Square and Clover are two popular credit card processing and point-of-sale (POS) systems. To determine which is best for your business and its specific use cases, we’ve compared pricing and fees, hardware, software and customer support. This info, plus our added guidance, should help you make the best decision if you’re considering Square vs. Clover for your business.
Square vs. Clover snapshot
Monthly plan fee
From $99
Volume-based discounts
No
On Stax’s Website
Monthly plan fee
From $14.95
Volume-based discounts
No
On Clover’s Website
Monthly plan fee
From $13.95
Volume-based discounts
No
On Merchant One’s Website
Pricing and fees comparison
Pricing for Square and Clover can get complicated due to factors like industry, hardware needs and whether a business has a physical location, but ultimately both providers have several plan options to choose from as well as competitive credit card processing fees.
Square pricing and fees
Square offers a variety of plans, from its standard Square POS plan to more specialized plans based on the type of business — Square for Restaurants, Square for Retail or Square for Appointments. All plans offer a free version (plus processing fees) with basic POS hardware and payment processing features.
Pricing for higher-tier plans varies based on the type of business, starting at $60 per month plus processing fees on the Square for Restaurants Plus plan, $89 per month per location plus discounted processing fees on the Square for Retail Plus plan and $29 per month per location on the Square for Appointments Plus plan.
For Square Premium plans — the highest tier — expect to pay $192 per month plus processing fees for restaurants, custom pricing for retail or $69 per month per location for appointment-based businesses.
All plans come with a free Square Reader with magstripe capabilities, allowing you to process payments on the go with an iOS or Android device. Additional hardware is also available based on your needs. When it comes to payment processing fees, Square ranges from 2.5% plus 10 cents for tap, chip or swipe transactions to 3.5% plus 15 cents for manual card entry.
Clover pricing and fees
Clover offers plans based on the type of industry a customer is in, including full-service dining, quick-service restaurants, retail shops, professional services, personal services, and home and field services.
There are two options for paying for Clover’s plans — you can either purchase your equipment outright and pay a monthly fee for software or pay a monthly subscription fee that covers both software and hardware (with the option to purchase your hardware at the end of a specific term).
To purchase hardware outright, starting prices range from $49 plus $14.95 per month for the home and field services Standard plan with a Clover Go reader to $1,699 plus $89.95 per month for the full-service restaurant Starter Plan with a Clover Station Solo. To subscribe, starting prices range from $50 per month with a 36-month term up to $325 per month with a 36-month term, depending on your industry and plan selection.
Finally, for payment processing fees, Clover offers 2.3% plus 10 cents for tap, chip or swipe to 3.5% plus 10 cents for manual card entry.
Verdict: Square edges out Clover for budget-conscious businesses
It’s a close call, with both providers offering several plans based on how you do business, but we give the slight edge to Square. Square offers the option to get started completely for free with a free reader, regardless of the type of business you do, whereas Clover’s free plan is only available for select industries. Clover also has confusing pricing between its hardware purchase and subscription models, in addition to all the nuances between industries.
Hardware comparison
Square and Clover both offer a wide range of hardware based on a business’s needs. From simple contactless card readers to full-fledged POS systems, businesses of all types — from sole proprietorships to full-service restaurants with multiple locations — have the opportunity to build their preferred hardware setup.
Square hardware
Square’s hardware options start with its Square Reader for magstripe, a simple mobile card reader for iOS and Android devices that allows businesses to take payments on the go with the free Square point of sale app. The first Square Reader is included free with all plans.
Moving up from there are the Square Terminal and Square Register priced at $299 and $799, respectively. Square Terminal is a portable all-in-one credit card device for processing payments and printing receipts. Square Register is a complete POS system with both staff- and customer-facing screens to complete transactions. Square also offers a variety of accessories — stands, mounts, receipt printers and handheld scanners — as well as hardware kits that act as all-in-one replacements for traditional cash registers.
Clover hardware
Clover’s hardware options are very similar to Square’s with some key pricing differences. Clover’s base option is the Clover Go handheld card reader which lets businesses accept tap, chip or swipe payments from anywhere with an iOS or Android device and the Clover Go app. This is where Clover deviates (and simplifies) its offerings compared to Square. Its Station Solo and Station Duo are comparable to Square’s full hardware kits, offering one or two screens, a card reader and a receipt printer.
Prices range from $49 for the Clover Go handheld card reader on Standard plans up to $4,097 for a full restaurant setup on the Advanced plan that includes Clover’s Station Solo, Flex card reader and Station Duo POS complete with a second screen for customers. If you buy Clover’s hardware outright, the prices are significantly higher compared to Square. Clover does offer a subscription model for hardware whereas Square doesn’t.
For example, as a retail business using Clover’s Starter plan, you can either pay $60 per month for 36 months for both hardware and software (with the option to buy the hardware at the end of the term), or you can pay $799 upfront to purchase your hardware outright and then only pay $14.95 per month on an ongoing basis.
Verdict: Square beats Clover with a free reader for all plans
Square takes the win in this category by offering one free Square Reader with all plans and more affordable pricing in general. While the hardware options themselves are similar between Square and Clover, Square’s more attractive pricing can be a deciding factor, especially for budget-conscious businesses that only want to purchase the components they need rather than a whole kit. However, for businesses that don’t want to buy hardware outright, Clover’s subscription model is worth considering.
Software comparison
Square and Clover both offer robust POS software to help businesses collect payments, manage inventory, engage with customers, manage staff and report on insights to improve future performance.
Square software
Square POS is marketed as a flexible software solution that seeks to address nearly every area of your business and sales operations. It offers functionality to collect payments, optimize the checkout process, track sales and inventory and improve the customer experience with a customer directory, order notes and customized receipts.
Square POS software is free to use with the ability to purchase hardware and software add-ons as needed. The types of add-ons available include invoicing, the ability to turn your computer into a virtual terminal to accept payments, subscription plans for customers, email marketing, text marketing, loyalty programs and a whole bevy of staff management tools.
Clover software
Interestingly, while Clover does offer a free version of its software in the form of its Payments plan for product- and service-based businesses, it still requires the purchase of at least a Clover Go reader, based on our research. This means businesses that want to get started completely for free or take payments from their own device should consider Square instead, right off the bat.
Clover’s software does offer comparable functionality to Square’s: tracking and reporting, inventory management, cash flow features, customer engagement and employee management can all be found here. With Clover’s software, you can track sales in real time, compare data across locations, track inventory and even enable instant deposits from card sales regardless of holidays and business hours.
Verdict: Square and Clover’s software features are neck and neck
Both providers offer capable software products that include many features to address important areas of your business. If you want to get started for free, Square is your best bet. However, you might quickly run into desired functionality that requires purchasing add-ons. With Clover, you have to pay for hardware upfront, but you do get more functionality out of the gate without the need to spend on add-ons. Ultimately, this comes down to your ability to invest at the outset.
Customer support comparison
When it comes to choosing between Square vs. Clover, customer support is also an important factor. Whether you’re well-established or a new business owner, there are bound to be questions that you could use some help with.
Square customer support
Square’s main method of support is its Square Support knowledge base complete with sections for all of Square’s products and topics like Afterpay and the app marketplace, as well as guides to get started. This knowledge base is freely accessible and contains a wealth of information, but if you need more direct support you can also log in to your Square account for expedited support or call Square directly from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday.
Additionally, Square offers live chat support, a seller community to connect with fellow business owners and other content like video tutorials for visual learners.
Clover customer support
Clover also has a knowledge base in the form of Clover Help, but it’s much more barebones than Square’s knowledge base (at least for non-customers). With fewer sections only covering topics such as accessing your account or setting up your device, there isn’t much to go on here unless you have a Clover account already. During our research, we attempted to create an account but were unable to do so without a sales consultation.
This lack of available information without being a current customer is worth noting compared to Square’s freely available content. Within these free resources, you’ll find setup guides for all Clover devices which undoubtedly come in handy, and current customers can also reach out to Clover through live support or by phone.
Verdict: Square wins with a wealth of freely available information plus live support and community-driven options
This one is a little more clear-cut than other categories. Square offers a robust knowledge base with information on a diverse range of topics, and there’s no need to be a current customer to access it. Square also offers live support, phone support and a Seller Community forum where you can ask questions and discuss issues with other business owners.
Summary: Square wins with a free software plan, a free hardware offering and an extensive knowledge base
As far as Square vs. Clover goes, both are among the best POS systems and credit card processing companies in 2024, with attractive software and hardware offerings. The best choice comes down to individual business needs and budget. However, for us Square wins overall by offering a free software plan, a free card reader for all plans and an extensive knowledge base for user support. This type of low barrier to entry with plenty of help along the way is a huge boon to any small business, especially those that are budget-conscious as they prepare to grow.
When should you choose Square?
Square offers a free card reader, free software plan and an extensive knowledge base with live, expedited support for existing customers. If you’re a new business owner still exploring your needs regarding POS and credit card processing software, Square is an excellent choice.
It’s worth noting that some software functionality is locked behind add-ons, but that’s not necessarily a drawback since businesses can choose to pay (or not) as they discover the need for more functionality while growing.
When should you choose Clover?
For entrepreneurs who are already well versed in POS systems and just want software and hardware that scales (and don’t need the more robust customer service that Square offers), Clover works well. Its granular, industry-based plan pricing and the inclusion of both purchase and subscription models for hardware make Clover surprisingly flexible.
Businesses that want higher-tier hardware without a high upfront cost can take advantage of Clover’s subscription model to hit the ground running, and then decide if they want to keep their hardware later.
Monthly plan fee
From $99
Volume-based discounts
No
On Stax’s Website
Monthly plan fee
From $14.95
Volume-based discounts
No
On Clover’s Website
Monthly plan fee
From $13.95
Volume-based discounts
No
On Merchant One’s Website
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Clover and Square both have their benefits and drawbacks. The suitability of each product for your business depends on your business needs, budget and hardware preferences. In our evaluation, we find Square the overall better choice for most small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).
Square has slightly higher transaction fees as a starting point, from 2.5% plus 10 cents for tap, chip or swipe to 3.5% plus 15 cents for manual card entry compared to Clover’s 2.3% plus 10 cents for tap, chip or swipe to 3.5% plus 10 cents for manual card entry.
No. Square and Clover are entirely separate businesses.
No. Clover and Square do not integrate.
The best credit card processing company for SMBs, based on our research, is Stripe. It’s known for its innovation and predictable pricing. Square is best for in-person transactions.
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