Credit card readers

A card reader is the device that lets your business accept in-person card payments, whether a customer taps to pay or inserts their card and enters a PIN. Most modern card readers, including every Zeller card reader, are contactless by default. Contactless payment uses near field communication (NFC): a customer taps their card, phone or smartwatch on the reader, and the payment processes instantly. Inserting a card and entering a PIN remains available as a fallback for transactions that require it. Zeller's card readers accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, eftpos, Apple Pay and Google Pay, with insert and PIN available on Zeller Terminal when needed.

Zeller has two low-cost card reader options, so you only pay for what your business needs. Tap to Pay with Zeller App is free: it runs on your own smartphone (iPhone or Android), with no hardware to buy. For businesses that need a purpose-built machine, Zeller Terminal 1x or Zeller Terminal 2 are both available for a once-off payment of $199. Whichever option you choose, there are no monthly fees or lock-in contracts, you'll simply pay a flat 1.4% transaction fee on in-person payments.

Yes. Tap to Pay with Zeller App lets you accept contactless card payments using your own smartphone, no terminal or additional hardware required. It works on a compatible iPhone (XS or later, iOS 16.4+) or NFC-enabled Android device (Android 10 or later). Simply download the free Zeller App, create your account, and you can start accepting Visa, Mastercard, American Express, eftpos, Apple Pay and Google Pay payments in minutes, at the same 1.4% transaction fee as Zeller Terminal.

Which is better depends on how your business takes payments. Zeller Terminal is the stronger choice for high-volume, countertop businesses like cafes, retail stores and salons, thanks to its dedicated screen, all-day battery built for handling a steady stream of transactions, and in the case of Zeller Terminal 1x, an in-built receipt printer. Tap to Pay with Zeller App is better suited to mobile or just-starting-out businesses (such as tradies, market stalls, or pop-ups) since it's free, requires no hardware, and turns a smartphone you already own into a card reader. You can also use both: Zeller Terminal as an everyday countertop reader, and Tap to Pay as a free back-up for busy periods or off-site sales.

If you're planning on using Zeller Terminal: create a free Zeller Account, order your device with free express shipping from Zeller's online shop, connect it to Wi-Fi, ethernet or a SIM, log in to your account, and start accepting payments. If you're planning on using Tap to Pay, simply download the Zeller App to your phone, create your account, enable Tap to Pay, and start accepting payments.

The right choice of card reader comes down to one main question: are you selling from a fixed spot, or on the move? Zeller offers a dedicated option for each — Zeller Terminal for countertop, high-volume selling, and Tap to Pay with Zeller App for mobile, on-the-go business — so you're never paying for hardware or features you don't actually need.

Zeller Terminal: built for high-volume, countertop selling

If your business takes payments from a fixed location — a café, retail counter, salon, or busy market stall — Zeller Terminal is the stronger fit. It's purpose-built hardware with a dedicated screen, receipt printer, and all-day battery, designed to handle a steady stream of transactions reliably throughout the day. It connects via Wi-Fi, ethernet, or a 4G SIM, so even mobile or pop-up setups can run on it if volume demands dedicated hardware.

Tap to Pay: an affordable, ultra-portable option for mobile businesses

If your business moves — tradies, personal trainers, home-visit services, market stalls, or anyone just starting out — Tap to Pay with Zeller App is built for that. It turns a compatible iPhone (XS+, iOS 16.4+) or NFC-enabled Android device (Android 10+) into a full card reader, so there's no hardware to buy, carry, or charge. It's free to use, comes with a complete point-of-sale system built into the app, and gets you accepting payments within minutes of downloading it — making it the most affordable way to start taking card payments. Many businesses use both: Tap to Pay as a reliable back-up for when things get unexpectedly busy, and Zeller Terminal as their everyday countertop card reader.

How Zeller compares to Square's card reader

Square's card reader costs $65 upfront, uses essentially the same NFC technology already built into most smartphones, and comes with no additional features — just the ability to tap. Square also charges a higher 1.6% transaction fee per sale. Zeller gives you more for less. Tap to Pay with Zeller App uses that same phone-based NFC technology, but it's completely free — and unlike Square's reader, it comes with a full point-of-sale system built in, so you can manage an item library, track sales, and run your business from the same app. If you'd prefer dedicated hardware, Zeller Terminal starts from $99 with a receipt printer and screen included. Either way, you'll pay a flat 1.4% transaction fee — lower than Square's — with no monthly fees or lock-in contracts on top.