How to find the best EFTPOS provider for your small business
FairPayments · · Last updated:
Written by the FairPayments team. Questions? Call 1800 930 164.
The best EFTPOS provider for a small business depends on your monthly card takings, your average sale and what the terminal needs to connect to. On published pricing we checked on 16 October 2026, Square was 1.6%, Zeller 1.4% and Tyro 1.3% plus rental. Compare the monthly total, rental included, at your own takings.
Search for the best EFTPOS rates and you'll get a wall of percentages. The rate matters, but on its own it doesn't tell you what you'll pay, or whether the terminal will suit the way you trade. FairPayments is a broker, and we've included our own pricing so you can compare it like any other. This is how we'd pick a provider for a small business, with real published prices.
How do I choose an EFTPOS provider?
Three things decide which provider fits: how much you take on cards each month, your average sale, and what the terminal needs to talk to.
A market stall taking $3,000 a month has different needs from a restaurant taking $80,000 through a POS system. The stall wants no monthly fee and something that runs off a phone or a battery. The restaurant needs its POS to work with the terminal, split bills and a low rate, because at that volume every tenth of a percent is real money.
Write those three things down before you look at a single price.
How do Square, Zeller and Tyro compare on price?
We checked these on each provider's own pricing page on 16 October 2026. Prices change, so check again before you sign.
Square charges 1.6% per in-person transaction for sellers who signed up from 30 May 2024, with no monthly fee on its free plan. Hardware is extra: Square Reader is $65 and Square Terminal is $329.
Zeller charges 1.4% for in-person payments on all cards, including American Express, with no monthly rental. You buy the terminal, listed at $99 when we checked.
Tyro lists 1.3% per transaction plus monthly rental of $19 for the Pro Lite or $29 for the Pro Touch and Pro Key. It also offers a custom quote if you take more than $20,000 a month, and was running an intro offer of 1% with free rental until 31 March 2027, with terms and conditions.
| Provider | In-person rate | Monthly rental | Terminal purchase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square | 1.6% | None on free plan | Reader $65, Terminal $329 |
| Zeller | 1.4% (Amex included) | None | $99 |
| Tyro | 1.3% | $19 (Pro Lite) or $29 (Pro Touch, Pro Key) | No purchase price listed, terminals are rented |
| FairPayments | 0.95% Visa and Mastercard, 25c flat per eftpos transaction, eligible industries only | $25, free over $1 million a year | None |
How much will EFTPOS cost me each month?
Here's the monthly cost at each provider's standard published rate, including monthly rental where there is one: $29 for Tyro and $25 for FairPayments. We've left out terminal purchases, intro offers and custom quotes.
One caveat. Very small sellers who take a few hundred dollars a month may still be better off with a no-rental option and a higher rate. We'd rather say that than pretend one answer fits everyone.
| Monthly card takings | Square | Zeller | Tyro | FairPayments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | $160 | $140 | $159 | $98 |
| $30,000 | $480 | $420 | $419 | $243 |
| $80,000 | $1,280 | $1,120 | $1,069 | $605 |
What would I pay on my own takings?
Put in last month's card takings and the total fees you paid. You'll see your effective rate next to FairPayments' published rates. No email needed, and the numbers stay in your browser.
Effective rate
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Put in last month's takings and fees.
0.95% is for auto, wholesale food and trade supplies businesses. Others, call 1800 930 164 or send your details.
What should I ask an EFTPOS provider before signing?
Is there a lock-in contract, and what does it cost to leave? Is there a monthly minimum? Does the terminal integrate with my POS? Is least cost routing switched on, and does my pricing let it save me anything? What does support look like at 7pm on a Saturday?
Ask for the full fee schedule in writing. The best EFTPOS rates on a website don't help if rental, minimums or compliance fees sit underneath them.
Where does FairPayments fit?
For businesses in the auto industry (mechanics, panel beaters, car dealers and auto parts), wholesale food (butchers and grocers) and trade supplies, FairPayments (Nuvei Preferred Partner) is 0.95% on Visa and Mastercard, a flat 25c per eftpos transaction, and Amex optional at 1.65%. The terminal is $25 a month, free over $1 million a year on cards, and you earn 1 Velocity Point per $25 in card sales, paid to your business. Other businesses can call 1800 930 164. Our full published rates are on one page. Already on a low rate? Ask us about cost-plus pricing.
Related reading
Common questions
Who has the best EFTPOS rates in Australia?
It depends on your volume and how you trade. On published pricing checked on 16 October 2026, Square was 1.6%, Zeller 1.4%, and Tyro 1.3% plus monthly rental. Compare the monthly total, rental included, at your own takings.
What is the best EFTPOS machine for a small business?
The one that matches how you trade. Low-volume or mobile sellers often suit a no-rental option. Businesses with a POS system need a terminal that integrates with it. Higher-volume businesses should focus on the rate, because small differences add up.
Is a no-monthly-fee EFTPOS machine cheaper?
Only at low volumes. A higher rate with no rental can cost more than a lower rate with rental once your monthly card takings grow. Work out the monthly total at your own takings.
What should I ask an EFTPOS provider before signing?
Ask about lock-in contracts and exit fees, monthly minimums, POS integration, whether least cost routing is on, support hours, and get the full fee schedule in writing.
Do EFTPOS providers charge extra for American Express?
Some do. On published pricing checked on 16 October 2026, Zeller's 1.4% included American Express. Check whether Amex is included or priced separately before you compare.
What does FairPayments charge?
For businesses in the auto industry (mechanics, panel beaters, car dealers and auto parts), wholesale food (butchers and grocers) and trade supplies, FairPayments (Nuvei Preferred Partner) is 0.95% on Visa and Mastercard, a flat 25c per eftpos transaction, and Amex optional at 1.65%. Other businesses can call 1800 930 164.