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After testing 18 different merchant account providers that serve customers in the UK, we ranked Worldpay second overall due to its 100-plus available integrations, easy cross-platform reporting and advanced fraud prevention tools. Its transaction rates for businesses making over £75,000 annually make it a particularly good option for high-volume merchants.

Worldpay won’t be a natural fit for every business, though. Compared with the best merchant service providers, the provider has a relatively long contract minimum of 18 months and higher fees for low-volume businesses, making it a poorer choice for small or seasonal businesses.

Below, we’ll explain how much the merchant account provider and payment processing service will cost your business, and discuss some of the platform’s hidden fees and key features. Alternatively, if you’d like a personalised recommendation, try our free quote-finding tool and get matched with quotes from the most suitable providers.

Worldpay Review: Key Takeaways

What are Worldpay’s in-person transaction fees?	From 0.75% (for high transaction volumes, UK Visa/Mastercard only)
How much does a Worldpay card machine cost?	From £17.50/month
Does Worldpay offer custom pricing?	Yes, for businesses turning over £75,000/year
What integrations does Worldpay support?	100+ platforms, including Shopify, QuickBooks, and Lightspeed
What customer support does Worldpay offer?	24/7 phone support, plus live chat and email
Does Worldpay help with PCI compliance?	Yes, Worldpay provides guidance and tools for PCI compliance and includes access to fraud prevention features, like OmniToken and FraudSight
Are Worldpay’s fees transparent?	No, Worldpay’s pricing structure is not fully transparent and many customers report encountering hidden fees. We detail exactly what you can expect in the review below

Worldpay Review: Expert's Summary

Worldpay is best viewed as a serious contender for established businesses with meaningful and predictable card turnover, rather than for micro-merchants.

Its strengths lie in tailored pricing, wide-ranging integrations and robust omnichannel capabilities that allow you to link in-store, online and phone payments.

For businesses processing substantial volumes, negotiated rates and enterprise-grade tools can more than justify the monthly fees and contract commitments.

The trade-off is complexity. You should expect a formal application process, multi-year agreements, in many cases, and additional charges for PCI compliance or account maintenance.

For a very small or early-stage business, that structure can be overkill and lead to paying for capacity you do not yet need.

I typically suggest shortlisting Worldpay once your annual card turnover is firmly into five figures and you know you require more advanced features. Below that level, modern pay-as-you-go providers are usually more cost-effective and flexible.

Faheem Naseer Small business payments and finance consultant

Find out more about our Expert authors

How Much Does Worldpay Cost?

Here’s what you can expect to pay for Worldpay’s different services (bear in mind that some of these figures are exemplary, and you’ll need to get a quote for exact prices):

Fee type	Under £75,000 card turnover	Over £75,000 card turnover
In-person transactions	From 1.5%	Custom (from 0.75% + £0.04.5)
Online and phone transactions	From 1.3% + £0.20	Custom (1%-2.9% + £0.04.5)
Online payment gateway/virtual terminal	£19.95/month	Custom
Card machine rental	From £17.50/month	From £17.50/month
EPOS system	Custom	Custom
Monthly service charge	£0/month	From £15/month
PCI compliance	From £5/month	From £5/month

What are Worldpay’s transaction fees?

Worldpay charges fixed transaction fees for businesses with under £75,000 of annual card turnover and custom transaction fees for businesses with over £75,000 a year in card turnover.

In-person transaction fees

Low-volume businesses (under £75,000 annual card turnover): 1.5% per transaction for personal UK Visa and Mastercard
High-volume businesses (over £75,000 annual card turnover): Custom fees starting at 0.75% + £0.04.5 per transaction.

With both categories, these fees only apply to personal UK Visa and Mastercard cards. Fees will be higher for cards from other issuers, like Amex and Diners Club, or for business and international cards, but Worldpay doesn’t specify how much higher.

Online and over-the-phone transactions

Worldpay charges the same fees for all remote payments, including those from online stores, over the phone and by payment links. It has two options for accepting remote payments: Simplicity Payment Gateway and Worldpay eCommerce.

Simplicity Payment Gateway

Low-volume businesses (under £75,000 annual card turnover): 1.5% per transaction for personal UK Visa and Mastercard
High-volume businesses (over £75,000 annual card turnover): Custom transaction fees

Worldpay eCommerce

Low-volume businesses (under £75,000 annual card turnover): 1.3% + £0.20 per transaction for personal UK Visa and Mastercard
High-volume businesses (over £75,000 annual card turnover): Custom transaction fees

Once again, these fees only applies to personal Visa and Mastercard. Businesses with a high transaction volume can get access to custom transaction fees.

Custom transaction fees for both Simplicity Payment Gateway and Worldpay eCommerce can range from 1% to 2.9% + £0.04.5 for UK Visa and Mastercard cards, according to Worldpay’s own quote estimate tool, which you can find here.

Overall, Worldpay’s transaction fees are lower than competitors’, even its fixed in-person fee of 1.5%, since the UK average is 1.75% (which is what competitor Zettle by PayPal charges).

The same goes for its online transaction fees, with 2%-2.5% being the standard, compared with Worldpay’s fixed 1.3% + £0.04.5 or 1.5%. SumUp, for example, has an online transaction fee of 2.5%.

That being said, transaction fees aren’t the only factor to consider when choosing a payment services provider and Worldpay’s cheap fees are offset by other charges.

How much do Worldpay’s card machines cost to rent?

Worldpay charges a monthly rental fee for its terminals, starting at £17.50 per month, for the DX4000 countertop model, £22.50 per month, for the DX8000 mobile model, and £ 22.50 per month, for the Desk 5000 countertop terminal.

However, at the time of writing, Worldpay currently lists a promotional rate of £1 per month for the DX4000 and Desk 5000 terminals, subject to contract terms.

Here are the options:

DX4000 countertop/mobile card machine

Price: From £17.50 per month (or £1 per month with Worldpay’s current offer)
Key features: Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity, Android-based touchscreen, integrated receipt printer, can operate as a fixed countertop device or portable within premises
Best for: Retail business with over-the-counter and till payments when fixed to a location with a cable, but also able to become a portable device when required on the shop floor

Worldpay's DX4000 countertop/mobile card reader is ideal for retail businesses looking for portability. Source: Worldpay

DX8000 mobile card machine

Price: £22.50 per month
Key features: Android-based smart terminal, Wi-Fi and 4G connectivity, larger touchscreen, built-in battery, integrated receipt printer
Best for: Hospitality businesses doing table or bar service, salons, cafés, market traders, and businesses operating fully on the go

Worldpay's DX800 mobile Android-based portable terminal is ideal for hospitality businesses doing table service or on-the-go vendors. Source: Worldpay

Desk 5000 countertop card machine

Price: £22.50 per month (£1 per month for the first 12 months)
Key features: 3.5-inch touchscreen and Telium TETRA platform, integrated thermal receipt printer, highly durable and secure
Best for: Retail stores and fixed-location businesses wanting a reliable, no-frills countertop terminal without needing mobility

Worldpay's Ingenico Desk 5000 card terminal is ideal for businesses that want a reliable countertop card reader. Source: Worldpay

All Worldpay-compatible card readers are tied to an 18-month contract, and the transaction fees charged will depend on your transaction volume and the type of card

When compared with competitors, Worldpay’s card machine rental fees hold a middle ground in terms of price.

Starting at £17.50 per month, it’s cheaper than takepayments, which charges from £25 per month for card machines, but more expensive than Tyl by NatWest, whose card machines start at £9.99 per month.

Worldpay’s card machine rental fees are also more expensive over time than providers like Square or SumUp, who sell their card machines outright.

How much do WorldPay’s online payment gateways and virtual terminals cost?

Worldpay bundles its online payment gateways and virtual terminals into one package. It has two options for businesses:

Worldpay eCommerce: No monthly fee, transaction rates from 1.3% + £0.20
Simplicity Payment Gateway: £19.95 per month, transaction rates from 1.5%

Worldpay also offers custom pricing for its Simplicity Payment Gateway for businesses with a high transaction volume.

Overall, we found that Worldpay’s eCommerce gateway is a better deal than its Simplicity Payment Gateway for businesses with low to medium online transaction values. On the other hand, if your business processes a high volume of online payments, Worldpay’s Simplicity Payment Gateway is likely to be a better value, despite its monthly fee.

Does Worldpay Have Any Hidden Fees?

Worldpay has a few “hidden fees” that aren’t always made obvious on its website and can raise monthly costs:

Monthly service charge: Businesses with over £75,000 in annual card turnover pay a minimum of £15 per month to maintain their account, but this charge doesn’t apply to businesses making below this threshold. While fees like this are quite common for contract-based payment providers, Tyl by NatWest doesn’t charge a monthly account fee, regardless of sales volume, and its transaction fees are quite low, at 1.39% + £0.05.
PCI compliance fee: All Worldpay customers are subject to a £5 per month fee for basic PCI compliance, but they may end up paying more for full PCI compliance assistance. Competitor takepayments also charges for this service — it’s an optional payment, and businesses can choose to complete PCI compliance themselves. However, most zero-contract providers take care of PCI compliance for you at no extra cost.
Early termination fee: Worldpay’s contract length is 18 months, one of the longest on the market, and it charges a fee for ending the contract early. How much you pay exactly will depend on your contract. Most merchant service providers will charge a fee for breaking a contract early and this is usually the equivalent of paying out the rest of your contract.

How long does a Worldpay account take to get approved?

In terms of setup, most Worldpay merchant accounts are approved within one to three working days. However, higher-risk businesses or those applying for custom pricing may experience slightly longer onboarding times.

This means many small businesses can start taking payments fairly quickly once the application is completed and documents are provided.

▶ Read more: The Cheapest Way to Take Payments

A top provider offering over 100 integrations, the most among all payment platforms

Provides advanced features and diverse services

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Worldpay’s Key Features Explained

Let’s take a look at Worldpay’s best features in more detail.

Accepted payment methods and currencies

Worldpay acts as both a payment services provider and a merchant account provider, so you get one bill for transactions and monthly fees—unlike some providers that separate these services, which can add extra admin work. This all-in-one setup helps you focus on running your business.

Worldpay supports over 120 currencies, making it ideal for businesses trading internationally. Payment options include countertop and mobile card machines, online payment gateways (eCommerce and Simplicity), a virtual terminal for phone payments, invoicing with pay links and a dedicated platform for bill payments.

Small businesses can also explore Worldpay’s range of credit card readers to support growth.

If you’re a small business looking to grow, have a look at our best credit card readers for small businesses.

EPOS Systems

Worldpay now also offers proprietary EPOS software and hardware, although its card machines can also be integrated with third-party EPOS systems.

It offers three EPOS set-ups:

Lite: A handheld EPOS device/card machine, from which Worldpay’s EPOS software can be accessed.
Standard: A countertop EPOS terminal with a standard portable card machine.
Pro: A countertop EPOS terminal with a handheld EPOS device/card machine.

Pricing for Worldpay’s EPOS solutions is quote-based.

Its EPOS software can be tailored to three types of businesses: hospitality, retail, and salons. It comes with features that suit each business type, such as table and menu management, inventory management and bookings management.

When you log into Worldpay, you'll see a summary of transaction activity associated with your account. Source: Worldpay

Integrations

When it comes to integrations, Worldpay is the best there is, offering over 100 across 26 categories.

For example, to make invoicing even easier, you can integrate your Worldpay account with accounting software, such as QuickBooks Online or Sage Accounting, or even Payments Powered by Bolt, to help you send personalised invoices quickly and easily.

Worldpay also integrates with a host of online stores, like OpenCart, WooCommerce and Shopify.

There are a range of plugins for ecommerce via Worldpay, including Shopify and WooCommerce. Source: Worldpay

Reporting

All Worldpay customers now have free access to the Worldpay Dashboard, which provides reports on card sales and can be used to manage invoices, settlements, and disputes. Before mid-2023, it was £4.99 per month to access this feature, but it’s now included as standard.

The platform gives users instant insights into its payment processes, from sales totals to transaction breakdowns, and more. It’s also highly customizable. Businesses can tailor data views, scheduling and formats to their specific needs, allowing for a more personalized dashboard and more useful insights.

The Worldpay Dashboard lets you view sales depending on payment method, cancelled and refund counts, and more. Source: Worldpay

Security features and fraud prevention

Worldpay charges all its customers £5 per month for basic PCI compliance.

It also has several additional software tools to increase security and reduce fraud:

OmniToken: For businesses doing omnichannel selling. It’s a credit card tokenization service that replaces customers’ card data with a token, reducing the risk of theft.
FraudSight: For in-store and/or online sellers. An advanced fraud prevention solution designed to predict fraudulent transactions before they occur. A basic version of the software is included with the Worldpay eCommerce online gateway.
SaferPayments: A managed cybersecurity service for all business types. Merchants are guided through steps to ensure they are PCI compliant and maintain robust cybersecurity measures.

These tools typically come at an added cost, which Worldpay doesn’t disclose.

Additionally, Worldpay will cover loss of funds arising from third-party fraud on guaranteed transactions under the Worldpay Merchant Guarantee service. It also provides credit checks to give you added peace of mind.

Worldpay's Fraud Check Detail provides information on a Fraud Check Transaction. Source: Worldpay

Customer support channels

Worldpay offers the most comprehensive customer support of any provider we tested. It offers a knowledge centre and support via phone, email, and live chat.

It’s also the only provider to offer 24/7 phone support, making it a specifically good option for businesses that operate outside of traditional working hours, such as hospitality venues, ecommerce stores and service businesses that trade in the evenings or on weekends.

A top provider offering over 100 integrations, the most among all payment platforms

Provides advanced features and diverse services

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Settlement and payout times

Worldpay generally deposits funds into your bank account fairly quickly. However, exact payout times depend on a variety of factors. For many merchants in the UK, standard card-payment settlements are deposited on the next business day (i.e. transaction day, plus one).

In some cases, funds can arrive the same day, depending on your account type and batch processing times. International payments, newer accounts and certain transaction types may take two-to-three business days to settle, while SEPA Direct Debit typically takes around four working days.

▶ Read more: Best Payment Gateway Providers

What Businesses Is Worldpay Best For?

The truth is, Worldpay’s unique feature profile, pricing scheme and specialisms make it a more obvious choice for certain businesses rather than others. We’ve outlined the types of businesses that will benefit most — and those that may be better off looking elsewhere.

Worldpay is ideal for:

Businesses after an all-in-one payment solution – With Worldpay providing both merchant account and payment processing services, alongside additional EPOS and reporting functionality, it’s ideal for businesses that want to avoid using separate platforms to handle different processes.
Businesses with high sales volumes – Worldpay’s custom pricing and affordable transaction fees (which dip as low as 0.75% for businesses with steady revenue) make it a cost-effective option for high-volume businesses.
Businesses that sell expensive goods – Worldpay’s fees are percentage-based, so higher-value transactions benefit from the platform’s competitive rates the most, as well as the provider’s useful fraud prevention tools like FraudSight and link analysis.

Worldpay is not ideal for:

Budget-conscious businesses – The cost of Worldpay’s card machine rentals, monthly service charges and PCI fees is steeper than pay-as-you-go merchant account providers, like Square.
New businesses prioritizing flexibility – Worldpay’s minimum contract length of 18 months may be a sticking point for new businesses that would prefer a less committed option. Instead, flexible, zero-contract providers like SumUp, Stripe or Square would be a better choice.
Businesses with low monthly turnovers – Smaller merchants that don’t consistently achieve high transaction volumes won’t qualify for bespoke rates, bringing up the price of Worldpay and making it less good value, overall.

Expert Opinion: Worldpay is strong for established firms, but a bad fit for startups

Worldpay is often referred to as a premium enterprise solution. However, that same strength can quickly become a drawback for small enterprises.

Long contracts, rigid pricing structures and delayed amendment processes can make it difficult for SMEs to adjust to changing trade conditions.

Worldpay’s settlement reliability is a clear cash flow advantage, but its contractual departure hurdles can lock underperforming enterprises in fixed-cost structures they cannot afford.

My advice is to treat Worldpay as a long-term infrastructure decision. It works great for stable businesses, but it can be a problem for startups.

Azimul Hoque ACCA-qualified accountant for ecommerce businesses

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How Does Worldpay Compare With Competitors?

Worldpay is a strong merchant account, with a wide range of integrations and favourable transaction rates for high-volume sellers. However, it won’t be a perfect fit for every type of business. Here’s how it compares with other leading merchant account providers.

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Contract-based	Contract-based	Contract-based	Zero-contract	Zero-contract	Zero-contract
takepayments	Worldpay	Tyl by NatWest	Clover	Barclaycard	Square
Score 4.8	Score 4.7	Score 4.5	Score 4.7	Score 4.6	Score 4.6
Monthly fee Custom (£0-£20/month)	Monthly fee Custom (£15-£40/month depending on contract)	Monthly fee None	Monthly fee From £0/month	Monthly fee None	Monthly fee None
Hardware cost From £25 + VAT/month	Hardware cost From £17.50 + VAT/month	Hardware cost From £13.99/month	Hardware cost Contact for quote	Hardware cost £29 + VAT	Hardware cost From £19 + VAT
Transaction fee Custom (0.3%-2.5% depending on card and sales volume)	Transaction fee Custom (0.75%–3% depending on card and transaction volume)	Transaction fee 1.39% + £0.05 – 1.99%+£0.05 or custom rates	Transaction fee Custom (as low as 0.2%)	Transaction fee 1.6%	Transaction fee 1.75% in-person 1.4% + £0.25 online 2.5% keyed-in and invoices
Fund transfer time Next working day	Fund transfer time 30 minutes	Fund transfer time Up to 3 working days	Fund transfer time 1-3 days	Fund transfer time Next working day	Fund transfer time Next working day
Contract length 12 months	Contract length 18 months	Contract length Zero contract and 12-month options	Contract length Zero contract and up to 4-year contract options	Contract length Zero-contract	Contract length Zero contract
See Pricing	Compare Quotes	Compare Quotes	Compare Quotes	Compare Quotes	Compare Quotes

Compared with providers like takepayments and Tyl by NatWest, Worldpay stands out for its flexibility and custom pricing for businesses making over £75,000 annually.

However, takepayments and Tyl may appeal more to medium-sized businesses looking for bundled payment solutions with integrated software, as well as businesses prioritizing a simpler setup and lower up-front costs.

For smaller vendors or businesses seeking a low-commitment, flexible plan, Clover offers straightforward monthly fees, which can be more attractive than Worldpay’s standard merchant account setup.

That said, Worldpay’s wide range of devices, advanced reporting tools and enterprise-level support definitely give it an edge for businesses that anticipate growth or need more robust payment solutions.

Our Methodology: How We Reviewed Worldpay

To bring you our reviews, we tested and researched 18 payment services providers, assessing them across five main areas of investigation and 23 subcategories. These included ease of use, the quality and feel of hardware, and the price of products and services.

Here’s what we looked at:

Hardware: We looked at the size, weight and portability of the card machines they offer, and assessed their connectivity, interface, receipt printing and battery life.
Software: We tallied up how many payment types and methods each provider accepts, looked at payout times, reporting and security features, EPOS functionality, and what systems they integrate with.
Pricing: We compared monthly fees, card machine costs, transaction fees and contract lengths against the features of each payment services provider, to determine the value for money of each.
Ease of use: We had several different average users test each card machine and payment processing system to see how intuitive each one was to use, and how quickly everyday tasks could be completed.
Help and support: We assessed providers based on how many different channels of support they offered, and how available and responsive the support team was.

We then gave each provider an overall score based on how well they fared in the above assessment categories.

Our site is reader-supported. Some featured providers are our partners, so we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through our site. This is at no extra cost to our readers, and this doesn’t affect the independence of our reviews. Whether or not we have a partnership with a company does not affect our rating and review of the service.

Verdict: Is Worldpay a Good Choice For You?

Worldpay is an overall great choice for businesses of any size looking for an all-in-one merchant services provider.

Despite not being the cheapest provider on the market, Worldpay does offer competitive fees to businesses with a high card transaction turnover and is more than capable of growing with you, since it services enterprise-level businesses and government organisations.

However, smaller businesses or those with low card turnover may find Worldpay less cost-effective, as its fees and minimum contract terms are higher than a lot of pay-as-you-go providers like takepayments and Square. Despite this, for businesses expecting growth or needing reliable, comprehensive services, Worldpay is a dependable and trusted option.

If you’re still not sure what merchant services provider is right for you, you can use our free quote tool. Simply answer a few questions, and we’ll match you with providers who’ll contact you with no-obligation quotes.

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Meet our Expert authors

Faheem Naseer

Faheem Naseer is a small business payments and finance consultant who helps UK entrepreneurs choose merchant services, POS systems, and funding tools that protect margins and cash flow. Drawing on hands-on experience comparing providers across sectors, he focuses on total cost of ownership, risk and operational simplicity, rather than headline rates alone. He specialises in translating complex fee structures and contract terms into clear, practical decisions for owners and managers.

Azimul Hoque

Azimul Hoque is an ACCA-qualified accountant and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with over eight years of experience in the financial services industry. Hoque has managed accounting and reporting for hospitality, retail and ecommerce businesses, ensuring VAT compliance, accurate bookkeeping and monthly insights that drive smarter decisions.

Worldpay Review: Is it Right for your Business?