Alternatives · For small and mobile sellers
SumUp alternatives for small sellers
Updated
SumUp suits businesses that take a few thousand dollars a month and want no rental, no contract and cheap hardware. The alternatives worth comparing are the ones with the same shape: no monthly charge, so a quiet month costs nothing.
Verdict
Among plans with no monthly charge, only CommBank’s Smart Mini is cheaper than SumUp’s 1.40%: at 0.99% it saves $246 a year on $5,000 a month, if you are happy to bank with CommBank. Zeller charges the same 1.4% but pays out faster. Square and Stripe cost more on every sale.
Your numbers
No-rental plans on small takings
We compare only the 5 plans listed here, not the whole market. Other products may be available that suit you better.
These are 5 of the 11 plans we compare, from 8 providers. Rates from each provider’s pricing page, checked 3 October 2026.
Fees a year for plans with no monthly charge
| Plan | $1,500 a month | $5,000 a month | $12,000 a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| CommBank Smart Mini | $1780.99% | $5940.99% | $1,4260.99% |
| SumUp Air reader | $2521.40% | $8401.40% | $2,0161.40% |
| Zeller Terminal | $2521.40% | $8401.40% | $2,0161.40% |
| Square Reader (Free plan) | $2881.60% | $9601.60% | $2,3041.60% |
| Stripe Terminal | $3792.11% | $1,2632.11% | $3,0322.11% |
Rented bank terminals are left out: their $24.75 to $29.50 monthly rental is charged in quiet months too. On steady takings they can still win; Westpac’s EFTPOS Now costs less than SumUp above about $4,256 a month.
How fast the money arrives
- CommBank Smart Mini: same-day settlement, 365 days a year (CommBank Smart Mini, checked )
- Square: next day, including weekends, free (Square pricing, checked )
- Zeller: next business day, to any bank account (Zeller pricing, checked )
- SumUp: one to three business days (SumUp pricing, checked )
For a market stall that restocks on Monday from the weekend’s takings, the difference between same-day and three-business-day payouts can matter more than the rate.
The catches
CommBank: online applications settle to a CommBank Business Transaction Account, which has its own fees, and Amex is covered only once approved. Square: 1.6% for new sellers, but the point-of-sale apps are free, which can replace a separate till app. Stripe: the reader needs a point-of-sale app built on Stripe, so it isn’t a drop-in swap.
If you stay with SumUp and need a terminal that works without a phone, its Solo has built-in mobile data and starts from $79. (SumUp Solo, checked )