The Rate Dropper launches today, 1 October 2026. It is a free service for UK businesses that want to know whether they are paying too much to take card payments.
What the service does
Card machine statements are hard to compare. Charges are split across transaction rates, authorisation fees, terminal rental, PCI fees and other lines, and the headline rate on a quote may not tell you what you will actually pay.
The Rate Dropper works from your real figures:
- You upload a recent card statement.
- A UK advisor reads it. The advisor goes through the charges on your statement and works out your effective rate: your total card charges as a percentage of your card turnover.
- You see a comparison. The advisor shows what the same card volume would cost with Worldpay, Dojo, SumUp, Zettle, takepayments, Barclaycard, Elavon and Square.
You can then decide whether to stay where you are or switch.
Who it is for
The service is aimed at UK small businesses that take card payments, such as cafés, shops, trades and salons. You do not need to know your pricing model or understand every line of your statement; that is the advisor's job.
How it is paid for
The Rate Dropper is free for businesses. If you choose to switch to one of the providers in the comparison, The Rate Dropper is paid a commission by that provider. If you do not switch, you pay nothing.
Guides to help you
Alongside the comparison service, we are publishing practical guides on card payment costs, written in plain English:
- How to read your card machine statement
- Leaving a card machine contract: what to check
- Countertop, portable or mobile card machine?
- Interchange++ vs blended pricing for UK businesses
- PCI compliance fees explained
Get started
To get a free comparison, upload a recent card statement.
