Buyer's guide
EFTPOS machines compared by cost
There is no single cheapest EFTPOS machine — the lowest-cost choice depends on your turnover, your card mix and whether you buy or rent the hardware. This guide shows how to work it out, then ranks the in-person providers we track by estimated card acceptance cost at your own numbers, with terminal rental and hardware shown separately.
We compare 18 providers — see the full list. We do not compare every provider in the Australian market, and we do not compare every plan each provider offers.
Flat-rate vs interchange-plus
Flat-rate plans are simple and predictable; interchange-plus can be cheaper at volume and lets least-cost routing flow through. The right one depends on your turnover.
Buy vs rent the hardware
Some providers sell a reader outright (a one-off cost you own); others rent a terminal monthly. Neither is automatically cheaper — weigh it against the processing rate at your volume.
Do you even need a terminal?
Tap to Pay on a phone accepts contactless cards with no hardware. Good for mobile, pop-up and low-volume sellers.
Total monthly cost, not headline rate
A low advertised rate with a high monthly rental can lose to a slightly higher rate with no fixed fee. Model processing plus rental together at your numbers.
Next steps
- • See the full in-person provider comparison.
- • Read about least-cost routing to cut debit costs.
- • Compare pricing models: flat-rate vs interchange-plus.
- • No terminal? See Tap to Pay on your phone.
Rankings are ordered purely on lowest estimated card acceptance cost; equipment is shown separately and never enters the ranked figure. Figures are indicative and carry the date each was verified — confirm with the provider before switching. See how we compare.