Key takeaways
Square and Clover are two of the most popular POS systems for small businesses, retailers, restaurants, and service providers. Both offer payment processing, POS software, hardware, inventory tools, customer management, and reporting. The biggest difference is how each platform is set up.
When comparing Clover vs Square, choose Square if you want the easiest and lowest-cost way to start selling. Choose Clover if you want more hardware options, 24/7 live support, and the ability to work with a merchant services provider.
Clover vs Square: Which is better?
Clover
Square
Our POS score
4.01 out of 5
4.46 out of 5
Best for
Processor flexibility
Free POS
Software types
Standard, Retail, Restaurant, Appointments
Standard, Retail, Restaurant, Appointments
Merchant account
Fiserv network options
Included aggregated account
Monthly fee
Starts at $14.95
Starts at $0
Online store
E-commerce integrations only
Free (Square Online)
Software customization
Third party and API integration
Third party, API integration, custom solutions
Card-present fee
2.3% to 2.6% + 10 cents
2.4% to 2.6% + 15 cents
Online fee
3.5% + 10 cents
2.9% to 3.3% + 30 cents
Keyed-in fee
3.5% + 10 cents
3.5% + 15 cents
Hardware
Clover Flex from $499
Square Terminal from $299
Tap to Pay
iPhone
iPhone and Android
Support
24/7 phone and email
Weekday phone, 24/7 automated chat
Best limitation
Reseller variability
Processor lock-in
Note: Clover fees in this comparison are based on default Fiserv rates for Clover. Rates, contracts, hardware bundles, and support terms may vary depending on where you buy Clover.
Clover: Best for merchant account flexibility
Clover is best for established retail, restaurant, and service businesses that want modern POS hardware, more payment processor flexibility, and 24/7 live support. Clover works through Fiserv and its merchant services network, so businesses may be able to use or keep a provider they already work with.
Clover’s biggest advantage is flexibility. It has sleek POS hardware, industry-specific software, virtual terminal tools, offline payment processing, customer management, employee tools, and a large app marketplace. However, its pricing, contracts, and setup experience can vary depending on the reseller or merchant services provider.
Clover pros
- Works with Fiserv-network merchant service providers
- Strong hardware lineup for retail, restaurants, and service businesses
- 24/7 phone and email support
- Offline payment processing
- Virtual terminal for keyed-in payments
- Strong app marketplace and business management tools
Clover cons
- No free POS plan
- Hardware can be expensive upfront
- Pricing and contracts can vary by reseller
- Merchant account may be difficult to change after setup
- No built-in free online store like Square Online
Who should use Clover
- Established businesses that want a dedicated merchant account or Fiserv-network processor options
- Retailers, restaurants, and service businesses that want countertop, handheld, or kiosk-style POS hardware
- Businesses that need 24/7 phone and email support
- Higher-volume in-person sellers that may benefit from lower card-present rates
- Businesses that want more custom POS and payment setups
When Clover may not be the best fit
Clover may not be the best fit if you want free POS software, fully transparent self-service pricing, or a built-in online store without third-party integrations. It can also be harder to compare total costs because pricing, hardware bundles, contracts, and support terms can vary depending on the reseller or payment provider.
Square: Best for free POS and easy setup
Square is best for startups, independent sellers, and small businesses that want free POS software, simple pricing, affordable hardware, and built-in payment processing. It is one of the easiest POS systems to start with because you can sign up online, use the free plan, and start accepting payments quickly.
Square’s biggest advantage is accessibility. It includes POS software, payment processing, inventory, reporting, customer profiles, invoicing, a free online store, and mobile payment tools in one ecosystem. However, Square only works with Square Payments, so businesses cannot bring their own merchant account.
Square pros
- Free POS plan
- Simple flat-rate pricing
- Free online store with Square Online
- Free magstripe reader for eligible new accounts
- Tap to Pay on iPhone and Android
- Easy setup for mobile sellers, startups, and small teams
Clover cons
- Only works with Square Payments
- Limited live phone support hours
- Not ideal for high-risk merchants
- Less payment processor flexibility than Clover
- May offer fewer custom hardware and contract options for larger businesses
Who should use Square
- Startups and small businesses that want free POS software and simple flat-rate pricing
- Mobile sellers, pop-ups, cafes, food trucks, retailers, and service businesses
- Businesses that want built-in payments, hardware, online selling, invoicing, inventory, and reporting in one system
- Sellers that want to launch quickly without working through a sales rep or reseller
- Businesses that want an online store included with their POS system
When Square may not be the best fit
Square may not be the best fit if you want to use your own merchant account, negotiate processor-specific rates, operate in a high-risk industry, or need 24/7 live phone support. Clover is usually better if payment processor flexibility or round-the-clock support matters more than low startup cost.
Clover vs Square: A detailed comparison
I compared Clover vs Square across the factors that matter most when choosing a POS system:
- Pricing and fees
- Payment processing
- POS software
- Hardware
- Ecommerce and online ordering
- AI tools
- Ease of setup and use
- Omnichannel selling
- Scalability
- Customer support
- User reviews
Clover vs Square: Pricing
Winner: Square
I always recommend Square to clients who need clarity and consistency in pricing. Square lays out its free and paid tiers clearly, so business owners know exactly what they’re getting. Clover, by contrast, is sold through third-party resellers, and that means pricing can vary dramatically depending on who you buy from, creating confusion and potential for unexpected costs. For budgeting and planning purposes, Square is simply easier to manage, especially for new or growing businesses.
Payment scenario
Lower-cost fit
Why
Low-volume seller
Square
Free POS plan and no monthly software fee
Small-ticket in-person sale
Clover
Lower listed card-present rate range
Higher-ticket in-person sale
Clover
Can stay slightly cheaper with favorable rates
Small-ticket online sale
Clover
Lower fixed fee helps on very small transactions
Mid-to-high-ticket online sale
Square
Lower online percentage rate
Business needing predictable setup
Square
Clearer pricing and fewer reseller variables
High-volume in-person seller
Clover
Processor flexibility may lower total cost
Square’s monthly plans offer excellent value for money, with a free tier that includes robust POS features like inventory, reporting, CRM, and an online store, making it easy for small businesses to get started without upfront costs. When you sign up directly with Clover, you get more predictable pricing than through resellers, although the monthly fees are generally higher, starting at $14.95 and increasing with hardware bundles and advanced features.
While Clover’s plans include strong tools and industry-specific functionality, you often have to pay more to access features that Square provides for free or at a lower tier. Overall, Square delivers more functionality per dollar, especially for startups and lean operations, while Clover may be better suited for businesses willing to invest more in specialized tools and customizability.
Clover vs Square: Payment processing
Winner: Clover for flexibility; Square for simplicity
Clover gives businesses more payment processor flexibility because it can work with merchant service providers in the Fiserv network. This can be helpful if you already have a merchant account, process higher sales volume, or want to compare processor rates.
Square is simpler. It combines the merchant account and payment processor into one system, so you do not need a separate provider. This makes setup easier, but it also means Square POS only works with Square Payments.
Choose Clover if you want more control over merchant services. Choose Square if you want one payment system with fewer setup steps.
When comparing Clover rates vs. Square, Clover has the advantage of allowing businesses to work with other payment processors. So, if you currently have a processor under the Fiserv network, such as Stax and Payment Depot, you can keep your discounted rates while upgrading to Clover POS software and hardware.
However, if you are still in the market for a payment processor, a direct merchant relationship with Fiserv via Clover will be the easiest route. Let’s take a closer look and compare Fiserv’s processing rates against Square’s to determine which provider will work best for you.
Clover vs Square transaction fee examples
Transaction Amount
Clover Card-Present(2.3% – 2.6% + 10¢)
Square Card-Present(2.6% + 15¢)
Clover Online(3.5% + 10¢)
Square Online(2.9% + 30¢)
$10
$0.33 – $0.36
$0.41
$0.45
$0.59
$25
$0.68 – $0.75
$0.80
$0.98
$1.03
$50
$1.25 – $1.40
$1.45
$1.85
$1.75
$100
$2.40 – $2.60
$2.75
$3.60
$3.20
$250
$5.85 – $6.60
$6.65
$9.85
$7.55
When it comes to in-person sales, Clover tends to have a slight cost advantage, particularly for low-ticket transactions. With a processing fee range of 2.3% to 2.6% plus 10 cents per transaction, Clover can be more affordable than Square’s flat 2.6% + 15 cents rate, especially on smaller purchases. For example, on a $10 sale, Clover’s fee ranges from $0.33 to $0.36, while Square charges $0.41. This difference, although small per transaction, can add up for businesses with high transaction volumes or lower average ticket sizes.
As transaction amounts increase, the cost difference between Clover and Square narrows. At the $50 and $100 levels, Square becomes only slightly more expensive, and the impact on margins becomes less significant. At $250, Square’s fee is about $0.05 to $0.80 higher than Clover’s, depending on the processor rate you receive. Overall, Clover is generally more cost-effective for card-present payments, especially if you qualify for a lower processing rate through Clover’s direct plan or a favorable reseller agreement.
Clover vs Square: POS software
Winner: Square
Square wins for POS software because it offers free POS plans for general use, retail, restaurants, and appointment-based businesses. The free tier is not just a checkout app. It includes inventory, reporting, basic customer management, and a free online store, with paid upgrades available as the business grows.
POS feature
Clover
Square
Free POS plan
No
Yes
Retail POS
Yes
Yes
Restaurant POS
Yes
Yes
Appointments POS
Yes
Yes
Inventory tools
Strong
Strong
Online store
Integrations
Built-in
Setup path
Sales or reseller
Self-service
Best for
Custom setups
Easy launch
Square offers tailored POS software for restaurants, retail, beauty, wellness, and service businesses, and each version comes with a free plan to get started. That free tier isn’t watered down. It includes inventory, reporting, basic CRM, and even an integrated online store, with optional upgrades that scale with the business. Clover also delivers industry-specific software, and I appreciate its specialized tools for quick-service restaurants, full-service dining, and retail, but you don’t get the same clear free-to-paid structure.
Also, Clover’s software functionality depends heavily on the plan you’re on and which reseller you work with, which means two Clover users could have very different experiences. The tools themselves are solid, especially for inventory, modifiers, and multi-location management, but navigating the ecosystem to access them can be frustrating.
Square’s software, by contrast, is both comprehensive and consistent, with a clean interface that doesn’t require much of a learning curve. If you’re looking for predictable, powerful POS software that’s easy to launch and grow with, Square remains the more accessible choice.
Clover vs Square: Hardware
Winner: Clover for hardware variety; Square for hardware accessibility
Clover has a strong hardware lineup with countertop stations, mobile handheld devices, smart terminals, and kiosk options. Its hardware is modern and durable, making it a good fit for busy retail and restaurant environments.
Square is easier to buy and cheaper to start with. Square offers a free magstripe reader for eligible new accounts, Tap to Pay on iPhone and Android, Square Terminal, Square Stand, Square Register, and Square Handheld. Pricing is more consistent because businesses can buy directly from Square.
Hardware factor
Clover
Square
Free reader
No
Yes, for eligible accounts
Tap to Pay
iPhone
iPhone and Android
Standalone terminal
Clover Flex from $499
Square Terminal from $299
Countertop POS
Yes
Yes
Handheld POS
Yes
Yes
Kiosk options
Yes
Yes
Buying process
Often through provider
Direct online purchase
Choose Clover if you want more hardware configurations and are comfortable working through a provider. Choose Square if you want lower-cost hardware and a faster self-service buying process.
Also read: Best POS Hardware for Businesses
Clover vs Square: Ecommerce and online ordering
Winner: Square
Square is stronger for built-in ecommerce because Square Online is included with its POS system. Businesses can create a simple online store, take online orders, manage in-store and online sales, and sync inventory without paying for a separate ecommerce platform.
Square is better if you want an all-in-one POS and online selling setup. Clover can still work well if you already have an ecommerce platform, such as WooCommerce, and need inventory or order syncing through integrations.
Clover supports online ordering and ecommerce, but it does not include the same type of native online store. Businesses typically need third-party integrations or a Clover Online Ordering setup, depending on the use case.
Clover vs Square: AI tools
Winner: Square
Square is ahead on native AI because its tools are built directly into the Square ecosystem. Square includes generative AI tools such as Menu Generator and Website Copy Generator, and its AI assistant in open beta lets users ask questions about sales, customers, and staffing inside the dashboard.
Clover can support AI workflows through third-party integrations, such as Google Gemini for automation or Goodcall for customer inquiries and appointment handling. These tools can help, but they are not as native to the Clover POS experience.
AI feature
Clover
Square
Native AI tools
Limited
Yes
Menu generation
No native tool
Yes
Website copy
No native tool
Yes
Dashboard questions
Limited
AI assistant beta
Third-party AI apps
Yes
Yes
Choose Square if native AI tools are important. Choose Clover if you are comfortable adding third-party apps for AI workflows.
Clover vs Square: Ease of setup and use
Winner: Square
Square is easier to set up. In my experience, Square’s onboarding is quick, intuitive, and largely self-service. You can sign up online, choose hardware, and start processing payments quickly. The interface is clean and consistent across devices, which also helps with staff training.
When it comes to ease of use, Square has long been the go-to for entrepreneurs and small business owners who want a system they can set up and run without any technical assistance. In my experience, Square’s onboarding process is quick, intuitive, and fully self-service. You can sign up online, order your hardware, and start processing payments within hours. The user interface is clean, beginner-friendly, and consistent across devices, making training employees easy and reducing setup time for multi-location businesses.
Clover, while also user-friendly once it’s up and running, usually involves a more hands-on setup process. If you’re buying through a third-party reseller (as most users do), you’ll often need to go through a sales rep to finalize pricing, hardware bundles, and service contracts. This can introduce delays and confusion that Square avoids entirely. That said, once configured, Clover’s interface is modern and powerful, and I’ve found it especially intuitive for employees at the register. In short: Square is plug-and-play; Clover is powerful but more process-heavy on the front end.
Clover vs Square: Omnichannel selling
Winner: Square
Square has the stronger out-of-the-box omnichannel setup because it connects POS, online store, inventory, mobile selling, and social selling from one dashboard. Businesses can sell in person, online, and through social channels with less setup work.
Clover can support omnichannel selling, but it often relies on third-party integrations and provider-specific setups. That can work well for established businesses, but it adds more moving parts.
Square is the better fit if you want simple omnichannel selling. Clover is better if you want more custom tools and are comfortable managing integrations.
Clover vs Square: Scalability
Winner: Depends
Square and Clover can both grow with a business, but they scale differently.
Square scales through a unified ecosystem. You can add paid plans, hardware, team tools, payroll, banking, marketing, loyalty, and online selling without leaving Square. This is easier for small businesses that want to grow without rebuilding their tech stack.
Clover scales through hardware options, app integrations, merchant services relationships, and more custom setups. This gives businesses more flexibility, but scaling may involve renegotiating contracts, adding apps, or working with providers.
Choose Square for a smoother growth path. Choose Clover if your business needs more payment or hardware flexibility.
Clover vs Square: Customer support
Winner: Clover
Clover offers 24/7 phone and email support, which is valuable for restaurants, retailers, and service businesses that operate outside standard business hours. Clover also has an online help library.
Square offers phone support during limited hours, 24/7 automated chat, a Support Center, and a Community Forum. These resources are helpful, but businesses that need round-the-clock live help may prefer Clover.
Choose Clover if 24/7 live support is a priority. Choose Square if you are comfortable with self-service resources and standard live support hours.
Clover vs Square: User reviews
Winner: Tie
Both Clover and Square receive positive user feedback, but for different reasons.
Clover user reviews are strongest for hardware design, ease of use at the register, restaurant and retail tools, and processor flexibility. Common complaints mention contract terms, reseller differences, support inconsistency, and difficulty switching processors after setup.
Square user reviews are strongest for fast setup, transparent pricing, affordable hardware, and easy POS tools. Common complaints mention account holds, limited live support hours, and less flexibility for businesses that want a dedicated merchant account or high-risk processing.
Clover vs Square by business type
Business type
Better fit
Why
New small business
Square
Free POS and fast setup
Mobile seller
Square
Free reader, Tap to Pay, and simple payments
Pop-up shop
Square
Lower startup cost and easy hardware
Cafe or food truck
Square
Simple POS, tipping, online ordering, and quick setup
Full-service restaurant
Clover
More hardware flexibility and restaurant configurations
Retail store
Square
Easier setup, online store, and inventory tools
Multi-location business
Clover
More customization and merchant account options
High-volume in-person seller
Clover
Potentially lower card-present rates
Ecommerce add-on
Square
Built-in Square Online
Business needing 24/7 support
Clover
Round-the-clock phone and email support
High-risk merchant
Neither
Consider a high-risk merchant account provider
Can you use Clover and Square together?
Clover and Square are not designed to work as one connected POS system. A business could technically use Clover in one location and Square in another, or use one system for POS and another for separate payment workflows, but inventory, customer profiles, refunds, taxes, deposits, and reports would not sync cleanly without manual work.
Most businesses should choose one primary POS system unless they have a specific reason to separate locations, payment workflows, or merchant accounts.
Clover vs Square: Which is right for your business?
Choose Square if you want a simple, affordable, all-in-one POS system with free software, transparent pricing, built-in payments, affordable hardware, and a free online store. Square is the better fit for startups, mobile sellers, pop-ups, cafes, food trucks, small retailers, and service businesses that want to start fast.
Choose Clover if you want more payment processor flexibility, more hardware configurations, 24/7 live support, and a POS setup that can be customized through a merchant services provider. Clover is the better fit for established businesses, full-service restaurants, high-volume in-person sellers, and businesses that already work with a Fiserv-network provider.
Choose Clover if…
Choose Square if…
You want processor flexibility
You want free POS software
You need 24/7 live support
You want simple setup
You want more hardware configurations
You want affordable hardware
You already use a Fiserv-network provider
You want built-in Square Payments
You process high in-person volume
You want transparent pricing
You need a more custom setup
You want a free online store
You run a full-service restaurant
You run a startup, pop-up, or small shop
Top alternatives to Clover and Square
Clover and Square are strong POS systems, but neither is right for every business. Consider an alternative if you need lower payment processing costs, high-risk merchant support, advanced retail inventory, or restaurant-specific tools.
Helcim
Helcim is a better fit for businesses that want transparent interchange-plus pricing with no monthly POS fee. It is a strong alternative for cost-conscious merchants that want lower rates as volume grows.
Stripe
Stripe is a better fit for businesses that need custom online payments, subscriptions, ACH, developer tools, global payments, or marketplace payment flows. It is not as plug-and-play as Square, but it is stronger for online payment infrastructure.
Lightspeed
Lightspeed is a better fit for inventory-heavy retailers that need advanced stock control, purchase ordering, supplier management, reporting, and multi-location retail tools.
FAQs
