Best Zero Commission POS Australia 2026, Ditch the Square Tax
Square charges 1.6% on every card transaction. On a typical venue, that adds up to thousands of dollars per year, forever. These are the best zero-commission alternatives for Australian venues in 2026, with real pricing and honest verdicts.
5 systems comparedUpdated May 2026Australian pricing verifiedOctober 2026 surcharge ban covered
The crossover point: If you process more than $4,500/week in card revenue, a zero-commission POS at ~$99 to $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 Surcharge Ban 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 to $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 to $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 preferred suppliership 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 Uber Eats/UberEats in some cities
Illustrative example only. Figures are calculated from Square's published 1.6% rate against a typical flat-fee alternative, not results from specific venues. Your actual numbers depend on your revenue and provider.
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 to 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 to 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.