Key facts
- •Stripe's notice reduces standard domestic card pricing from 1.70% to 1.65% from 1 October 2026: 1.65% + $0.10 in person and 1.65% + $0.30 online
- •Stripe's pricing page now shows the 1.65% rates, but its Terminal page still showed 1.7% + $0.10 when we checked, so confirm the rate that applies to your account
- •International cards are 3.5% + $0.10 in person and 3.5% + $0.30 online today, reducing to 2.80% from 1 April 2027
- •Hardware: WisePad 3 $89, S710 and S700 $449, T600 $469, all excluding GST
- •Disputes: $25 for each dispute received and $25 for each dispute you respond to manually
- •From 1 October 2026, Stripe says businesses in Australia can no longer add surcharges to card payments
What does Stripe charge per transaction?
Stripe's Australia pricing separates domestic and international cards and in-person and online payments, with different fixed fees.
| Payment type | Rate | Fixed fee |
|---|---|---|
| QwikPay | $0 transaction fee | $0 per transaction |
| Stripe domestic in-person | 1.65% (from 1 Oct 2026; previously 1.70%) | + $0.10 |
| Stripe domestic online | 1.65% (from 1 Oct 2026; previously 1.70%) | + $0.30 |
| Stripe international in-person | 3.5% (Stripe's notice reduces this to 2.80% from 1 April 2027) | + $0.10 |
| Stripe international online | 3.5% (Stripe's notice reduces this to 2.80% from 1 April 2027) | + $0.30 |
- Which rate applies: Stripe's change noticestates the domestic reduction applies from 1 October 2026 to businesses on Stripe's standard pricing, and that international pricing reduces to 2.80% from 1 April 2027. Stripe's pricing page now shows 1.65% plus the fixed fee, while its Terminal page still showed 1.7% + $0.10 when we checked. Confirm the rate on your account in your Stripe Dashboard. Custom pricing arrangements can differ.
- Other charges: Stripe lists an additional 2% if currency conversion is required. Manually entered payments and GST treatment are not confirmed on the sources we checked, so confirm them with Stripe.
- QwikPay: QwikPay uses a business subscription model. Check current pricing and terms during onboarding.
Real cost example: $25,000/month in domestic card payments
Assuming 50 successful domestic payments averaging $500 each, at the 1.65% rate from 1 October 2026:
- Percentage fee: 1.65% x $25,000 = $412.50
- In-person fixed fee: 50 x $0.10 = $5.00
- Total Stripe in-person cost: $417.50/month
For the same volume online (50 payments x $0.30 fixed fee):
- Percentage fee: $412.50
- Fixed fee: 50 x $0.30 = $15.00
- Total Stripe online cost: $427.50/month
This assumes standard domestic-card pricing and successful transactions. It excludes currency conversion, optional products, international cards, disputes, hardware and any additional charges, and it does not add GST. Because the fixed fee applies to each payment, average transaction size changes the total.
Stripe hardware options
Stripe sells its own card readers for in-person payments in Australia. Prices below exclude GST, as listed on Stripe's Terminal page for the WisePad 3, S710 and S700. The T600 price is listed on Stripe's pricing page only.
| Device | Price (excluding GST) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| WisePad 3 | $89 | Card reader |
| Stripe Reader S710 | $449 | Supports running custom POS apps on the device, per Stripe's Terminal page |
| Stripe Reader S700 | $449 | Supports running custom POS apps on the device, per Stripe's Terminal page |
| Stripe Reader T600 | $469 | Check Stripe's Terminal page for specifications |
Hardware is purchased outright and there is no standard terminal rental, but optional services can have recurring or per-use charges. Check Stripe for current device availability.
Other Stripe fees to know
- Disputes: $25 for each dispute you receive, and a separate $25 for each dispute you respond to manually, so a manually contested dispute can involve both fees. Stripe says the manual response fee is refunded if you win.
- Smart Disputes (optional): 30% of the disputed amount for each dispute you win. This is separate from manual dispute pricing.
- Tap to Pay (iPhone and Android): $0.15 per authorisation.
- Point-to-point encryption (optional): $0.07 per authorisation.
- Cellular data (Terminal): $15 per reader per month.
- Currency conversion: an additional 2% if currency conversion is required.
- Instant Payouts (optional): 1.5% of Instant Payouts volume, with a $0.50 minimum, subject to eligibility.
- Fraud protection: Stripe lists fraud protection options. Confirm which features are included in your pricing and which are paid.
The charges above are listed on Stripe's pricing page, which does not state GST treatment for them, so confirm it with Stripe.
Payouts and settlement
According to Stripe's payouts documentation, settlement timing is how long it takes for funds to become available, and your payout schedule only controls when payouts are sent, so a schedule such as rolling, weekly or monthly is not the same as settlement speed. After your first live payment, Stripe typically schedules the initial payout to complete within 7 to 14 days, depending on industry, country and risk level. Most banks deposit payouts as soon as they receive them, though some take a few extra days to make them available. Optional Instant Payouts are available at 1.5% of Instant Payouts volume, with a $0.50 minimum, and new Stripe users are not immediately eligible. Check your Stripe Dashboard for the timings that apply to your account.
Is Stripe right for in-person businesses?
Stripe supports both online and in-person payments, which can suit businesses that want both in one system or that build custom payment flows. Dedicated EFTPOS providers can differ in POS integrations, hardware and pricing structure. Compare the full cost for your own payment mix, average transaction size and hardware needs.
October 2026 card-surcharge changes impact
According to Stripe's surcharge guidance, from 1 October 2026 businesses in Australia will no longer be able to add surcharges to card payments. The RBA changed its rules to allow card networks to prohibit surcharges, Visa, Mastercard and eftpos are introducing no-surcharge rules, and Stripe is disabling support for surcharging across online and in-person card payments. American Express and UnionPay have indicated they will remove surcharging from the same date.
Stripe's processing fees continue. Stripe says other charges, such as weekend, public-holiday, booking or service fees, are not automatically prohibited, but they cannot simply rename a card surcharge. Check the card-network and merchant-agreement requirements that apply to you.
Accept payments with $0 transaction fees through QwikPay
QwikPay can sit alongside your existing Stripe setup as an additional payment option. QwikPay charges $0 per transaction on QwikPay payments, which are processed through the QwikPay wallet via QR code rather than a card network. QwikPay uses a business subscription model, so subscription charges may apply. Check current pricing and terms during onboarding.
Start accepting zero-fee paymentsHow Stripe compares to other providers
| Provider | Transaction fee | Monthly | Hardware | Settlement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QwikPay | $0.00Zero fees | Subscription | None - QR code or in-App | On-Demand Settlement |
| Stripe (in-person) | 1.65% + $0.10 domestic from 1 Oct 2026 | None for payment processing; optional services can cost extra | WisePad 3 $89; S710 and S700 $449; T600 $469 (excluding GST) | Depends on payout schedule and account conditions |
| Tyro (rented terminal) | 1.3% | $19/mo (Pro Lite); $29/mo (Pro Touch, Pro Key) | Terminal rental | Depends on account and settlement conditions |
| Tyro (BYO smartphone app) | 1.3% | $0 rental | Compatible smartphone | Depends on account and settlement conditions |
| Square | 1.6% (accounts opened on or after 30 May 2024; eligible older accounts may pay 1.9% on Reader, Stand or Tap to Pay) | $0 (Free plan) | Reader $65, or compatible smartphone with Tap to Pay | Free next-day transfers including weekends; instant transfers 1.95%, subject to eligibility |
| Zeller (in-person) | 1.4% (1.2% with Zeller POS and Zeller Terminal; excludes third-party POS integrations) | $0 terminal rental | Terminal 1x and Terminal 2: $99 promotional price (reference $199), subject to availability | Following business day to an external bank account; confirm Zeller Transaction Account timing with Zeller |
These are published standard in-person rates. Total cost depends on your payment mix, average transaction size, hardware and any custom or promotional pricing, so no provider here is cheapest in every scenario. The other providers' rates come from their own pricing pages: Tyro, Square and Zeller. Tyro figures are Tyro's published standard rates, so confirm current Tyro pricing with Tyro.
Frequently asked questions
What is Stripe's transaction fee in Australia?
Stripe's notice on Australian card pricing reduces standard domestic card pricing from 1.70% to 1.65% from 1 October 2026: 1.65% + $0.10 for in-person (card-present) payments and 1.65% + $0.30 for online payments. Stripe's pricing page now shows the 1.65% rates, but its Terminal page still showed 1.7% + $0.10 when we checked, so confirm the rate that applies to your account in your Stripe Dashboard. International cards are currently 3.5% + $0.10 in person and 3.5% + $0.30 online, and custom pricing arrangements can differ.
Does Stripe charge $0.30 for in-person payments?
No. The $0.30 fixed fee applies to online payments, and in-person payments through a Stripe terminal carry a $0.10 fixed fee. Confirm with Stripe how manually entered payments are charged.
What are Stripe's international card rates?
Stripe lists international cards at 3.5% + $0.10 in person and 3.5% + $0.30 online, with an additional 2% if currency conversion is required. Stripe's notice says international pricing reduces to 2.80% with the same fixed fees from 1 April 2027. That future rate is not in effect today.
What Stripe hardware is available in Australia?
Stripe's pricing page lists the WisePad 3 at $89, the S710 and S700 at $449 each, and the T600 at $469, all excluding GST. Hardware is purchased outright with no standard terminal rental, but optional services such as Tap to Pay, point-to-point encryption and cellular data have their own charges.
What are Stripe's dispute fees?
Stripe lists a $25 fee for each dispute you receive and a separate $25 fee for each dispute you respond to manually, so a manually contested dispute can involve both fees. Stripe says the manual response fee is refunded if you win. Smart Disputes is an optional product with separate pricing of 30% of the disputed amount for each dispute you win.
How long does Stripe take to pay out in Australia?
It depends on your payout schedule and account conditions. A payout schedule such as rolling, weekly or monthly is not the same as settlement speed, and an initial payout waiting period, funds availability and bank arrival time can also apply. Stripe says the first payout typically completes within 7 to 14 days of the first live payment, depending on industry, country and risk level. Stripe lists optional Instant Payouts at 1.5% of Instant Payouts volume, with a $0.50 minimum fee, subject to eligibility. Check your Stripe Dashboard for the timings that apply to you.
Can Stripe merchants surcharge from October 2026?
No. Stripe says businesses in Australia will no longer be able to add surcharges to card payments from 1 October 2026, because Visa, Mastercard and eftpos are introducing no-surcharge rules after the RBA changed its rules, and Stripe is disabling support for surcharging. American Express and UnionPay have indicated they will remove surcharging from the same date. Stripe says other charges, such as weekend, public-holiday, booking or service fees, are not automatically prohibited, but they cannot simply rename a card surcharge. Stripe's fees continue.
Can I use QwikPay alongside Stripe?
Yes. QwikPay is an additional payment option that sits alongside your existing card acceptance. QwikPay charges $0 per transaction on QwikPay payments, but subscription charges may apply, so check current pricing and terms during onboarding.