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Why UK businesses
choose Monek over Worldpay

Worldpay is one of the largest acquirers in the world. For a UK SME taking sterling card payments, that scale often comes with tiered pricing, add-on fees, and fixed-term contracts. Here is a straight, like-for-like comparison.

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A single rate, not a tiered card mix

Worldpay's published small-business rate is around 1.30% + 20p per transaction (verified May 2026), but tariffs are commonly split by card type and can rise on premium, corporate and non-UK cards. Monek's Growing Business plan starts at 0.99% blended, or IC++ from 0.49% once you are over £200k a year. One rate, applied the same way across your book.

Monthly rolling, not locked in

Worldpay small-business agreements are commonly fixed-term. Monek is a monthly rolling contract: stay because the pricing and service are right, not because an exit fee makes leaving expensive.

No monthly account fee, no PCI surcharge

Statements from large acquirers often carry a minimum monthly service charge, a PCI compliance fee, and separate authorisation fees. Monek has no monthly account fee and no PCI surcharge; the rate you are quoted is the rate you pay.

Next working day settlement

Monek settles into your UK bank account the next working day, with no rolling reserve. Cash flow is predictable rather than plan-dependent.

Directly FCA-authorised, with a real person to call

Monek is a directly-authorised FCA-regulated payment gateway (FRN 920628). Every UK merchant has a named account manager reachable by phone and email, with no support tiers gated by volume.

Monek vs Worldpay, line by line

FeatureMonekWorldpay
Headline UK rateFrom 0.99% blended (IC++ from 0.49% above £200k/yr)From ~1.30% + 20p (published SME rate, May 2026)
Per-transaction fee5p UK cards / 10p non-UK20p
ContractMonthly rollingCommonly fixed-term
Monthly account fee / PCI surchargeNoneOften applies
SettlementNext working day, no reserveVaries by plan
Directly FCA-authorised acquirerYes, FRN 920628Yes
Pay by Link / Virtual TerminalIncluded, no per-link feeAvailable, plan-dependent
UK supportNamed account manager, phone includedTiered

Worldpay figures are indicative, taken from published UK small-business pricing as of May 2026; Worldpay offers custom pricing and terms vary by contract. Always compare against your own quote and statement.

Frequently asked questions

Is Monek cheaper than Worldpay?+
For most UK SMEs taking sterling card payments, on a like-for-like effective-rate basis, usually yes. The honest answer depends on your card mix and the specific Worldpay tariff you are on, so send us a recent statement and we will quote you exactly. If you are already on a better deal, we will tell you to stay.
Do I have to wait out my Worldpay contract?+
You can switch whenever it suits you. We coordinate the cut-over so there is no gap in payment acceptance. Check your current agreement for any notice period or early-exit terms so you can time the move to avoid overlap.
Does Monek charge a PCI or monthly account fee?+
No. There is no monthly account fee and no PCI surcharge. Your quoted rate is what you pay, with next working day settlement included.
Can Monek match Worldpay on interchange-plus pricing?+
Yes. Above £200k a year Monek offers IC++ (interchange-plus-plus) from 0.49%, so you see the wholesale interchange, the scheme fee, and a fixed Monek margin separately rather than a single blended number.
Will I get the same reliability as a large acquirer?+
Monek has processed for UK merchants since 1998, currently for more than 18,000 businesses, with 99.99% uptime last year and 3-D Secure 2 on every card-not-present transaction. You also get a named UK account manager rather than a general support queue.
What if Worldpay is the better fit for me?+
If you are a very large or multi-national merchant needing global acquiring across many currencies and markets, a global acquirer may suit you better, and we will say so. Monek is UK-first and best for businesses settling into a UK bank account.

Send us a Worldpay statement

We will quote you a like-for-like UK rate, usually within the hour. No commitment, no obligation, and an honest answer if you are already on a fair deal.

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