Monek vs Flatpay:
where the saving is
Flatpay is built around card machines: one flat rate and a free terminal. Monek gives a growing business every channel on one account, including ecommerce for when it matters, a Virtual Terminal for phone orders and payment links by email or SMS, and a lower rate that keeps falling as you grow. Here is where the difference lies, including the point at which Flatpay is the cheaper option.
We handle PCI compliance for you, online and in-store: £2.99 a month under £200k turnover. It is included in every Monek figure on this page.
Flatpay leads with card machines. Monek is built for every channel.
Flatpay's UK pricing page is built around card machines and POS systems. Its website also has UK-labelled pages for Pay by Link (1.99% on all cards under £200k a year) and online payments, but they are not part of its UK pricing page, carry a "different market" notice, and the online product shows no clear GBP pricing, so confirm availability with Flatpay. Monek runs every channel on one account at one rate card: card machines in store, ecommerce for when it matters (with a free WooCommerce plugin and a developer API), a Virtual Terminal for phone orders, which Flatpay does not list, and Pay by Link at 20p per link on standard pricing, sent by email or SMS. A native Xero integration is included too.
A flat rate does not fall as you grow
Flatpay's published UK rate is 1.49% on all cards for businesses under £200,000 a year in card turnover, with no monthly fee and no per-transaction fee (checked October 2026). Monek's Growing Business rate is from 0.99% on debit and credit, and falls to interchange-plus from 0.49% above £200k a year. Once you are past roughly £12k a month in card sales, the gap in Monek's favour widens with every pound you take.
The saving is bigger than the device fee
Flatpay's terminal costs £0 to start, while Monek's PAX terminals are from £25 a month, plus £2.99 a month for PCI compliance under £200k turnover. That £27.99 a month matters at £10k a month in takings, but at £25k a month Monek is still around £155 a month cheaper after the device fee, and at £100k a month about £695 cheaper.
A path to interchange-plus
Above £200k a year in card turnover Monek prices on interchange-plus, passing the wholesale cost through with a visible margin. Flatpay's page offers custom pricing through its sales team at that level, but does not publish a rate.
Directly FCA-authorised, with a named UK account manager
Monek is a directly-authorised FCA-regulated payment gateway (FRN 920628), with a named UK account manager reachable by phone and email.
Monek vs Flatpay, line by line
| Feature | Monek | Flatpay |
|---|---|---|
| Headline UK rate | From 0.99% on debit and credit (IC++ from 0.49% above £200k/yr) | 1.49% flat on all cards under £200k/yr (Terminal plan); 1.69% on mPOS and POS plans |
| Per-transaction fee | 5p UK cards / 10p non-UK | None published |
| Business and international cards | 1.99% business, 2.99% international | Same flat rate, none broken out |
| Card terminal and contract | PAX terminals from £25/month on a 24-month agreement, or buy upfront from £249 on a 12-month contract | PAX A920 Pro, £0 to start on the Terminal plan. Contract length not stated |
| Monthly fees (incl. PCI compliance) | No account fee. We handle PCI compliance for you, online and in-store: £2.99 a month under £200k turnover | No monthly fee published |
| Interchange-plus (IC++) option | Yes, above £200k a year | Custom pricing through sales above £200k a year |
| Settlement | Next working day, no reserve | Daily payouts |
| Sales channels | Card machine, ecommerce, Virtual Terminal and Pay by Link on one account | Card machines and POS on its UK pricing page; Pay by Link and online pages exist but availability is unclear |
| Online payments / ecommerce | Yes, including a free WooCommerce plugin and developer API | Online page lists Shopify and WooCommerce, but carries a "different market" notice and no clear GBP pricing |
| Virtual Terminal (phone orders) | Included | Not listed |
| Pay by Link (email or SMS) | Included · 20p per link on standard pricing | Page shows 1.99% on all cards under £200k/yr; availability unclear |
| UK support | Named account manager, phone included | 24/7 phone and email support |
Flatpay figures are taken from flatpay.com/en-gb/pricing, checked October 2026. Monek's £25/month terminal is on a 24-month agreement (£600 over the term). Flatpay does not state a contract length on that page, so check its terms before comparing. Always compare against your own numbers.
What the difference looks like in pounds
Illustrative monthly cost at four UK volumes (the £12k café is the break-even point). Monek figures include the £25/month terminal and the £2.99/month PCI compliance charge (we handle PCI for you, online and in-store, under £200k turnover), and assume a £50 average sale and about 7% non-UK cards. Flatpay is shown at its 1.49% Terminal plan rate. The break-even is about £12k a month; actual results depend on your card mix.
Small shop · £10k/month
Flatpay
£149.00
Monek
£153.69
At this volume Flatpay's free terminal and flat 1.49% edge it. We would rather tell you that than win a quote we shouldn't.
Café · £12k/month
Flatpay
£178.80
Monek
£178.83
Around £12k a month the two cost the same. From here Monek's lower rate pulls ahead, and you get online, phone and payment-link channels on the same account.
Busy café · £25k/month
Flatpay
£372.50
Monek
£217.45
Monek's lower blended rate outweighs the £25 device fee many times over.
Multi-site · £100k/month
Flatpay
£1,490.00
Monek
£794.80
At this scale Monek's IC++ route and bespoke pricing are worth a conversation too.
Frequently asked questions
At what point is Monek cheaper than Flatpay?+
Is Flatpay ever the better choice?+
What does Monek charge for PCI compliance?+
Can Flatpay take online or phone payments?+
Do I get a card machine with Monek?+
Does Monek need a contract?+
How quickly can I switch?+
Is my money as safe with Monek?+
See what you would pay with Monek
Tell us your monthly card volume and average transaction value and we will quote you a like-for-like UK rate. No commitment, and an honest answer if Flatpay still suits you better.