CompareEftpos

Compare EFTPOS machines and fees

Every EFTPOS provider says they are the cheapest. What actually decides your cost is your turnover, your average sale and whether the machine routes to the cheaper network. Compare them here on the numbers that matter, not the headline rate.

Compare providersWork out your cost

Start with what you actually pay

A 1.1% rate with a $45 monthly fee beats a 1.4% rate with no monthly fee — but only above a certain turnover. Below it, the reverse is true. That crossover is the whole game, and it is why a single "cheapest EFTPOS machine" answer does not exist.

Three things decide your real cost:

  • Your monthly card turnover. Percentage-based costs scale with it; fixed monthly fees do not.
  • Your average transaction size. A flat cents-per-tap fee hurts a $4 coffee far more than a $400 invoice.
  • Whether least cost routing is switched on. Most debit cards can be sent down the cheaper Eftpos network instead of Visa or Mastercard. Plenty of merchants are paying for the expensive one without knowing it.

How EFTPOS fees actually work walks through each of these in plain English.

Providers at a glance

Australian EFTPOS providers compared on rate, monthly cost and lock-in. All rates and prices are GST-inclusive. Australian providers publish GST-inclusive headline rates, and figures are shown as published. The one exception is a provider that states its pricing excludes GST — that row is grossed up by 10% and marked. Read from each provider's published pricing page on 27 August 2026; pricing changes, so confirm with the provider before you sign. Sources: Zeller, Square, Tyro, Shift4 (formerly Smartpay), Stripe, PayNuts.
ProviderRate per tapMonthly cost inc GSTTerminal cost inc GSTLock-inLeast cost routingSuits
Zeller1.4%None$99.00promo as at 27 August 2026NoYesSmall business wanting one simple rate, including AmexOne flat rate across all card types, including Amex. Terminal price is promotional — normally AU$199.
Square1.6%None$65.00NoYesStarting out, or occasional trade — cheapest way onto a readerHardware figure is the Square Reader at $65; the Square Terminal is $329. No monthly fee on the free plan.
TyroNot published — quoted per business$19.00IncludedNoYesEstablished businesses, especially hospitality and healthRate is quoted per business and not published. Monthly figure is Tyro Pro Lite from $19; Tyro Pro is from $29.
Shift4 (formerly Smartpay)grossed up from ex GSTNot published — quoted per business$38.45IncludedNoYesBusinesses considering a surcharging modelRate quoted per business, not published. Their "zero cost" product relies on surcharging and carries a $100 + GST monthly minimum.
Stripegrossed up from ex GST1.87% + 11cPublished as 1.7% + A$0.10 ex GST.None$97.90NoYesBusinesses already taking payments online with StripeHardware is the entry BBPOS WisePad 3 (A$89 ex GST); Stripe Reader S710/S700 are A$449 and T600 A$469, all ex GST. Stripe has flagged lower domestic pricing from 1 Oct 2026.
PayNutsNot published — quoted per business$29.00IncludedNoYesBusinesses over $10k/month, or wanting a surcharging modelIn-person rate is quoted per business, not published. The $29 inc GST applies per terminal only in a month under $10,000 turnover on their Pay Nothing plan — otherwise $0. No terminal rental, no lock-in. Online payments are published separately at 1.60% + $0.25 inc GST.

See the full comparison, or jump tothe best machines by business type.

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