Zeller

Zeller brings business accounts, payments and point-of-sale tools together for small businesses that want one provider for day-to-day finances and card acceptance. Its free account and POS software are appealing, but businesses should budget for payment processing and a required terminal for POS.

Overview

Zeller combines business payments, accounts, cards, invoicing and financial reporting. Its Business Account, app and dashboard have no monthly fee, while its POS software is free to download and run. That makes the core offer attractive to businesses looking to avoid recurring software charges, but it is not a cost-free way to accept cards: transaction fees apply, and POS requires a Zeller Terminal.

The UK provider is Zeller UK Limited, authorised by the FCA for payment services. Customer funds are safeguarded in segregated accounts, but Zeller Business Accounts are not covered by the FSCS. The company is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia; its own company information gives 2020 as its formation year.

Key features

Zeller accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, eftpos, JCB, UnionPay, Apple Pay and Google Pay. In-person Visa and Mastercard payments are priced at 1.3%, while other cards are 1.99%. The lower rate applies to two major card networks, so businesses should consider their customer payment mix rather than treating the headline rate as universal.

Online invoicing supports unlimited invoices without a monthly subscription fee. A browser-based virtual terminal lets businesses key in card payments, and payment links are free. These options give service businesses ways to collect remote payments without relying solely on a physical checkout, though payment processing fees still apply.

Zeller POS includes item and inventory management, receipt and kitchen docket printing, discounts, refunds and real-time sales reporting. It has useful basics for in-person retail and food service, but kitchen display, tabs, table mapping, inventory tracking and complex order routing are marked as coming soon. Businesses that depend on those capabilities should not assume they are already part of the working POS offer.

Zeller Bank Feeds automatically imports transactions from a Zeller Business Account into a Xero organisation. Its third-party POS integrations include Zii, Oracle Simphony, Tevalis and Redcat, which may matter to businesses already using those systems. Zeller says card data is encrypted during processing and that its payment systems follow PCI DSS standards. Customer support is available 24/7 by phone, email and SMS.

Pricing

Zeller uses a freemium model, with no monthly subscription or software licence fee for its core account and POS tools. The costs that matter are payment processing, a terminal for POS and optional expense cards.

The free account is a straightforward fit for businesses that want accounts and transfers without a recurring subscription. The POS software also avoids a monthly charge, but its terminal requirement means businesses must pay ££99, paid once for a Zeller Terminal 1x, before VAT, as well as transaction fees. Expense cards add a recurring cost after the first card, so teams issuing several cards should include the per-card charge in their budget.

For in-person Visa and Mastercard payments, the listed rate is 1.3%; other cards are 1.99%. Those rates make the type of cards customers use a direct cost consideration even when the software is free.

Platforms

Zeller is available on Android, iOS and the web. It supports Tap to Pay, but not offline payments. Businesses that need to keep taking payments without connectivity should look elsewhere; those using Zeller POS should also account for its terminal requirement.

Who it's for

Zeller Business Accounts are suitable for sole traders, limited companies, general partnerships, LLPs and trusts. The combination of free business accounts, invoicing and POS is most compelling for small businesses that want core finance and payment tools in one provider and can work within the current POS feature set.

It is less suitable for merchants that need offline acceptance or rely on advanced restaurant workflows such as tabs, table mapping or complex order routing. Businesses should also compare processing costs against their card mix and account for the upfront terminal purchase before choosing Zeller for in-person sales.

Pros and cons

• Pro: The business account, app and dashboard have no monthly fees, and include unlimited free accounts, free transfers and no minimum balance.
• Pro: Unlimited online invoices and a virtual terminal with free payment links provide several ways to take remote payments without a monthly subscription.
• Pro: 24/7 support by phone, email and SMS gives businesses access to help outside standard office hours.
• Con: POS requires a Zeller Terminal, and the listed 1x terminal costs ££99, paid once before VAT.
• Con: Transaction fees apply, with a 1.3% rate for in-person Visa and Mastercard and 1.99% for other cards.
• Con: Offline payments are not supported, and several advanced POS capabilities remain coming soon.
• Con: Business Accounts are not covered by the FSCS, despite funds being safeguarded in segregated accounts.

Alternatives

PayAnywhere may suit merchants comparing a freemium mobile payment service with swipe, dip or tap processing at 2.69% and keyed transactions at 3.49% + $0.19.

SwipeSimple is worth considering for eligible businesses interested in its Connect Zero plan, where card-paying customers cover a 3.5% card fee.

Helcim is an option for businesses that prefer interchange-plus processing rates that vary by volume and no account monthly fees.

QuickBooks GoPayment may fit businesses already considering QuickBooks Payments; its free app requires an account subject to eligibility criteria, credit and application approval.

Paid for Stripe may appeal to Stripe users looking for a free app with no monthly or setup fees and a 0.99% fee per transaction in addition to Stripe’s standard fees.

MobilePayments is an iOS and web alternative with in-person card payments priced at $1.39 per contact.

Lopay is another mobile payment option to compare for businesses weighing a free plan and team payments.

Clover Go is an alternative to consider for businesses seeking a POS app with sales reports and employee profile management.

For a broader comparison, browse Mobile Payment Processing Software or Food Truck POS Software.

Verdict

Zeller is a strong choice for sole traders and small businesses that want a free business account, invoicing and core POS features from one provider. Its main advantage is avoiding monthly software subscriptions across the account and POS, while its main drawbacks are transaction fees, the required terminal purchase and POS capabilities that are not yet ready. Choose it if those costs and limitations fit your operation; look elsewhere if you need offline payments or advanced table-service workflows now.