How to pay less for card payments in Australia
Compayr Editorial · · 3 min
Since 1 October 2026 you can't surcharge eftpos, Mastercard or Visa payments, so card fees come straight out of your margin. The quickest way to pay less is to compare what each provider would cost at your turnover, see your lowest cost option and switch.
The gap is bigger than most owners expect. Published in-person rates run from 0.79% to 1.6%, checked 29 October 2026. At $50,000 a month in card sales, that is about $380 a month, or $4,560 a year, even after terminal rental.
How do I see my lowest cost option?
Enter your monthly card turnover in the free comparison. It ranks the providers Compayr compares by estimated monthly cost at your volume, using each provider's published rate, with terminal rental shown beside each result. Add your current rate to see what you would save.
Here is how the in-person providers compare at $50,000 a month, counting the rate plus each provider's published monthly fee:
| Provider | Published rate (inc GST) | Monthly fee | Cost at $50,000 a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westpac | 0.79% | $24.75 terminal rental | $419.75 |
| ANZ Worldline | 0.95% | $25 terminal rental | $500 |
| CommBank Smart | 0.99% | No minimum monthly fee | $495 |
| NAB | 1.05% | $25 terminal rental | $550 |
| Tyro | 1.3% | From $19 terminal rental | $669 |
| Zeller | 1.4% | None (terminal bought) | $700 |
| SumUp | 1.4% | None (reader bought) | $700 |
| Square | 1.6% | None (hardware bought) | $800 |
Temporary promotional rates and fees are excluded. Rates shown are the standard ongoing rate for each provider, as at the date shown against it. Your order may differ with your turnover and card mix, so run your own numbers.
Did my provider pass on the 1 October cut?
Possibly not. Of the 20 card rates Compayr tracks, 7 were cut after the RBA lowered interchange on 1 October and 13 were not. Square, Zeller's standard rate, Tyro and SumUp have not moved. Check yours in the Pass Through Tracker.
How do I switch?
Compayr links you straight to the provider, with no broker and no callback. Then:
- Check your notice period. NAB asks for 60 days and ANZ Worldline for 30.
- Set up the new terminal and run it for a few days before returning the old one.
- Check your first statement on the new plan shows the rate you signed up for.
If you would rather stay, take your result to your current provider and ask them to match it.
Is switching worth it for a small business?
Usually. Below about $3,000 a month in card sales, a plan with no monthly fee can cost less than a lower rate with rental. Above that, the lower rate wins. The comparison works this out at your turnover.
Compayr is a free merchant payment comparison site and does not sell payment processing. Some providers pay Compayr a referral fee when a merchant switches through our links. This never affects the order of results.
References
- [1] Reserve Bank of Australia, "Review of Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging: Conclusions Paper", March 2026. https://www.rba.gov.au/payments-and-infrastructure/review-of-retail-payments-regulation/2026-03/conclusions-paper/pdf/conclusions-paper.pdf
- [2] Compayr, "Pass Through Tracker", checked daily. https://compayr.com.au/pass-through-tracker
- [3] Westpac, EFTPOS pricing. https://www.westpac.com.au/business-banking/merchants-and-payments/eftpos/mobile/
- [4] Square, "Our fees". https://squareup.com/au/en/payments/our-fees
- [5] Tyro, "Merchant payment costs". https://www.tyro.com/merchant-payment-costs/
- [6] CommBank, "Single rate per transaction". https://www.commbank.com.au/business/payments/eftpos-terminals/fees/single-rate-per-transaction.html
See what you'd really pay. Compare the major providers we track at your turnover
Compare nowRates and provider details are indicative, last verified October 2026. Verify with providers. Compayr may earn a referral fee when a merchant switches via our comparison.
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