Tyro and Square come at card payments from opposite ends. Tyro is an Australian EFTPOS specialist that connects to the POS you already run, with pricing arranged per business. Square is an all in one provider with one published flat rate and its own software. The right answer depends less on a single rate and more on whether you want to keep your current setup or simplify onto one system.
Pricing and rates compared
The honest headline is that you cannot put Tyro and Square side by side on rate from published numbers alone. Square is transparent: 1.6% in person and a flat 2.2% online, no monthly fee, no quote. Tyro sets your in person rate against your turnover and card mix, so a high volume venue can negotiate below Square's flat rate, while a smaller business may not. To compare like for like you need a Tyro quote, then run your real volume through the calculator above against Square's known rate.
Online, Tyro charges 1.7% plus a small fixed fee per transaction and Square charges a flat 2.2%, so Tyro is usually cheaper online on larger orders where the fixed fee is small relative to the sale. See the comparison table above for the current rates and fixed fees in Australian dollars.
Who each one is built for
Tyro is built for established hospitality and retail venues that already run a dedicated POS and do not want to change it. It integrates with hundreds of Australian POS systems so the terminal and till stay in sync, which matters when you are processing a high volume of orders at pace.
Square is built for businesses that value simplicity and transparency: one rate, one app, no quote, and a full POS, online store and invoicing in the box. It is the faster path for a newer or smaller business, or one happy to run on Square's own software.
Australian support and settlement
Both are Australian focused with local support and next business day settlement. Tyro is an ASX listed Australian payments business with a long hospitality and retail track record, and Square is a global operator with a large Australian presence. Either will settle reliably to an Australian bank account.
Switching and getting started
Square is the faster start: order a reader, set up the account, and trade the same day. Tyro involves a quote and POS integration, so allow a little more lead time, but for a venue keeping its existing POS the payoff is a setup that fits the way it already works. With no lock-in on either, keep your old terminal active for a short overlap before you retire it.
Integration and support
Square scores well on ease and transparency; Tyro scores well on POS integration depth and its specialist hospitality and retail focus. Square refunds chargebacks for free, while Tyro's chargeback fee is set as part of your custom quote.
Pros and cons for this matchup
Tyro wins on POS integration, a rate that can be negotiated down at volume, and its Australian specialist support, but its pricing is not transparent and you must request a quote. Square wins on published flat pricing, free chargebacks, the cheapest entry hardware and an all in one ecosystem, but it asks you to run on Square's own POS and its flat online rate suits smaller orders less well.
The verdict
Choose Tyro if you run an established venue on a POS you want to keep and you expect the volume to negotiate a competitive rate. Choose Square if you want pricing you can see up front, the simplicity of one system, and free chargebacks, with no quote to chase. Get a Tyro quote and put it next to Square's published rate in the calculator above before you decide.