Clover vs Square
An honest side-by-side comparison of two of our top pos systems picks — pricing, strengths, weaknesses, and who each one is really for.
Clover
Ranked #3 of 15 in this directory
Flexible POS with a marketplace of business apps
Square
Ranked #1 of 15 in this directory
The all-in-one POS for every business size
Our pick: Square. Our editors rank Square higher overall in POS Systems — but Clover can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case below. How we review
Compare the details
| Clover | Square | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Paid | Freemium |
| Starting price | See website | See website |
| Category | Retail | Mobile |
| Editorial rank | #3 of 15 | #1 of 15 |
Strengths
Clover
- ✓Robust app marketplace with hundreds of third-party integrations
- ✓Attractive, well-designed hardware lineup
- ✓Flexible enough for retail, restaurants, and service businesses
- ✓Built-in customer engagement and loyalty features
- ✓Strong offline mode for processing without internet
Square
- ✓Free POS software with no monthly subscription for the basic plan
- ✓Flat-rate transparent payment processing with no hidden fees
- ✓Extensive ecosystem of add-ons including payroll, loyalty, and marketing
- ✓Easy setup with plug-and-play hardware options
- ✓Excellent mobile app for selling anywhere
Watch out for
Clover
- !Must purchase Clover-branded hardware which is proprietary
- !Pricing varies significantly between resellers and banks
- !Some third-party apps have additional monthly fees
- !Contract terms depend on the merchant services provider
Square
- !Processing fees can add up for high-volume businesses
- !Limited customization compared to enterprise-grade solutions
- !Account stability issues reported by some high-risk industries
- !Customer support can be slow for free-tier users
Best use cases
Clover
- →Retail boutiques wanting customizable POS with app integrations
- →Quick-service restaurants needing countertop and handheld devices
- →Service businesses requiring appointment scheduling alongside payments
Square
- →Small retail shops needing an affordable all-in-one POS system
- →Food trucks and market vendors processing mobile payments
- →Service businesses managing appointments and payments in one place
About each tool
Clover
Clover provides a versatile POS system backed by Fiserv with a curated app marketplace that lets merchants customize their setup. It offers a range of sleek hardware options from countertop stations to handheld devices. The platform supports retail, restaurant, and service businesses with built-in inventory, CRM, and employee tracking.
Square
Square offers a comprehensive POS ecosystem that combines hardware, software, and payment processing into a single platform. It supports in-person and online sales with real-time inventory syncing, employee management, and detailed analytics. The free tier makes it accessible to startups and small businesses, while advanced features scale for larger operations.
Still deciding? Browse all 15 options with honest pros, cons, and pricing.
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