Comparison · Updated October 2, 2026
Cantaloupe vs Nayax for vending and unattended payments
Cantaloupe
B-
Cantaloupe is the Malvern, Pennsylvania company behind the ePort card readers found on vending machines, arcades, laundromats and car-wash vacuums, plus Cantaloupe Go micro-market kiosks, smart stores and the Seed route-management software. The company was incorporated in 1992 as USA Technologies and renamed Cantaloupe in April 2021. It is no longer independent: 365 Retail Markets, a Providence Equity portfolio company, completed its roughly $848 million purchase on 8 May 2026 and took it off Nasdaq. As of September 2026 Cantaloupe still sells under its own name, with its own store, pricing and support lines, and 365 has told customers that products, pricing and agreements are not changing for now. Operators sign Cantaloupe's Master Services Agreement and become sub-merchants under its processing relationship, so Cantaloupe collects the card money and pays it out weekly, after deducting its fees. Standard card-reader pricing is published: a reader kit bought outright (from $329 in the online store) carries a $9.95 or $12.95 monthly service fee and 5.95% of each card sale, on a 12-month commitment. One third-party guide reports a 10-cent per-transaction fee on top, which no Cantaloupe page shows. Readers can also be rented through Cantaloupe One from $18.95 a month with no upfront cost, but that is a 36-month commitment and the 5.95% still applies. It is one of the largest unattended-payments providers, with 1.30 million active devices and 36,928 active customers in its last public filing (March 2026); Nayax, which we also review, reports about 1.55 million devices worldwide. Its record is weak, though: an SEC accounting-fraud settlement over fiscal 2017–2018 revenue, a D- BBB rating with 40 complaints in three years, and recurring complaints about activation delays, missed deposits and service fees billed on devices operators believed were cancelled.
Nayax
B-
Nayax is an Israeli payments and commerce platform built for unattended retail — vending machines, kiosks, car washes, laundromats, amusement machines, coffee service and, increasingly, EV charging. Founded in 2005 by Yair Nechmad and David Ben Avi and headquartered in Herzliya, it listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange in May 2021 and on Nasdaq in September 2022. In the second quarter of 2026 it reported revenue of $122.6 million, up 28.2%, on total transaction value of $2.056 billion across 815 million transactions, 1.553 million managed and connected devices and 125,400 customers, at a blended take rate of 2.62%. Its US retail plan is published at $99 a month with no transaction fee on the first $5,000 of monthly volume. Against that: a February 2025 consent decree with the Israeli Competition Authority over its OTI acquisition, a July 2026 cloud security incident, 79 BBB complaints in three years and a 2.2-star Trustpilot.
VS
Overview
Cantaloupe and Nayax are two of the largest suppliers of card readers and telemetry for vending machines, laundromats, car-wash vacuums, arcades and micro markets. Both now publish self-serve US prices, so an operator can compare them before talking to sales. Cantaloupe charges one rate, 5.95% of each card sale, plus $9.95 or $12.95 a month per reader bought outright (from $329), with a 12-month commitment on most reader kits. Readers can also be rented through Cantaloupe One from $18.95 a month on a 36-month commitment. Nayax's US shop sells the VPOS Touch reader for $399 (down to $289 each at 15 or more units) plus a one-time $20 activation fee and $9.99 a month. Its processing fee depends on the prices the machine sells at. As of October 2026 its calculator returns 5.95% when the cheapest item is under $5, but 2.5% + 10¢ when every item is $5 or more and 3% + 20¢ from $25. On a $2 snack the two cost the same. On an $8 car-wash vacuum cycle Nayax is cheaper (30¢ against 48¢). On machines whose prices top out at $1 with some items below it, Cantaloupe is cheaper. Cantaloupe publishes its contract terms, including the commitment periods and early-termination fees. Nayax's shop does not publish a contract length, and the shop takes no returns. Cantaloupe has been owned by 365 Retail Markets since 8 May 2026. Payment Review grades both B-.
Key Takeaways
- ✓It depends on ticket size. Below $5 the two charge the same 5.95%. Where every item on a machine costs $5 or more, Nayax's published 2.5% + 10¢ (3% + 20¢ from $25) is well under Cantaloupe's flat 5.95%. On machines whose prices top out at $1 with some items below $1, Nayax moves to 3% + 5¢ and Cantaloupe is cheaper.
- ✓For a single reader, Cantaloupe costs less upfront ($329 against $399 plus Nayax's $20 first-order activation fee). Nayax becomes cheaper from 5 units ($314) and at 15–40 units ($289).
- ✓Monthly fees are almost identical: $9.95 (or $12.95 for Cashless Plus) at Cantaloupe against $9.99 at Nayax. Only Cantaloupe offers a no-upfront rental, Cantaloupe One, from $18.95 a month on a 36-month term.
- ✓Cantaloupe publishes its contract terms: a 12-month commitment on most purchased reader kits, 36 months on rentals, and an early-termination fee equal to the remaining monthly fees. Nayax's shop gives no contract length or termination terms, and the terms on nayax.com could not be read.
- ✓Nayax has the better BBB standing (A+ against Cantaloupe's D-). Both draw recurring complaints about support. Nayax's Trustpilot score is 2.1 from 487 reviews, and Cantaloupe's unclaimed profile shows 2.8 from three reviews, all one-star.
Cantaloupe
Cantaloupe suits operators with low-ticket snack, drink, arcade or laundry machines, especially single-machine or small operators who want the cheapest single reader, a return window, a free sales dashboard and published contract terms on most kits. It also suits anyone who wants readers or micro-market kiosks with no upfront cost through the Cantaloupe One rental.
Nayax
Nayax suits operators whose machines sell nothing under $5 (car-wash bays and vacuums, laundry, massage chairs, higher-priced vending), where its published 2.5% + 10¢ rate undercuts a flat 5.95%. It also suits operators buying five or more readers at once. Ask for the contract and its termination terms before ordering, because the shop does not publish them and does not take returns.
The Verdict
It Depends on Your Needs
Why?
Payment Review grades both B-, and the better choice depends on what your machines sell. For ordinary snack and drink vending, where the cheapest item is under $5, both charge 5.95% and about $10 a month per reader. There Cantaloupe has the edge for a small operator: a cheaper single reader, a return window, a free dashboard, published contract terms on most kits and a no-upfront rental. For machines where nothing costs less than $5, such as car-wash bays and vacuums, laundry or higher-priced vending, Nayax's published 2.5% + 10¢ (3% + 20¢ from $25) costs well under Cantaloupe's flat 5.95%. Nayax is also cheaper per reader from five units and has the stronger BBB rating. Against that, its shop takes no returns and does not publish a contract length or termination terms.
Feature by feature
Detailed Comparison
Filter Options
Transaction fees (US self-serve pricing, as of October 2026)
| Feature | Cantaloupe | Nayax |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest item under $5 (typical snack and drink vending) | 5.95% | 5.95% |
| No winner: the rate is the same. Every reader kit and Cantaloupe One rental in Cantaloupe's online store is listed at '5.95%' alongside its monthly fee, with no fixed per-transaction fee shown. The signed order form governs, so check it for a fixed fee. Nayax's US shop sets the processing fee from the lowest and highest prices the operator enters for the machine. On 2 October 2026 its calculator returned 5.95% with no fixed fee whenever the lowest price was under $5 and the highest was above $1. | ||
| Top price $1 or less, cheapest under $1 (gumball, small arcade) | 5.95% Winner | 3% + 5¢ |
| Nayax's calculator returned 3% + 5¢ when the highest price entered was $1 or less and the lowest was under $1. A machine where every play is exactly $1 returned 5.95%, the same as Cantaloupe. In this band a $1 sale costs 8¢ at Nayax and 6¢ at Cantaloupe, and a 50¢ sale costs 6.5¢ against 3¢. The two would cost the same at about $1.69, above the band's $1 ceiling, so Cantaloupe is cheaper on every sale in it. | ||
| Every item $5–$24.99 (car-wash vacuums, laundry, higher-priced vending) | 5.95% | 2.5% + 10¢ Winner |
| Nayax's calculator returned 2.5% + 10¢ whenever the lowest price entered was between $5 and $24.99, whatever the highest price. The two rates would cost the same at about $2.90, below this band's $5 floor, so Nayax is cheaper on every sale in it: a $5 sale costs 30¢ at Cantaloupe and 23¢ at Nayax, and a $20 sale $1.19 against 60¢. | ||
| Every item $25 or more | 5.95% | 3% + 20¢ Winner |
| Nayax's calculator returned 3% + 20¢ when the lowest price entered was $25 or more. On a $40 sale that is $1.40 at Nayax against $2.38 at Cantaloupe. Operators who told the calculator they sell CBD were quoted differently (3.5% + 20¢ in most combinations tested). | ||
| Worked example: $2 snack / $8 vacuum cycle / $40 item | 12¢ / 48¢ / $2.38 | 12¢ / 30¢ / $1.40 |
| Each Nayax figure assumes the whole machine qualifies for that band: under $5 for the snack machine (5.95%), $5–$24.99 for the vacuum (2.5% + 10¢), $25 or more for the $40 item (3% + 20¢). A machine that mixes a $2 item with a $40 item is charged 5.95% on everything at Nayax. Nayax's shop does not say what happens to the rate if prices change after the order. | ||
Cheapest item under $5 (typical snack and drink vending)
Cantaloupe
5.95%
Nayax
5.95%
No winner: the rate is the same. Every reader kit and Cantaloupe One rental in Cantaloupe's online store is listed at '5.95%' alongside its monthly fee, with no fixed per-transaction fee shown. The signed order form governs, so check it for a fixed fee. Nayax's US shop sets the processing fee from the lowest and highest prices the operator enters for the machine. On 2 October 2026 its calculator returned 5.95% with no fixed fee whenever the lowest price was under $5 and the highest was above $1.
Top price $1 or less, cheapest under $1 (gumball, small arcade)
Cantaloupe
5.95%
Winner
Nayax
3% + 5¢
Nayax's calculator returned 3% + 5¢ when the highest price entered was $1 or less and the lowest was under $1. A machine where every play is exactly $1 returned 5.95%, the same as Cantaloupe. In this band a $1 sale costs 8¢ at Nayax and 6¢ at Cantaloupe, and a 50¢ sale costs 6.5¢ against 3¢. The two would cost the same at about $1.69, above the band's $1 ceiling, so Cantaloupe is cheaper on every sale in it.
Every item $5–$24.99 (car-wash vacuums, laundry, higher-priced vending)
Cantaloupe
5.95%
Nayax
2.5% + 10¢
Winner
Nayax's calculator returned 2.5% + 10¢ whenever the lowest price entered was between $5 and $24.99, whatever the highest price. The two rates would cost the same at about $2.90, below this band's $5 floor, so Nayax is cheaper on every sale in it: a $5 sale costs 30¢ at Cantaloupe and 23¢ at Nayax, and a $20 sale $1.19 against 60¢.
Every item $25 or more
Cantaloupe
5.95%
Nayax
3% + 20¢
Winner
Nayax's calculator returned 3% + 20¢ when the lowest price entered was $25 or more. On a $40 sale that is $1.40 at Nayax against $2.38 at Cantaloupe. Operators who told the calculator they sell CBD were quoted differently (3.5% + 20¢ in most combinations tested).
Worked example: $2 snack / $8 vacuum cycle / $40 item
Cantaloupe
12¢ / 48¢ / $2.38
Nayax
12¢ / 30¢ / $1.40
Each Nayax figure assumes the whole machine qualifies for that band: under $5 for the snack machine (5.95%), $5–$24.99 for the vacuum (2.5% + 10¢), $25 or more for the $40 item (3% + 20¢). A machine that mixes a $2 item with a $40 item is charged 5.95% on everything at Nayax. Nayax's shop does not say what happens to the rate if prices change after the order.
Best For Your Business
Recommendations based on your business type
Small snack and drink vending route (cheapest item under $5)
Recommended
Cantaloupe
Both charge 5.95% here and within 4¢ of each other a month, so the upfront and contract terms decide it. Cantaloupe's reader is $329 against Nayax's $399 plus $20 activation. It takes returns (less a 20% restocking fee), states a 12-month commitment and its early-termination fee on most reader kits, and Seed Live comes free.
Car wash, vacuum or laundromat where every price is $5 or more
Recommended
Nayax
Nayax's published rate for this band, 2.5% + 10¢, is 30¢ on an $8 cycle against 48¢ at Cantaloupe's 5.95%, and the gap widens as the price rises. Confirm in the contract that the rate holds if you change prices later.
Gumball, sticker or small arcade operator with sub-$1 prices
Recommended
Cantaloupe
When a machine's prices top out at $1 and some are lower, Nayax's calculator moves to 3% + 5¢: 8¢ on a $1 sale and 6.5¢ on 50¢, against 6¢ and 3¢ at Cantaloupe's 5.95%. A machine where every play is exactly $1 is charged 5.95% at both. Cantaloupe's pulse kits ($369–$414 bought, or $18.95–$19.95 a month rented) are built for coin-op and amusement machines.
Operator buying 15 or more readers at once
Recommended
Nayax
Nayax's VPOS Touch drops to $289 each at 15–40 units, $40 under Cantaloupe's single-unit $329, and Cantaloupe's store lists no volume price. Ask Nayax for the contract term and termination terms first, since the shop takes no returns.
Micro-market operator who wants no upfront cost
Recommended
Cantaloupe
Cantaloupe One rents Go Micro kiosks from $119 a month and Go MiniX or Plus100 kiosks from $225 a month with no upfront cost, on 36-month terms with warranty for the whole rental. Nayax's shop sells its Nova Market kiosk for $2,500 outright, though Nayax Capital can finance it at 0% APR.
Cantaloupe: Best for 3 use cases
Nayax: Best for 2 use cases
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this comparison
It depends on your prices. Both charge 5.95% on machines whose cheapest item is under $5, and their monthly fees are $9.95 and $9.99. If every item on a machine costs $5 to $24.99, Nayax's US shop prices processing at 2.5% + 10¢, and at 3% + 20¢ from $25, both well below Cantaloupe's flat 5.95%. If a machine's prices top out at $1 with some below it, Nayax charges 3% + 5¢, so Cantaloupe is cheaper. Cantaloupe's single reader is also cheaper upfront ($329 against $399 plus a $20 activation fee).
Yes, for US self-serve orders. As of October 2026, Nayax's US online shop lists the VPOS Touch reader at $399 ($314 at 5–14 units, $289 at 15–40), a $9.99 monthly package, a one-time $20 activation fee for new customers, and a processing-fee calculator based on the lowest and highest prices the machine sells at. Orders of 41 or more readers, and the contract itself, still go through sales.
Cantaloupe publishes a 12-month commitment on most purchased reader kits and 36 months on Cantaloupe One rentals. Where an order form sets no commitment, its agreement defaults to three years. Leaving early costs the monthly fee for each remaining month, and its agreement renews automatically for one-year terms. Nayax's shop does not publish a contract length or early-termination fee, so ask for both in writing before ordering. Nayax also does not accept returns.
Both pay weekly, after deducting their fees. Cantaloupe pays on Fridays by default, the money usually arrives the next business day, and balances under $25 roll over to the following week. Nayax transfers funds weekly to the bank account in your contract and sends an invoice showing the period's sales less its monthly service fee per machine. US customers can also receive settlement into Nayax's Yellow Account.
No. 365 Retail Markets, a Providence Equity portfolio company, completed its purchase of Cantaloupe on 8 May 2026 for $11.20 a share, about $848 million, and Cantaloupe's shares were delisted. As a condition of clearing the deal, the FTC required Cantaloupe's Three Square Market kiosk business to be sold to Seaga Manufacturing, which announced the purchase on 8 May 2026. 365 has said the combined business will operate under its name, but as of 2 October 2026 Cantaloupe's website and store still carry the Cantaloupe name and prices.