Head to head · Two 1.4% flat rates
Zeller vs SumUp: the same rate, so what's the difference?
Updated
Zeller and SumUp publish the same in-person rate, so on $20,000 a month in card sales each costs $3,360 a year. The decision comes down to everything around the rate.
Verdict
Neither is cheaper on fees. Choose Zeller if you want next-business-day money in any bank account and an explicit 1.4% on Amex. Choose SumUp if you want the cheapest hardware, or a standalone terminal with its own mobile data for less than A$100. If 1.4% is more than you want to pay, a bank plan beats both at most volumes: see Zeller alternatives.
Your numbers
CommBank’s Smart Mini is included for scale: it is the cheapest no-rental plan we compare.
Side by side
What differs between Zeller and SumUp
| Feature | Zeller | SumUp |
|---|---|---|
| In-person rate | 1.4%, every card including Amex | 1.40% on the card reader |
| Cheapest device | Zeller Terminal 1x, A$99 (standalone) | SumUp Air, A$49 (pairs with a phone) |
| Cheapest standalone | Zeller Terminal 1x, A$99 | SumUp Solo, from A$79 |
| Money in your account | Next business day, any bank | 1 to 3 business days |
| Custom pricing | Above $250,000 a year | Above $20,000 a month |
| Monthly fee or contract | None | None |
Zeller and SumUp in-person plans
| Plan | In-person rate | Monthly | Upfront | Amex | Settlement | Source | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SumUp Air reader | 1.4% | $0 | $49 | Amex accepted; one 1.40% reader rate is published, with no separate Amex rate | 1 to 3 business days | SumUp pricing | SumUp (opens in a new tab) |
| SumUp Solo | 1.4% | $0 | $79 | Amex accepted; one 1.40% reader rate is published, with no separate Amex rate | 1 to 3 business days | SumUp Solo | SumUp (opens in a new tab) |
| Zeller Terminal | 1.4% | $0 | $99 | Same 1.4% rate, no extra fee | Next business day to any bank account, free | Zeller pricing | Zeller (opens in a new tab) |
Where the small print differs
Zeller says American Express cards are charged at the same rate with no additional fees. (Zeller pricing, checked )
SumUp lists American Express among the cards its readers accept and publishes one 1.40% reader fee, without a separate Amex line. (SumUp pricing, checked )
Settlement speed is the difference most owners notice. A Friday sale on Zeller is in your account on Monday; on SumUp it can be Wednesday. For a business paying suppliers weekly from card takings, that two-day gap is worth more than a few dollars of hardware.
Phone orders and payment links are priced differently from the counter:
- Zeller phone and mail orders: 1.7% including GST. (Zeller pricing, checked )
- SumUp payment links: 2.10%. (SumUp pricing, checked )