Clover vs Square Comparison: Price, Features & What’s Best

Clover and Square both offer easy-to-use point-of-sale (POS) software and hardware, giving you the ability to sell in-store, online, and via mobile. Clover is sold by thousands of merchant services, giving you a choice of payment processor. Square, meanwhile, does its own payment processing and, unlike Clover, offers free software. Both are highly rated by real-world users and have places in several of our lists for best POS and payment processing providers.

Although the two providers are well-matched, there are some significant differences that impact use cases. Here are our recommendations as you consider Clover vs Square:

• Clover: Best for businesses with an existing merchant account, high-risk merchants, or those wanting a traditional dedicated merchant account
• Square: Best for budget-minded businesses that want a flexible POS system that’s great on mobile

Clover vs Square Quick Comparison

Clover and Square are popular and highly-rated POS systems. Find them both on our lists for:

• Best POS systems
• Best virtual terminals
• Best quick-service restaurant (QSR) POS systems

Most Affordable: 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 multiyear contract.

Although the payment processing fees through Clover are competitive, Square has a free POS system and less expensive hardware; you can also use your own tablets. Note, however, that many of its advanced programs cost an extra monthly fee. In contrast, Clover has more expensive hardware, and you need to pay for its POS system.

When Clover Is Better

If you are a high-volume merchant, you may be able to get a Clover system and interchange-plus rates through a different merchant service. Payment Depot, for example, is one of the cheapest credit card processors and a Clover POS reseller. Many of the advanced programs Square offers separately can be negotiated into the Clover plans as well.

While Clover works with thousands of resellers, not all are reputable. Some may have 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

For flexibility and overall features, Square beats Clover. It offers far more third-party integrations, more reports, and more marketing tools. It also includes business management features that allow you to manage sales, track products, connect with customers, and view reports. As our top pick for the best retail POS system, Square is ideal for newer and brick-and-mortar businesses that want a flexible, all-in-one POS and payment processor.

When Clover Is Better

If you need employee scheduling, Clover is the better choice, as that is included. Clover also was designed for its own hardware (except for the mobile version, Clover Go), where Square is primarily meant for iOS and Android. Clover costs more, 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

Clover and Square both ranked in our mobile POS lists. Find more to like about the platforms in our guides to the

• Best mobile POS applications
• Best mobile credit card processors
• Best iPhone card readers

While Square and Clover both offer feature-rich mobile apps, Square is superior because it works equally well on Android and iOS. It has excellent customer reviews, with many of the complaints being about account issues, not the app. Putting the app on a tablet lets you set up a counter-style register. Plus, it’s free! You only pay processing fees.

When Clover Is Better

If you already have a Clover account, then you’ll want to stick with Clover Go so you get full integration into the Clover system for inventory and sales. Clover’s app is designed to be a mobile system that augments your Clover hardware.

Best for Restaurants: Square

Again, versatility and price make Square our choice for restaurants. Its standard free POS is excellent for food trucks and small cafes. If you need more industry-specific functionalities, like table mapping and menu management, Square for Restaurants also has a free plan. You get close-of-day reporting, course management, auto 86ing of items, reopening closed checks, and straight-fire categories—so you can send drinks to the bar and food to the kitchen. (Learn more in our Square for Restaurants review.)

Square is featured in our lists of the

• Best restaurant POS systems
• Best food truck POS systems
• Best cafe POS systems
• Best online ordering systems for restaurants
• Best credit card processors for restaurants

When Clover Is Better

Clover shares the stage with Square in our guide to the best QSR POS, but we suggest it’s better for bars and lounges because it has an open tabs feature, while Square has more of a workaround. The choice of payment processing also makes it a better choice for busy restaurants making high-volume sales.

When Neither Clover nor Square Is the Best Fit

Clover and Square both work for restaurants but were originally designed for retail. If you want a POS software specifically designed with restaurants in mind, check out our list of the best restaurant POS systems. (Square is on the list.)

Best for Ecommerce: Square

We recommend Square over Clover because it offers a free online store builder (Square Online) with options for shipping, store pickup, and local delivery. (Clover, by contrast, creates online stores with third-party software like BigCommerce and Ecwid.)

While less powerful than other ecommerce software when it comes to categories and variants, Square nonetheless offers essential tools for promoting and selling online—even through social media. It has excellent customer communication tools for messaging; order updates; buy online, pick up in-store; and local delivery.

When Clover Is Better

If Square’s system is not powerful enough for you, Clover integrates with multiple online store solutions, like Shopify and WooCommerce. It also partners directly with BigCommerce for creating an online store; BigCommerce also sells through marketplaces, which include Instagram Marketplace, Amazon, and Etsy.

When Neither Square nor Clover Is the Best Fit

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

Best for Hardware: Clover

Clover squeaks ahead of Square for best hardware because its offline mode will coordinate sales and inventory, where Square’s only handles payment processing. It also offers a greater variety of systems and an excellent handheld POS device, Clover Flex, which makes it great for waitstaff taking orders at the table.

The provider has the advantage in that its systems work with different payment processors. That means you can shop for better rates, work with companies that offer interchange-plus financing, or if needed, get a merchant service that works with high-risk merchants.

Both Square and Clover are closely matched in terms of payment tools. They can calculate tips and taxes, split payments, and issue refunds as needed.

When Square Is Better

Square is no slouch for hardware; plus, it works with Android and iOS tablets and smartphones. It has a free card reader (magstripe only), making it a good choice for solopreneurs and hobbyists who need a simple system for on-the-go sales.

Best for Ease of Use: Square

*We looked to third-party user review sites, like Capterra, taking into account only the scores in the ease of use category.

Square is our choice for ease of use. While it does not provide personalized assistance, users generally don’t need it, and its how-to section is thorough and includes illustrations and videos. It ranked highest not only overall but also for customer support.

When Clover Is Better

If you have a large inventory with many modifiers or have multiple locations, then Clover—with its concierge-level installation and onboarding help—may be a better option for you. It also offers personalized help (though it may charge for it.)

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 a free mPOS that makes it great for solopreneurs and startups looking to grow. It’s also more affordable, so if you’re just launching your business, it’s a good option. Clover’s comprehensive POS and programmable hardware make it the best choice for established businesses that already have a merchant account or that want to shop around for one that offers interchange-plus pricing.

You May Also Like …

• See our recommendations for the best card readers for small businesses
• Read our guide to the best salon and spa POS systems
• Learn how to use a POS system to run your business