Clover vs Square: Which Is Right for Your Business?

Clover and Square both have easy-to-use point-of-sale (POS) software, a full suite of hardware, and integrated payment processing with online, mobile, and contactless payment tools. The biggest difference between Clover and Square is that Clover has higher upfront costs and a monthly fee, and Clover POS systems can be purchased through several different merchant account providers. Meanwhile, Square is more transparent and affordable and has a simple fee system, making it the best option for most small businesses.

We’ll evaluate Clover and Square’s retail, restaurant, and service business features, including POS software and ecommerce, in detail below. Here are our recommendations:

Clover: Best if you need a merchant account, are willing to commit to a long-term contract, and don’t need an ecommerce website. Learn more about it in our detailed Clover review.

Square: Best for most small businesses wanting a flexible POS system with additional capabilities you can add on. Read our Square POS review for more information.

Why We Recommend Square for Small Businesses

Square is a favorite with us, and for good reason. Its basic package is free—great for businesses just starting out or don’t have a lot of money to invest in a POS up-front—and can grow with you, with add-ons for everything, from advanced inventory to payroll processing. It also offers online features for multi-channel sales. The system is easy to use and reliable, and the pricing is consistent—no surprise fees like you can find with some payment processing companies.

Square routinely makes our lists for:

The one disadvantage to Square is that you are locked into its payment processing. Clover, on the other hand, is offered by thousands of payment processing companies. Depending on your sales volume, you may find using a merchant service that offers Clover will save you money in the long run. Payment Depot, for example, is one of the cheapest credit card processors and is a Clover POS reseller.

Not sure what to look for? Check out our article on what a POS system is and what it should do for you.

Clover vs Square at-a-Glance


Best for	Businesses needing a dedicated merchant account	New or small businesses, brick and mortar shops wanting online sales, businesses on a budget
Software monthly fee	$9.95–$39.95	$0–$299, depending on plan and add-ons
Available sales channels	In-store terminals and mobile, connection to ecommerce software, virtual terminal, mobile POS, delivery options	In-store terminals and mobile, Square Online store, payment links, add checkout to existing site, Facebook, Instagram, mobile POS, in-store, local delivery
App/extension marketplace	Good	Excellent
POS software monthly fee	$39.95	$0–$60, custom plans available
Industry-specific software	Retail, restaurants, appointment, and general-purpose	Retail, restaurants, appointment, and general-purpose
Payment processing options	Must use the reseller’s payment processor (cannot be reprogrammed)	Must use Square Payments
Ease of use	Excellent	Excellent
Customer support	24/7 customer support by phone or email, resource library online	Monday-Friday phone support, 24/7 automated chat support, seller community, and resource library
	Visit Clover	Visit Square

Most Affordable: Tied

Both Clover and Square offer affordable solutions. Depending on what you need, one or the other solution may be cheaper.

Clover vs Square Pricing


Monthly POS subscription	$39.95	$0–$299
Monthly ecommerce subscription	$9.95	$0–$72
Card reader pricing	$69*	$0–$49
Terminal and register pricing	$499–$1,649 (terminals and some hardware)*	$299–$799 (all-inclusive)
Card-present transaction fees	2.3% + 10 cents to 2.7% + 10 cents*	2.5% + 10 cents to 2.6% + 10 cents
Ecommerce transaction fees	3.5% + 10 cents*	2.9% + 30 cents
	Visit Clover	Visit Square

*Clover terminal and transaction prices will be different if you get it from a reseller. For example, some have their own processing charges but offer free terminals if you sign a multi-year contract.

When Is Square Cheaper Than Clover?

Square offers a completely free solution for online or smartphone sales, so it’s the cheaper option for most small sellers. But if you want advanced features, you may need to purchase a plan. All plans and add-ons are billed month-to-month with no contract or cancellation fee.

You also get a free card reader for the phone and can use it on an iPad if you don’t want to invest in a terminal. However, Square offers interest-free installment payment plans on most hardware purchases.

Square’s processing fees can be higher than Clover’s, so the more sales you do, the more you’ll pay. Square sellers processing over $250,000 may qualify for custom rates. Square’s software also gets more expensive as you add on features like scheduling. Learn more in our full breakdown of Square’s pricing and fees.

When Is Clover Cheaper Than Square?

Clover has lower processing fees, and you may find even better deals with a payment processor, so Clover can be a cheaper option for high-volume businesses looking to save on processing fees. Though, unlike Square, you will have to sign a contract when you sign up for Clover. Some Clover resellers offer free terminals with a contract. However, you must pay a monthly fee, and in many cases, you need to purchase the hardware outright.

Clover cannot be reprogrammed to a new provider if you change merchant accounts. To add functionality with Clover, you need to purchase third-party apps and integrate them.

A Note on Payment Processing

If you use Clover, you can get a merchant account that may have lower fees than Square offers. Be sure to do your research, however, as Clover works with thousands of resellers, and not all are reputable. Many may surprise you with hard-to-understand contracts and surprise fees. Check out our review of the best merchant services for small businesses to find a reputable reseller.

Best for In-Store Sales: Square


Best for	Established brick-and-mortar businesses doing high-volume sales	New and small businesses wanting a free solution
Register features	Digital receipts, one-touch tipping, returns, virtual terminal, offline mode	Menu with photos; digital receipts, offline mode, split tender, custom tip recommendations, discounts
Customer Relationship Management	Customer details, card-on-file, loyalty	Personalized marketing, loyalty program, card-on-file
Online Ordering	Optional add-on; includes end-to-end order management	Free; syncs with POS, can upgrade to paid plans; sell through Facebook and Instagram
Inventory	Unlimited products and categories; item modifiers and labels; manage across multiple locations; track stock	Unlimited products and categories; multi-location inventory with transfer options; demand forecasting; low-stock alerts
Employee features	Shift management, permissioning, clock in/out	Timecard reporting, permissioning
Multi-location features	Sync inventory, set prices by location	Cross-location returns and exchanges
Reporting features	10 sales and transaction reports, limited inventory reports, customizable	19 sales and transaction reports, inventory reports custom reporting
	Visit Clover	Visit Square

Both Clover and Square offer some of the best checkout and retail tools on the market for small businesses. Both work for single stores or multiple locations, can integrate with online sales (virtual terminal or ecommerce), and have features that make them good for restaurants and salons, as well as retail operations. However, for flexibility and overall features, Square beats Clover.

Square Offers the Best Retail POS System

In a Clover vs Square comparison, Square is more customizable, offering a wide range of third-party integrations that Clover doesn’t. Anyone can sign up for a free Square account and start selling online or in person in minutes. It also includes business management features that allow you to manage sales, track products, connect with customers, and view reports. Square is ideal for newer businesses and brick-and-mortar businesses that want a flexible, all-in-one POS and payment processor.

In fact, Square is our top pick for the best retail POS system because of its flexibility and low price point.

Clover Offers More Built-in Employee Management Features

Clover is an all-in-one POS and payment processing solution. Unlike Square, which works on iOS and Android, Clover runs on its own hardware, except for the mobile version (Clover Go). It’s more expensive, both in terms of upfront and ongoing costs (because it requires a monthly subscription), but it has more advanced employee management features than Square.

Best for Mobile Payments: Square


Best for	Businesses using Clover or selecting a payment processor that offers Clover	Best for most individuals and new businesses needing a mobile sales solution
Android App Score	4.6 out of 5, 1,899 reviews	4.3 out of 5, 130,536 reviews
Apple App Score	4.7 out of 5, 3,542 reviews	4.8 out of 5, 255,183 reviews
POS app pricing	Free POS app available only with a virtual terminal subscription	Several free mobile POS apps
Hardware	Multiple card reader options	Multiple card reader options
Compatibility	iOS and Android devices, Clover devices	iOS, Android, and Square devices
Card-present transaction fee	2.3% + 10 cents or as specified by payment processor	2.6% + 10 cents
Keyed-in transaction fee	3.5% + 10 cents or as specified by payment processor	3.5% + 15 cents
	Visit Clover	Visit Square

Clover and Square both offer payment processing services that allow small businesses to accept card payments online and in-person and have apps for Android and iOS. Customers say Clover is easier to use, but there are fewer reviews. Square offers a wider array of software solutions. In our evaluation of the best mobile POS apps, Square earned the top spot with a score of 4.61 out of 5, and Clover came in fourth with a score of 4.26 out of 5.

Best for Restaurants: Square


Best for	Full-service restaurants and counter-service restaurants	Restaurants, cafes, food trucks, restaurants with bars
Register features	One-touch tipping, virtual terminal, offline mode, split pay	Offline mode, split tender, custom tip recommendations, happy hour discounts, virtual terminal
Customer Relationship Management	Customer details, card-on-file, loyalty	Personalized marketing, loyalty program, card-on-file
Online Ordering	Works with Google ordering app, Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Chowly. Also use the virtual terminal for phone orders	Works with Cuboh, Postmates, Chowly, Uber Eats, Doordash, Deliverect, Orderslip, Ritual. Also pick up or delivery
Menu	Unlimited products and categories; item modifiers and labels; manage across multiple locations; track stock, descriptive modifiers	Conversational modifiers, repeat drink orders, customize menu, discounts, order management. Plus program includes close-of-day reports, course management, and more
Employee features	Shift management, permissioning, clock in/out	Timecard reporting, permissioning
Kitchen Display System	Optional	Optional
Floor Plans	Included	Included
	Visit Clover	Visit Square

Overall, we like Square over Clover for restaurants because of its versatility, but Clover is no slouch when it comes to restaurant POS systems. They both offer strong options for taking orders and payments and communicating with the kitchen.

Square Offers Better Functionality and Value for Restaurants

Square’s standard free POS is excellent for food trucks and small cafes, with customizable menus, tip calculations, split tender, and more. If you need more industry-specific functionality like table mapping and menu management, Square for Restaurants also has a free plan.

With Square for Restaurant’s Plus program, you get close-of-day reporting, course management, auto 86ing of items, reopening closed checks, straight-fire categories so you can send drinks to the bar and food to the kitchen, and other features a full-service restaurant needs. It also has great online ordering capability and agreements with the most popular delivery services.

Square is Featured In:

To learn more about Square’s restaurant capabilities, read our Square for Restaurants review.

Clover’s Scan to Order App Is a Good Fit for Contactless Dining

Clover for restaurants is especially suited for busy full-service eateries. Its standout feature is the Scan to Order app. Customers scan a QR code on the table to see the menu, order, and pay—all from their phone. For restaurants low on staff or concerned with social distancing, this is a game-changer. It also allows you to send orders to the kitchen display system and has some agreements with delivery services. Clover will customize your system with the tools you need, and you can add third-party apps for what it does not offer.

Best for Ecommerce: Square


Best for	Best for connecting to other ecommerce software like BigCommerce	Best for storefronts needing a simple online presence
Domain	Domain, hosting, PCI compliance	Domain, hosting, SSL certificate included in all plans. Custom domain only for paid plans
Design	Virtual terminal only; no ecommerce software	Several templates, mobile-friendly design, limited customization options
Checkout	Thousands of payment gateways (but you must select one), accept Apple Pay, Google Pay, and all major credit cards	Square Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and all major credit cards.
	Visit Clover	Visit Square

Square is our pick for ecommerce because it offers a free online store builder (Square Online) with options for shipping, store pickup, and local delivery. With Clover, you only have the virtual terminal or the ability to connect to other ecommerce software.

Square offers a user-friendly and economical solution for storefronts that want to add online ordering through an online store, a website, or social media. It’s less powerful than other ecommerce solutions when it comes to categories and variants. Nonetheless, it offers excellent customer communication tools for messaging, order updates, buy-online/pickup in-store, or local delivery. This makes it a great choice for retailers or restaurants that want an online presence.

Square offers templates that look great on the computer or on mobile.

Want to get a website for your store up and running in a few minutes? Sign up for Square, then follow our guide on how to set up a Square Online store.

When Neither Square or Clover Are the Best Fit

While Square Online is our top-recommended free ecommerce platform, if you’re serious about online sales or have complex inventory needs, you may outgrow the platform rather quickly. In that case, your best option would be to use Shopify. It is our top choice for ecommerce platforms and comes with a free POS for mobile and in-store sales.

Best for Hardware: Tie

Both Square and Clover offer top-rated card readers and terminals. Neither company’s terminals can be reprogrammed for other payment providers. They both offer similar pricing and a similar selection.


Terminal Prices	$499–$1,649	$799
Models Available	Clover Flex, Mini, Station, Station Pro, accessories available	One terminal, but multiple accessory options
Card reader prices	Phone card reader: $69 Clover Flex handheld: $499	$0–$299
Compatibility	iOS and Android devices	iOS, Android, and Square devices
Card-present transaction fee	2.3% + 10 cents or as specified by payment processor	2.6% + 10 cents
Keyed-in transaction fee	3.5% + 10 cents or as specified by payment processor	3.5% + 15 cents
	Visit Clover	Visit Square

Square Mobile Card Readers

Square Reader for Magstripe	Square Reader for Contactless and Chip	Square Terminal

First free, additional $10	$49	$299 (or $27 per month for 12 months)
Available with lightning or audio jack input. Accepts payments via magstripe (swiped).	Connects via Bluetooth. Accepts payments via EMV (chip), or NFC (Apple Pay, Google Pay).	All-in-one credit card machine with POS, card reader, and receipt printer.
Buy Magstripe Reader	Buy Contactless Reader	Buy Square Terminal

Clover Mobile Readers

Clover Go	Clover Flex

$69	$299
Connects via Bluetooth. Accepts chip or tap payments.	Handheld terminal that includes chip, tap, and swipe payments and tracks sales.
Buy Clover Go	Buy Clover Flex

Square Countertop Terminals

Square Register	Commercial Tablet with Stand Kit

$799 (or $39/month)	$649–$1,343
Fully integrated POS system with detachable customer display. Accepts chip cards and contactless payments.	Square can be run on iPads or Android tablets using the online application. Stands work with 10.2” and 10.5” tablets.
Buy Square Register	Purchase hardware kits

Clover Countertop Terminals

Clover Mini	Clover Station	Clover Station Pro

$749 (or $250/month for 3 months)	$1,399 (or $450/ month for 3 months)	$1,649 (or $549/month for 3 months)
Full POS system in a compact package. Accept chip, swipe, or tap payments.	Full POS with Clover software included. Includes receipt printer and cash drawer.	Full POS with Clover software included. Includes receipt printer, customer-facing terminal, and cash drawer.
Buy Clover Mini	Buy Clover Station	Buy Clover Station Pro

Bottom Line

A Square vs Clover comparison shows that both offer user-friendly POS systems, online ordering, and payment processing solutions. Square has more flexibility and third-party integration options, making it a better fit for online and multichannel businesses. It’s also more affordable, so if you’re just launching your business or primarily sell online, it can be a good option. Clover offers a comprehensive POS with proprietary hardware and software that are great for permanent establishments and want to shop around for the best payment processor.