Head-to-head
Square vs Zeller vs Tyro
Three of the most-asked-about in-person providers in Australia, side by side. The table below covers how each is structured — pricing model, hardware and POS integration. Because the cheapest option depends entirely on your turnover and card mix, we don't print a winner here: run the live figures at your own numbers instead.
| Square | Zeller | Tyro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Flat rate | Flat rate | Rate + terminal rental; negotiated at higher volume |
| Ongoing monthly account fee | No standard monthly account fee | No standard monthly account fee | Terminal rental applies |
| Hardware | Buy the reader outright (you own it) | Buy the terminal outright (you own it) | Terminal typically rented |
| POS integration | Own POS + integrations | Own POS + integrations | Deep integration with many hospitality/retail POS systems |
| Often suits | Low-volume, simple setups, mobile sellers | SMEs wanting a low flat rate and a free business account | Higher-volume hospitality/retail needing POS integration |
Which is cheapest for you?
It depends on your volume and card mix. Flat-rate providers can be simplest for lower turnover; a rental-plus-rate model can work out lower at higher volume, especially debit-heavy with least-cost routing on. Rather than trust a generic verdict, enter your own numbers and see all three ranked by estimated card acceptance cost, with rental and hardware shown separately.
Structural details are indicative and change — confirm current pricing directly with each provider. Live figures on Compayr carry the date each was verified. Rankings are ordered purely on lowest estimated card acceptance cost; no provider can pay for position. See how we compare.