Merchant Machine

Cardsave Reviews: UK Fees & Pricing


By: Ian Wright | Last Updated: April 25, 2025

Cardsave no longer operates as an independent brand. Therefore this page is no longer being updated.

Worldpay Cardsave Logo

Cardsave is a UK based payment processing company which was started in 1995, with the aim of reducing bank processing charges for smaller businesses. Cardsave was bought by WorldPay in 2010 and, in 2014, it was rebranded to WorldPay.

Sections

  • Cardsave Credit Card Processing & Payment Services
  • Cardsave Pricing & Fees
  • Company Background
  • Cardsave Pros & Cons
  • Cardsave Reviews
  • How Does Cardsave Compare?

Cardsave Credit Card Processing & Payment Services

Cardsave has a range of payment solutions for accepting payments over the phone, online, via invoice or in person. The company accepts a range of payments types in over 140 currencies:

  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • American Express
  • JCB

Other Cardsave Products and Services

  • My Business Dashboard: Business performance insights for all sizes of business. The first three months are free and then £4.99 per month. Note the Lite version is free.
  • Virtual Terminal: For £9.95 per month, businesses can accept payments by phone.
  • Pay by Link: For £9.95 per month, businesses can accept payments via email.
  • Integrated PayPage
  • Simple PayPage
  • OneClick PayPage
  • WorldPay Benefits Club: Business and personal offers – £5.99 per month for Pay as you Go customers. Included in Fixed Monthly Plan and Standard Plan.
  • Future Pay: For recurring payments
  • eInvoicing
  • Online Shopping Cart Integration
  • Risk Manager: 10p per transaction
  • Online Payments Gateway: £19.95 per month for fixed monthly plan customers
  • POS Equipment

Cardsave Pricing & Fees

Cardsave has a range of payment plans to suit all types of businesses. Cardsave doesn’t charge a joining fee.

Face to Face

1. Pay as You Go includes:

  • Choice of desktop, portable or mobile PDQ terminal
  • Choice of bolt on options
  • PCI annual management fee
  • No fixed monthly commitment
  • Single transaction rate
  • One off, upfront terminal admin fee (£150 for standard terminal)
  • Higher fees for premium transactions
  • 18-month terminal hire agreement
  • 12-month contract

2. Fixed monthly – starts at £49.99 and includes transactions up to a set threshold and authorisation fees. It includes:

  • Fixed monthly rate
  • Transaction fees
  • Terminal rental fee
  • Choice of desktop, portable or mobile terminal
  • PCI annual management fee
  • Worldpay Benefits Club
  • 18-month terminal hire agreement
  • 12-month contract

3. Standard – Combination of regular monthly fees and transaction charges based on business volumes. Monthly terminal rental fee from £15.45 and variable transaction rates based on business volumes.

  • Minimum monthly service charge – £15 per month
  • PCI annual management fee – £29.99
  • Transaction authorisation fees apply
  • Separate Debit and Credit transaction rates
  • Premium transactions incur higher fees
  • 18 or 36-month terminal hire agreement
  • Choice of desktop, portable or mobile terminal
  • Worldpay Benefits Club
  • 12-month contract

Online

1. Pay as You Go – includes:

  • Online payments gateway
  • Choice of bolt on options
  • PCI annual management fee
  • Transaction authorisation fees apply
  • Gateway fee is 10p per transaction

2. Fixed Monthly – £49.99 includes transactions up to set threshold and authorisation fees. Also includes:

  • Fixed monthly rate
  • Online transaction fees
  • Online payments gateways
  • Virtual terminal
  • Business Manager
  • PCI annual management fee
  • WorldPay Benefits Club

3. Standard – monthly online payments gateway fee £19.95

  • 350 online gateway transactions
  • Virtual terminal
  • Pay by Link
  • Business Manager
  • Worldpay benefits club
  • Transaction authorisation fees apply
  • Separate Debit and Credit card transaction rates
  • Gateway fee, 10p per transaction after first 350
  • PCI annual management fee £29.99
  • Premium transactions incur higher fee

Source: Cardsave Pricing

To see how that compares have a look at: UK Merchant Account and Credit Card Processing Fee Comparison.

Cardsave Features

  • Fraud screening
  • Range of payment types
  • Payments can be taken in 140 currencies
  • 24/7 UK based support
  • Mobile Card machine
  • Portable Card machine
  • Countertop Card machine
  • Pay by Link
  • Recurring payments
  • Worldpay Benefits Club
  • Business manager

Company Background

Cardsave was founded in 1995. Its aim was to negotiate affordable fees with the major UK banks. Today, the company is used by over 65,000 businesses in the UK. Their main customer base is SMEs who enjoy Cardsave’s low cost mail and phone processing solutions.

Clive Kahn, former CEO of Travelex, arranged a £72 million buyout in 2007. This was also backed by Exponet. WorldPay acquired Cardsave in 2010 and the company was rebranded WorldPay in 2014, although most businesses still refer to this branch of WorldPay as Cardsave. The company is Worldpay’s independent specialist merchant services division.

Cardsave Pros & Cons

The following pros and cons are based on information available on Cardsave/Worldpay’s website and reviews from Trustpilot and Feefo.

Pros:

  • Customer service has improved
  • Pricing is good
  • Problems quickly resolved
  • Easy to use systems
  • Quick replacement of faulty hardware

Cons:

  • Complaints received about automatic contract renewal
  • Delays in receiving money
  • Setting up process slow
  • Very little help with set up

Cardsave Reviews

  • Trustpilot: 3.9 out of 10 based on 148 reviews
  • Feefo: 4.6 out of 5 based on 344 reviews
Cardsave Merchant Machine Score: 6.55 out of 10 (average of sites above)

Website: www.cardsave.net

How Does Cardsave Compare?

Cardsave only reveals a few of its charges online, so it isn’t easy to compare directly with other payment gateways and merchant accounts. Go to the company’s request a quote page for a direct quote. You can also read more on our merchant account comparison page.

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We do not provide merchant services nor can we recommend which solution is right for you and your business.
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