Debit Cards vs. Eftpos Cards — What’s the Difference?

In Australia, there's often confusion around debit cards and eftpos cards. To confuse matters further, EFTPOS also refers to in-person payment technology. Here we're talking about eftpos (lowercase), the Australian debit card network.

An eftpos card and a debit card have a lot in common, but there are a few differences worth knowing when you choose a spending solution for your business. Here's how debit cards and eftpos cards compare.

EFTPOS vs. eftpos

EFTPOS (capitals) stands for 'Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale'. It's the payment terminal or machine you use to take payments, and customers can typically tap, insert, or swipe to pay. An EFTPOS terminal can accept debit cards, credit cards and digital wallets across different networks, so it isn't limited to one card type.

eftpos (lowercase) is Australia's domestic debit card network. It's privately run, only processes debit transactions, and works across in-store, online and in-app payments. When a customer pays with an eftpos card or eftpos-enabled digital wallet, the network moves funds from their bank account to yours.

The short version: EFTPOS is the machine, and eftpos is one of the networks that can run through it. To see what happens behind the scenes, read our guide to how EFTPOS transactions work.

What are debit cards?

Debit cards are payment cards linked to your bank or business transaction account. When you pay, the money comes straight out of your own balance, so your account is reduced instantly. A credit card works differently: you're spending money borrowed from a lender, up to an approved limit, and paying it back later.

How do debit cards and eftpos cards compare?

An eftpos card is a debit card. The real difference is which network processes the payment:

eftpos is a domestic network. It only operates in Australia and only handles debit.
Visa and Mastercard are international card schemes. They handle both debit and credit, and work around the world.

Many Australian debit cards are dual-network, meaning they carry both the eftpos logo and an international brand like Visa or Mastercard. One card can then use eftpos for local payments and the international network for overseas or online purchases. In other words, all eftpos cards are debit cards, but not every debit card is an eftpos card.

Either way, the money comes from the funds in your account. Some debit cards may have an approved overdraft, but in most cases your spending limit is simply your balance.

How does the network get chosen?

Traditionally, the cardholder chose by pressing 'Savings' or 'Cheque' (eftpos) or 'Credit' (Visa/Mastercard) at the terminal. Today, with tap-and-go and mobile wallets, the network is usually chosen automatically.

eftpos cards

International debit cards (e.g. Visa or Mastercard)

Network

Australia's domestic debit network

Global card scheme (Visa or Mastercard)

Card types processed

Debit only

Debit (and credit, on credit cards)

Where they work

Australia only

Australia and overseas

Payment types

In-store, online, and in-app

Overseas purchases

Not supported

Supported anywhere the network is accepted

Available from

Banks and payment providers, usually on dual-network cards alongside Visa or Mastercard

Banks and payment providers, either as a standalone card or as the second network on a dual-network card

Choosing the right debit card for your business

If you're after a convenient, affordable way to spend online and in person, the Zeller Debit Card is worth a look. It's a business debit Mastercard linked to your free Zeller Transaction Account, so it works anywhere Mastercard is accepted, across 210 countries and territories. That makes it well suited to paying overseas suppliers or international subscriptions. Here's what you get:

Free to use: There are no monthly account fees, no lock-in contracts, and no transaction fees on domestic or international purchases.
Physical or virtual cards: Issue a virtual card in seconds and add it straight to Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay. Physical cards arrive in 3–5 business days.
Cards for your team: Issue unlimited virtual cards or order physical ones for staff, set spend limits on each card, and lock or cancel a card from the Zeller App or Dashboard.
Easy reconciliation: Transactions land in your Zeller Account in real time. Attach receipts and notes, assign contacts, and sync everything with Xero through bank feeds.
Your brand on every card: Add your logo and name cards by team or purpose.
Built-in security: You get 24/7 transaction monitoring, multiple layers of encryption, and Mastercard's zero-liability protection.
Fast access to your revenue: Payments taken on Zeller Terminal or through Zeller Invoices settle nightly, 365 days a year, so you can spend what you've earned sooner.