EFTPOS rates compared: what each Australian provider advertises (2026)

Which providers advertise the lowest EFTPOS rates?

Among the providers we checked on 29 October 2026, the banks advertise the lowest flat rates: Westpac 0.79%, ANZ Worldline 0.95% on domestic cards and CommBank 0.99%. NAB is 1.05%. Zeller (1.4%), Square (1.6%) and Stripe Terminal (1.7% + A$0.10) charge more per payment but sell the terminal outright with no rental. FairPayments, for auto, wholesale food and trade supplies businesses, is 0.95% on Visa and Mastercard and a flat 25c per eftpos transaction. On Visa and Mastercard, Westpac's 0.79% is lower than FairPayments' 0.95%.

Every figure below comes from the provider's own website on the date shown.

Why can a higher rate still work out cheaper?

Rental is a fixed cost, so it weighs more on a small business. Rate still matters most, but two other things change what you really pay. FairPayments charges eftpos at a flat 25c instead of a percentage, so a $100 eftpos sale costs 25c, compared with 95c at 0.95%. And every $25 of card sales earns your business 1 Velocity Point, which no other provider in this table advertises. Taken together, a business doing plenty of larger eftpos sales can pay less overall and get more back. (Illustrative figures, not a real business.)

Do the rates cover American Express?

Not always. CommBank, Zeller and Square include Amex in the headline rate, and CommBank's Amex acceptance is subject to approval. NAB's 1.05% lists Visa, Mastercard, eftpos and UnionPay. The Westpac, ANZ Worldline and Stripe pages we checked didn't state Amex pricing. At FairPayments Amex is optional at 1.65%, with no per-transaction fee.

How does a flat 25c eftpos fee compare with a percentage?

FairPayments charges eftpos sales a flat 25c each, whatever the sale amount. A percentage rate charges more as the sale gets bigger. On a $100 eftpos sale, 25c compares with 95c at 0.95%. On a $10 sale, 25c compares with 9.5c, so the percentage is cheaper.

The two cost the same at about $26.32 (25c divided by 0.95%). Above that the flat fee costs less than 0.95%; below it the percentage costs less. ANZ Worldline also charges 0.95% on eftpos, so the same $26.32 point applies there. Against Westpac's 0.79% the crossover is about $31.65. If most of your eftpos sales are large, as at a mechanic or a trade counter, the flat fee works in your favour. If they're mostly small, a percentage rate will cost less on eftpos.

Do any of these providers earn rewards points?

FairPayments is the only provider in the table whose pricing advertises rewards points: 1 Velocity Point per $25 in card sales. None of the other providers' pages we checked on 29 October 2026 advertised points on card sales. Points don't change the fee you pay, so compare the rates first and treat the points as extra.

Is the advertised rate what my business will pay?

Advertised rates aren't what every business pays. Banks offer negotiated pricing to businesses that meet their criteria, some rates are for eligible customers only, and fees such as rental sit outside the percentage. The only number that tells you what you pay is your effective rate: all fees on one month's statement divided by that month's card takings.

From 30 October 2026 the largest acquirers must also publish their average merchant service fees each quarter. Our guide to the new fee publishing rules explains how to compare your statement with them.

How should I choose?

Start with your effective rate and your monthly card takings. Work out the yearly cost at each rate you're considering, rental included. Check how much of your takings is Amex and what each provider charges for it. Ask whether the rate needs approval or applies only to certain businesses, and whether there's a lock-in. If your terminal has to talk to your POS, confirm it does before you sign.

FairPayments' own rates and conditions are on our published rates page.