“Get a POS terminal with zero monthly rent!” You see this message everywhere. It sounds ideal, but in payments, nothing is truly free.
At FeeFox, we focus on total economics, not headline marketing.
How the “free POS” model works
Acquirers and PSPs still carry hardware, connectivity, and support costs. If they do not charge monthly rent, they usually recover margin elsewhere.
Most often, that means higher per-transaction fees.
A quick numbers example
Let us compare two scenarios for EUR 10,000 monthly card volume.
Scenario A: “Free POS”
- Monthly rent: EUR 0
- Fee: 1.5% flat
- Total monthly cost: EUR 150
Scenario B: POS with monthly rent
- Monthly rent: EUR 15
- Fee: 0.9% (Interchange++ style)
- Total monthly cost: EUR 105 (EUR 90 fee + EUR 15 rent)
Result: The “free” option costs EUR 45 more per month, or EUR 540 more per year.
When free POS can still make sense
It is not always bad. It can fit when:
- Your business is strongly seasonal.
- Monthly card volume is very low.
- You need a no-commitment setup for a new activity.
Other hidden terms to check
- Minimum commitment period: often tied to long contracts and exit penalties.
- Minimum activity clauses: low volume may trigger extra monthly charges.
- Service terms: check who pays for maintenance or replacement.
FeeFox take
Do not let “EUR 0” drive the decision. Ask: What is my total annual cost of ownership?
FeeFox compares real offers across the Greek market and gives you a data-backed answer.
Want to verify if that free POS offer is actually competitive? Let us analyze it together.