is simple: no contract, no monthly fee, just tap and go. But at 1.75% per transaction, the costs add up as your volume grows. Dojo offers bespoke rates tailored to your card volume through authorised partners like CapExpand, typically lower than 1.75%. Dojo also provides a standalone 4G terminal with built-in receipt printing, on-screen tipping, and next-day settlement including weekends.
Quick Verdict
The first issue is cost. At 1.75% per transaction, Square is one of the more expensive options once you pass about £4,500/month in card sales. Dojo offers bespoke rates tailored to your card volume through authorised partners like CapExpand, which typically work out cheaper. The second issue is account freezes. Square uses aggregated accounts, and their automated systems can freeze your money for days or weeks during "verification reviews". Multiple UK Trustpilot reviewers report having thousands held with limited explanation. Dojo uses dedicated merchant accounts, which largely avoids this problem.
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
Square
£175/mo
1.75% flat
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 | Square | 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
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What many businesses use today
Dojo Go with CapExpand
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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 | Square |
|---|---|---|
| In-person transaction fee | Bespoke (tailored to your volume) | 1.75% |
| Monthly fee | £10 – £15/mo | £0 |
| Hardware cost | Included (Dojo Go) | From £19 + VAT (Reader) |
| Contract | 30-day rolling or 12-month | No contract |
| Settlement speed | Next day (inc. weekends) | Next day (instant at 1.5% extra) |
| Account stability | Dedicated merchant account | Aggregated (risk of freezes) |
| Connectivity | Built-in 4G + WiFi | Bluetooth via phone |
| Receipt printer | Built into terminal | Not available on Reader |
| UK phone support | 7-day, 8am-11pm | Mon-Fri, phone + chat |
| Free EPOS system | Basic (Dojo app) | Full Square POS (free tier) |
| Online payments | Available | 1.4% + 25p (strong integration) |
| Trustpilot rating | 4.4/5 (5,000+ reviews) | 4.1/5 (3,500+ reviews) |
| Refund fees | 50p per refund | Fee not refunded on cancellations |
| Exit fee buy-out | Up to £3,000 | N/A (no contract) |
| 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) | Via app only |
| Tap to Pay on iPhone | Free, no extra hardware | Available |
| EPOS integrations | 450+ partners | Square ecosystem only |
| Google Reviews boost | Auto-prompt after QR payment | Not available |
| 30-day commitment-free trial | Yes | No contract needed |
| Data intelligence | 49M cardholder dataset + competitor benchmarking | Basic Square analytics |
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 store owner reported serving 150 more customers per week after switching, because the faster transaction speed meant shorter queues. A cafe owner said the QR code payments let customers pay and leave when they are ready, turning tables faster without extra staff.
What Square customers flag most: Users often report accounts being frozen and funds held for weeks during "verification reviews" with almost no explanation. One business had their account deactivated with "no reasons given" and was told "we don't have to give you a reason". Another paid £2,000 for a POS only to have their account terminated months later, leaving them in debt for hardware they cannot use. Refunds do not return the 1.75% transaction fee. The card reader depends on your phone via Bluetooth and pairing failures are a common complaint.
Real Numbers: A Cafe That Switched from Square (Real Dojo Client)
Based on a a cafe that switched from square (real dojo client) processing £15,000/month in card payments. Based on a CapExpand client switch, March 2026. According to Dojo, Londis reported 150 more customers per week after switching..
With Square
Transaction fees (1.75%): £263 + Monthly fee: £0. No receipt printer, phone-dependent, risk of account freeze.
£263/month
With Dojo via CapExpand
Transaction fees: Bespoke rates + Terminal: £10 – £15/mo. Standalone 4G, built-in printer, next-day settlement.
£215/month
£0/year saved
The Verdict
Choose Dojo If:
- You process £4,500+ per month and want lower transaction fees
- Account stability matters (no risk of sudden fund freezes)
- You need a standalone 4G terminal with built-in receipt printer
- Next-day settlement including weekends is important for cash flow
- You want 7-day UK phone support, not just weekday hours
- You are switching from Square and want a dedicated merchant account
Choose Square If:
- You process under £3,000 per month and want zero monthly fees
- You need a full free EPOS system with inventory, staff, and online store
- You sell both online and in-person and want one integrated platform
- You are comfortable with aggregated accounts and understand the freeze risk
- You specifically need Square marketplace app integrations
Do you currently take card payments?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dojo cheaper than Square?+
Can Square freeze my account and hold my money?+
Does Square charge for refunds?+
Does the Square Reader work without a phone?+
Can I switch from Square to Dojo easily?+
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.
Square rates sourced from public fee schedule, February 2026. Trustpilot ratings and review themes sourced April 2026. Account freezing information based on published Trustpilot reviews. Dojo rates available exclusively through authorised partners like CapExpand. CapExpand is an authorised Dojo partner and does not sell other card machine brands.