Dojo vs Zettle
2026 ComparisonZettle is everywhere. It is cheap to get started and simple to set up, which is why a lot of people try it first. But if your business is growing past a few thousand a month in card sales, that 1.75% starts to sting. Here is the honest maths on why Dojo is the smarter move for any serious business.
The Zettle Reader 2 connects via Bluetooth to your phone, which can be unreliable in busy environments. Bluetooth drops and pairing failures are common complaints in Zettle reviews. Dojo provides a standalone terminal with built-in 4G and WiFi, a receipt printer, and on-screen tipping. According to Dojo, transactions authorise in around 2 seconds. The terminal works independently of your phone.
Quick Verdict
At 1.75% per transaction, Zettle costs add up as volume grows. Once you pass about £4,500/month in card sales, Dojo is typically the cheaper option each month. At £10k/month, the difference could be roughly £35 per month, and you get a standalone 4G terminal with a receipt printer instead of a phone-dependent reader. For growing businesses, Dojo is generally the more cost-effective option.
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
Zettle
£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 | Zettle | 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
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 | Zettle |
|---|---|---|
| In-person transaction fee | Bespoke (tailored to your volume) | 1.75% |
| Monthly fee | £10 – £15/mo | £0 |
| Hardware cost | Included (Dojo Go) | £29 (Zettle Reader 2) |
| Contract | 30-day rolling or 12-month | No contract |
| Settlement speed | Next day (inc. weekends) | 1-2 working days (instant to PayPal) |
| Connectivity | Built-in 4G + WiFi | Bluetooth via phone |
| Receipt printer | Built into terminal | Not available |
| UK phone support | 7-day, 8am-11pm | Mon-Fri 8:30am-5:30pm |
| Business intelligence | Dojo app + dashboard | PayPal business reports |
| PayPal integration | Not available | Native (instant to PayPal) |
| 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 | Outages reported on weekends |
| 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) | Not available |
| Tap to Pay on iPhone | Free, no extra hardware | Available (via PayPal) |
| EPOS integrations | 450+ partners | PayPal ecosystem |
| 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 PayPal 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, Neev + May, a 3-location business, reported a 25% revenue increase after switching. Faster payments meant shorter queues and more customers served. The owner said: "Dojo makes us feel like a big business."
What Zettle customers flag most: Users often report funds being frozen for months with no explanation, including one business whose account was permanently closed and funds held for 180 days. Bluetooth connectivity failures and terminal errors are common. Weekend support does not exist, which reviewers call "disgraceful" for a payment provider. Since PayPal took over, customer service quality has declined dramatically according to long-term users.
Real Numbers: A Cafe That Switched from a Phone-Dependent Reader (Real Dojo Client)
Based on a a cafe that switched from a phone-dependent reader (real dojo client) processing £12,000/month in card payments. Dojo client Neev + May reported £1,000/month (25%) revenue increase after switching, due to faster service cutting queue times..
With Zettle
Transaction fees (1.75%): £210 + Monthly: £0. Bluetooth dependent, no printer, no tipping.
£210/month
With Dojo via CapExpand
Transaction fees: Bespoke rates + Terminal: £10 – £15/mo. Standalone 4G, printer, tipping built in.
£176/month
£0/year saved
The Verdict
Choose Dojo If:
- You process £4,500+ per month in card payments
- You need a standalone terminal that works without a phone
- Next-day settlement (including weekends) is valuable to you
- You want built-in receipt printing and on-device tipping
- You value 7-day UK phone support
Choose Zettle If:
- You process under £4,000 per month
- You want absolutely zero monthly fees and no contract
- You already use PayPal and want instant settlement to your PayPal balance
- You only need a simple card reader for occasional use
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dojo cheaper than Zettle?+
Is Zettle the same as iZettle?+
Can I switch from Zettle to Dojo?+
Does the Zettle reader work without a phone?+
Why apply for Dojo 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 Zettle 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.