Ranked
7 Best EFTPOS Machines for Small Business in Australia
Seven EFTPOS machines priced at A$10,000 a month in card sales: machine cost, fees, and how soon you're paid. Last confirmed 7 November 2026.
Since 1 October 2026, Australian businesses can no longer add a surcharge to card payments. So every cent of your EFTPOS fee now comes out of your own margin, and the fee you choose matters more than it did a year ago.
That's why I've priced seven EFTPOS machines for the same business: a café or shop making A$10,000 a month on cards, from 250 sales of A$40.
Two companies appear twice, because a machine that prints and one that doesn't suit different counters. If you were expecting Westpac, NAB, ANZ or Stripe, I explain where they fit near the end.
How I ranked them
This isn't a price order, because the cheapest machine to run is a bank's, and it suits that bank's customers best. I start with what most small businesses want first: one fee on every card, with nothing monthly. Then a printer, then same-day money for a busy counter, then software for selling online, then the cheapest ways in. Where a machine lower down costs less to run, I say so.
Some companies include GST in their prices and some don't say, so I've used each one exactly as the company lists it.
What the seven cost at A$10,000 a month
Here's each machine at the same sales, with what it costs to buy, what you pay a month, and what the first year comes to.
Australian EFTPOS machines at A$10,000 a month in card sales
| Machine price | A month | First year | When you're paid | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Zeller Terminal 2 |
A$99 | A$140 | A$1,779 | Every night |
| Zeller Terminal 1x |
A$99 | A$140 | A$1,779 | Every night |
 Tyro Pro Lite |
A$19 a month | A$149 | A$1,788 | 7 days a week |
 Square Reader |
A$65 | A$160 | A$1,985 | Next day, free |
| Square Terminal |
A$329 | A$160 | A$2,249 | Next day, free |
 SumUp Solo |
A$79 | A$140 | A$1,759 | 2 to 3 days |
 CommBank Smart Mini |
A$59 | A$99 | A$1,247 | Same day |
Our sums, for 250 sales of A$40. Zeller's A$99 is a sale price, normally A$199. Tyro's first year is 12 months of rental and fees. Zeller and Tyro include GST; Square, SumUp and CommBank don't say.← scroll sideways on a narrow screen →
CommBank's Smart Mini costs least, at A$99 a month. SumUp, Zeller and Tyro land within A$30 of each other over the year, and Square costs about A$20 a month more.
So the gap between most of these is small. What decides it is when the money lands, whether you print receipts, and where you bank.
You can't add these fees on for your customers any more, because the Reserve Bank removed card surcharging from 1 October 2026. So build the fee into your prices. At 1.4%, it's about 56c on a sale of A$40. You can still offer a discount for a particular way of paying.
1. Zeller Terminal 2 - one fee on every card
Zeller comes first because its bill is the simplest here. The Zeller Terminal 2 is A$99 in Zeller's sale, normally A$199, with no monthly fee and no lock-in contract. Every card costs 1.4%, American Express included, and that 1.4% already includes GST.
Zeller Terminal 2
Zeller Terminal 2 is a countertop or handheld EFTPOS machine with a 6.5-inch screen, working on Wi-Fi, a SIM or ethernet, with digital receipts.
For one simple bill: Zeller Terminal 2
The Zeller Terminal 2 costs you nothing in a month with no sales, because there's no rental and no minimum. Zeller gives you 30 days to send it back.
Where it stands out
- One fee on every card, Amex included
- A free POS app, and links to over 600 POS systems
- Money every night, weekends included
Buy it if
- You want the same fee on every card
- You'd like no monthly bill at all
Skip it if
- Customers expect a printed receipt
- You make over A$250,000 a year, where Zeller offers lower custom pricing
Want your money the same day?
Tyro's Pro Lite costs A$9 a month more at these sales, and pays out every day of the week.
Your money lands in a Zeller Transaction Account every night, 365 days a year. You can send it to any other bank instead, and then it arrives the next business day at no charge. A SIM for mobile data is an extra A$15.
Start here if you run a café, a hair salon, a corner store or a market stall, and you want one predictable fee on every card.
2. Zeller Terminal 1x - the same deal, with a printer
The Zeller Terminal 1x is the same A$99 in the sale and the same 1.4% a sale, with a receipt printer built in. It comes with a free roll of paper, and more rolls are A$29.
Zeller Terminal 1x
Zeller Terminal 1x prints receipts and sends digital ones, with a 6.7-inch screen and the same 1.4% on every card.
For printed receipts: Zeller Terminal 1x
The 1x is the cheapest way here to hand over a printed receipt with nothing monthly.
Where it stands out
- A printer and digital receipts in one machine
- The same nightly payouts as the Zeller Terminal 2
- No rental, no lock-in contract
Buy it if
- Customers ask for a printed receipt
- You want a printer without a monthly fee
Skip it if
- You'd rather send every receipt by text or email
No printer needed?
The Zeller Terminal 2 costs the same A$99 in the sale, with digital receipts only.
Get it if you hand over receipts, as takeaways, bakeries, butchers and hardware stores usually do.
3. Tyro Pro Lite - your money seven days a week
Tyro rents its machines rather than selling them. The Pro Lite is A$19 a month, and every card costs 1.3%, GST included. At A$10,000 a month that's A$149 all in, A$9 more than Zeller, because the rental outweighs the lower fee.
Tyro Pro Lite
Tyro Pro Lite is a rented EFTPOS machine with a 5-inch touchscreen, settling every day into a Tyro account.
For same-day money: Tyro Pro Lite
The Pro Lite is for a busy counter that needs yesterday's sales in the account today, because Tyro settles seven days a week.
Where it stands out
- Links to over 580 POS systems
- No lock-in contract, joining fee or break fee
- Tap & Save sends eligible debit cards the cheapest way
Buy it if
- You restock every morning
- Your POS needs to talk to the EFTPOS machine
Skip it if
- You'd rather own the machine
- You want the money in your usual bank the same day
Settlement happens overnight, between 8pm and 5am Sydney time, into a Tyro Transaction Account. The bigger Pro Touch and Pro Key are A$29 a month, at the same 1.3%.
Tyro also lists an intro offer of 1% a sale and free rental until 31 March 2027, with terms attached. If it's on your agreement, the same sales cost A$100 a month until then.
Pick Tyro if your counter is busy and you buy stock daily, like cafés, bottle shops, pharmacies and restaurants.
4. Square Reader - one app for the counter and online
Square costs a little more per sale, 1.6% on every card, but one Square app runs your card sales, invoices and an online store, with no monthly fee on its free plan. The Square Reader is A$65 and pairs with your phone. At our sales that's A$160 a month, A$20 more than Zeller.
Square Reader
Square Reader pairs with your phone by Bluetooth and takes tap, chip and swipe, through Square's free POS app.
If you also sell online: Square Reader
Square is the easy pick if you also sell online or send invoices, because one app runs all of it.
Where it stands out
- Money the next day, weekends included, for free
- Instant transfers for 1.95% when you need it sooner
- No lock-in contract, cancel any time
Buy it if
- You sell online or send invoices too
- Your phone can stay beside you
Skip it if
- The lowest fee per sale is all you want
Rather not use your phone?
The Square Terminal is A$329, with its own screen and a printer, at the same 1.6%.
That 1.6% is for businesses signing up now. Businesses that joined Square before 30 May 2024 pay 1.9% on the Reader. Online sales and invoices cost 2.2%.
Pick Square if you also sell online or by invoice, like florists, photographers, personal trainers and gift shops.
5. Square Terminal - Square with a printer, and no phone needed
The Square Terminal is A$329, or A$28 a month over 12 months. It prints receipts and has its own screen, so it doesn't need your phone, at the same 1.6% a sale.
Square Terminal
Square Terminal is an all-in-one EFTPOS machine with a printer and its own screen, running Square's free POS app.
Square at a counter: Square Terminal
The Square Terminal is Square's software at a fixed counter, with receipts and no phone beside it.
Where it stands out
- Prints receipts on the spot
- The same free next-day payouts as the Reader
- Can be paid off over 12 months
Buy it if
- You want Square's app without a phone
- Customers want a printed receipt
Skip it if
- You only need a printer, not the software
Get it if you want Square's app at a counter with receipts, like a café, a boutique or a barber's shop.
6. SumUp Solo - a low price, with no phone needed
The SumUp Solo is from A$79, works on its own with built-in data, and charges 1.40% a sale with no monthly fee or contract. At our sales that's A$140 a month, the same as Zeller. With a printer it's A$189.
SumUp Solo
SumUp Solo is a pocket-sized EFTPOS machine with its own screen and unlimited built-in data, so it works without your phone.
For markets and events: SumUp Solo
The Solo is the cheapest way here to take cards without a phone, if you can wait two to three days for the money.
Where it stands out
- Unlimited data built in
- A 14-day money-back guarantee
- Lower custom fees above A$20,000 a month
Buy it if
- You sell at markets, fairs or events
- You want a low upfront price
Skip it if
- You need your money within a day
Want money every night?
The Zeller Terminal 2 costs A$20 more in the sale, at 1.4% a sale, and pays every night.
You pay for that low price in waiting time. SumUp says the money reaches your bank in two to three days, against Zeller's overnight.
Pick it if you sell at markets, fairs or events, or run a mobile service like dog grooming or mobile coffee, and can wait two to three days to be paid.
7. CommBank Smart Mini - the lowest fee, if CommBank suits you
CommBank cut its standard fee to 0.99% on 1 October 2026, Amex included. The Smart Mini is A$59 to buy, pairs with your phone by Bluetooth, and has no lock-in contract. At our sales that's A$99 a month, the lowest here.
CommBank Smart Mini
CommBank Smart Mini pairs with the Smart Mini app on your phone by Bluetooth, for taking cards on the go.
For the lowest fee: CommBank Smart Mini
The Smart Mini costs the least to run of the seven, and it's at its best with a CommBank business account.
Where it stands out
- 0.99% on every card, Amex included
- Paid the same day when you bank with CommBank
- A replacement within four hours if it breaks
Buy it if
- You bank with CommBank
- You work on the move with your phone
Skip it if
- You want a machine that works without your phone
Rather not switch banks?
The Zeller Terminal 2 pays into its own free account every night, at 1.4% a sale.
Your money arrives the same day when it settles into a CommBank business account. With another bank, sales from Tuesday to Thursday arrive the same day, Friday's arrive on Saturday morning, and weekend and Monday sales arrive on Tuesday.
Pick it if you already bank with CommBank and work on the move, as tradies, food trucks and market traders do. For a fixed counter, the CommBank Smart is A$29.50 a month at the same 0.99%.
Still on your bank's EFTPOS machine?
Many businesses still rent the machine their bank gave them years ago, and the rental often sits on the same statement as the card fees. So add up last month's EFTPOS charges, rental included, and compare them with your card sales. At A$10,000 a month, anything over A$140 means Zeller would cost you less.
Before you order anything new, find out how much notice your bank wants. CommBank, Westpac and NAB all say there's no lock-in contract, and CommBank asks for 30 days' notice, so you can run a new machine beside the old one until it goes back.
What the big four banks charge
Maybe you'd like your EFTPOS money in the same bank as everything else. Each of the big four has its own machine, and each pays the same day into its own business account. Here they are at the same A$10,000 a month.
The big four banks at A$10,000 a month in card sales
| Fee a sale | Machine | A month, all in | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CommBank Smart | 0.99%, Amex included | A$29.50 a month | A$128.50 |
| Westpac EFTPOS Now | 0.79%, not Amex | A$24.75 a month | A$103.75 |
| NAB EFTPOS | 1.05% | A$25 a month | A$130 |
| ANZ Worldline | On quote | On quote | On quote |
Worked out at 250 sales of A$40. Westpac includes GST; CommBank and NAB don't say. Westpac's 0.79% doesn't cover Amex, which is charged separately. NAB gives a once-off A$300 rental rebate on a new machine taken by 30 November 2026, with conditions.← scroll sideways on a narrow screen →
Westpac costs least of the banks at these sales, if few customers pay by Amex.
As you can see, a bank's machine is best value when you already bank there. So compare your own bank's offer with Zeller's 1.4% before you move anything.
Why Westpac, NAB, ANZ and Stripe aren't ranked
Westpac, NAB and ANZ suit businesses that already bank with them, like established shops, medical practices and restaurants with a business account and a banker they deal with. They're in the table above rather than the ranking, because each one's best deal depends on that relationship. ANZ's prices also come only on a quote.
Stripe is for businesses with a developer, such as online stores adding a counter, app-based services and franchises with their own checkout. It charges about 1.7% plus 10c a sale for Australian cards, and its machines start at A$89 plus GST.
Lightspeed suits retailers and restaurants already running Lightspeed's POS, because its payments come only with a Lightspeed plan, and it lists no price for them.
Overall, each of these fits a business that's bigger, banks somewhere already, or builds its own checkout. For a small business choosing its first or next EFTPOS machine, the seven above are the shortlist.
So which EFTPOS machine should you get?
At A$10,000 a month, Zeller, Tyro and SumUp sit within A$30 of each other over a year. So the bigger choices are when you're paid, whether you print, and where you bank.
For most small businesses, start with the Zeller Terminal 2. The same 1.4% whatever card is used, no rental, and your money overnight, so the bill is easy to predict.
If you restock first thing each day, as cafés, bakeries and corner stores do, take Tyro for money seven days a week. If you print receipts, the Zeller Terminal 1x is the same price with a printer.
If you also sell online or send invoices, like florists, photographers and personal trainers, take the Square Reader, or the Square Terminal at a counter. If you sell at markets or events and can wait, the SumUp Solo is the cheapest way in without a phone. And if you bank with CommBank, its Smart Mini has the lowest fee.
Still between two? Answer three quick questions below about what you need most, whether a phone can stay beside it, and where you bank. It picks one machine for you.
Your business, your answer
Which EFTPOS machine fits your business?
Answer for how you work today. The recommendation updates as you go.
1What matters most to you?
2Can it lean on your phone?
3Where do you bank?
Before you answer
Zeller Terminal 2, if you want a simple bill
The Zeller Terminal 2 is A$99 in Zeller's sale, with 1.4% on every card and no monthly fee or contract.
The trade-off: it doesn't print. If customers want a receipt on paper, the Zeller Terminal 1x is the same price with a printer.
Questions small businesses ask about EFTPOS machines
Can I still add a surcharge for card payments in Australia?
No. Since 1 October 2026, businesses can't add a surcharge for payments on Visa, Mastercard, American Express or eftpos cards.Weekend and public holiday surcharges are separate and still allowed. Price the card fee into what you charge. A discount for paying a certain way is still allowed.
What is the cheapest EFTPOS machine for a small business?
To buy, CommBank's Smart Mini at A$59, then Zeller's A$99 in its current sale.To run, CommBank's 0.99% is the lowest of the seven here. At A$10,000 a month in card sales that's A$99 in fees, against A$140 on Zeller at 1.4%.
Which EFTPOS machine pays out fastest?
Tyro settles seven days a week into a Tyro account, overnight.Zeller pays every night into a Zeller account, weekends included. The big four banks pay the same day into their own business accounts, and Square pays the next day for free, or instantly for 1.95%.
1 more question
Do EFTPOS machines in Australia come with lock-in contracts?
None of the seven here does.Zeller, Tyro, Square, SumUp and CommBank all say there's no lock-in contract, and CommBank asks for 30 days' notice to end it.