Square
$267/mo est.
- In-person rate
- 1.6%
- Online rate
- 2.2%
- Monthly fee
- Free
- Terminal cost
- $65
- Contract length
- No lock-in
- Settlement time
- Next day
- Est. monthly cost
- $267/mo
Square
Pay-as-you-go EFTPOS and online payments with no monthly fees or contracts.
- In-person rate
- 1.6%
- Online rate
- 2.2%
- Monthly fee
- Free
- Contract
- No lock-in
Best for
Small retail, hospitality, and pop-up businesses.
Pricing breakdown
All prices in AUDLast verified 9 June 2026Every fee we track, grouped by where it applies.
In-person payments
EFTPOS terminal and tap-to-pay transactions.
- Transaction rate
- 1.6%
- Monthly fee
- Free
Plus plan from $40/mo for advanced features.
- Terminal cost
- $65
Square Reader. Terminal $329, Handheld $349.
- Setup fee
- Free
Online payments
Online checkout and keyed-in card transactions.
- Transaction rate
- 2.2%
- Monthly fee
- Free
Plus plan from $40/mo for advanced features.
- Setup fee
- Free
Other fees
- Chargeback fee
- Free
Square Resolution Center handles disputes at no extra fee.
- AMEX rate
- 1.6%
Same flat rate as Visa and Mastercard in-person.
- International card surcharge
- 0%
Flat rate regardless of card origin.
- Early termination fee
- None
No lock-in contracts.
- Instant payout fee
- 1.5%
Square Instant Transfers fee.
- Refund fee
- Free
- PCI compliance fee
- Free
PCI compliance included.
Contract terms
- Contract length
- No lock-in
- Settlement time
- Next day
- Least-cost routing
- No
Smart routing not advertised on AU pricing page.
- Recurring billing
- Yes
Accepted payment methods
Cards, wallets, and other methods supported by Square for Australian merchants.
Cards
- Visa
- Mastercard
- EFTPOS
- AMEX
- UnionPay
- JCB
- Diners Club
Digital wallets
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
- Samsung Pay
Buy now, pay later
- Afterpay
Strengths and trade-offs
Pros
- No monthly fees
- No lock-in contract
- Next-day settlement
- Free POS app
Cons
- Higher per-transaction rate than bank-quoted plans
- No public bespoke pricing
About Square
Square offers integrated card readers, terminals and online payment processing for Australian businesses. Pricing is per-transaction with no monthly fees on the free tier.
Square was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in San Francisco, USA.
How Square compares
Side-by-side with the closest alternatives by estimated cost.
Assumes $15,000/mo volume, $50 average transaction, 70% in-person and 30% online.
Zeller
$246/mo est.
- In-person rate
- 1.4%
- Online rate
- 1.7% + $0.25
- Monthly fee
- Free
- Terminal cost
- From $99
- Contract length
- No lock-in
- Settlement time
- Next business day
- Est. monthly cost
- $246/mo
SumUp
$242/mo est.
- In-person rate
- 1.4%
- Online rate
- 2.1%
- Monthly fee
- Free
- Terminal cost
- From $24
- Contract length
- No lock-in
- Settlement time
- Next business day
- Est. monthly cost
- $242/mo
NAB
$231/mo est.
- In-person rate
- 1.15%
- Online rate
- 1.4% + $0.25
- Monthly fee
- $25/mo
- Terminal cost
- $25/mo rental
- Contract length
- No lock-in (60 days notice)
- Settlement time
- Next business day
- Est. monthly cost
- $231/mo
Square head-to-head comparisons
Common questions about Square
The same questions Australian merchants ask before signing up.
Square charges 1.6% per tap, dip, or swipe for all card types accepted in person, including Visa, Mastercard, eftpos, and American Express. There is no separate rate for different card networks.
Online payments through Square cost 2.2% per transaction. This applies to Square Online, payment links, and invoices paid by card.
Square's standard plan is free (Free). There are no monthly account fees, no setup fees, and no lock-in contract. You only pay when you take a sale.
Square settles to your nominated bank account on the next business day by default. An Instant Transfer option is available at a fee of 1.5% per transfer for merchants who need funds sooner.
Square does not charge a chargeback fee (Free) or a refund fee (Free). The transaction fee on the original payment is not returned when a refund is issued, but there is no additional charge.
No. Square does not currently offer least-cost routing in Australia. All contactless debit transactions are processed through the card network branded on the card (Visa or Mastercard) rather than being routed through eftpos.
The Square Reader starts at $65. The Square Terminal is a standalone device that costs more. Square hardware is purchased outright with no ongoing rental fee.
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Compare Square
Compare Square against every other Australian provider on price, contract terms, and features.