Head-to-Head Comparison
How Worldpay and Barclaycard compare across fees, features, and service.
| Feature | Worldpay | Barclaycard |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction Fees | From 0.75% | From 1.0% |
| Monthly Fees | From £15/month | From £17/month |
| Contract Length | 12–18 months | 18 months |
| Card Machine Types | Countertop, portable, mobile | Countertop, portable |
| Online Payments | Yes — payment gateway included | Yes — Smartpay gateway |
| Next-Day Settlement | Available (may cost extra) | Next working day (included) |
| EPOS Integration | Yes — wide range of integrations | Yes — selected partners |
| Multi-Currency Support | Yes — 120+ currencies | Yes — major currencies |
| Phone & Virtual Terminal | Yes | Yes |
| Business Size | SMEs to enterprise | SMEs to mid-market |
| Parent Company | FIS (Global) | Barclays Bank |
| 24/7 Support | Yes | Extended hours, not 24/7 |
Information based on publicly available data. Last updated April 2026.
Our Verdict
Choose Worldpay if…
- You want the lowest possible transaction rates (from 0.75%)
- You sell internationally and need multi-currency support
- You need 24/7 customer support
- You want both in-store and online payment processing from one provider
Choose Barclaycard if…
- You already bank with Barclays and want everything in one place
- You want free next-working-day settlement included
- You prefer dealing with a UK high-street bank
- You're a UK-focused business without international payment needs
The Bottom Line
Worldpay offers more flexibility, lower starting rates, and better international capabilities. Barclaycard is a solid choice for UK-focused businesses who value the backing of a major bank. Both require contracts, so make sure you negotiate the best deal — or let us do it for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Worldpay or Barclaycard cheaper?
Worldpay generally offers lower starting transaction rates (from 0.75% vs 1.0% for Barclaycard), but actual rates depend on your business type, turnover, and card mix. Both charge monthly fees. The cheapest option will depend on your specific processing volume — get quotes from both to compare.
Which is more reliable — Worldpay or Barclaycard?
Both are highly reliable, established providers processing billions of transactions annually. Worldpay is the UK's largest payment processor by volume. Barclaycard Payments is backed by Barclays Bank, one of the UK's largest financial institutions. Downtime is rare with either.
Can I negotiate rates with Worldpay or Barclaycard?
Yes — both providers offer negotiable rates, especially for businesses processing higher volumes. This is where using a comparison service like Merchant Insight helps — we negotiate preferential rates on your behalf that you're unlikely to get going direct.
Do Worldpay and Barclaycard require long contracts?
Yes. Worldpay contracts are typically 12–18 months, while Barclaycard contracts are usually 18 months. Both may have early termination fees. This is a key difference compared to pay-as-you-go providers like Square and SumUp.
Which is better for online payments — Worldpay or Barclaycard?
Worldpay has a slight edge for online payments with broader ecommerce integrations, support for 120+ currencies, and a well-established payment gateway. Barclaycard's Smartpay gateway is solid for UK-focused online businesses but has fewer international features.