Card machine commission rates in 2026 are not your POS software price

People who search for “POS commission rates 2026” want the percentage the bank takes on a card payment. The same word is also used for order-taking software. They are not the same invoice. This article does not invent a percentage. It says which line on the bank’s paper is the rate, which is a monthly fee, and which is a campaign.

Commission, software fee, monthly charge

One word, two bills.

The bank terminal is the fiscal device that takes the guest’s card. The commission is the contracted percentage of what passes through that device. A monthly device or merchant fee is a separate line; do not mix it into the percentage. Order software is for tickets, the kitchen, the QR menu and reports. ari adisyon does not take a cut of card sales. The card follows your bank’s or payment company’s contract.

The advertised rate is not the rate you keep

“Lowest commission 2026” adverts are often tied to a campaign. When the campaign ends, the rate returns to the list price in the contract. Read these on the same page:

• Is debit the same percentage as credit?
• Are instalments priced separately?
• Are foreign cards priced separately?
• Is there a monthly fee or a minimum turnover?
• On which date does the campaign end, and what rate follows?

Those lines change by bank and by turnover. Printing today’s percentage here would be a false promise tomorrow. The current rate is in your merchant contract and in the tariff the bank sent you.

Where the software price sits

The price of an order system is a different question. Setup, commitment, branches and modules are covered in restaurant POS prices. Current plans are on the pricing page. We do not copy the numbers into this article, because a copied number goes stale.

Frequently asked questions

When does a 2026 card-terminal campaign end?

The end date is in the campaign clause of the contract, not under the advert. If the contract has no date, ask the bank in writing. A spoken “it stays the same” is not a tariff.

Is the monthly device fee inside the commission?

No. It is a separate line. Do not multiply it by the percentage. It can be a fixed amount even in a month when no card is used. Check the statement.

Does an internet café need a card terminal?

This article is about card taking in cafés and restaurants. Whether an internet café or a game hall must use a fiscal device is a separate legal question; ask your accountant. ari adisyon is not built for that business.

Conclusion

Read the commission on the bank’s paper and the software on the pricing page. Treating them as one “POS fee” ties you either to an expensive campaign or to the wrong product.