Zeal vs Fidel API: card-linked offers or loyalty on the card machine

Fidel API is a developer platform for card-linked programmes: cardholders enrol a Visa, Mastercard or American Express card once inside a bank's, publisher's or brand's app or website, and Fidel tracks purchases on that card at participating merchants. Zeal works at the merchant's card machine, where customers are recognised from the card they pay with and can join on the spot.

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Customer tapping a phone on a Zeal-enabled card machine showing loyalty stamps

Award-winning value-added services for payment terminals

Where enrolment happens: Fidel API vs Zeal

With Fidel API, the customer enrols their card in advance by typing the card number into an app or website built on Fidel's SDK; after that, nothing is needed at the till. With Zeal, enrolment happens at the till itself: a new customer joins in a couple of taps on the card machine screen during a payment, and is recognised from the same card on every visit after that.

Recognise your regulars, then reward them

Zeal identifies the customer from the card, enrols new ones in a couple of taps on the terminal screen, and awards points, stamps or vouchers during the payment. Your customer database grows with every card payment, with nothing for the customer or your staff to remember.

Choosing between Zeal and Fidel API

Fidel API may suit you if you run a bank, publisher or rewards app and want card-linked offers across many merchants, with no merchant hardware involved. Zeal suits you if you are a merchant or payment provider that wants loyalty and customer insight on the card machines already at the counter.

Zeal versus Fidel API comparison lockup

A globally-recognised award-winning solution

Zeal has been recognised by Visa, Ingenico and other global industry leaders, has been nominated for London Fintech Week and has won multiple international awards.

ZEAL IN ACTION

Zeal is revolutionising payments & loyalty for merchants. Merchants using Zeal have witnessed massive boosts in customer retention, loyalty programme participation and overall sales.

28%

boost in retention rate for a leading burger chain in Cairo, Egypt

Loyalty points icon
80%

of customers engaging with loyalty on Zeal for its convenience and ease of use

Rewards gift box icon
12%

increase in sales attributed to retention and CLV boost using Zeal

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Explore more features

Discover more ways Zeal can realise the full potential of your card machines and grow your business.

Effortless Loyalty

Make loyalty effortless for your customers

Run frictionless loyalty programmes on your card machines without the need for any extra steps, QR, or loyalty cards.

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Identify Customers

Your card machines can identify & segment your..

Zeal turns your card machines into powerful data sources, giving you actionable insights about your customers.

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Remarketing Tools

Your card machines as loyalty engines

With Zeal, your card machines can run hyper-personalised marketing campaigns for your customers.

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Powerful Analytics

Realise the full potential of your in-store data

With Zeal, you can gain deeper insights into your customers and utilize data to boost retention.

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Testimonials

Don’t take our word for it

"Mellon’s payment solutions are designed to offer acquirers and merchants a competitive edge, and Zeal amplifies that. From personalised loyalty programmes to real-time customer insights, Zeal transforms every payment into an opportunity for engagement and growth."

Manos Perdikaris

Business Unit Manager

"Partnering with Zeal reinforces our commitment to delivering next-generation payment solutions. As the leading Android POS provider, we’re driving innovation and transforming in-store experiences through smarter, simpler, and scalable payment technology."

Jean-Philippe Niedergang

CCO and CEO of EMEA Region

"Zeal's loyalty technology, integrated into Ingenico’s Android solutions, enables merchants to identify, engage and reward customers effortlessly. Together, we're not just processing payments; we're shaping the future of customer loyalty in physical retail, setting new benchmarks for personalised engagement."

Boris Ferlet

SVP, Android & Partner Ecosystem

"At BRGR, we believe in keeping things simple: great burgers, great service, and a frictionless ordering & loyalty experience with Zeal. Our customers love how easy it is to earn and redeem rewards, and we love seeing them come back for more."

Ahmed Hanafi

Founder & CEO

"Luxury is about personalisation, and Zeal helps us bring that to life. Now, our clients can enjoy a tailored loyalty experience, ensuring their visits are always rewarded in a way that feels exclusive and effortless."

Mostafa Al Sagheer

CEO

ROI

How much is in it for you?

How many card machines do you have?

5

What’s your approximate annual turnover (£)?

50,000
Your projected annual turnover with Zeal

52,500

based on a 5-12% uplift in retained sales
Pricing

Zeal has flexible pricing to fit your business needs

Talk to sales to learn more about ongoing deals or partnership opportunities.

Basic plan

Free

Enable your card machines to recognise your customers and collect feedback after every transaction.

Get Basic plan
Features

A Basic plan enables you to:

Brand your card machine screens

Collect customer feedback for every transaction

Access basic reports

Premium plan

Custom

pricing

Provided through your payment provider, on revenue share or an annual licence across nominated terminals.

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Features

All features available in the Basic plan, plus:

Offer zero-friction loyalty on your card machines

View customer profiles and insights

Export powerful reports

View transactions history

Get priority support for your business

Commercials are agreed with your payment provider. For enterprise arrangements, please contact us.
Awards

Zeal is a globally-recognised award-winning solution

UK Fintech Awards 2026: Winner, Team of the Year and Winner, Innovator of the Year (Belal Mohamed, CTO) · Juniper Research Future Digital Awards 2023: Platinum, Payment Terminal Innovation · The Card & Payments Awards: 4x Finalist 2024 · UK Chartered Institute of Export: Innovation in Trade 2024 · Ingenico Making Data Pay Awards 2023: 1st Place

Fintech Awards London
Visa Everywhere Initiative Finalist 2020
UCL Centre for Digital Innovation
Barclays Eagle Labs
Ingenico
The Card & Payments Awards
Fintech Awards London
Visa Everywhere Initiative Finalist 2020
UCL Centre for Digital Innovation
Barclays Eagle Labs
Ingenico
The Card & Payments Awards
FAQ

Zeal vs Fidel API

Frequently asked questions

What is Fidel API?

Fidel API is a UK-registered developer platform for card-linking on Visa, Mastercard and American Express. According to Fidel's website, it offers a Select Transactions API for real-time transaction events and Offers as a Service for card-linked offers.

How do customers enrol with Fidel API?

Fidel's documentation says the cardholder enters their card number and expiry once, inside a client's app or website using Fidel's SDK, and gives consent. Purchases on that card at the programme's participating merchants are then tracked automatically.

Does Fidel API need an app?

Fidel has no consumer app of its own, so enrolment happens in a third-party app or website, such as a bank's, publisher's or brand's. Zeal does not need an app: customers join on the card machine screen when they pay.

How is Zeal different from Fidel API?

Fidel API connects card schemes to rewards programmes run by banks, publishers and brands. Zeal runs on the merchant's card machine, next to the payment app, so the merchant gets loyalty, enrolment at the till and customer insights from its own card payments.

When was this comparison checked?

The Fidel API details on this page come from Fidel's own website, FAQ and developer documentation, checked in October 2026. Products change, so check with Fidel API for the latest. The Zeal details come from Zeal's own product information.

Expert review

About this page

Omar Ebeid, Co-founder and CEO of Zeal

Reviewed by Omar Ebeid

Co-founder and CEO, Zeal

Omar Ebeid is Co-founder and CEO of Zeal, which he founded with Bellal Mohamed in 2019. He holds an MSc in Entrepreneurship from the University of Bath and won the Vice-Chancellor’s Award at the University of Surrey. Under his leadership Zeal won Team of the Year at the UK FinTech Awards 2026 and Platinum at the Juniper Research Future Digital Awards 2023.

  • Written by: the Zeal team
  • Last reviewed:

Sources

  1. Fidel API - One API for linking bank cards to applications, globally — Fidel API
  2. Select Transactions API – Introduction — Fidel API
  3. A guide for card enrollment with the Android SDK — Fidel API
  4. Offers as a Service — Fidel API
  5. ENIGMATIC SMILE LTD overview — Companies House
  6. Enigmatic Smile acquires Fidel API’S loyalty business in landmark industry deal — Fidel API, 1 May 2024
  7. Making Data Pay — Ingenico, 2 March 2023
  8. 2026 winners — UK FinTech Awards, 2026
  9. Juniper Research: Future Digital Award Winners Announced for Fintech & Payments 2023 — Juniper Research via Business Wire, October 2023

Sources checked on 11 October 2026. Details of Zeal’s own products come from Zeal.