Zeller

Overview

Zeller is a business payments and finance platform that brings accounts, cards, invoicing, point of sale and reporting together. It suits businesses looking to avoid monthly software fees while taking in-person and remote payments. Its free account and POS software are compelling, but POS requires a paid terminal and card processing is not free.

The company is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, and its UK provider is Zeller UK Limited. UK customers’ funds are safeguarded in segregated accounts, but Zeller Business Accounts are not covered by the FSCS.

Key features

For in-person payments, Zeller accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, eftpos, JCB, UnionPay, Apple Pay and Google Pay. Visa and Mastercard transactions cost 1.3%; other cards cost 1.99%. Businesses whose customers often use other card types should weigh that higher rate against the lower headline price. Payments settle the next day, and Tap to Pay is supported. Offline payments are not, so a lost connection can interrupt taking payments.

Zeller POS includes item and inventory management, discounts, refunds, receipt and kitchen docket printing, and real-time sales reporting. The software has no monthly subscription or licence fee, but it requires a Zeller Terminal and transaction fees apply. Kitchen display, tabs, table mapping, inventory tracking and complex order routing are marked as coming soon, so businesses relying on those functions should not choose Zeller on the assumption they are ready.

Online invoices are unlimited without a monthly subscription fee. The browser-based virtual terminal allows staff to key in card payments, and payment links are free. This combination suits businesses collecting payments remotely without a recurring software charge, although payment processing still carries fees.

Zeller Bank Feeds imports transactions from a Zeller Business Account into a Xero organisation, while named third-party POS integrations include Zii, Oracle Simphony, Tevalis and Redcat. Zeller says its payment systems encrypt card data during processing and follow PCI DSS standards. Support is available 24/7 by phone, email and SMS.

Pricing

The account, app and dashboard cost nothing: there are no monthly fees or subscriptions, no minimum balance, unlimited free accounts and free transfers. That is a practical base for businesses wanting a business account without a recurring account charge.

Zeller POS costs nothing to download and run, with no monthly subscription or software licence fee. The trade-off is a required Zeller Terminal and transaction fees. The Zeller Terminal 1x costs £99, paid once, excluding VAT, with no monthly fee; payment processing fees still apply.

Expense cards cost £5 a month (£5/card per month (ex VAT)); the first card is free, while each additional card carries a monthly fee. This can suit a business that needs a first expense card at no card charge, but teams adding cards should account for the ongoing per-card cost.

Platforms

Zeller supports Android, iOS and web. The combination covers mobile and browser use, while Tap to Pay gives an additional way to take payments without a physical terminal for that payment method.

Who it's for

Zeller Business Accounts are suitable for sole traders, limited companies, general partnerships, LLPs and trusts. It is strongest for businesses that want a no-monthly-fee account and POS software alongside invoicing and payment acceptance, and can accommodate the terminal purchase and processing charges. It is a weaker fit for businesses that need offline card acceptance or depend on the POS functions still marked as coming soon.

Pros and cons

• Pros: No monthly account fee, unlimited free accounts and free transfers make the business account useful without a recurring subscription.
• Pros: POS software has no monthly licence fee, and includes discounts, refunds, printing and real-time sales reporting.
• Pros: Unlimited online invoices, free payment links and 24/7 support cover useful payment and service needs without a monthly software charge.
• Cons: POS requires a terminal costing £99, paid once, excluding VAT, and transaction fees apply.
• Cons: The 1.3% rate applies to in-person Visa and Mastercard; other card payments are 1.99%.
• Cons: Payments cannot be taken offline, and several restaurant-oriented POS functions remain marked as coming soon.
• Cons: Zeller Business Accounts in the UK are not covered by the FSCS, despite safeguarding in segregated accounts.

Alternatives

For a broader mobile payment processing shortlist, see Mobile Payment Processing Software; food businesses comparing point-of-sale options can browse Food Truck POS Software.

Choose Helcim if you want a free account with interchange-plus transaction rates that vary by volume. PayAnywhere is another freemium option, with listed pay-as-you-go rates of 2.69% for swipe, dip or tap and 3.49% + $0.19 for keyed transactions; compare those terms with Zeller’s card-specific in-person rates.

If invoicing is the priority, PayPal Invoicing offers free invoice creation and sending, with transaction fees when customers pay. SumUp Invoices is another free option with unlimited invoices and quotes. Choose Lopay if its Essential plan’s unlimited team members, Thursday payouts and card-spend fee waiver better suit your business.

SwipeSimple offers a zero-cost processing option for eligible businesses where card-paying customers cover a 3.5% fee. NAB Easy Tap may suit eligible Visa, Mastercard and eftpos transactions when you want pay-as-you-go payments without setup or terminal hardware fees. Paid for Stripe is an Android or iOS option with no monthly or setup fees and a 0.99% fee per transaction in addition to Stripe’s standard fees.

Verdict

Zeller is a strong choice for eligible businesses that want a no-monthly-fee business account, free POS software, invoicing and payment tools in one platform. The main reason to choose it is the breadth of included account and payment features without recurring software charges; look elsewhere if the terminal cost, processing rates, lack of offline payments or missing POS functions do not fit your operation.