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EFTPOS Quotes

Not sure if that EFTPOS offer stacks up?

We translate fine print into plain English, so you don't get caught out by hidden costs

What would it cost?
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Compare costs

See what you pay in card fees with your bank compared with 'free' EFTPOS offers

Your numbers
$50,000
$1k$500k
Number of terminals
Shift4 MSF rate
%
Minimum Shift4 blended rate is 0.8%
Add surcharging
Other EFTPOS providers support surcharging, letting you recoup your MSF costs. Shift4 does not offer surcharging on their Low Cost Tap & Pay solution.
Weighted surcharge rate applied: —
Add swipe EFTPOS
With your bank, debit processed as 'cheque' or 'savings' where the card is swiped or inserted costs you nothing. Shift4 charges MSF on chip debit, and needs a separate Paymark Cuscal facility at $18.90 per terminal a month to take debit without a chip.
You could save
—
—
Savings take into account average cost of an EFTPOS terminal and payment network subscription.
Compare card processing costs
Your bank
Lowest fees
Card processing fees (MSF), set by your bank
MSF (interchange-plus) You pay the interchange fee, which varies by card type, plus a set margin.
Contactless debit—
Credit cards—
Insert debit$0.00
Swipe EFTPOS$0.00
MSF subtotal—
Recouped by surcharging—
 
 
Total monthly MSF cost—
Shift4
Low cost tap & pay
MSF (1% blended) One flat rate across every card type.
Contactless debit—
Credit cards—
Insert debit—
Swipe EFTPOS$0.00
MSF subtotal—
Minimum MSF—
SurchargingNot available
 
Total monthly MSF cost—
 

All figures are indicative only, NZD excl. GST. Card mix based on typical NZ SMB averages (40% contactless debit, 15% credit, 25% insert debit, 20% swipe). International cards not factored into calculation. Bank MSF rates are interchange-plus, but your card mix and actual rates may differ. Savings calculation includes average cost of a terminal subscription and payment network fees per month. Shift4 minimum MSF $120/terminal/month based on publicly available NZ pricing. Swipe EFTPOS processed on Paymark Cuscal network at $0 MSF, but Admin Fee applies. Surcharge rate applied is the weighted average MSF rate across card types. Not financial advice.

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Explore offers

See how a “Free” or “Low Cost” EFTPOS stacks up against a bank-backed plan

Feature Your Bank 'Low Cost' EFTPOS
Visa & Mastercard debit chip cards
(inserted)		 Free Fixed rate fee
Magstripe Accepted Available via separate Paymark Cuscal arrangement
Hidden fees No minimum turnover $120/month fee if MSF not met
Surcharging Supported Not supported
  Interchange cap savings Yes No
 Offline Mode  Yes  No
Term No fixed term Locked in

When you factor in Merchant Service Fees, turnover minimums and hidden add-ons, “free” can quickly become the most expensive option

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We've read the fine print so you don't have to

New fees

Inserted Visa and Mastercard debit transactions are free with your bank. On one Low Cost EFTPOS bundle, they’ll cost you — adding $650 – $870 a year on $300K turnover.

No surcharging

Some “free” plans block surcharging entirely, meaning you cover every card fee instead of passing it on to customers.

Swiped cards

Around 20% of NZ card transactions still use magstripe. One low cost EFTPOS option requires a separate Worldline arrangement and an additional network fee to accept swiped debit cards. Plus, it adds an extra step at the point of payment. On integrated terminals, swiped debit isn't supported at all, leaving you with two devices on your counter.

No offline mode

If your internet drops, some terminals stop taking payments. There's no offline mode.

Accessibility issues

Full-touch Android EFTPOS terminals can exclude customers who rely on tactile keys or audio prompts. Accessibility isn’t optional — it’s essential.

Locked out of savings

The Government capped Interchange fees on most Visa and Mastercard transactions from December 2025, and introduced caps on foreign-issued cards for the first time from 1 May 2026. On an Interchange+ pricing model, those savings pass straight through to you. On a fixed blended rate, they don't.

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What you’ll get:
We’ll help you see what’s really included — no gimmicks, no sales pitch.

  • A clear breakdown of your EFTPOS costs
  • Expert advice from real payment specialists
  • Transparent side-by-side comparison with no pressure to switch
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Why banks are better

EFTPOS is just part of the picture — it’s connected to your wider banking relationship. With a bank-backed solution, you get:
  •  
  • ✔ No fixed-terms
  • ✔ Lending, cashflow tools and business insights
  • ✔ Regulated service standards
  • ✔ Freedom to choose the EFTPOS partner that best fits your business
  •  

Get advice from an EFTPOS expert

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FAQs

Not usually. “Free” often means you’ll pay more per transaction overall than you do with your bank -  and those small fees add up fast

Every time a customer pays by credit or with a contactless debit card, the card-issuing bank charges an interchange fee. Your merchant services provider passes that cost to you through the Merchant Service Fee (MSF). These fees vary by card type — credit, debit, and premium cards all have different rates. Some providers advertise “free EFTPOS” devices, but recover their costs through higher per-transaction MSFs.

Depends on your provider. Some newer terminals don't support surcharging, despite surcharging still being legal in NZ.

Your bank can give you a full breakdown.

No. Inserted Visa and Mastercard debit cards are free with banks.

Yes — but check for cancellation fees before switching