Dojo vs Takepayments
2026 ComparisonTakepayments has been around since the early 2000s and they process a lot of UK transactions. But they were recently bought by Global Payments, and the one thing that has always concerned me is that they will not publish their rates. You have to call for a quote, which means you have no way of knowing if you are getting a fair deal.
You got a quote from Takepayments and it looked decent. But can you actually remember what rate they gave you? Is it on their website anywhere? No. Because they do not publish it. And since Global Payments bought them, other customers are reporting fee changes they did not agree to. With Dojo, the rate is on their website. Right now. No phone call, no sales pitch, no surprises.
Quick Verdict
The problem with bespoke pricing is you never know if you got the best deal until you compare. Most SMEs we see coming from Takepayments are paying 1-1.5% plus terminal rental, PCI fees, and a £20 minimum monthly charge. Dojo publishes everything upfront (1.3% + 3p, £20/mo terminal, no PCI fee). That transparency alone is worth a lot when you are trying to plan your costs.
See What You Would Save
Drag the slider to your monthly card turnover
Takepayments
£153/mo
Bespoke (0.3-2.5%)
Dojo via CapExpand
£150/mo
1.3% + 3p
Your annual saving
£36/year
That is £3 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.
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 | Takepayments |
|---|---|---|
| In-person transaction fee | 1.3% + 3p | Bespoke (typically 1-1.5% for SMEs) |
| Monthly terminal fee | £20/mo | From £12.50/mo |
| Minimum monthly charge | £24.95 | £20 |
| Contract length | 30-day rolling or 12-month | 12 months+ |
| Early exit fees | £0 | Not disclosed upfront |
| Settlement speed | Next day (inc. weekends) | Next working day |
| Pricing transparency | Published rates | Quote-only (bespoke) |
| UK support | 7-day, 8am-11pm phone | UK-based, highly rated |
| PCI compliance | Free if compliant | £4.80/mo |
| Authorisation fee | 3p per transaction | 3p per transaction |
| Exit fee buy-out | Up to £3,000 | Not offered |
| Transaction speed | 58% faster than average (2-sec auth) | Standard |
| Platform uptime | 99.99% since Feb 2022 | Not published |
| 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+ month contracts) |
| Data intelligence | 49M cardholder dataset + competitor benchmarking | Not available |
Why Businesses Choose Dojo
Dojo on Trustpilot
5,200+ reviews. 89-91% five-star. Replies to 93% of negatives within 24 hours.
One business owner told us he was sceptical about switching from his existing provider. His exact words: "I did not believe him until he did it." After seeing the actual rates and the speed of setup, he switched and has stayed for years. That is the reaction we get from most businesses who compare Dojo to their current deal.
What Takepayments customers flag most: Users on the secondary Trustpilot profile often report being pressured into contracts, with one reviewer describing being "conned into signing". Others report faulty machines with no replacement for days, being unable to get a buy-out fee despite service failures, and being told there is no cooling-off period despite requesting cancellation within 24 hours. Pricing is bespoke and never published, making it impossible to compare before a sales call.
Real Numbers: A Salon That Wanted Transparent Pricing (Real Dojo Client)
Based on a a salon that wanted transparent pricing (real dojo client) processing £10,000/month in card payments. A sceptical business owner switched to Dojo after being shown the real numbers. He said: "I did not believe him until he did it." He has not looked back..
With Takepayments
Transaction fees (est. 1.2%): £120 + Terminal: £12.50/mo + PCI/min charge: £20.50/mo.
£153/month
With Dojo via CapExpand
Transaction fees (1.3% + 3p): £130 + Terminal: £20/mo. No PCI fee. No minimum.
£150/month
£0/year saved
The Verdict
Choose Dojo If:
- You want transparent published pricing without needing to negotiate
- Short contracts with no exit penalties are important to you
- Next-day settlement including weekends matters for cash flow
- You want to avoid hidden fees like PCI charges and undisclosed exit costs
- You are switching and want exit fees covered (up to £3,000)
Choose Takepayments If:
- You process high volumes (£200k+/year) and can negotiate rates below 0.5%
- You have a good existing Takepayments relationship with favourable terms
- You have an existing long-term relationship you do not want to disrupt
- You need specialist EPOS or sector-specific solutions
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dojo cheaper than Takepayments?+
Is Takepayments owned by Global Payments?+
Does Takepayments publish its rates?+
How long is a Takepayments 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 Takepayments 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.