A Zettle alternative for when you need more than payments.
Zettle by PayPal, now becoming PayPal Point of Sale, is a low-cost way to take card payments with no monthly fee. POS2026 is a different kind of tool: a back office for the shop, covering stock, suppliers, customer credit, expenses and profit, that works alongside whichever card provider you choose.
Taking the payment is the start of the paperwork, not the end.
In short
POS2026 is a Zettle alternative for shops that have outgrown a card reader and a free app. Zettle, now becoming PayPal Point of Sale, has no monthly fee and charges 1.75% per card sale in the UK, which suits taking payments simply. POS2026 is a subscription back office, with stock, suppliers, customer credit and profit, used alongside any card provider, including PayPal.
This page is written by POS2026. Zettle and POS2026 overlap less than you might think: Zettle is built around taking payments, and POS2026 is built around running the shop. For some businesses the answer is one or the other, and for others it is both. We have tried to be clear about which is which.
Zettle details were checked on 5 November 2026 on Zettle's UK pricing page and its help article on the move to PayPal Point of Sale. Zettle, formerly iZettle, is being renamed PayPal Point of Sale, with new terms issued on 2 April 2026 that take effect from 2 June 2026 when an account migrates. Rates and hardware prices can change, so check them with PayPal.
Side by side
POS2026 and Zettle compared.
UK prices, excluding VAT.
POS2026
Zettle / PayPal Point of Sale
Built for
Running the shop: checkout plus stock, suppliers, customer credit, expenses and profit.
Taking in-person card payments, with a free POS app and a PayPal card reader.
Monthly fee
Yes. POS2026 is a subscription, billed by Stripe after a free trial, with each plan's price shown in the app.
None. The app is free.
Card fees
None from POS2026. Your card provider charges its own fees.
1.75% per card transaction. Custom rates only at PayPal's discretion.
Invoices
Invoices from any sale, with money owed tracked on the Due List.
Zettle Invoice, charged at 2.5%.
Payment processing
Not a card processor. Choose any provider.
Payments go through PayPal.
Hardware
None sold. Open POS2026 in the browser on any computer, laptop, tablet or phone.
PayPal Reader from £29 for new users (extra readers £69), Terminal from £149, store kits from £169. Tap to Pay needs no hardware.
Contract
Cancel from your subscription settings whenever you want. The first payment on a new account carries a 30-day money-back guarantee.
No contracts or recurring fees, and no long-term commitments or hardware rentals.
Zettle information checked on 5 November 2026 from zettle.com/gb (pricing page, PayPal Point of Sale help article and updated terms). Hardware prices exclude VAT. Zettle and PayPal are trademarks of their owner. This page is not affiliated with or endorsed by PayPal.
01 · Where Zettle is strong
When Zettle may suit you better.
If you mainly need to take card payments, Zettle is hard to argue with. There is no monthly fee and no contract, the reader is inexpensive for new users, and Tap to Pay lets you accept contactless payments on a phone with no extra hardware at all. For a market stall, a pop-up or a seasonal business, paying only when you sell is a sensible model.
Being part of PayPal brings extras too, such as PayPal QR codes and invoicing. If your customers already like paying with PayPal, that is a genuine plus.
02 · Where POS2026 differs
When POS2026 is the better fit.
A card reader answers one question: did the customer pay? A growing shop needs answers to more. What is left on the shelf, what is on order, which customers owe money, and did the month make a profit? POS2026 is built to answer those, and it does not mind which card machine took the payment.
There is also the fee to think about. A flat 1.75% suits low volumes, but as card takings grow, the cost grows with them, and Zettle publishes no lower-rate plan; custom rates are at PayPal's discretion. Because POS2026 is not a processor, you can shop around for card rates separately.
Stock that keeps count
Each sale reduces stock, and low-stock alerts warn you before a line runs out, in Stock.
Supplier orders
Record what you have ordered and received, with each supplier's balance on their record.
Who owes what
Customers who pay later go on the Due List, with due dates and reminders.
Expenses and profit
Record rent, wages and other costs in Expense, then see profit after costs.
03 · Switching
Using POS2026 with, or instead of, Zettle.
Swapping Zettle for a fuller back office? Our guide to switching POS systems lists what to copy across before day one.
You do not have to give up your PayPal Reader. You can keep it as your card machine and use POS2026 as the till and back office. The two are not connected, so the card amount is entered on the reader as well as the sale being recorded in POS2026. If that double entry becomes a chore at busy times, it may be worth comparing other card providers.
To start, open the free trial, add your best-selling products with barcodes and prices, and enter your opening stock. Add your suppliers and any customers who buy on account. Run a normal trading day through POS2026 and compare the totals with your Zettle takings before you rely on it.
Questions
Common questions.
Straight answers for shop owners, based on what POS2026 actually does.
Is Zettle becoming PayPal Point of Sale?
Yes. Zettle by PayPal is being renamed PayPal Point of Sale, alongside the PayPal Reader and PayPal Terminal. New PayPal Point of Sale terms were issued on 2 April 2026 and take effect from 2 June 2026 when an account migrates.
Does Zettle charge a monthly fee?
No. In the UK the Zettle app is free and card transactions cost 1.75%. Zettle Invoice is charged at 2.5%. PayPal may offer custom rates at its discretion.
Can I use my Zettle or PayPal Reader with POS2026?
Yes, as a separate card machine. POS2026 does not link to card terminals, so you ring up the sale in POS2026, take the card on the reader and mark the sale as paid by card.
Zettle vs SumUp vs Square: which is cheapest?
It depends on your volume. Zettle has no monthly fee and charges 1.75% per card sale. SumUp charges 1.69% pay-as-you-go, or offers a monthly plan with a lower headline rate. Square charges 1.75% in person for UK cards. See our SumUp and Square comparisons.
Is POS2026 a card reader?
No. POS2026 is software that runs in a web browser. It does not sell hardware or process card payments, so you will need a card machine from a provider of your choice.
Is this comparison independent?
No. POS2026 wrote it. Every Zettle figure comes from Zettle's own UK pages, linked above, but please confirm them with PayPal.
