The crossover point: If you process more than $4,500/week in card revenue, a zero-commission POS at ~$99–$150/month is already cheaper than Square's 1.6% fee. At $15,000/week you save approximately $10,700/year. At $30,000/week the saving exceeds $22,000/year. Use our Square Tax Calculator to see your exact figure.
Zero commission POS — compared
| System | Monthly fee | Commission | Contract | Kiosk | Branded app | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foodhub | Quote-based | 0% | No lock-in | ✓ | ✓ | 9.2/10 |
| Lightspeed Restaurant | ~$99–$289/loc | 0% | Annual required | Add-on | Add-on | 8.7/10 |
| Impos | POA | 0% | Annual required | Add-on | ✗ | 7.8/10 |
| OrderMate | POA | 0% | Annual required | Add-on | ✗ | 7.6/10 |
| Square for Restaurants | $0–$69/mo | 1.6% per transaction | No lock-in | $45/mo | ✗ | 7.9/10 |
Foodhub — our top pick for zero commission
FH
Foodhub
🏆 #1 Zero Commission Pick · MarginCompare Partner
Full hospitality tech stack · Global operator · 30,000+ venues
9.2/10
★★★★★
Foodhub is a global hospitality technology platform that charges zero commission on orders. Unlike Square which earns from every transaction, Foodhub charges upfront fees for hardware and setup — then nothing per order. The full platform includes POS, self-order kiosk, branded mobile app, delivery management, online ordering and EFTPOS-integrated payments. MarginCompare has a commercial partnership with Foodhub and can negotiate exclusive terms including waived setup fees.
✓ Pros
Zero per-order commission — saves $10,000+/year vs Square at $15k/week
Full stack — POS, kiosk, branded app, delivery, online ordering in one
30,000+ venues globally — proven at scale
EFTPOS-integrated payments built in
MarginCompare negotiates waived setup fees and exclusive terms
No annual lock-in contract
✗ Cons
Less brand recognition in Australia than Square or Lightspeed
Pricing is quote-based — not publicly listed
Marketplace reach smaller than Menulog/UberEats in some cities
When should you switch from Square?
| Weekly card revenue | Annual Square fees (1.6%) | Switch cost (~$150/mo) | Annual saving | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $3,000/wk | $2,496 | $1,800 | $696 | Marginal — Square still reasonable |
| $5,000/wk | $4,160 | $1,800 | $2,360 | Switch now — clear saving |
| $10,000/wk | $8,320 | $1,800 | $6,520 | Switch immediately — $6k+ saving |
| $20,000/wk | $16,640 | $1,800 | $14,840 | Urgent — every week costs you $285 |
| $50,000/wk | $41,600 | $3,600 (Pro plan) | $38,000 | Critical — this is a major P&L item |
Alternative POS cost shown as $150/month estimate. Actual Foodhub and Lightspeed pricing is quote-based — contact MarginCompare for accurate figures for your venue.
Frequently asked questions
What is a zero commission POS system?
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A zero commission POS system charges a flat monthly subscription fee rather than a percentage of each transaction. Unlike Square which charges 1.6% per card transaction, systems like Foodhub, Lightspeed and Impos charge a fixed monthly fee regardless of sales volume. For venues above approximately $4,500/week in card revenue, zero-commission POS systems are typically cheaper.
What is the best Square alternative in Australia?
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Foodhub is MarginCompare's top recommendation as a Square alternative for most Australian venues. It offers zero transaction commissions, a full hardware suite including self-order kiosk and branded mobile app, and MarginCompare can negotiate exclusive terms including waived setup fees. Lightspeed Restaurant is recommended for multi-site operators needing advanced reporting.
How long does it take to switch POS systems?
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Most venues complete a POS switch within 3–7 days. Menu migration is the most time-consuming step — Foodhub and Lightspeed both offer onboarding support to migrate your existing menu. Staff training typically takes 2–4 hours for the basics. We recommend scheduling the switch for a Monday or Tuesday (quieter days) and allowing a full week before a major trading period.