The Tool Desk
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Choose the payment channels your customers actually use
Start with the ways customers need to pay, then compare providers across those channels. A lower headline rate may not be cheaper if it applies only to in-person payments while your business relies on online orders or payment links.
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- In person: Take contactless, chip-and-PIN, or swipe payments with a compatible reader or terminal. Some providers also support phone-based tap-to-pay without an additional reader; availability depends on the provider, country, and device.
- Online checkout: Add a payment option to an e-commerce site or booking flow. Check integration and supported payment methods for your country and software.
- Payment links: Send a link for a customer to pay remotely. Confirm how the provider classifies and prices those transactions.
- Manually keyed or virtual-terminal payments: Enter card details through an approved provider interface when a card is not physically presented. These transactions may carry a different rate from in-person payments.
For example, Chase for Business in the United States says its reader supports tap, dip, or swipe; Tap to Pay on phone needs no additional hardware; and its virtual-terminal and e-commerce options can be used without additional hardware. These are Chase product details, not a guarantee that the same options are available in every country or account.
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Use recent statements and a current provider quote to estimate what you would pay for a typical month. Include the transaction types you actually process, not just the advertised in-person rate.
#1 Best Overall
- With Square Terminal, you can ring up sales, accept payments, and print receipts, all with one device. Use it at the counter or ring up customers anywhere in your store.
- Accept all major credit and debit cards and pay one low rate with no hidden fees and no long-term contracts.
- Process chip cards in just two seconds.
- Get your money as soon as the next business day.
- Use it cordlessly with the built-in battery, designed to last all day.
- Record your transaction mix: Note monthly sales volume, average sale amount, and the share of payments that are in person, online, by link, or keyed. Include the card and wallet types your customers use where that information is available.
- List every charge: Compare percentage and per-transaction fees, monthly or account fees, terminal purchase or rental, and other mandatory costs. Ask whether the quoted terms are standard or custom.
- Check operating conditions: Verify settlement timing, any account requirements for faster funding, accepted cards and wallets, device and point-of-sale compatibility, and support in your country.
- Model the bill: Apply each provider’s channel-specific rates to your own expected transaction counts and values, then add fixed and hardware costs. Compare the resulting total with your latest statement and another provider’s quote.
The Reserve Bank of Australia advises merchants to understand their statements and cost drivers and shop around. Provider rates and conditions change, so confirm the current terms directly before choosing.
One US provider example—not a market benchmark
Chase for Business listed the following advertised processing fees in the United States when accessed on 4 October 2026. The rates are subject to change, are not Australian prices or a national average, and do not establish that Chase is the right choice for a particular business. Chase says monthly fees may apply to some products and custom pricing may be available based on volume.
Rank #2
- An intuitive interface to easily accept payments and manage your sales.
- Strong, reliable Wi-Fi connection. Free SIM card and mobile data so you can process payments anywhere.
- Great battery capability with an additional charging station.
- A truly portable device. Stay in control of your business, wherever you go.
- Support when you need it. Get in touch with our US-based support through phone, email and chat.
| Chase transaction channel | Advertised US processing fee |
|---|---|
| Tap, dip, or swipe | 2.6% + 10¢ |
| Manually keyed transactions or payment links | 3.5% + 10¢ |
| E-commerce | 2.9% + 25¢ |
Chase also advertises same-day funding at no additional cost when funds go to a Chase business checking account. That condition is specific to the provider and account; settlement depends on the selected solution.
Set prices without a separate card fee
Payment processing remains a business expense when a separate surcharge is removed. Depending on local rules and your business model, you can absorb that expense, reflect it in overall prices, or offer a clearly disclosed discount for an eligible payment method. A discount should be a genuine price reduction, not a relabelled charge that applies only to card users.
Rank #3
- Includes Elavon encryption
- Chip Card / EMV / NFC Compatible
- 2.4’’ Color LCD with backlight
- 192 MB of Memory (128 MB RAM / 64 MB DDR RAM)
- Includes terminal and power supply
Australia: card surcharges ended on 1 October 2026
As of 4 October 2026, eftpos, Mastercard, Visa, and American Express no-surcharge rules apply in Australia. The Reserve Bank of Australia says businesses still incur card-payment costs, which may be reflected in overall prices rather than charged separately. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission warns businesses not to evade the rules by giving a card surcharge another name. Check the relevant network and provider rules for your circumstances.
Australian businesses may adjust overall prices or absorb acceptance costs. The ACCC also says a payment-method discount must be disclosed before the customer books, orders, or pays, and the full undiscounted price must remain at least as prominent as the discounted price. Its example shows a $5 coffee offered for $4.75 with a clearly disclosed 5% cash discount; that is an illustration, not a required discount.
Rank #4
- The Clover Compact and Clover Mini /Station sync with each other through the Clover Dashboard and cloud-based network. This allows you to manage transactions, track sales, and access business data across both devices seamlessly. Plug in, not battery/mobile. Requires New Processing account through Powering POS. (US, PR, USVI). CANNOT be used with a different Processor. Rate match guarantee. Contact us for questions
The ACCC illustrates incorporating a 1.0% processing charge on a $60 haircut into an overall price of $60.60. If the business also raises the haircut price to $65 for other cost increases, it must not falsely claim that the entire increase is due to card-payment changes. Some charges, such as weekend or public-holiday hospitality surcharges, are distinct from card surcharges and may continue where otherwise permitted; a charge that applies only to some payment methods may still count as a card surcharge regardless of its label.
Outside Australia
Do not assume Australia’s no-surcharge rules apply elsewhere. Before adding or removing a checkout fee, check the law where you operate, the relevant card-network rules, and your processor agreement. Rules and permitted pricing practices vary by jurisdiction.
Best Value
- With Square Handheld, you can accept payments, take tableside orders, or scan barcodes anywhere. With a slim design and comfortable grip, the POS is easy to carry in your palm or pocket. Square Handheld is designed to withstand water splashes and dust. Add an optional protective case for accidental drops. A long-lasting battery and offline payments let you keep selling.
- Slim, pocketable, and lightweight so you can accept payments wherever your customers are.
- Take tableside orders, bust lines, or use the built-in barcode scanner, all with one sleek device.
- A battery that can power through your shift and offline payments let you keep selling, even if your internet is down.
- Accept all major credit and debit cards and pay one simple rate with no hidden fees and no long-term contracts required.
What Australia’s interchange changes mean for a small business
The RBA estimated that its changes to domestic interchange caps and foreign-card interchange would reduce wholesale card-payment costs by around A$910 million per year across the payment system. This is an aggregate estimate, not a forecast of an individual merchant’s savings or total processing bill. The RBA explains that small merchants tend to pay higher interchange fees than large merchants, often at or near regulatory caps, so lowering those caps would mainly benefit small merchants; that expected effect does not guarantee a particular change to any business’s provider invoice.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
