Square
$320/mo est.
- Software/mo
- $0/mo
- Processing rate
- 1.6%
- Hardware
- From $65
- Contract
- Month-to-month (no lock-in)
- Industry
- Both
- Est. monthly cost
- $320/mo
Square
Pay-as-you-go EFTPOS and online payments with no monthly fees or contracts.
- Software/mo
- $0/mo
- Processing
- 1.6%
- Hardware
- From $65
- Contract
- Month-to-month (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.
- Setup fee
- Free
Online payments
Online checkout and keyed-in card transactions.
- Setup fee
- Free
Contract terms
- Contract length
- Month-to-month (no lock-in)
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.
Based on $20,000/mo card volume (software plus processing; hardware excluded).
POSApt
$320/mo est.
- Software/mo
- $0-298/mo
- Processing rate
- 1.6% (free plan)
- Hardware
- From $770 (dual screen)
- Contract
- Month-to-month (no lock-in)
- Industry
- Both
- Est. monthly cost
- $320/mo
Zeller
$280/mo est.
- Software/mo
- $0/mo (POS Lite)
- Processing rate
- 1.4%
- Hardware
- Terminal $199
- Contract
- Month-to-month (no lock-in)
- Industry
- Both
- Est. monthly cost
- $280/mo
Tyro
$280/mo est.
- Software/mo
- $0-29/mo
- Processing rate
- 1.4%
- Hardware
- EFTPOS terminal (rental included)
- Contract
- Month-to-month (no lock-in)
- Industry
- Both (healthcare specialty)
- Est. monthly cost
- $280/mo
Square head-to-head comparisons
Common questions about Square
The same questions Australian merchants ask before signing up.
The Square POS app is free with no monthly software fee ($0/mo). You pay only when you take a card payment, so it suits businesses with variable trade volumes.
Square charges 1.6% per tapped, dipped, or swiped card transaction in Australia. Keyed-in and online transactions carry a higher rate. There is no additional per-transaction fee on top of the percentage.
Square hardware starts from From $65 for a card reader. Additional terminals can be added at no extra monthly software charge, so the incremental cost of adding a second register is low.
Square supports offline mode: it queues card transactions locally and processes them once connectivity is restored. Australian regulations require disclosure when a terminal is offline, so Square prompts staff accordingly.
Square is month-to-month with no lock-in contract. You can start, pause, or cancel at any time without early-termination fees.
Square connects with over 300 third-party apps including Xero, MYOB, and WooCommerce. Most accounting integrations sync sales, taxes, and refunds automatically.
Square for Restaurants is a dedicated hospitality module that adds table management, course firing, and floor-plan views. The same Square account covers both retail and restaurant modes, making it versatile for mixed-format venues.
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Compare Square
Compare Square against every other Australian provider on price, contract terms, and features.