Is the Square Reader vs Tide Card Reader Plus better for your UK small business?
We compare both machines based on real user reviews, prices and what features they each offer.
You can also find our comparison of all the best card machines here.
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Square Reader vs Tide Card Reader Plus: The Basics
| Square Reader | Tide Card Reader Plus | |
| Payment Company Name | Square | Tide |
| Machine Type | Card Machine | Mobile POS |
| Where To Buy It? | Click Here To Buy The Square Reader | Click Here To Buy The Tide Card Reader Plus |
Square Reader vs Tide Card Reader Plus: Which Is Cheaper
Below we compare the cost of buying the Square Reader compared to the Tide Card Reader Plus and how much each charge you to use them.
You can also see if either qualify as one of the 7 Cheapest Card Readers.
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| Square Reader | Tide Card Reader Plus | |
| Price For The Machine (excluding VAT) | £19 | £79 |
| Minimum Monthly Fee | None | None |
| Standard Debit Card Transaction Fee | 1.75% | 1.50% |
| Standard Credit Card Transaction Fee | 1.75% | 1.50% |
| Amex Card Fee | 1.75% | No |
| Standard Card Not Present Fee | 1.4% + 25p for UK cards 2.5% + 25p for non-UK cards | 1.50% |
| Contract Required | No | No |
| Minimum Transaction Amount | £1 | £5 |
| How Soon Can You Get Your Money | Next Buisness Day or Instant Option for 1% Fee | 1-3 business days |
Square Reader vs Tide Card Reader Plus Reviews
Does the Square Reader or the Tide Card Reader Plus have better reviews? We compare Trustpilot, iPhone and Android app reviews below.
| Square Reader | Tide Card Reader Plus | |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.3 | 4.2 |
| Number of Trustpilot Reviews | 2,290 | 18,090 |
| iPhone App Rating | 4.8 | 4.8 |
| Number of iPhone Reviews | 10,300 | 64,800 |
| Android App Rating | 4.8 | 3.9 |
| Number of Android Reviews | 213,000 | 16,200 |
Square Reader vs Tide Card Reader Plus Accepted Cards
Both the Square Reader and Tide Card Reader Plus accept standard debit and credit cards issued by Visa and Mastercard. But do they accept other card types? We compare below:
| Square Reader | Tide Card Reader Plus | |
| Accept Visa | Yes | Yes |
| Accept Mastercard | Yes | Yes |
| Accept Amex | Yes | No |
| Accept Apple Pay | Yes | Yes |
| Accept Google Pay | Yes | Yes |
| Accept Union Pay | No | No |
| Accept JCB | No | No |
| Accept Discover | No | No |
Square Reader vs Tide Card Reader Plus Features
Square Reader | Tide Card Reader Plus | |
| Mobile Phone Required | No | No |
| Built-In Printer | No | Yes |
| Touch Screen | No | Yes |
| Take Phone Payments | Yes | Yes |
| Take Online Payments | Yes | Yes |
| Business Bank Account Included | No | Yes |
Square Reader Features
- Chip and PIN and contactless card reader
- 24/7 fraud prevention and payment dispute management at no extra cost
- Get money in your bank account as soon as the next working day, or instantly for a fee
- Packs a powerful battery in a pocket-sized POS
- Square Reader stays connected to your device
Tide Card Reader Plus Features
- Robust and reliable, for taking frequent payments
- Lifetime FREE 4G conneInitiate payments from the device or the Tide appctivity
- Paper and email receipts
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