Clover vs Square POS (2023 Comparison)
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors’ opinions or evaluations.
Square and Clover are two of the best POS systems available today, but there are pros and cons for each system that you should be aware of. In our Clover vs. Square guide, we’ll compare these two popular POS options based on cost, hardware and software features, customer support, reputation and more. With our Clover vs. Square review, you can decide which system is best for your needs and budget.
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Clover
Free Trial
No
Transaction Fee
$9.95 to $69.95
Special Offer
None
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Clover
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Helcim
Free Version
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Transaction Fee
From 0.3% plus $0.08 per transaction
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TouchBistro
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Square vs. Clover: At a Glance
The two leading point-of-sale (POS) systems offer users an easy way to accept payments. However, the two are not without their differences. For example, while Square offers a free plan, Clover advertises a plan that costs $0 per month, plus $14.95 per month. However, while Clover will cost at least $14.95 per month, it does offer a slightly lower transaction fee of 2.3-percent, plus 10 cents per transaction, compared to Square at 2.6-percent, plus 10 cents per translation.
Cost aside, the two POS systems offer varying feature sets, making each better for different businesses and use cases. For example, Clover includes a customer rewards program, whereas with Square this feature will cost an extra $45 per month.
Square
Starting price
No monthly fee
Payment Processing Fees
Starts at 2.6% plus 10 cents per transaction
Standout Features
Multiple hardware options, email marketing services, employee/contractor payroll and digital gift cards
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Via partner site
Starting price
No monthly fee
Payment Processing Fees
Starts at 2.6% plus 10 cents per transaction
Standout Features
Multiple hardware options, email marketing services, employee/contractor payroll and digital gift cards
Pros & Cons
- Fundamental POS features are all free with Square
- Cheaper hardware options good for small businesses
- Ability to purchase add-on features: employee management, payroll, marketing and analytics
- CRM offers creation of customer profiles
- Square hardware compatible with Apple and Android for on-the-go sales
- Extra monthly cost for all add-on features
- Square POS requires you to use its system to process payments
- Customer service only available during regular business hours
Clover
Starting Price
$14.95 per month
Payment Processing fees
Starts at 2.3% plus 10 cents per transaction
Standout Features
Revenue tracking reporting tools, Rapid Deposit for quick access to funds, several types of hardware, low-stock alerts and remote ticket ordering
Learn More
On Clover’s Website
Starting Price
$14.95 per month
Payment Processing fees
Starts at 2.3% plus 10 cents per transaction
Standout Features
Revenue tracking reporting tools, Rapid Deposit for quick access to funds, several types of hardware, low-stock alerts and remote ticket ordering
Pros & Cons
- Software add-ons included for free with the cost of Clover’s monthly subscription fee
- Includes customer feedback, Clover Dining feature to streamline restaurant management
- Ability to pair Clover POS system with any credit card processor
- 24/7 customer support and live chat
- Monthly fee and Clover hardware are both more expensive than Square
- Clover software only works on Clover devices (unable to test Clover on another type of tablet)
Square vs. Clover: Credit Card Processing Comparison
With a variety of hardware options, both Square and Clover are built for businesses doing a lot of daily transactions quickly and easily. Both are very simple to use and allow you to input photos for the merchandise inventory so all employees can easily familiarize themselves with the products and prices. As opposed to an old-fashioned cash register, the visual displays of Square and Clover make the job easier for cashiers and sellers.
However, as you compare Clover vs. Square, you’ll find the biggest difference is how many features Clover has included in the service, while the higher-functioning capabilities of Square all cost extra per month. As a new business owner, you also want to take into account how important it is to avoid the processing fees from Square and Clover. Clover allows you to pair it with a payment processing device that won’t take a cut of the credit card processing, so you end up keeping more of your hard-earned money.
As a new business owner, Square is the more attractive option because it is cheaper and there are fewer things to keep track of. However, as your business grows, Clover will be able to support more of your processes, from more employees to a greater number of daily transactions.
Square vs. Clover: POS Comparison
The size of the POS system is an important factor in new businesses or small businesses that are introducing new merchandise and trying to save space. Since both Square and Clover have portable options that take a variety of payment options, you can take your merchandise and business out to different locations.
For food sellers, something such as the Square Terminal or the Clover Flex is a great way to travel to places such as farmer’s markets and still keep all of your payment options for customers. Businesses that don’t yet have brick-and-mortar locations will also find these portable options incredibly useful.
The most important part of these POS systems is that they take a variety of payment options. Beyond just credit cards, they need to take Apple Pay and Google Pay and any other mobile payment options as well. One of the benefits of Square is that it offers a free mobile magstripe reader with the Square Register. For a business just getting started, this extra hardware can make a huge difference in the ability to process customers more quickly.
Clover devices and software plans tend to scale with how many credit card transactions you’re taking. Register Lite is for businesses with below $50,000 of credit transactions, while Register is for when you go over that amount. The thing about Clover is that you have a consistent fee that you can expect to stay the same from the beginning, and then changes once you start taking in more income. Square has add-ons for a monthly fee for marketing and employee management, but these are already included with Clover.
Square vs. Clover: Business Needs
When you compare Square vs. Clover, you’ll notice that both solutions have the majority of the same needs provided for a variety of businesses. The most common businesses that need things such as inventory management, employee tracking, dining table management and sales reports are likely to be retail stores and restaurants. This is why Square and Clover have specific add-ons and applications for them. While you can find all of these for no additional cost on the Clover App Market, Square has add-ons that take monthly payments.
As a business grows, you need more access to various software to get a high-level view of how much you’re selling. If you plan to grow quickly, Clover has all of these readily available for you, even if they have a higher upfront cost than Square.
Bottom Line
Our review of Square vs. Clover concludes that Square and Clover provide high-quality software and services for small and growing businesses. Square’s free service is worthwhile for solopreneurs, startups and newer businesses that are trying to build their brand and establish a loyal customer base. Clover’s comprehensive POS system, however, might be better suited for established ventures that are ready to scale.
Who Is Square Best For?
Since Square has a free service that pairs with tablets and smartphones, it’s perfect for a business that is at the beginning of its journey. Square for Retail and Square for Restaurants offer easy options for stores and dining at an extra cost, which can be a bit cumbersome for a small business. Square will help you save money if you really only need the most basic payment processing capabilities for your POS system.
Who Is Clover Best For?
Clover is ideal if you’re a growing business that needs to manage multiple employees, as well as keep track of inventory and customers. It can give you the ability to collect customer feedback, easily track sales trends, set employee hours, manage payroll and more without paying an extra monthly fee. With Clover, you’ll receive all the features you need to effectively scale your business.
Top Square and Clover Alternatives
There are many excellent POS solutions on the market. If you compare Square and Clover with other solutions, you’ll find that the best fit for your business needs to strike a balance of affordability and scalability. Here are some of the best POS systems that you may also want to consider.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which POS system is better, Clover or Square?
The right POS system depends on your unique business and goals. If you opt for Clover, you’ll have your own merchant services account. This can save you some cash on transaction fees, which can add up quickly as you grow. Clover is worthwhile if you’re looking for a highly customizable solution that can help you scale.
With Square, you’ll enjoy more straightforward and often cheaper pricing you can budget for in advance. Therefore, Square may be a better option if you’re looking to save money and are content with basic payment processing capabilities for your POS system. Square might also make more sense if you’re in search of a software that’s specific to your industry.
Is Square or Clover better for restaurants?
Both Square and Clover are quality restaurant POS systems. If your primary goal is to serve your customers quickly while keeping costs to a minimum, Square is likely your best bet. It offers a number of useful features including customizable menus, bulk menu additions, self-serve QR code order functionality and kitchen management tools, such as prep time tracking and customer ticket timers.
If you’re a more established restaurant and don’t mind paying extra for comprehensive features, Clover should be on your radar. Its noteworthy features include the Clover POS Register app to help you customize orders to customer specifications, customer management tools to build loyalty and sales reports that will enable you to make informed decisions.
Is Square cheaper than Clover?
In most cases, Square is more affordable than Clover because of its free plan. That’s why it’s often the better option if you’re a startup or newer business on a budget. As you grow, you may find Clover’s higher price point and robust features to be worth it.
What are Square and Clover?
Square and Clover are point-of-sale systems that offer solutions for retail, restaurant and e-commerce businesses. They both offer additional functionality for employee management and other optional operations tools as well.
Who should use Square or Clover?
Square is a great choice for brand-new businesses that are just starting out. It offers free hardware that lets you make sales simply using your cell phone, with no monthly subscription fee. For more established businesses, Clover is a strong option thanks to its multitude of hardware options and well-rounded functionality.
Which is cheaper: Square or Clover?
Square has a free plan available, but it makes up for that with a marginally higher transaction fee rate than Clover. The cheaper plan for you will vary depending on your transaction volume, plus your hardware and software needs.
