SumUp vs Square
Considering a switch from Square to a European alternative? SumUp offers full GDPR compliance and EU-only data hosting without the legal uncertainties that come with US-based services. Here's how they compare on features, pricing, and data protection.
Quick Overview
SumUp
EU- Headquarters
- London, GB
- Pricing
- Per-transaction
- Open Source
- No
Square
USSquare is a financial services and payment platform by Block that provides point-of-sale systems, online payments, invoicing, and banking tools for businesses.
The Case for SumUp
- SumUp stores all data exclusively in EU, under European jurisdiction. Unlike Square, which is subject to the US CLOUD Act and FISA Section 702, SumUp cannot be compelled by foreign governments to hand over your data.
- SumUp offers a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) that is fully aligned with GDPR Article 28. There is no legal ambiguity about data transfers or adequacy decisions — your data processor is European, and the law that governs it is European.
Why Switch to SumUp?
Concerns with Square
- US CLOUD Act jurisdiction (owned by Block)
- Payment data stored on US infrastructure
- Transaction monitoring and merchant data on US servers
- Financial data accessible to US authorities
SumUp Compliance
GDPRDPA
- Headquarters
- London, GB
- Data Centers
- EU
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SumUp vs Square — FAQ
Is Square GDPR compliant?
Square may offer GDPR compliance features and EU data residency options, but as a US-headquartered company, it remains subject to the US CLOUD Act and FISA Section 702. These laws can compel US companies to hand over data regardless of where it is stored. The EU-US Data Privacy Framework provides some safeguards, but its predecessors (Safe Harbor and Privacy Shield) were both invalidated by the European Court of Justice. SumUp, as a European company, is not subject to these US laws at all.
How does SumUp compare to Square in features?
SumUp offers Card readers, POS system, Online payments, Payment links, and 5 more features. While Square's ecosystem may be larger due to its market position, SumUp covers the core functionality that most teams need. The trade-off is typically between breadth of integrations (Square) and data sovereignty with regulatory certainty (SumUp).
Can I migrate from Square to SumUp?
Yes. Most European software providers, including SumUp, offer migration tools or documentation to help you transition from US-based services. Under GDPR Article 20, you have the right to data portability — meaning Square must provide your data in a machine-readable format. The migration process varies in complexity depending on your data volume and integrations, but for most teams it can be completed within a few days to a few weeks.