DEV Community: James Gonzo

How much is Google AI Pro in the UK? £18.99 vs Plus and Ultra (2026)

James Gonzo — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 17:59:29 +0000

This article was first published on The AI Till: https://theaitill.com/answers/how-much-is-google-ai-pro-uk.

Google AI Pro costs £18.99 a month in the UK, according to Google's UK Gemini plans page (checked 28 October 2026). It adds Gemini 4 Argon and the Pro model, 4x the free usage limits, Gemini in Gmail and Docs, 1,000 Google Flow credits for video, YouTube Premium Lite and 5 TB of storage. Google AI Plus is £4.49 a month, and AI Ultra starts at £79.99.

How much is Google AI Pro?

Google AI Pro is £18.99 a month in the UK, the same on Google's own site and in the Gemini iPhone app. That's £227.88 over 12 months. It's for over-18s with a personal Google Account they manage themselves, and includes 5 TB of storage shared across Gmail, Drive and Photos. The cheaper Google AI Plus is £4.49 a month.

If Google offers you a trial, the small print on the plans page says it moves to £18.99 a month at the end of the trial unless you cancel first, and there are no refunds for part-used billing periods except where the law requires one.

UK Gemini plans (28 October 2026)

Plan	UK price	Highlights
Free	£0	Gemini app with the Flash-Lite model, Deep Research, Gemini Live, Canvas, Gems, 15 GB storage
Google AI Plus	£4.49 a month	Flash model, 2x Free usage, video generation, 200 Flow credits, Gemini in Gmail and Vids, 400 GB storage
Google AI Pro	£18.99 a month	Gemini 4 Argon and the Pro model, 4x Free usage, 1,000 Flow credits, Gemini in Gmail, Docs and Vids, YouTube Premium Lite, 5 TB storage
Google AI Ultra	£79.99 or £189.99 a month	5x or 20x Pro usage, 10,000 or 25,000 Flow credits, first access to new features, YouTube Premium, from 20 TB storage

The UK App Store lists the same £4.49, £18.99 and £189.99 prices in the Google Gemini app.

Google AI Pro vs Plus vs Ultra: which one do you need?

If you mainly want to...	Pick	Why
Try Gemini for emails, posts and quick questions	Free	It already has Deep Research, Gemini Live and image editing
Use Gemini inside Gmail and get more storage cheaply	AI Plus, £4.49	Gemini in Gmail and 400 GB for less than a fifth of Pro
Write documents in Docs, use the best model and hit limits less	AI Pro, £18.99	Gemini 4 Argon, Gemini in Docs, 4x usage and 5 TB
Make a lot of video or use Gemini all day	AI Ultra, from £79.99	Far higher limits and Flow credits; most small firms won't need it

For most sole traders and small teams the real choice is Plus or Pro. If you already pay Google for 2 TB of storage, check what you pay now, because Pro includes 5 TB and may replace that bill.

Is Google AI Pro worth it for a small business?

It's good value if you already live in Gmail, Docs and Sheets, because Gemini works inside those apps and the storage is included. It's less useful if your business runs on Microsoft 365 or you mainly want a chatbot in a browser; then compare ChatGPT Plus at £19.99 or Microsoft 365 Premium, which replaced Copilot Pro.

Two things to know before you pay:

It's a personal plan. Google says AI Pro needs a personal Google Account you manage yourself. If your team shares a Google Workspace account, Gemini comes through Workspace instead; see is Gemini free in Google Workspace?
There are still limits. Pro gives higher limits than Free, not unlimited use. See does Gemini Pro have a limit?

Gemini 4 Argon is included in AI Pro. For the business hub, brand visuals and connected apps, see Gemini for small business (UK).

What about Gemini for business teams?

Google also sells Gemini Enterprise for businesses, priced in US dollars per seat on the same page: the Business edition starts at $21 a seat a month for teams of up to 300, and the Standard and Plus editions start at $30. Google says business editions don't use your prompts or files to train its models. For a one-person firm, AI Pro on a personal account is usually the simpler start; for a team sharing customer data, a business plan gives you the admin controls. More on data in does Gemini use my data for training?

How to get the most from AI Pro in a trade or service business

A quick prompt to try in Gemini once you've upgraded:

Read the last 10 enquiry emails in my Gmail from customers asking for a price. List each one with the job, the address area and whether I replied. Then draft a short, friendly follow-up for any I haven't answered.

Check every draft before you send it, and keep bank details and other sensitive customer details out of prompts.

FAQ

Is Gemini free?

Yes, with lower limits. See is Google Gemini free?

How much is Google AI Pro a year?

Google's UK plans page lists a monthly price of £18.99, which is £227.88 over 12 months. Check the checkout screen for any annual or introductory offer before you pay, as Google changes these.

What is the difference between Google AI Plus and AI Pro?

AI Plus (£4.49) gives the Flash model, 2x Free usage, 200 Flow credits, Gemini in Gmail and 400 GB. AI Pro (£18.99) adds Gemini 4 Argon and the Pro model, 4x Free usage, 1,000 Flow credits, Gemini in Docs, YouTube Premium Lite and 5 TB.

Do I need a personal Google account for Google AI Pro?

Yes. Google says AI Pro is for users over 18 with a personal Google Account they manage themselves. Business and school accounts get Gemini through Google Workspace or Gemini Enterprise instead.

Can I cancel Google AI Pro?

Yes, any time, from your Google subscription settings or, in the Gemini mobile app, by tapping your profile picture and opening Settings. Google says there are no refunds for partial billing periods except where the law requires one.

What happened to Gemini Advanced?

Google replaced the Gemini Advanced name with Google AI plans. Google AI Pro is the closest match.

Does Google AI Pro include Gemini in Gmail?

Yes, for personal accounts, along with Docs and Vids. See is Gemini in Gmail safe?

Is Google AI Pro free for students in the UK?

Not Pro. Google's UK student offer in 2026 is one year of Google AI Plus free for eligible university students aged 18 or over, verified through SheerID. It must be claimed by 31 December 2026 and then renews at £4.49 a month unless you cancel (checked 18 October 2026).

Sources

First published at https://theaitill.com/answers/how-much-is-google-ai-pro-uk by James Gonzo

GPT-6.1 Terra: what it is and how to use it on ChatGPT Plus

James Gonzo — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 16:04:15 +0000

This article was first published on The AI Till: https://theaitill.com/answers/what-is-gpt-6-1-terra.

GPT-6.1 Terra is a new OpenAI model, released on 26 October 2026, built for the dull computer jobs that fill a working day: reading images and screens, filling in forms, and moving details from one place to another. OpenAI's release notes say it is rolling out to Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Edu plans in ChatGPT Work and Codex. It is not in the normal Chat tab. Your plan's overall usage limits haven't changed, and OpenAI says the same allowance covers more tasks with Terra than with its bigger models. Everything below was checked on OpenAI's own pages on 27 October 2026.

Why can't I see GPT-6.1 Terra in ChatGPT?

Short answer: it only appears in Work and Codex, and it is still rolling out.

ChatGPT Learn says plainly that the model "isn't available in Chat". To find it:

Open the ChatGPT desktop app, or ChatGPT on the web.
Switch from Chat to Work using the switcher at the top.
Open the model list (in the desktop app it sits under Advanced) and choose GPT-6.1 Terra.

Work also supports Terra on mobile. If it isn't listed, the rollout may not have reached your account yet. OpenAI says it arrives "as it reaches your account", and Enterprise access depends on your administrator. New to Work? Read what ChatGPT Work is and whether it's in Plus first.

OpenAI also notes that some Plus and Pro users may find Terra (at Medium effort) already set as the default in Work's Power presets, in place of GPT-6.1 Sol. So you may be using it without picking it.

Is GPT-6.1 Terra included in ChatGPT Plus, or does it cost extra?

Short answer: it's included in Plus. There's no separate charge in ChatGPT.

The release notes list Plus among the plans getting it and say your plan's overall usage limits are unchanged. OpenAI's launch post adds that "your plan goes further" with Terra: the same allowance covers more tasks than with GPT-5.6 Terra, and substantially more than with GPT-6.1 Sol or GPT-6 Astra. That's OpenAI's claim, and we haven't measured it. For what Plus costs and what is capped, see does ChatGPT Plus have limits? and is ChatGPT Plus worth it in the UK?.

The only Terra prices OpenAI publishes are for developers using the API: $1 per million input tokens and $5 per million output tokens (OpenAI launch post, read 27 October 2026). Those don't apply to a normal ChatGPT subscription.

What's the difference between Terra and Sol?

Short answer: Terra is the faster, cheaper workhorse. Sol and Astra are the heavier models for the hardest jobs.

Model	What OpenAI says it's for	Where it runs
GPT-6.1 Terra	Fast, efficient visual reasoning, computer use and clear writing	Work and Codex
GPT-6.1 Sol	Agentic coding, computer use and professional work	Work and Codex
GPT-6 Astra	OpenAI's most capable frontier model, for complex multi-step work	Work, Codex and Pro reasoning
GPT-6 Sol and Luna	Everyday chat	Chat tab

OpenAI says that for the most complex coding tasks, Sol and Astra are still the better choice. For filling in a form or tidying a spreadsheet, Terra is meant to be good enough and quicker. The Chat tab models are explained in our guide to what GPT-6 means for a small business.

What does Terra mean for a UK trade or small business?

Short answer: it's aimed squarely at admin you already do on a screen, such as invoices, forms and photos of jobs.

OpenAI's own examples include reading incoming invoices and entering their details into accounting software, interpreting technical drawings, filling out forms and drafting proposals. For a sole trader or small firm, that maps to jobs like these:

Supplier invoices into your books. Ask Work to read this week's supplier invoices and enter the date, supplier, net, VAT and total into your bookkeeping sheet, or into Xero or QuickBooks in a browser where you're signed in. Check every line before you save it.
Photo or drawing to draft quote. Give it a site photo or a plan and your own price list, and ask for a first draft of materials and labour. It can't measure your job for you, so treat every quantity as a guess to check on site.
Supplier or council forms. Let it fill in a trade account application or a permit form from details you provide, then stop before submitting so you can read it through.

A prompt to try in Work

Using GPT-6.1 Terra: open the PDFs in my "Supplier invoices October" folder. For each one, add a row to my bookkeeping spreadsheet with the invoice date, supplier name, invoice number, net amount, VAT and total. Don't guess any figure you can't read clearly: leave it blank and list it at the end. Don't pay, send or delete anything.

To use it on your own computer's apps, OpenAI's Computer Use guide says you install the Computer Use plugin in the desktop app (in Work, open Plugins) and grant the permissions it asks for. Browser use and computer use each have their own setup steps.

Is it safe to let ChatGPT use my computer?

Short answer: it can be, if you keep each task narrow and read every permission prompt.

OpenAI says Computer Use can change things outside the task you set, so it advises scoped tasks and reviewing permission prompts. Its release notes on Work's browser say it asks for confirmation before consequential actions such as payments. On Windows, Computer Use takes over the screen while it runs, so you can't carry on working in the same session.

Before you hand it a job:

Close tabs and apps it doesn't need, especially online banking, HMRC and your inbox.
Only allow the apps the task needs, and avoid "always allow" until you trust the result.
Keep customer names and addresses out where you can. UK GDPR still applies: see can I put customer data into ChatGPT?.
Check every figure it types into your accounts. OpenAI reports a lower error rate than the previous Terra on its own tests, but it still makes mistakes.

More on this in is ChatGPT safe for business? and how to use AI agents in business.

Limits and risks

Rollout timing. Not every Plus account will see Terra on day one.
Not in Chat. You need Work or Codex, which Free and Go plans don't include.
Allowance still applies. Terra stretches your allowance further, OpenAI says, but long computer tasks still use it up.
Claims are OpenAI's. The speed, cost and accuracy figures in the launch post come from OpenAI's own tests.
Region. Terra doesn't support UAE inference residency. Nothing in OpenAI's notes excludes the UK.

FAQ

What is GPT-6.1 Terra?

A fast, efficient OpenAI model released on 26 October 2026 that combines visual reasoning, computer use and clear writing. It runs in ChatGPT Work and Codex, and in the API as gpt-6.1-terra.

Is GPT-6.1 Terra free?

Not on the free plan. It's included at no extra charge in Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Edu, inside each plan's usage limits.

Why isn't Terra in my model list?

It's only in Work and Codex, not Chat, and it is rolling out gradually. Switch to Work and check the model list again later.

Does Terra use up my ChatGPT limit faster?

OpenAI says the opposite: the same allowance covers more tasks with Terra than with GPT-6.1 Sol or GPT-6 Astra. Your plan's overall limits are unchanged.

Can ChatGPT enter invoices into my accounting software?

OpenAI gives that as an example use. With Work's browser or Computer Use set up, it can type details into apps you allow. Check every entry before saving.

Is GPT-6.1 Terra available in the UK?

OpenAI's notes don't list a UK restriction, and OpenAI began rolling out Computer Use to the UK in June 2026. Availability still depends on your plan and the rollout reaching your account.

Sources

OpenAI: Introducing GPT-6.1 Terra (26 October 2026, read 27 October 2026)
OpenAI Help Center: ChatGPT release notes, 26 October 2026 entry (read 27 October 2026)
ChatGPT Learn: What's new, 26 to 30 October 2026 (read 27 October 2026)
ChatGPT Learn: Computer Use (read 27 October 2026)

First published at https://theaitill.com/answers/what-is-gpt-6-1-terra by James Gonzo

iwoca toro: free AI press release tool for UK small firms (2026)

James Gonzo — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 16:04:14 +0000

This article was first published on The AI Till: https://theaitill.com/answers/what-is-iwoca-toro.

toro is a free AI PR tool from iwoca, the UK small business lender, launched on 21 October 2026. You tell it about your business or some news, and it spots what's newsworthy and turns it into a story, with a press release, social posts and pitches to journalists. It also offers PR advice and help in a crisis. It deliberately doesn't send anything for you: you edit the drafts, add the details only you know, and contact the suggested journalists yourself. Everything below was checked on iwoca's own pages on 27 October 2026.

What is iwoca toro?

Short answer: a free AI press office for small firms that don't have one.

iwoca's launch release describes toro as a tool that "spots what's newsworthy and turns a business update or launch into a story, complete with a press release, social posts and pitches". The tool page at toro.iwoca.co.uk offers three starting points:

PR advisory: ask for advice on whether and how to get coverage.
Launch campaigns: turn news (a new service, a new van, a milestone) into a press release, pitches and posts.
Crisis support: help with "the hard stuff", such as replying to a bad story or complaint.

The page says it replies in whatever language you write in, and lists a support address, toro@iwoca.co.uk. It was built by Mark Di-Toro, iwoca's Director of Strategic Communications.

Is iwoca toro really free?

Short answer: iwoca calls it a free PR tool, and we found no price on its pages.

iwoca's release and the tool page don't mention a charge, a plan or a trial. When we opened it on 27 October 2026 it went straight to a "What do you need today?" screen. iwoca makes its money from business loans, so expect the odd mention of iwoca. You don't need to borrow anything to use toro.

Why would a small trade bother with a press release?

Short answer: because other websites talking about you is a big part of what AI search and Google read.

iwoca's pitch is that AI search favours businesses that are already written about. Its release quotes research from Muck Rack finding that 84% of the sources AI tools cite are "earned" (journalism, encyclopedias, academic sources and third-party coverage) rather than paid adverts or a brand's own website. That's iwoca quoting Muck Rack, not our own figure. The release also points to Press Gazette analysis showing far fewer regional journalists than in 2007, which means local reporters are stretched and a ready-made, accurate story helps them.

For a plumber, café or salon, a single piece in the local paper or on a local news site does three useful things: people read it, it's a mention on another website that Google and the AI assistants can find, and you can link to it from your own site. Our guide on how to get your business recommended by ChatGPT explains why mentions on other sites (step 8) matter.

What counts as newsworthy for a small business?

Short answer: something new, local, human or useful that a reader in your area would care about.

Ideas that suit a trade or local business:

An anniversary (10 years trading, 1,000th boiler fitted, if that's true).
Taking on a local apprentice, or a new job created.
A new service people nearby need, such as heat pump fitting or emergency call-outs.
Charity work, sponsorship of a local team, or a free workshop.
A seasonal tip with your name on it ("five checks before your boiler's first cold snap").
A local problem you can explain, such as flooding, a road closure hitting shops, or a rise in scam callers.

Selling something isn't news. "We're the best roofers in town" won't get printed. "Local roofer trains three school leavers" might.

How do I use toro to write a press release?

Short answer: give it the facts, let it draft, then rewrite it in your own words before anyone sees it.

Go to toro.iwoca.co.uk and choose Launch campaigns (or PR advisory if you're not sure you have a story).
Describe the business and the news in plain words: who, what, where, when and why it matters locally. Include real numbers you can stand behind.
Read what it produces: a press release, social posts and pitches, plus suggested journalists.
Edit it. Cut anything you can't prove, add a short quote from you, your town, and one detail only you know (the customer who inspired it, the apprentice's name with their permission).
Add a good photo: you on the job, the new van, the team. Local papers often need a picture.
Send it yourself to two or three named reporters on your local paper and local news sites, one email each.

If you'd rather draft it in ChatGPT, this prompt does a similar job:

I run [business] in [town]. Here's my news: [facts]. Write a 300-word press release for a UK local newspaper with a factual headline, the key facts in the first paragraph, one quote from me, and a short "About us" at the end. Use only the facts I've given. Don't invent figures, quotes or awards. Then write a three-line email pitch to a local reporter.

Our free social post generator turns the same news into posts, and how to use ChatGPT for marketing covers more prompts.

How do I pitch a story to my local newspaper?

Short answer: one short, personal email to the right reporter, with the story in the first line.

Find the right person. Look at the paper's website for a news desk email or reporters who cover business or your area.
Put the story in the subject line ("Heywood electrician takes on three local apprentices").
Paste the release into the email body. Attach the photo, not a PDF.
Say when you're free to talk and give a mobile number.
Follow up once after a few days. Then let it go.

This matches iwoca's own advice: no blanket send-outs. Mass emailing journalists you don't know tends to get ignored.

Do I need a paid newswire to send a press release?

Short answer: no, not for local coverage.

Newswire services suit bigger companies chasing national or trade press. A local trade usually does better with a personal email to a few local reporters, which costs nothing. Post the final release on your own website too, as a news page or blog post, so the story exists online even if no paper runs it.

Will this get my business into ChatGPT or Google's AI answers?

Short answer: it can help over time, but nobody can promise it.

Coverage on a respected local site is the kind of third-party mention AI tools draw on, which is iwoca's whole point. But no tool can guarantee a mention in ChatGPT, Gemini or Google's AI Overviews. Do the basics as well: a complete Google Business Profile, genuine reviews, and a clear website. To see whether it's working, check how Google's AI Overviews describe you.

Limits and risks

It's a draft, not a guarantee. toro writes material and suggests journalists. Whether anyone runs the story is up to them.
Check every fact. AI drafts can add claims you didn't make. Never send a figure, award or quote you can't stand behind.
Customer details. Don't name customers or share photos of their homes without their permission. See can I put customer data into ChatGPT? for the UK GDPR basics.
It's new. toro launched on 21 October 2026, so features may change. Check the tool page before relying on it.

FAQ

What is iwoca toro?

A free AI PR tool from UK lender iwoca, launched on 21 October 2026. It finds what's newsworthy about your business and drafts a press release, social posts and pitches, plus PR advice and crisis help.

Is iwoca toro free?

iwoca describes it as a free PR tool, and we found no price on its pages on 27 October 2026. You don't need an iwoca loan to use it.

Does toro send my press release to journalists?

No. It suggests journalists, but you edit the materials and contact them yourself. iwoca says it chose not to build mass sending.

How do I write a press release for a small business?

Lead with the news in one sentence, cover who, what, where and when in the first paragraph, add one quote from you and a photo, and keep it to about a page.

How do I get in my local paper?

Send a short, personal email with a genuinely local story and a photo to a named reporter or the news desk, then follow up once.

Can toro get my business mentioned by ChatGPT?

It can help you earn coverage on other websites, which AI tools draw on, but nobody can guarantee a mention.

Sources

iwoca: AI search is hiding Britain's small businesses, iwoca launches toro (21 October 2026, read 27 October 2026)
toro by iwoca: tool page (read 27 October 2026)
SMEToday: iwoca launches toro, free PR for firms (20 October 2026, read 27 October 2026)

First published at https://theaitill.com/answers/what-is-iwoca-toro by James Gonzo

ChatGPT Go UK price: £7 a month, Go vs Free vs Plus (2026)

James Gonzo — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 17:57:57 +0000

This article was first published on The AI Till: https://theaitill.com/answers/how-much-is-chatgpt-go-uk.

ChatGPT Go is £7 a month, as shown on chatgpt.com from a UK connection on 18 October 2026. OpenAI bills Go monthly with no annual option, and the pricing page showed no VAT wording, so check the total at checkout. In the iPhone app, the UK App Store lists Go at £6.99 with VAT included. Go is the cheapest paid plan: it raises the free limits on uploads, images, data analysis and memory, but it doesn't include the top model that Plus gets.

Short answer: Go costs £7 a month (about £84 a year) on the web, or £6.99 a month through the iPhone app. Plus is £20 a month (about £240 a year), so Go saves around £156 a year if you don't need Plus's stronger model.

What Go adds over Free

	Free	Go	Plus
UK price on chatgpt.com (18 October 2026)	£0	£7 a month	£20 a month
Everyday text chats	Unlimited (fair use)	Unlimited (fair use)	Expanded
Uploads, images, data analysis	Limited	More	Expanded
Memory	Limited	Longer	Expanded
Projects, tasks, custom GPTs, Library	Projects only	Yes	Yes
Think (reasoning)	Limited	Yes, using GPT-5.6 Luna	Yes
GPT-5.6 Sol	No	No	Yes
Legacy models such as 4o	No	No	Check your plan
Voice mode	Free limits	Same limits as Free	Expanded
Ads	May appear	OpenAI says it may test ads in future	No mention

Source: OpenAI's pricing page and the OpenAI Help article on Go, re-read 26 October 2026.

What ChatGPT Go costs over a year

Plan	Monthly	12 months	Where
Go on chatgpt.com	£7	£84	Web (18 October 2026, no VAT wording shown)
Go in the iPhone app	£6.99	£83.88	UK App Store, VAT included
Plus on chatgpt.com	£20	£240	Web (18 October 2026)

These are 12 times the monthly price, because OpenAI doesn't sell Go, Plus or Pro yearly. If you pay through the app, Apple handles the billing and refunds, not OpenAI.

Is ChatGPT Go worth it?

Go is worth it if you use ChatGPT most days and keep hitting the free plan's limits on uploads, images or data analysis. Text chats are already unlimited on Free (subject to fair use), so if you mostly type questions and short emails, the free plan may be all you need. See how many messages you can send on free ChatGPT.

Go isn't the right pick if you need the strongest model for long documents, research or tricky reasoning. OpenAI says Go's Think uses GPT-5.6 Luna and doesn't include GPT-5.6 Sol, and some higher-tier features need Plus or above. In that case go straight to Plus. If you're unsure, put the cost into our AI tool break-even calculator.

Who Go suits

Go suits a sole trader who uses ChatGPT most days for emails, quotes and social posts and keeps running out of uploads or images on the free plan. It also suits someone who wants projects and custom GPTs without paying £20 a month. If you need long documents, research or the stronger reasoning models, look at Plus and its limits. Go also works with Sign in with ChatGPT, so a few apps, such as Notion on a Business workspace, can use your Go allowance. For a side-by-side of every plan, including Business and Pro, see how much you pay for ChatGPT in the UK.

How to sign up for ChatGPT Go

Sign in to ChatGPT on the web or in the app.
Select your profile icon, then Upgrade Plan.
Select Try Go and check the total before you pay.

You manage, view invoices for, or cancel Go from your profile icon, then Settings, then Account. If you bought it in the iPhone app, cancel through your Apple subscriptions instead. Our guide to cancelling a ChatGPT plan has the steps, and getting a ChatGPT invoice covers receipts for your books.

FAQ

Is ChatGPT Go available in the UK?

Yes. OpenAI says Go is available in all countries where ChatGPT is supported.

Can I pay for Go yearly?

No. OpenAI says Go, Plus and Pro don't offer annual billing or paying several months in advance.

Can I switch from Plus to Go?

Yes, from Settings, then Account. Your Plus plan runs to the end of the billing month, then switches to Go. OpenAI says there's no refund for the switch.

Does Go include voice?

Yes, but OpenAI says voice on Go has the same limits as the free plan.

Does ChatGPT Go have ads?

OpenAI says it may start testing ads in Go in future. See does ChatGPT have ads?

Does ChatGPT Go include the API?

No. OpenAI says API use isn't included in Go and is billed separately.

Can I claim ChatGPT Go as a business expense?

Usually yes, if you use it for your business. See can I claim ChatGPT as a business expense? and is there VAT on ChatGPT?

Sources

First published at https://theaitill.com/answers/how-much-is-chatgpt-go-uk by James Gonzo.

Do AI subscriptions charge UK VAT? Claude, Canva, ChatGPT

James Gonzo — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 17:57:51 +0000

This article was first published on The AI Till: https://theaitill.com/answers/do-ai-subscriptions-charge-uk-vat.

Usually, yes. GOV.UK says digital services supplied to UK consumers are liable to UK VAT, so overseas AI companies such as Anthropic, Canva and Grammarly add 20% VAT for UK customers. App Store prices already include VAT. If you're VAT registered, some providers let the reverse charge apply when you add your VAT number, but Canva still charges UK VAT.

How it works

You are	What you see	What to do
A consumer or non-VAT-registered sole trader	20% UK VAT added, or included in App Store prices	Pay it; keep the receipt for your expense records
A VAT-registered business buying on the web	Depends on the provider: some remove VAT when you add a VAT number, others such as Canva still charge it	Reverse charge if no VAT was charged; otherwise reclaim the VAT shown on the invoice as input tax
Buying through Apple or Google	Price includes VAT	Apple or Google accounts for the VAT; you get a receipt, not a VAT invoice from the AI company

Many web price lists, including Claude's and ElevenLabs', say prices exclude tax.

VAT on popular AI tools

This table only repeats what each company's own page or the UK App Store showed when we checked. Where a page doesn't say, we say so rather than guess.

Tool	What the price page says about tax	What a UK buyer usually sees
Claude (Anthropic)	Web prices are in US dollars and the page says they exclude tax	VAT added at checkout; the iPhone app charges in pounds with VAT included
ChatGPT (OpenAI)	chatgpt.com showed £7 Go and £20 Plus from the UK on 18 October 2026, with no VAT wording	You can add a VAT number to your OpenAI billing details for future invoices. See is there VAT on ChatGPT?
Canva	Canva's help centre says all UK subscriptions are domestic sales subject to VAT	VAT is charged even if you add a VAT number; VAT-registered businesses reclaim it as input tax
Microsoft 365 Copilot	Microsoft's UK business page says prices exclude VAT	20% added to the per user price
Any app on the UK App Store	Prices include VAT	Apple receipt only, no VAT invoice from the AI company

Prices and wording come from our UK AI price table, which lists the date each one was checked.

What it costs with VAT: worked examples

These sums only show how 20% VAT changes the figure. Your real amount for a dollar price depends on your bank's exchange rate on the day.

A tool priced at £20 a month excluding VAT. VAT is £4, so you pay £24 a month, or £288 a year. If you're VAT registered and can reclaim it, the real cost to the business is £20 a month.
Microsoft 365 Business Standard with Copilot for three people. £18.10 per user a month excluding VAT is £54.30 a month. Add 20% and it's £65.16 a month, or £781.92 a year, before any reclaim.
A tool priced in dollars that excludes tax. Your card is charged the converted dollar price plus VAT, so expect more than the pound figure you'd get from the dollar price alone. Check the final amount at checkout before you pay.

The reverse charge, in plain English

If you're VAT registered and an overseas supplier doesn't charge you VAT because you gave it your VAT number, GOV.UK says the reverse charge usually applies. You act as if you'd supplied the service to yourself:

Work out the VAT that would have been charged (20% of the price).
Add it to the VAT you owe on your return.
Claim the same amount back as input tax, if the service is for your business.

For most businesses the two amounts cancel out, so you pay nothing extra. It matters more if you're partly exempt. Your accounting software or accountant will put the figures in the right boxes on your return.

Can I reclaim VAT on AI subscriptions?

Only if you're VAT registered, the subscription is for your business, and you have a proper VAT invoice. A few points catch people out:

App Store purchases: you get an Apple receipt, not a VAT invoice from the AI company, so reclaiming can be harder. Subscribe on the web if you need VAT paperwork.
Flat Rate Scheme: if you use the VAT Flat Rate Scheme, you generally can't reclaim VAT on purchases like software subscriptions, apart from some capital items. Ask your accountant.
Mixed use: if you use the tool for personal things too, claim only the business share.
Not VAT registered: you can't reclaim VAT, but the full cost, VAT included, can still be a business expense. See can I claim ChatGPT as a business expense?

Does Canva charge VAT in the UK?

Yes, to everyone. Canva's help centre says all UK subscriptions and printed products are treated as domestic sales and are subject to VAT, and business to business exemptions don't apply. Adding a VAT number won't remove it. If you're VAT registered and use Canva for your business, keep the invoice and reclaim the VAT on your return in the normal way. Canva's own prices are on how much is Canva Pro in the UK?

Tips

Subscribe on the web, not in an app, if you need a proper VAT invoice.
Add your VAT number before your first payment; changes usually apply only to future invoices.
Download each month's invoice and keep it with your records.
Ask your accountant how to treat each supplier on your VAT return.

ChatGPT has its own page: is there VAT on ChatGPT?. Not sure about VAT at all? Use our free VAT calculator to add or remove 20%.

FAQ

Can I reclaim VAT on Claude?

Only if you're VAT registered and it's for business use. See should I register for VAT?

Does Canva charge VAT if I add my VAT number?

Yes. Canva's help centre says UK subscriptions are domestic sales and business to business exemptions don't apply, so VAT stays on the invoice. You reclaim it on your return if you're VAT registered.

Why was I charged more than the advertised price?

Usually because the price excluded VAT, or because it was in US dollars and your bank converted it and may have added a foreign transaction fee.

Do App Store AI subscriptions include VAT?

Yes. UK App Store prices include VAT, and Apple accounts for it. You get an Apple receipt rather than a VAT invoice from the AI company.

Do I pay VAT on AI tools if I'm a sole trader?

If you're not VAT registered, yes: you pay the VAT like any consumer and can't reclaim it, though the cost can still be a business expense.

Sources

First published at https://theaitill.com/answers/do-ai-subscriptions-charge-uk-vat by James Gonzo.

Does ChatGPT Plus have limits? What's capped in 2026

James Gonzo — Sun, 25 Oct 2026 17:52:34 +0000

This article was first published on The AI Till: https://theaitill.com/answers/does-chatgpt-plus-have-limits.

Yes. ChatGPT Plus gives you far more than the free plan, but it isn't unlimited. OpenAI says Plus "may include usage limits such as message caps", and reasoning models, image creation, deep research, uploads and Codex each have their own allowances. When you hit one, ChatGPT shows when it resets and you can switch to another model meanwhile.

Short answer: Plus has limits, they change with demand, and OpenAI doesn't publish a fixed message number. Your limits are per account, so they cover all your devices together, and one Plus account is for one person.

What's limited on Plus

Feature	What OpenAI says (17 October 2026)
Everyday chats	Expanded messages; caps can tighten at busy times
Reasoning (Thinking) models	Separate allowance; ChatGPT may fall back to another model when you reach it
Uploads and file analysis	Expanded, not unlimited
Image creation	"More complex and accurate image creation", with limits
Deep research	Expanded, not unlimited
How much text you can paste	About 40 pages per message on the fast model, about 320 pages on reasoning models
Codex and ChatGPT Work	Shared allowance measured in five-hour windows, with weekly limits as well

OpenAI doesn't publish a fixed number of messages for chat, because usage depends on the model, the length of the conversation and the tools used. For Codex it gives ranges per five-hour period, which vary widely by model.

Are ChatGPT Plus limits per device or per account?

Per account. You can sign in to the same Plus account on your phone, laptop and tablet, but they all draw on one allowance. OpenAI's help centre also says that when you connect a participating tool with "Sign in with ChatGPT" and agree to share your allowance, that tool's usage comes out of the same Plus allowance rather than a separate one. API usage is different: it is billed separately and isn't included in Plus.

Plus is for one person. If a colleague uses your login, you share one set of limits and break OpenAI's account sharing rules. See can more than one person use ChatGPT Plus?

Why do my limits seem lower some days?

OpenAI says Plus "may include usage limits such as message caps, especially during high demand" and that "these limits may vary based on system conditions". So the same amount of work can hit a cap on a busy weekday afternoon and not on a quiet evening. Plus does get priority access at busy times, which means fewer interruptions than Free, not none.

What to do when you keep hitting limits

Start a new chat for each task. Long threads use more of your allowance.
Use the faster everyday model for drafting and save the reasoning models for hard problems.
If several people in the business share the work, look at ChatGPT Business rather than one shared login.
If you're a heavy individual user, compare ChatGPT Pro.

FAQ

Does ChatGPT Plus have a limit on images?

Yes. Plus has a larger image allowance than Free, but OpenAI doesn't publish a fixed number. ChatGPT tells you when you've reached it and when it resets.

Does ChatGPT Plus have unlimited uploads?

No. Uploads are "expanded", not unlimited, and very large files can be cut down to fit what the model can read.

Will upgrading reset my free limit?

OpenAI says yes: if you hit a limit on Free, your usage resets when you upgrade to Plus, Pro or Business.

Does Plus include ChatGPT Work?

Yes. OpenAI's pricing page lists expanded access to ChatGPT Work on desktop, web and mobile for Plus.

Are ChatGPT Plus limits shared across my devices?

Yes. Limits belong to your account, not each device, so chats on your phone and laptop count towards the same allowance.

Is there an annual ChatGPT Plus plan with higher limits?

No. OpenAI's help centre says Plus is billed monthly and it doesn't offer annual billing for Plus. Higher limits come with Pro or Business, not a longer contract.

Does using ChatGPT in other apps use my Plus limits?

It can. Tools that use "Sign in with ChatGPT" draw from your Plus allowance once you approve sharing it. API usage is billed separately.

Sources

First published at https://theaitill.com/answers/does-chatgpt-plus-have-limits by James Gonzo.

How many people can use ChatGPT Plus? (UK 2026)

James Gonzo — Sun, 25 Oct 2026 17:51:58 +0000

This article was first published on The AI Till: https://theaitill.com/answers/can-i-share-chatgpt-plus.

No. ChatGPT Plus is designed for one person. OpenAI's pricing page says Free, Go and Plus "are designed to be used by individuals", and its terms prohibit sharing account credentials. You can use one Plus subscription on all your own devices. For two or more people, ChatGPT Business starts at two users.

Can I use ChatGPT Plus on multiple devices at the same time?

OpenAI says you can use the same subscription across devices when you sign in to the same ChatGPT account. You don't need a separate subscription for your phone, laptop and tablet. The limit is people, not devices: it should be you using each of them. All your devices share one set of usage limits, see does ChatGPT Plus have limits? If family or staff sometimes pick up your phone or tablet, you can lock ChatGPT chats with a PIN so private ones stay out of view.

Can two people use ChatGPT Plus at the same time?

No, not within the rules. A Plus subscription belongs to one account, and one account is for one person.

OpenAI's help centre says "sharing account credentials, reselling access and automatically extracting data are prohibited" and that it may restrict accounts for misuse. Sharing also mixes everyone's chats, memory and settings, so one person's customer details can turn up in another person's history.

What to do instead if more than one person needs ChatGPT

Situation	Option
You and one employee	ChatGPT Business, minimum two seats, with a shared workspace and admin controls
Staff who only need light use	Each person on their own free account, with training switched off (see does ChatGPT use my data for training?)
You already pay for Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace	Check the AI already included: which Copilot is best for business? and is Gemini free in Google Workspace?

FAQ

Can I use ChatGPT Plus on my phone and laptop?

Yes. Sign in to the same account on each device. If you bought Plus through the App Store or Google Play, use "Restore purchases" in the app if it doesn't show.

Can my family use my ChatGPT Plus?

No. Plus is for one person. Each family member can use the free plan on their own account.

How many users can use one ChatGPT Plus account?

One. OpenAI's account sharing policy says accounts are for individual use, so each person needs their own login and, if they want paid features, their own subscription.

How many users can use ChatGPT Business?

OpenAI's Business FAQ says workspaces created from 24 August 2026 can have between 2 and 200 paid seats. Larger organisations are pointed to ChatGPT Enterprise. See how much does ChatGPT Business cost?

How many users can use ChatGPT Go?

One. OpenAI's pricing page says Go, like Free and Plus, is designed to be used by an individual. See how much is ChatGPT Go?

Is there a cheaper plan for two people?

Not for individuals. Business is the smallest multi-user plan and is priced per seat with a two-seat minimum.

Sources

First published at https://theaitill.com/answers/can-i-share-chatgpt-plus by James Gonzo.

Otter.ai pricing UK (2026): free plan, Pro and Business cost

James Gonzo — Sat, 24 Oct 2026 01:03:32 +0000

This article was first published on The AI Till: https://theaitill.com/answers/how-much-does-otter-ai-cost. Prices and details were checked on the dates shown.

Otter.ai has a free Basic plan with 300 transcription minutes a month. On Otter's own pricing page, Pro costs $16.99 per user a month, or $8.33 a month billed yearly, and Business costs $30 a month, or $19.99 a month billed yearly. If you buy through the UK App Store, Pro is £17.49 a month or £99.99 a year, and Business is £30 a month or £229.99 a year (all checked 24 October 2026).

How much is Otter.ai a month?

Otter Pro is $16.99 per user a month on monthly billing, and Otter Business is $30 per user a month. Paying yearly brings Pro down to $8.33 a month and Business to $19.99 a month. The free Basic plan costs nothing and gives each user 300 minutes a month. Otter's website charges in US dollars; the App Store charges in pounds.

Otter.ai plans and prices

Plan	Monthly billing (USD)	Billed yearly (USD)	UK App Store	Key limits
Basic	Free	Free	Free	300 minutes a month, 30 minutes a conversation, 3 lifetime file imports, 25 most recent conversations kept
Pro	$16.99 a user a month	$8.33 a user a month	£17.49 to £17.99 a month, or £99.99 a year	1,200 minutes a month, 90 minutes a conversation, 10 file imports a month
Business	$30 a user a month	$19.99 a user a month	£30 a month, or £229.99 a year	Unlimited meetings, 4 hours a conversation, unlimited imports, admin features
Enterprise	Quote	Quote	n/a	SSO and custom security

On 24 October Otter's page also showed introductory offers for new subscribers: 50% off Pro (shown as $8.49 a month, or $4.17 a month billed yearly) and 20% off Business for the first 3 months. These offers change, so check the page before you buy. Minutes don't roll over to the next month.

What do you get on the free Otter plan?

Basic gives each user 300 transcription minutes a month, live transcription, speaker identification, the meeting assistant for Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet, and AI chat about your meetings. The limits that catch most people are the 30-minute cap on each conversation, only 3 file imports for the life of the account, and only your 25 most recent conversations staying in your history.

For a few customer calls or site meetings a week, the free plan is often enough. Pay for Pro if your meetings run past 30 minutes, you import recordings regularly, or you need to keep older notes.

Is Otter Pro worth it for a small business?

For a sole trader or a small team who records more than a handful of meetings a month, Pro on yearly billing is the cheapest way to lift the limits: 1,200 minutes a month and up to 90 minutes a meeting. Business makes sense once you need meetings longer than 90 minutes, unlimited imports or admin controls for a team. Compare it with the alternatives first: see Otter vs Fireflies and how much Fireflies costs.

Remember Otter can't record ordinary phone calls on your mobile: see can Otter record phone calls?

Is it cheaper to pay for Otter on the website or the App Store?

Yearly billing on the website is usually cheapest: $8.33 a month for Pro works out at about $100 a year, roughly the same headline figure as the £99.99 App Store yearly price but in dollars, so your bank's exchange rate and any card fees decide the final cost. Monthly Pro is $16.99 on the website and £17.49 to £17.99 in the App Store. If you want to pay in pounds with no foreign transaction fee, the App Store is simpler.

FAQ

Does Otter AI cost money?

Not to start. Basic is free, with 300 minutes a month and a 30-minute limit on each conversation.

How much is Otter Pro a year?

$99.96 a year on Otter's website ($8.33 a month billed yearly), or £99.99 a year through the UK App Store, checked 24 October 2026.

Does Otter have a student discount?

Yes. Otter lists 20% off Pro for students and teachers with an email address ending in .edu, so check your address qualifies first, as UK university addresses usually end in .ac.uk.

Is Otter GDPR compliant?

See is Otter.ai GDPR compliant? before you record customers or staff.

Can I pay for Otter by PayPal?

Not yet. Otter takes cards on its website, or in-app payment through Apple or Google.

Do unused Otter minutes roll over?

No. Otter's pricing page says the monthly transcription limits don't roll over.

Sources

First published at https://theaitill.com/answers/how-much-does-otter-ai-cost by James Gonzo.

Best card readers for small business UK (2026): 7 compared

James Gonzo — Sat, 24 Oct 2026 01:02:57 +0000

This article was first published on The AI Till: https://theaitill.com/guides/best-card-readers-uk. Prices and details were checked on the dates shown.

For a tradesperson, a shop or a market stall, the right card reader is mostly about fees: what you pay for the device, the percentage on every payment, and any monthly charge. This guide compares seven readers sold in the UK using the prices on each provider's own pricing page, read on 15 October 2026. We don't take payment for placements; see how we make money.

What's the best card reader for a small business in the UK?

For most small businesses taking a few thousand pounds a month, SumUp pay-as-you-go or Square is the simplest choice: a cheap reader (£25 or £19 + VAT), no monthly fee and about 1.7% a payment. If you take more, a lower rate or a monthly plan can cost less, and if you work with no signal, pick a reader with its own SIM.

Which one is best depends on how you take payments:

Cheapest to start: Tap to Pay on your own phone costs nothing for hardware with Square, SumUp and Zettle. Of the readers, Square Reader is £19 + VAT (on offer at £13.30 + VAT when we checked on 24 October 2026) and SumUp Solo Lite is £25.
Lowest first-year cost at £2,000 a month: myPOS, at about £353 on our worked example below, then Tide pay-as-you-go (£409) if you already bank with Tide.
No phone signal on site: myPOS terminals come with a free data SIM, and the PayPal (Zettle) Terminal connects over wifi or 4G.
Steady counter takings: Dojo's 1.2% blended rate is lower than the pay-as-you-go readers, but the machine costs £179 or more.
Over £3,000 a month by card: SumUp Payments Plus (0.99% plus £19 a month) beats SumUp's own 1.69% rate, and SumUp suggests it from £3,000.

Prices for SumUp, Square and Zettle were re-read on 24 October 2026; the others are from 15 and 18 October 2026.

The quick comparison

Reader	Device price	In-person card fee	Monthly fee
Square	Square Reader £19 + VAT (on offer at £13.30 + VAT on 24 October 2026); Tap to Pay £0	1.75% (UK cards)	£0 on the free plan
SumUp	Solo Lite £25, Solo £79, Terminal £135 (excl. VAT); Tap to Pay £0	1.69% pay-as-you-go, or 0.99% on Payments Plus	£0, or £19 (£189 a year) for Payments Plus
Zettle (now PayPal Point of Sale)	PayPal Reader £29 excl. VAT for new users (extra readers £69); Terminal £149 excl. VAT	1.75%, including American Express	£0, no contract
Dojo	Dojo Pocket £239; Dojo Wired £179 upfront	1.2% blended below £100,000 a year of card turnover	Plus plan £25 a month per location (£11.99 new-customer offer)
myPOS	Go 2 £39, Flex £59, Ultra £179 (excl. VAT)	from 1.10% + 7p (varies by payment method)	£0
Tide (Tide account only)	Card Reader £49, Nano £25 on pay-as-you-go; £29 to £39 and £11 to £15 on a plan (excl. VAT)	1.5% + 5p pay-as-you-go; 0.89% + 3p Essential; 0.69% + 3p Premium (UK consumer debit)	£0, or £17.99 Essential, £19.99 Premium (12-month contract), excl. VAT
Revolut Business (Revolut account only)	Lite Terminal £129 + VAT; Terminal £169 + VAT; Tap to Pay on iPhone no hardware cost	0.8% + 2p (UK consumer Visa and Mastercard); Amex 1.7% + 2p; other cards 2.6% + 2p	Business Basic plan £10 a month

What you'd pay a month in fees

Transaction fees only, at three levels of monthly card takings. We've assumed an average payment of £150 for myPOS's fixed 7p fee; adjust for your own average. Device costs are one-off and not included.

Monthly card takings	£1,000	£3,000	£6,000
Square (1.75%)	£17.50	£52.50	£105.00
SumUp pay-as-you-go (1.69%)	£16.90	£50.70	£101.40
SumUp Payments Plus (0.99% + £19)	£28.90	£48.70	£78.40
Zettle (1.75%)	£17.50	£52.50	£105.00
Dojo (1.2%, before any package fee)	£12.00	£36.00	£72.00
myPOS (1.10% + 7p)	£11.47	£34.40	£68.80
Tide pay-as-you-go (1.5% + 5p)	£15.33	£46.00	£92.00
Tide Premium (0.69% + 3p + £19.99)	£27.09	£41.29	£62.59
Revolut (0.8% + 2p + £10 Basic plan)	£18.13	£34.40	£58.80

Tide and Revolut rates are for UK consumer cards (Tide's for debit cards); business and overseas cards cost more. Tide's plan fees exclude VAT, and Tide says transaction and subscription fees will rise on 1 December 2026. Three things stand out. SumUp's Payments Plus only beats its own pay-as-you-go rate once you take roughly £2,700 a month (SumUp suggests it from £3,000). And the lowest percentages come with either a dearer device (Dojo) or a rate that varies by card type (myPOS), so check the rate for the cards your customers actually use. And the bank-linked readers (Tide, Revolut) have low percentages but only work with that provider's business account, and for Revolut the plan fee is part of the cost.

Worked example: a sole trader taking £2,000 a month by card

This is the question most readers ask: what would each reader cost me in the first year? Here is the sum, laid out so you can redo it with your own numbers.

Assumptions (change them to match your business):

£2,000 a month taken by card, in person, as 40 payments of £50.
Every payment is on a UK consumer debit or credit card. Business, Amex and overseas cards cost more with most providers.
You buy the cheapest reader each provider lists. Device prices are as the provider lists them, mostly excluding VAT. If you aren't VAT registered, add 20% to those.
No refunds, chargebacks, instant payout fees or optional add-ons.
Fee rates for Square, SumUp, Zettle, myPOS and Tide were re-read on each provider's page on 18 October 2026. Dojo and Revolut blocked our check that day, so their figures are from 15 October 2026.

How each line is worked out: monthly fees = £2,000 × the percentage, plus the fixed fee per payment × 40, plus any monthly plan fee. First year = monthly fees × 12, plus the reader.

Reader	Rate used	Fees a month (40 × £50)	Fees a month if you take 80 × £25	First year (fees + cheapest reader)
Square	1.75%	£35.00	£35.00	£439.00 (Reader £19 + VAT)
SumUp pay-as-you-go	1.69%	£33.80	£33.80	£430.60 (Solo Lite £25 excl. VAT)
SumUp Payments Plus, paid monthly	0.99% + £19 a month	£38.80	£38.80	£490.60 (Solo Lite £25)
Zettle	1.75%	£35.00	£35.00	£449.00 (Reader £29 excl. VAT, new users)
Dojo	1.2%, before any package fee	£24.00	£24.00	£467.00 (Dojo Wired £179 upfront)
myPOS	1.17% + 7p (see note)	£26.20	£29.00	£353.40 (Go 2 £39 excl. VAT)
Tide pay-as-you-go	1.5% + 5p	£32.00	£34.00	£409.00 (Nano £25 + VAT)
Tide Sell In-Person Premium	0.69% + 3p + £19.99 a month	£34.99	£36.19	£430.88 (Nano £11 + VAT, 12-month contract)
Revolut Business	0.8% + 2p + £10 Basic plan	£26.80	£27.60	£450.60 (Lite Terminal £129 + VAT)

Note on myPOS: myPOS advertises "from 1.10% + £0.07", and its fees page gives its own example: a £100 payment on a UK consumer card leaves £98.76, so the fee is £1.24. That is 1.17% plus the 7p fixed fee, so we used 1.17% + 7p rather than the lowest "from" rate. myPOS also lists £1.50 for each transfer in pounds out to another bank account, which isn't in the table; four transfers a month would add £6.00.

What the sum shows at this turnover: the gap between providers is about £12 a month in fees (£24.00 to £38.80). In the first year the reader price matters as much as the rate: Dojo has the lowest fee but its £179 machine means myPOS, Tide pay-as-you-go and SumUp cost less over twelve months on these assumptions. SumUp Payments Plus costs more than its own pay-as-you-go rate at £2,000 a month; SumUp suggests it from £3,000. If your average payment is small, fixed per-payment fees (myPOS, Tide, Revolut) count for more, which is why the £25 column is higher for them.

This is arithmetic on published prices, not a test of the readers. Your own costs depend on your card mix, so check the provider's rate for the cards your customers actually use.

Best mobile card reader for tradespeople

Plumbers, electricians, cleaners and other trades taking payment at the customer's door need three things: a reader that pairs with your phone or works on its own, no monthly fee in quiet months, and money in the bank quickly.

You always have signal: a Bluetooth reader paired with your phone is enough. SumUp Solo Lite (£25), Square Reader (£19 + VAT) and the PayPal Reader (£29 excl. VAT for new users) all work this way, with no monthly fee.
You don't want to carry a reader: Tap to Pay turns your phone into the reader for contactless cards and phone wallets. Square says it needs an iPhone XS or later, or a compatible Android phone. Inserting a chip card and PIN still needs a reader.
You often work with no signal: a standalone terminal with its own data SIM, such as the myPOS terminals, doesn't rely on your phone's connection.
You need the money fast: SumUp pays into its free business account by 7am the next day, including weekends; Zettle says funds typically reach your PayPal Business account within minutes; Square's free transfers take one to two working days.

If you send a bill after the job instead, invoice payments cost more than tapping a card: Square and Zettle both charge 2.5%.

How much does a card reader cost?

A card reader costs from nothing (Tap to Pay on your phone) to about £239 (Dojo Pocket). Most phone-paired readers are £19 to £39 before VAT: Square £19, SumUp Solo Lite £25, PayPal Reader £29 for new users and myPOS Go 2 £39. Standalone terminals with a screen run from about £79 (SumUp Solo) to £179 (myPOS Ultra or Dojo Wired). On top of the device you pay a fee on every payment, and for some providers a monthly plan, which is why the first-year table below matters more than the sticker price.

Which suits which business

Occasional payments on jobs: a phone-paired reader with no monthly fee. Square, SumUp pay-as-you-go and Zettle all cost under £30 for the device, and Tide's Nano is £25 on pay-as-you-go. SumUp's Tap to Pay uses your phone with no reader at all.
No phone signal on site: a standalone reader with its own SIM. myPOS says all its terminals come with a free data SIM.
Steady takings at a counter: a blended rate can cost less. Dojo's 1.2% applies below £100,000 a year; above that it offers custom rates.
Invoices and remote payments: fees are higher than in person. Square charges 2.5% for manually keyed payments; Zettle charges 2.5% for invoices and payment links.

Readers tied to a business account

Tide's readers work only with a Tide business account, which has a free plan; Tide says you save with a Sell In-Person plan if you take more than £2,900 a month by card. Revolut's terminals need a Revolut Business account; its Basic fees page lists the £10 monthly plan with in-person rates of 0.8% + 2p on UK consumer Visa and Mastercard. Revolut no longer sells its original Reader, so the cheapest device is now the £129 Lite Terminal. Already bank with one of them? Their reader may be the simplest choice.

Things to check before you buy

Contracts and cancellation. Zettle and myPOS say there are no long-term contracts. For Dojo, check the terms of your package.
Payout timing. Dojo says takings arrive next day; myPOS offers instant payouts; Square says free transfers take one to two working days, or instantly for a fee.
Non-UK cards. Square charges 1.75% plus 1.5% for non-UK cards in person, against 1.75% for UK cards.
VAT on hardware. Most device prices above are excluding VAT.

If you take a lot of card payments for jobs, link the reader to your invoicing or accounts software so payments match invoices automatically. See best free invoicing apps and, for working out what to charge, the quote and VAT calculator. Compare any two readers side by side: SumUp vs Zettle, Square vs SumUp, Square vs Dojo, or see all card payment tools.

Sources for Tide and Revolut: Tide card readers, Revolut payment devices, Revolut Business Basic fees and Revolut Reader help, all read 15 October 2026.

FAQ

Which card reader is best for a small business?

For low or uneven takings, a reader with no monthly fee such as SumUp pay-as-you-go (1.69%) or Square (1.75%) is the simplest. At steadier takings, myPOS, Dojo or SumUp Payments Plus can cost less. Work out your own monthly card takings first and compare them with the tables above.

What is the best mobile card reader in the UK?

If you always have signal, a phone-paired reader such as SumUp Solo Lite (£25), Square Reader (£19 + VAT) or the PayPal Reader (£29 for new users). If you often have no signal, a terminal with its own SIM, such as myPOS. Tap to Pay on your phone needs no reader at all for contactless payments.

Is Revolut's card reader better than SumUp?

Only if you already use Revolut Business. Revolut's in-person rate of 0.8% + 2p on UK consumer cards is lower than SumUp's 1.69%, but it needs the £10 a month Basic plan and its cheapest device is now the £129 Lite Terminal, as Revolut no longer sells its original Reader. On our £2,000 a month example the first year costs about £451 with Revolut and £431 with SumUp pay-as-you-go.

Do I need a card reader to take card payments?

Not for contactless. Square, SumUp and Zettle all offer Tap to Pay, which takes contactless cards and phone wallets on your own phone with no hardware. You need a reader when a customer wants to insert a chip card and enter a PIN.

What would a card reader cost me at £2,000 a month?

On our worked example (40 payments of £50 on UK consumer cards, checked 18 October 2026), fees run from £24.00 a month (Dojo) to £38.80 (SumUp Payments Plus). Including the cheapest reader, the first year costs from about £353 (myPOS) to about £491. See the worked example above for each line.

What's the cheapest card reader in the UK?

On device price, SumUp's Tap to Pay is £0 (it uses your phone) and Square Reader is from £19 + VAT. On fees, myPOS and Dojo had the lowest headline percentages when we checked, but each has conditions.

Is there a card reader with no monthly fee?

Yes. Square's free plan, SumUp pay-as-you-go, Zettle, myPOS and Tide pay-as-you-go all showed no monthly fee on 15 October 2026.

When is SumUp Payments Plus worth it?

When the 0.70% saving on each payment outweighs the £19 a month: roughly £2,700 or more of monthly card takings.

Do card fees change?

Yes. Prices here were read from each provider's pricing page on 15 October 2026; check before you buy.

First published at https://theaitill.com/guides/best-card-readers-uk by James Gonzo.

Working out a day rate as a UK sole trader: pricing for the days you can't bill

James Gonzo — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 21:35:27 +0000

Most people who go self-employed set their first day rate by asking around, or by taking their old wage and dividing by working days. Both methods tend to land too low, for the same reason: they assume every working day earns money.

It doesn't. Quoting, driving to the merchant, chasing invoices, doing the books, holidays and the odd sick day all take time nobody pays you for. This article sets out a simple way to build those days into your rate, with a worked example. The figures below are for illustration only. Put in your own.

Step 1: decide what you want the business to pay you

Start with the yearly income you want to take out of the business before tax. Income tax and National Insurance come out of that figure, so don't use your take-home target, or you'll undercharge by the amount of your tax bill.

For the example: £35,000.

Step 2: add up a year of business costs

This is everything the business pays for that isn't you:

van finance or depreciation, fuel, insurance and servicing
public liability and any other insurance
tools and their replacement
phone, software, accountant
trade memberships, certificates, training
workwear and PPE

Materials you charge on to customers don't go in here, because each job covers those.

For the example: £9,000.

Step 3: count the days you can actually bill

This step makes the most difference, and it's the one most people skip.

Working weeks: 52 minus holidays. England and Wales have eight bank holidays, and you'll want some time off as well. Say 46 weeks.
Days a week: say 5.
Share of days you can bill: be honest. If one day in four goes on quoting, admin, travel between jobs that pay nothing and waiting on materials, that's 75%.

Billable days = 46 × 5 × 0.75 = 172.5 days.

Step 4: divide

Day rate = (target income + yearly costs) ÷ billable days

= (£35,000 + £9,000) ÷ 172.5

= about £255 a day.

At eight billable hours a day, that's about £32 an hour.

Compare that with the naive version, which spreads the same £44,000 over every working day (46 × 5 = 230 days). That gives about £191 a day. The gap is roughly £64 a day, and it's the gap between hitting your income target and falling well short of it while feeling busy all year.

Step 5: sense-check it against the market

The number from this method is a floor, not a market rate. It tells you the least you can charge to hit your target. Then compare it with:

what established local firms charge for similar work
how much demand you have (a full diary for months ahead usually means you're cheap)
whether you can raise the share of billable days instead of the rate, for example by batching quotes, invoicing from your phone on the day or cutting dead travel

If the market won't pay your floor, something has to give: costs, target income, days worked or the type of work you take on. It's better to know that now than in January when the tax bill arrives.

Markup and margin: two words people swap without noticing

Once you have a labour rate, most trades add a markup on materials. This is where a second common mistake creeps in.

Markup is profit as a share of cost.
Margin is profit as a share of the selling price.

Add 20% to £100 of materials and you sell them for £120. That's a 20% markup, but the £20 profit is only 16.7% of £120, so the margin is 16.7%. A 25% markup gives a 20% margin, and a 100% markup gives a 50% margin.

It matters when a supplier, accountant or lender talks about margin and you're thinking in markup. To turn a target margin into the markup you need:

markup = margin ÷ (100 − margin) × 100

So for a 20% margin you need a 25% markup.

Some trades don't mark up materials at all and build all their profit into the day rate. Both approaches work, as long as the sums add up to the income you planned in step 1.

Where VAT fits

Work out your day rate before VAT. If you're VAT registered, quote the rate before VAT and add VAT on the quote and invoice. If you're not registered, there's no VAT to add, and you shouldn't show any. Registration becomes compulsory once your VAT-taxable turnover goes over £90,000 in a rolling 12 months.

For construction work for VAT-registered contractors, the domestic reverse charge and CIS deductions also change what lands in your account, though not what you should charge. That's a subject for a separate article.

Review it once a year

Costs move: insurance renewals, fuel, a new van. Recalculate your rate at least once a year, and whenever a big cost changes. Put the date in the diary alongside your MOT.

Tools if you want them

You can do all of this on the back of an envelope. If you'd rather not, there's a free day-rate calculator on The AI Till that uses exactly this method, plus a markup and margin converter. Both run in the browser with no sign-up.

The method itself is the useful part: price for the days you can bill, not the days you work.