Clover POS System Review 2023: Features, Costs, Alternatives

4.0

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The Clover point-of-sale system is a good option for business owners of many types: restaurants, retail outlets or professional services. Its hardware is on the pricey side, but the reasonable monthly cost and low payment processing fees help offset that upfront investment over time.

What is Clover?

Clover is a point-of-sale, or POS, system for small businesses that want to take payments from customers in person. The company and various third-party vendors sell a variety of Clover hardware bundles and components to merchants. Clover also offers card payment processing services.

Clover is owned by Fiserv, a payments and financial technology provider. Fiserv processes payments on the back end, though you can choose your own merchant service provider.

Clover deciding factors

Payment processing fees

• 2.3% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions for most plans.

• 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions on Retail Starter, Personal Services Starter and Professional Services Standard plans, as well as Home & Field Services Standard and Advanced plans.

• 3.5% plus 10 cents for online or keyed-in transactions.

Note: Prices are based on using Clover’s parent company, Fiserv, as your merchant service provider. If you use a different provider, your costs may differ.

Monthly fee

• $14.95 for Starter Retail, Starter Personal Services, Starter and Standard Professional Services and Home & Field Services plans.

• $44.95 for Standard Retail, Starter and Standard QSR, Standard and Advanced Personal Services and Advanced Professional Services plans.

• $54.90 for Advanced Retail and Advanced QSR plans.

• $74.95 for Starter Full-Service Dining plan.

• $84.90 for Standard Full-Service Dining plan.

• $94.85 for Advanced Full-Service Dining plan.

Hardware cost

• $49 for chip, swipe and contactless Clover Go card reader.

• $599 for Clover Flex mobile POS with printer.

• $799 for Clover Mini POS.

• $1,699 for Clover Station Solo.

• $1,799 for Clover Station Duo.

Accepted payment methods

Major credit cards via EMV chip and swipe, Venmo and PayPal, contactless NFC payments including Google Pay, Apple Pay and Samsung Pay, checks and cash.

Contract length

Month to month.

Customer service

24/7 phone, chat and email support.

Pros

• Competitive flat rates for payment processing.

• Hardware performs well and is well designed.

Cons

• No free options.

• Pricing can be tough to understand.

How does Clover work?

(Photo courtesy of Clover)

Clover makes POS hardware and software and processes payments. The company also offers business software, including customer engagement and employee management, that is supported by its POS system.

Standard features

Regardless of the specific combination of Clover hardware and software, you’ll have access to the following features:

• Reporting tools that allow you to track revenue, filter your POS reports to see your busiest times and your best-selling items, get aggregated sales across all your locations, view end-of-day reports, track total sales per employee and more.

• 24/7 customer service phone support.

• The option to use Rapid Deposit, which gives you access to the funds generated by sales transactions within minutes — for a 1% fee — instead of having to wait the typical one to three business days.

• The ability to:

• Set up both digital and physical gift cards.

• Accept payments online through a virtual terminal.

• Venmo,

  Accept PayPal Apple Pay and Google Pay.

• Sync with third-party apps.

Clover is owned by Fiserv, a payments and financial technology provider. Fiserv processes on the back end, though you can choose your own merchant service provider.

How much does Clover cost?

Clover pricing depends on payment processing fees, which are a function of sales and payment type, the monthly plan you choose and the hardware you need based on your type of business. With most plans you can either pay in full or pay monthly. If you choose to pay in full, you will encounter an upfront lump sum to own your hardware, plus a monthly software fee. For the monthly pay option, the hardware and software price are rolled into one monthly payment, but you don’t own the hardware up front.

🤓 Nerdy Tip

The prices here represent buying from Clover directly. Clover is also sold through multiple third parties, including banks and stores, where you might encounter different pricing.

Clover plans and pricing

Quick-service dining systems

Features on Clover POS systems for restaurants are generally standard across tiers, unlike other POS systems that limit features on lower priced options. The primary difference is the number and types of hardware Clover’s software runs on.

All quick-service restaurant plans have features that let users:

• Create a restaurant floor plan.

• Keep tabs open, split checks and tipping.

• Integrate Clover with an online store.

• Access reports like real-time sales tracking and tax reporting.

• Manage employee shifts.

• Run a customer loyalty program.

Starter

Pay in Full option:

• Upfront cost:

  $799 for an 8-inch Clover Mini touch-screen terminal with a cash drawer and printer. 

• Monthly cost: $44.95.

Pay Monthly option:

• Monthly cost: $90 

Standard

Pay in Full option:

• Upfront cost: $1,799 for a Clover Station Duo, which is a 14-inch touch-screen terminal with a 7-inch customer-facing touch screen, receipt printer and cash drawer.

• Monthly cost: $44.95.

Pay Monthly option:

• Monthly cost: $130

Advanced

Pay in Full option:

• Upfront cost: $2,398 for a Clover Station Duo, which is a 14-inch touch-screen terminal with a 7-inch customer-facing touch screen, a receipt printer and a cash drawer; also comes with a Clover Flex hand-held touch-screen device.

• Monthly cost: $54.90.

Pay Monthly option:

• Monthly cost: $175

Full-service restaurants

Features on Clover POS systems for restaurants are generally standard across tiers, unlike other POS systems that limit features on lower priced options. The primary difference is the number and types of hardware.Features on Clover POS systems for restaurants are generally standard across tiers, unlike other POS systems that limit features on lower priced options. The primary difference is the number and types of hardware.

All full-service restaurant plans have features that let users:

• Create a restaurant floor plan.

• Keep tabs open, split checks and tipping.

• Send remote orders directly to the kitchen.

• Integrate with an online store.

• Track real-time sales, tax reporting and more.

• Manage employee shifts.

• Run a customer loyalty program.

Starter

Pay in Full option:

• Upfront cost: $1,699 for a 14-inch touch-screen terminal, receipt printer and cash drawer.

• Monthly cost: $74.95.

Pay Monthly option:

• Monthly cost: $150

Standard

Pay in Full option:

• Upfront cost: $2,298 for a Clover Station Solo, which is a 14-inch touch-screen terminal, receipt printer and a cash drawer; also includes a Clover Flex hand-held touch-screen device.

• Monthly cost: $84.90.

Pay Monthly option:

• Monthly cost: $195

Advanced

Pay in Full option:

• Upfront cost: $4,097 for a Clover Station Solo, which is a 14-inch touch-screen terminal, receipt printer and a cash drawer; also includes a Clover Flex hand-held touch-screen device and a Clover Station Duo, which has a 7-inch customer-facing touch screen and a receipt printer.

• Monthly cost: $94.85.

Pay Monthly option:

• Monthly cost: $290

Retail

As you go up the three pricing tiers in Clover’s retail, you get more hardware, but there are also other differences to consider. The Standard and Advanced plans have a lower payment processing rate: 2.3% plus 10 cents per in-person transaction compared to 2.6% plus 10 cents in the Starter plan. Additional software features in the two higher plans include the ability to itemize returns and exchanges and integrate a scale to weight items.

Starter

Pay in Full option:

• Upfront cost: $799 for an 8-inch touch-screen Clover Mini terminal with a built-in printer.

• Monthly cost: $14.95.

Pay Monthly option:

• Monthly cost: $60

• Software features let users:

• Apply discounts.

• View real-time sales tracking and sales reports.

• Integrate with your existing online store.

• Offer a customer loyalty program and sell gift cards.

Standard

Pay in Full option:

• Upfront cost: $1,799 for a Clover Station Duo, which is a 14-inch touch-screen terminal with a 7-inch customer-facing touch screen, a receipt printer and a cash drawer.

• Monthly cost: $44.95.

Pay Monthly option:

• Monthly cost: $130

• Software features let users:

• Access all features found in the Starter plan.

• Process itemized returns and exchanges.

• Use a scale to sell items by weight.

• Track cost by item.

Advanced

Pay in Full option:

• Upfront cost: $2,398 for a Clover Station Duo, which is a 14-inch touch-screen terminal with a 7-inch customer-facing touch screen, a hand-held touch-screen device, a receipt printer and a cash drawer.

• Monthly cost: $54.90.

Pay Monthly option:

• Monthly cost: $175

• Software features let users:

• Access all features found in the Standard plan.

Personal services

You can use Clover if you provide personal services, like a hair salon or fitness studio. Like the Retail plan, the Personal Services Standard and Advanced offerings have a lower payment processing rate and can handle a few more complex tasks, like weighing items and itemizing returns.

Starter

Pay in Full option:

• Upfront cost: $599 for a Clover Flex hand-held touch-screen device.

• Monthly cost: $14.95.

Pay Monthly option:

• Monthly cost: $50

• Software features let users:

• Apply discounts.

• View real-time sales and sales reports.

• Offer a customer loyalty program and sell gift cards.

Standard

Pay in Full option:

• Upfront cost: $799 for a Clover Mini, which is a 7-inch touch-screen terminal with a built-in printer.

• Monthly cost: $44.95.

Pay Monthly option:

• Monthly cost: $90.

• Software features let users:

• Access all features found in the Starter plan.

• Process itemized returns and exchanges.

• Integrate a scale to sell items by weight.

• Track cost by item.

Advanced

Pay in Full option:

• Upfront cost: $1,799 for a Clover Station Duo, which is a 14-inch touch-screen terminal with a 7-inch customer-facing touch screen, a receipt printer and a cash drawer.

• Monthly cost: $44.95.

Pay Monthly option:

• Monthly cost: $130.

• Software features are the same as those in the Standard plan.

Professional services

Unlike restaurants or retailers, professional service providers like an architect or a designer might regularly accept payments in a variety of ways — invoices, over the phone or in person, for example. If you don’t expect to accept in-person payments, the Starter plan will save you money as it doesn’t require hardware.

Starter

• Upfront cost: $0. No hardware needed; accept payments through a website.

• Monthly cost: $14.95.

• Software features let users:

• Send email invoices.

• Track real-time sales and view sales reports.

• Automate recurring payments.

• Track invoices.

• Build and manage a customer database.

Standard

Pay in Full option:

• Upfront cost: $599 for a Clover Flex hand-held touch-screen device.

• Monthly cost: $14.95.

Pay Monthly option:

• Monthly cost: $50.

• Software features let users:

• Access all features found in the Starter plan.

• Accept PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay and Google Pay.

• Customer loyalty program.

• Accept gift cards.

Advanced

Pay in Full option:

• Upfront cost: $1,699 for a Clover Station Solo, which is a 14-inch touch-screen terminal, receipt printer and cash drawer.

• Monthly cost: $44.95.

Pay Monthly option:

• Monthly cost: $120.

• Software features let users:

• Access all features in the Standard plan.

• Track cost by item.

Home and field businesses

If you’re an electrician, landscaper or other type of professional who travels to job sites, Clover allows you to take payments in the field. If you prefer to send electronic invoices, the Starter plan is the best pick. The other two plans include a mobile card reader that connects to a phone so you can get paid anywhere.

Starter

• Upfront cost: $0. No hardware needed; accept payments through a website.

• Monthly cost: $14.95.

• Software features let users:

• Send email invoices.

• Track real-time sales and view sales reports.

• Automate recurring payments.

• Track invoices.

• Build a customer database.

Standard

• Upfront cost: $49 for a Clover Go mobile card reader that pairs with your phone.

• Monthly cost: $14.95.

• Software features let users:

• Access all features found in the Starter plan.

• Accept PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay and Google Pay.

• Offer a customer loyalty program.

• Accept gift cards.

Advanced

Pay in Full option:

• Upfront cost: $599 for a Clover Flex hand-held touch-screen device.

• Monthly cost: $14.95.

Pay Monthly option:

• Monthly cost: $50.

• Software features let users:

• Access all features in the Standard plan.

• Track cost by item.

• Do itemized returns and exchanges.

Hardware options and costs

This is Clover’s primary hardware lineup – the options available from Clover and its resellers. This is also the hardware that appears in various combinations in the software packages described above.

Clover Go – $49

(Photo courtesy of Clover)

The Clover Go pairs with your phone through Bluetooth and enables you to accept magstripe-only cards, chip cards and contactless payments.

Clover Flex – $599

(Photo courtesy of Clover)

The Clover Flex is a 5-inch hand-held device that can take orders, process payments, capture customer signatures, scan bar codes and print receipts.

Clover Mini – $799

(Photo courtesy of Clover)

This tablet-size countertop device processes payments, scans bar codes and prints receipts. Perched on a swivel, you can turn it to your customers to complete purchases.

Clover Station Solo – $1,699

(Photo courtesy of Clover)

The Clover Station Solo system combines a 14-inch touch screen, a cash drawer and a receipt printer. It includes a built-in camera and barcode scanner and fingerprint login.

Clover Station Duo – $1,799

(Photo courtesy of Clover)

The Station Duo combines the Station Solo for staff use and a Clover Mini for customer use.

Benefits of Clover

Low flat rates for payment processing

Clover’s payment processing rates for in-person transactions are generally lower than industry heavyweights such as Stripe and Square. The higher your average sales volume, the more beneficial this is.

Decent monthly rates and features

Monthly software fees can really add up; Clover’s generally are below $100 Clover’s POS systems have many popular features, including table mapping and remote order ticket routing for restaurants, and low-stock alerts and itemized returns for retail.

Top-notch hardware

Clover’s distinctive white and silver hardware looks sharp and is built for point of sale — it isn’t just an app you run on your own phone or tablet. Its hand-held device in particular stands out for a few reasons: It can be used in retail settings, unlike Toast’s restaurant-only device, and it has a built-in printer, unlike Square’s. Other mobile card readers are more expensive and don’t accept cards that swipe.

Drawbacks of Clover

No free options

Unlike some retail POS systems, the Clover POS doesn’t have any free hardware or software options. POS systems that let you bring your own device aren’t exactly free — the device costs something at some point — but they can mean less outgoing cash at the time you get started.

Products and pricing can be hard to understand

It can be tough to find all the information you need about Clover’s products on its website. You can buy Clover directly, but there are many other resellers, including Citi, Wells Fargo Dharma Merchant Services and Sam’s Club. Each has its own pricing, which makes it hard to compare your options. You also might be required to sign a long-term contract, which limits your flexibility in the future.

Alternatives to Clover

For flexible, straightforward plans: Square

Payment processing fees:

• 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions.

• 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions or invoices without a card on file. If you have the Premium plan, this drops to 2.6% plus 30 cents.

• 3.5% plus 15 cents for manually keyed transactions or card-on-file invoices.

Why we like it:

provides a deep set of POS features, plus additional services such as payroll and customer loyalty programs with comparable fees, and they are simpler to understand — no third parties to navigate. Square also doesn’t require long-term contracts, which means you can switch if a better fit comes along.Square provides a deep set of POS features, plus additional services such as payroll and customer loyalty programs with comparable fees, and they are simpler to understand — no third parties to navigate. Square also doesn’t require long-term contracts, which means you can switch if a better fit comes along.

If payment processing is your biggest concern: Payment Depot

Payment processing fees:

Interchange plus $0 per transaction.

Why we like it:

For potentially cheaper payment processing rates, consider

For potentially cheaper payment processing rates, consider Payment Depot — a merchant services provider that offers membership pricing and wholesale interchange rates. Payment Depot resells several of Clover’s POS systems. Other tools include a payment gateway and virtual terminal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Depending on your plan and whether or not you are paying for hardware up front, Clover’s monthly fees range from $14.95 to $290.

Clover is transparent about its transaction fees, but these fees are not included in the monthly price. They are listed separately for each plan.

This varies by plan and type of transactions, but most of Clover’s plans charge 2.3% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions.

A version of this article was first published on Fundera, a subsidiary of NerdWallet.