Dojo vs Takepayments
2026 ComparisonTakepayments has been around since the early 2000s and they process a lot of UK transactions. But they were recently bought by Global Payments, and the one thing that has always concerned me is that they will not publish their rates. You have to call for a quote, which means you have no way of knowing if you are getting a fair deal.
Takepayments uses entirely bespoke pricing, meaning rates are not published and can only be obtained through a sales call. Since Global Payments acquired Takepayments, some customers have reported fee changes. By contrast, Dojo publishes its pricing and offers bespoke rates through authorised partners like CapExpand, so you know what you are paying before you sign.
Quick Verdict
The problem with bespoke pricing is you never know if you got the best deal until you compare. Most SMEs we see coming from Takepayments are paying 1-1.5% plus terminal rental, PCI fees, and a £20 minimum monthly charge. Dojo offers bespoke rates tailored to your card volume through authorised partners like CapExpand, with terminals £10 – £15/mo and no PCI fee. That transparency alone is worth a lot when you are trying to plan 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
Takepayments
£153/mo
Bespoke (0.3-2.5%)
Dojo via CapExpand
£105/mo
Bespoke rates tailored to your volume
Your estimated saving
£576/year
That is £48 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 | Takepayments | 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 | Takepayments |
|---|---|---|
| In-person transaction fee | Bespoke (tailored to your volume) | Bespoke (typically 1-1.5% for SMEs) |
| Monthly terminal fee | £10 – £15/mo | From £12.50/mo |
| Minimum monthly charge | £24.95 | £20 |
| Contract length | 30-day rolling or 12-month | 12 months+ |
| Early exit fees | £0 | Not disclosed upfront |
| Settlement speed | Next day (inc. weekends) | Next working day |
| Pricing transparency | Published rates | Quote-only (bespoke) |
| UK support | 7-day, 8am-11pm phone | UK-based, highly rated |
| PCI compliance | Free if compliant | £4.80/mo |
| Authorisation fee | Variable per agreement | 3p per transaction |
| 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 |
| Google Reviews boost | Auto-prompt after QR payment | Not available |
| 30-day commitment-free trial | Yes | No (12+ month contracts) |
| Data intelligence | 49M cardholder dataset + competitor benchmarking | Not available |
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.
One business owner told us he was sceptical about switching from his existing provider. His exact words: "I did not believe him until he did it." After seeing the actual rates and the speed of setup, he switched and has stayed with Dojo since.
What Takepayments customers flag most: Users on the secondary Trustpilot profile often report being pressured into contracts, with one reviewer describing being "conned into signing". Others report faulty machines with no replacement for days, being unable to get a buy-out fee despite service failures, and being told there is no cooling-off period despite requesting cancellation within 24 hours. Pricing is bespoke and never published, making it impossible to compare before a sales call.
Real Numbers: A Salon That Wanted Transparent Pricing (Real Dojo Client)
Based on a a salon that wanted transparent pricing (real dojo client) processing £10,000/month in card payments. A sceptical business owner switched to Dojo after being shown the real numbers. He said: "I did not believe him until he did it." He has not looked back..
With Takepayments
Transaction fees (est. 1.2%): £120 + Terminal: £12.50/mo + PCI/min charge: £20.50/mo.
£153/month
With Dojo via CapExpand
Transaction fees: Bespoke rates + Terminal: £10 – £15/mo. No PCI fee. No minimum.
£150/month
£0/year saved
The Verdict
Choose Dojo If:
- You want transparent published pricing without needing to negotiate
- Short contracts with no exit penalties are important to you
- Next-day settlement including weekends matters for cash flow
- You want to avoid hidden fees like PCI charges and undisclosed exit costs
- You are switching and want exit fees covered (up to £3,000)
Choose Takepayments If:
- You process high volumes (£200k+/year) and can negotiate rates below 0.5%
- You have a good existing Takepayments relationship with favourable terms
- You have an existing long-term relationship you do not want to disrupt
- You need specialist EPOS or sector-specific solutions
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dojo cheaper than Takepayments?+
Is Takepayments owned by Global Payments?+
Does Takepayments publish its rates?+
How long is a Takepayments contract?+
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 Takepayments 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.