Square brings card acceptance, point of sale, online selling and invoicing into one connected system. It is a practical starting point for an Australian shop or service business that wants to take payments in several settings.

• Accept payments at a counter with Square hardware or Tap to Pay, then use online checkout, payment links or invoices where the business needs them. Hardware purchases and optional software plans can add costs.
• Test a real sale, refund and bank payout before committing. Compare the applicable in-person, online and manually entered card rates, and check whether the integrations you rely on support your exact workflow.
• The shared dashboard can simplify sales tracking across channels. Businesses with complex international settlement or highly specialised merchant requirements should check those needs separately.

Our view: A small retailer or service team seeking one approachable payment ecosystem.

Stripe is a broad online payment platform for Australian businesses, from a simple hosted checkout to a custom-built app. Its range of APIs and integrations makes it especially useful when a business expects its checkout to evolve.

• Payment Links and hosted Checkout allow a faster launch without building a full payment page. Developers can use Stripe Payments, Billing, Connect and Terminal for more specialised online, recurring, marketplace or in-person use cases.
• Compare domestic and international card fees, currency conversion, chargebacks and any separate product charges. A feature available on the wider platform may require additional setup or pricing.
• Try the test environment with an actual refund, failed payment and payout report. For marketplace split payments, confirm the precise Connect account model and who bears each fee.

Our view: Online growth, subscriptions and custom payment integrations.

PayPal gives an Australian business a recognisable checkout option alongside card payments. Customers can use their PayPal account, while eligible checkout configurations also support guest card payments.

• Business tools include online checkout, payment links, QR codes and invoices. The particular experience depends on the product and integration selected, so test it on your own website and mobile devices.
• Read the Australian seller fee schedule carefully. Commercial transaction, cross-border, currency conversion, dispute and refund rules can make the total cost different from a headline domestic rate.
• PayPal can complement another processor as an extra payment choice for customers. Check how the platform handles holds, disputes and settlement for your business type, especially if you sell travel or future services.

Our view: Giving online customers a familiar wallet and checkout choice alongside cards.

Airwallex combines online payment acceptance with multi-currency business accounts and cross-border money movement. It is particularly relevant to an Australian merchant selling internationally or paying overseas suppliers.

• Checkout, payment links, plugins and APIs give several ways to collect online payments. Supported currencies, payment methods and settlement arrangements vary, so check the exact markets that matter to your business.
• Compare the full cost of domestic and overseas cards, foreign exchange and any account plan charge. Test whether you can hold proceeds in a useful currency and how refunds and chargebacks are handled.
• Airwallex also offers business cards and expense tools, but those are separate decisions from choosing a gateway. Australian onboarding requirements apply to eligible checkout merchants.

Our view: An Australian online business with meaningful cross-border sales and regular overseas supplier payments.

Eway is a long-running Australian online payments provider focused on ecommerce checkout and gateway integrations. Its all-in-one Online Payments option pairs a gateway with merchant processing.

• Hosted payments, payment links and integrations can suit a merchant that wants to connect an existing website or shopping cart. Eway also offers a gateway-only path for businesses bringing a separate merchant facility.
• Compare those two arrangements carefully: gateway charges, processing rates, establishment or security program costs and settlement terms may differ. Ask for a complete written quote against your expected monthly volume.
• Test the plugin for your exact store version, including refunds, saved payments and reporting. Local support may be valuable when a checkout issue interrupts trading, but assess response terms yourself.

Our view: Australian ecommerce merchants comparing all-in-one and gateway-only setups for an existing store.

Tyro supplies EFTPOS and related payment services to Australian merchants, with solutions extending to online checkout and payment links. It suits a business that depends on counter payments and wants connected reporting.

• Its terminal and integration choices cover common retail, hospitality and healthcare workflows. Check the specific POS or practice-management integration you use rather than assuming every device works with every system.
• Tyro offers different pricing models and may quote according to merchant circumstances. Compare terminal costs, card mix, online fees, least-cost routing and settlement timing on the same transaction assumptions.
• Ask for a demonstration of refunds, outages and end-of-day reconciliation. Healthcare claiming functions are a specialised option and should be assessed on their own requirements and terms.

Our view: A busy venue or practice needing dependable integrated Australian EFTPOS and local support.

Zeller combines payment terminals, point of sale, invoices and financial tools for Australian businesses. It offers a straightforward way to begin accepting card payments at a counter, with additional remote payment options.

• A free Zeller Account can be opened before buying a terminal. Payment Links and Virtual Terminal support remote card collection, but those transactions can carry different rates from terminal payments.
• Compare the hardware price, in-person fee, virtual payment fee and any custom-volume quote. Run a sample refund and settlement reconciliation to see how the account fits existing bookkeeping.
• Zeller also offers a connected point-of-sale experience and integrations for businesses with an existing setup. Check the exact compatibility, support arrangements and reporting needs before choosing the hardware.

Our view: An Australian small business wanting modern terminals and simple remote payments.

Shift4 Australia, formerly Smartpay Australia, focuses on merchant payment terminals and in-person acceptance. It is an option for a shop or hospitality venue that wants to compare local EFTPOS proposals.

• Ask for a demonstration of the terminal, supported cards, contactless payments, receipts and integration with your point-of-sale system. Confirm the exact product and contract offered to your business.
• Request a written schedule covering processing, terminal, service, cancellation and any minimum-volume charges. A quote should be compared with competitors using the same monthly turnover and card mix.
• Businesses needing a full ecommerce gateway should verify that the proposed Shift4 Australia arrangement meets their online requirements. The Australian referral program has specific eligibility and attribution conditions.

Our view: An in-person Australian merchant seeking another practical EFTPOS proposal to compare carefully against competitors.