Dojo vs Elavon
2026 ComparisonElavon is a proper heavyweight. Backed by US Bank, regulated by the FCA, 24/7 tech support. On paper, they tick every box. But the two things that trip up most UK businesses are settlement speed (48 hours by default, not next day) and the fact that you need to call for a quote on everything. Nothing is published.
Elavon settles in 48 hours as standard. That means the money your customers paid on Friday does not reach your account until Monday at the earliest. Dojo settles next day, including weekends. For a busy restaurant doing £5,000 on a Saturday, that is two days of cash flow you are lending to Elavon for free. Every single week.
Quick Verdict
Elavon can look competitive on paper if you process enough volume to negotiate hard. But their default settlement is 48 hours (Dojo is next day including weekends), they charge £6/month for PCI (Dojo does not), and contracts tend to run 12-36 months. For the vast majority of UK businesses, Dojo is simpler, cheaper out of the box, and gets your money to you faster.
See What You Would Save
Drag the slider to your monthly card turnover
Elavon
£190/mo
1.75% PAYG or bespoke (from 0.99%)
Dojo via CapExpand
£150/mo
1.3% + 3p
Your annual saving
£480/year
That is £40 back in your pocket every month
Illustrative only. Your exclusive rate through CapExpand may be even lower.
Switching Takes Less Than 48 Hours
No downtime. No hassle. We handle everything.
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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 | Elavon |
|---|---|---|
| In-person transaction fee | 1.3% + 3p | 1.75% PAYG or from 0.99% (bespoke) |
| Monthly terminal fee | £20/mo | From £15/mo |
| Contract length | 30-day rolling or 12-month | 12-36 months typical |
| Settlement speed | Next day (inc. weekends) | 48 hours standard |
| Exit fees | £0 | Contract balance |
| UK support | 7-day, 8am-11pm phone | 24/7 technical support |
| Pricing transparency | Published rates | Bespoke (quote required) |
| Hardware range | Dojo Go portable | MobileMerchant, Tetra Desk, Poynt P61 |
| International processing | UK-focused | 30+ countries |
| PCI compliance fee | Free if compliant | £6/mo |
| Exit fee buy-out | Up to £3,000 | Not offered |
| Transaction speed | 58% faster than average (2-sec auth) | Standard |
| QR code payments | Yes (bill split + Google Reviews) | Not available |
| Restaurant bookings | Full system + 800k diner app | Not available |
| Tipping on terminal | Built-in (businesses report 2,049% increase) | Standard |
| Google Reviews boost | Auto-prompt after QR payment | Not available |
| 30-day commitment-free trial | Yes | No (12-36 month contracts) |
| Data intelligence | 49M cardholder dataset + competitor benchmarking | Elavon portal |
| EPOS integrations | 450+ partners | Various |
Why Businesses Choose Dojo
Dojo on Trustpilot
5,200+ reviews. 89-91% five-star. Replies to 93% of negatives within 24 hours.
Didcot Railway Centre switched from three separate payment providers to just Dojo. They have had zero outages since. Safari Play, a children's venue, said: "When there is a problem, you really see how good a company is. I chatted to a human who understood my issue and resolved it quickly." That is what UK-based support actually looks like.
What Elavon customers flag most: Users often report an automatic phone system that takes you in an "infinite loop" making it nearly impossible to speak to someone or cancel. Others describe accounts being closed for no reason, penalties withdrawn from bank accounts without notification, and direct debit setup failures that drag on for months. Hidden fees include: setup £25, PCI £30/year, minimum monthly £25, statement fee £4.95/month, and chargeback fees of £15-30.
Real Numbers: A Heritage Attraction That Consolidated Providers (Real Dojo Client)
Based on a a heritage attraction that consolidated providers (real dojo client) processing £35,000/month in card payments. Dojo client Didcot Railway Centre switched from 3 providers to Dojo. Zero outages since switching. Saved money by consolidating to a single provider..
With Elavon
Transaction fees (est. 1.5%): £525 + Terminal: £15/mo. 48-hour settlement.
£540/month
With Dojo via CapExpand
Transaction fees (1.3% + 3p): £455 + Terminal: £20/mo. Next-day settlement inc. weekends.
£475/month
£0/year saved
The Verdict
Choose Dojo If:
- You want published transparent pricing without negotiation
- Next-day settlement (including weekends) is important for cash flow
- You prefer short contracts with no exit penalties
- You are a UK-focused business without international processing needs
- You are switching and want exit fees covered (up to £3,000)
Choose Elavon If:
- You operate internationally and need multi-country processing
- You process very high volumes and can negotiate rates below 1%
- You specifically need 24/7 overnight technical support
- You need specialist hardware like the Poynt P61 smart terminal
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dojo cheaper than Elavon?+
How fast does Elavon settle payments?+
Who owns Elavon?+
Can I switch from Elavon to Dojo mid-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
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Get a funding quoteCompetitor rates sourced from the Elavon 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.