SumUp Solo Lite vs Terminal vs Register: which to choose (2026)

Choosing between SumUp Solo Lite, Terminal and Register comes down to what your business actually needs, not which one is "best". In short: Solo Lite if you just want to take cards with your phone, Terminal if you need a standalone device with paper receipts, and Register if you run a fixed counter and want a complete POS system. All three cost 1.49% per payment, with no monthly fee and no contract.

Here we compare the three side by side: price level, whether they work without a phone, whether they print receipts and which businesses they suit. We also look at when a bank terminal might be the better choice.

The three products at a glance

Solo Lite is the entry model and the cheapest. The small card reader connects to your phone or tablet over Bluetooth, and payments are run from the free SumUp Business app. It has no printer or connection of its own — your phone does that job, which is why it is the cheapest. It takes all common cards, contactless, Apple Pay and Google Pay, and receipts are sent by SMS or email. Read more in our guide to what SumUp Solo Lite is.

Terminal is a standalone all-in-one device. You get a touchscreen, a built-in 58 mm receipt printer and its own 4G SIM with WiFi backup in one handheld unit, so you need neither a phone nor fixed internet. On the device you enter orders, build a product catalogue with the camera, track stock, give staff their own profiles and handle tips and refunds. Read more in our guide to what SumUp Terminal is.

Register is the top model and the only true POS system of the three. It has two screens: 13.3 inches for you as the seller and an 8-inch customer screen that doubles as the card terminal. The POS software is included with no licence fee, and the system handles cards and cash, stock, staff and real-time reports. You can add the SumUp Local loyalty programme and SumUp Bookings for appointments. Read more in our guide to SumUp Register.

Comparison table

The fee is the same across the range. What separates them is whether you need a printer, your own connection and full POS features.

Who is each model for?

• Solo Lite: the hairdresser at the chair, the tradesperson at the customer’s home, the market stall, the food truck and the pop-up — anyone selling on the move who wants the lowest cost.
• Terminal: the café taking payment at the table, the bakery with a rush-hour queue and the stand at a trade fair or Christmas market — anyone who must hand over a paper receipt on the spot or sells without fixed internet.
• Register: the shop, restaurant, salon or clinic with a fixed counter that wants stock, staff, reports, bookings and loyalty in one system — and a dedicated screen for the customer at checkout.

How to choose

• Always have your phone and don’t need paper receipts? Choose Solo Lite.
• Need to give paper receipts, or selling where there is no internet? Choose Terminal.
• Running a fixed counter and replacing an old till? Choose Register.
• Selling a lot to Norwegian consumers paying by debit card? Work out the total cost — BankAxept may matter (see below).
• Check the current price before buying. Hardware prices vary with promotions, while the fee is the same for all three.

SumUp or a bank terminal from Nets or Verifone?

SumUp is strongest for small, mobile, seasonal and new businesses: a flat rate, no monthly fee and no contract. The main limitation in Norway is that Norwegian debit cards are processed as Visa or Mastercard, not over BankAxept.

Zettle by PayPal is another option in the same category. Vipps is not a card terminal but a payment method many Norwegian customers use alongside cards — SumUp takes the cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay customers use at the till.

What does it cost?

• Hardware: a one-off price that varies by model and promotion — Solo Lite cheapest, Register most expensive.
• Transaction fee: 1.49% per payment for all three.
• No monthly fee and no contract.
• Betalinger Plus (NOK 349/month) lowers the rate to 0.79% — it only pays off at around NOK 50,000 in monthly card sales.
• Payouts to your SumUp business account the next business day.

All three are sold at retailers such as Elkjøp. See our guide to where to buy SumUp in Norway for prices and setup.