Square vs Zeller — Australia 2026

Square vs Zeller for AU businesses. Compare card rates (1.6% vs 1.4%), EFTPOS hardware, monthly fees, integrations & AU data hosting.

Last verified 2026-03-16
Quick Verdict

Zeller wins on card rates and AU credentials

Zeller's 1.4% card rate undercuts Square's 1.6%, saving AU businesses $2 per $1,000 in card transactions. Zeller is AU-made (Melbourne), AU-hosted, and combines EFTPOS + POS in a single $299 terminal with no monthly fees. Square offers a broader app ecosystem (300+ integrations vs Zeller's 10) and more hardware options. Choose Zeller for lowest-cost EFTPOS; choose Square if you need a richer integration ecosystem.

Feature Comparison

FeatureSquareZeller
HeadquartersSan Francisco, CA, USA (Block Inc)Melbourne, VIC
Entry PriceFreeFree
BAS LodgementPOS system — BAS via accounting integration (Xero, MYOB)POS/EFTPOS — BAS via accounting integration
STP Phase 2n/an/a
Payday Supern/an/a
Modern AwardsN/AN/A
Data HostingAUAU
AU Support HoursMon-Fri 9am-5pm AEST24/7
Phone SupportYesYes
Integrations300+ apps600+ apps

Pricing Comparison (AUD, Mar 2026)

Square Plans

Free POS
Free
AUD inc GST
  • ✓Locations: 1
  • ✓Registers: unlimited
Most Popular
Plus
$69/mo
AUD inc GST
  • ✓Locations: unlimited
  • ✓Registers: unlimited
  • ✓Advanced Reporting: Yes

Zeller Plans

Zeller Terminal 1
Free
AUD inc GST
  • ✓Transactions: unlimited
Zeller Terminal 2
Free
AUD inc GST
  • ✓Transactions: unlimited

AU Compliance Scores

How we scoreScores are out of 5 and reflect depth of compliance support, ease of setup, and ongoing reliability for Australian businesses. Assessed March 2026.

Square

BAS Lodgement
0/5
STP Phase 2
0/5
Payday Super
0/5
Modern Awards
0/5
GST Handling
3/5
Bank Feeds
0/5

Zeller

BAS Lodgement
0/5
STP Phase 2
0/5
Payday Super
0/5
Modern Awards
0/5
GST Handling
2/5
Bank Feeds
0/5

Pros & Cons

Square

Pros

  • Free POS software — zero monthly fees to start
  • Simple 1.6% flat card rate — no hidden fees
  • Affordable hardware from $59 (Square Reader)
  • 300+ integrations including Xero and MYOB
  • AEST support hours with AU-based team
  • Easy to set up — no technical skills needed

Cons

  • 1.6% card rate higher than Zeller's 1.4%
  • US company — some data may be US-hosted
  • No built-in payroll or accounting
  • Advanced features require paid Plus plan
  • Hardware purchases required for in-person payments

Zeller

Pros

  • Lowest card rate of major POS providers (1.4% flat, all cards including Amex)
  • No monthly fees — one-off terminal purchase from $99
  • EFTPOS + POS combined in one device with POS Lite on Terminal 2
  • AU-made, AU-hosted, AU-supported with 24/7 phone support
  • Includes free business transaction account with nightly settlement
  • Integrates with 600+ third-party POS solutions and Xero

Cons

  • Newer entrant — less established than Square or Lightspeed
  • POS Lite is basic compared to full POS solutions like Lightspeed
  • No advanced inventory management or multi-location support
  • Limited reporting compared to dedicated POS platforms
  • Terminal 2 required for POS Lite — Terminal 1 is payments only

Who Should Choose Square

Square is best suited for businesses that need cafe, retail shop, market stall.

Choose Square if you are:

  • Cafe
  • Retail Shop
  • Market Stall
  • Pop Up Store
  • Food Truck
  • Small Retail

Who Should Choose Zeller

Zeller is best suited for businesses that need small retail, cafe, market stall.

Choose Zeller if you are:

  • Small Retail
  • Cafe
  • Market Stall
  • Tradies Taking Payments
  • Low Volume Eftpos