What a Wallet Pass Platform Costs in Australia: AUD, GST and Pricing Models
By Michael Chora · Published · Last updated
A wallet pass platform in Australia is usually priced one of three ways: a flat monthly plan, a charge per pass or per active pass, or a quote for larger volumes. The figure that matters is the total you pay in Australian dollars, so check three things on any price list: the currency, whether GST is included and what the price is measured against (passes, messages, locations or users). For Shakewell Wallet, the published plans are Starter at AUD 79, Growth at AUD 399 and Scale at AUD 1,439 a month, all including GST, with no per-pass fees. This guide explains how to compare options without being caught out. It uses only our own published prices and general market structure, not other vendors' figures.
Our published pricing
These figures come from the Shakewell Wallet pricing page and Australia page. Check them there for anything newer.
| Plan | Monthly (AUD, incl. GST) | Monthly (USD) | Active passes | Users | Templates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | AUD 79 | USD 49 | Up to 500 | 1 | 1 |
| Growth | AUD 399 | USD 249 | Up to 2,500 | 5 | Unlimited |
| Scale | AUD 1,439 | USD 899 | Up to 10,000 | 15 | Unlimited |
| Enterprise | Quoted | Quoted | Over 10,000 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Points to note:
- Flat monthly rates, no per-pass fees. Plans are priced per month, with annual billing also offered. We never auto-charge overage; if you exceed your plan's pass count we talk to you about a larger plan and do not interrupt service.
- Active passes are what count. A pass that has been sent but never added to a wallet does not count, and a pass the customer deleted stops counting.
- Integrations are on every plan. Shopify, Square, Klaviyo, WooCommerce and Zapier are included, with full-access REST API keys on Growth and above.
- Loyalty features differ by plan. Stamp cards are on every plan. Points, earning rules, tiers and rewards are on Growth and above.
- Free trial. There is a 14-day free trial on the plan you choose. You can sign up and design your card without a credit card; the trial starts, and a card is requested, when you publish your first card.
- Enterprise is quoted individually for more than 10,000 active passes, with volume per-pass pricing.
AUD or USD: which are you looking at?
Many wallet platforms are based overseas and list prices in US dollars. For an Australian business that raises three questions.
- What will I actually be charged? If a list shows USD, your card may be billed in USD and converted by your bank at its own rate, and some banks add a foreign transaction fee. Ask whether you can be billed in AUD instead.
- Does the exchange rate move? A USD price is a moving figure in AUD terms. A price fixed in AUD is not.
- Is the AUD price a conversion or a real price? Some vendors show a converted figure. Look for a stated AUD price.
Shakewell Wallet lists both. The pricing page can be switched to AUD, and the AUD prices are set in Australian dollars and include GST (Shakewell Wallet in Australia). The two currencies are separate price lists, not a live conversion.
GST: is it included?
The Australian Taxation Office describes GST as a broad-based tax of 10% on most goods and services sold or consumed in Australia, and says GST-registered businesses include GST in the price of their sales and claim credits for GST in their purchases (ATO: Goods and services tax). Whether GST is added on top is the most common source of confusion when comparing prices.
What to check:
- Is the price GST-inclusive or plus GST? A price of 399 plus GST is not the same as 399 including it.
- Will the invoice show the ABN and GST as a separate line? You will want this to claim a credit if you are registered for GST.
- Is the supplier registered for GST? Shakewell Wallet is owned by a company that is registered for GST, as stated on the Australia page.
If you are registered for GST yourself, a GST-inclusive price still means you can usually claim the GST back as a credit. Confirm with your accountant. We cannot give tax advice, and that is a general description only.
How pricing models differ
| Model | How it works | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Flat monthly plan | A fixed fee covers a band of passes, users or features | Plan limits; what is missing on lower plans |
| Per pass or per active pass | You pay for each pass issued or installed | Cost grows with every new customer; how deleted passes are counted |
| Per message | You pay for push notifications or messages | Cost rises when you send more, so you may send less |
| Setup or onboarding fee | A one-off charge to start | Whether it is repeated for each additional card |
| Quote-based | Price on application, usually for volume | Slow comparison; ask for the unit cost in writing |
None of these is wrong. A per-pass model suits a small, occasional programme; a flat plan suits a business that expects to add customers steadily and wants a predictable monthly cost. Do the arithmetic for your own numbers. Take the number of customers you expect to hold a pass in twelve months, and price each model against it, including messages you plan to send.
What to ask any vendor before you sign
- What is the price in AUD, and does it include GST?
- What exactly is counted: issued passes, installed passes, users, templates or messages?
- What happens if I exceed the limit: a charge, a block or a conversation?
- Is there a setup fee, and is it charged per card?
- Are integrations (your point of sale, your email tool) included or extra?
- What does the free trial include, and when does it start?
- Can I export my customers and move elsewhere if I leave?
- Do I need my own Apple Developer account, and what does that cost? Shakewell Wallet does not require one; passes are signed with its own certificate (Apple Wallet setup).
Costs outside the platform fee
- Your time. Designing the card, printing the QR code and training staff.
- Printing. A counter poster or table tent. Shakewell Wallet generates A4 print layouts you can save as PDF.
- Building it yourself. If you build passes in-house instead, you pay developer time, the annual Apple Developer Program fee, certificate renewals and support. Our guide to wallet pass vs mobile app compares the effort, and best digital wallet pass platforms compares the vendor landscape.
Frequently asked questions
Are Shakewell Wallet's Australian prices GST-inclusive? Yes. The AUD prices on the pricing and Australia pages include GST.
Is there a per-pass fee? No. Plans are flat monthly with no per-pass fees. If you exceed your plan's pass count we contact you about a larger plan.
Do I pay for passes customers never install? No. Only active passes, meaning installed and being updated, count toward your limit.
Is there a free trial? Yes, 14 days on the plan you choose. See the pricing page for how the trial starts.
Are USD and AUD prices the same? No. They are separate price lists. Choose the currency that matches how you want to be billed.
How does Shakewell Wallet compare with PassKit on price? See the PassKit comparison.