Square vs. Clover: Which Is Better For Your Business

The competition between Square and Clover in the field of point-of-sale systems has become critical for businesses seeking quick payment processing. Both are known for their simplicity and dependability, choosing between them a challenge for entrepreneurs looking to improve customer service. Clover’s ability to provide a variety of merchant services contrasts with Square’s cost-effective strategy, making the “Clover vs. Square” discussion critical for businesses navigating the POS landscape. This piece will deconstruct the distinguishing characteristics of each, assisting organizations in making an informed decision based on their own specific needs.

Point-Of-Sale System

A point-of-sale system or POS software is a set of software, devices, and payment services merchants that help you make sales in person. It manages customer’s purchases, accepts payments, and offers receipts. This is where the retail business transaction between the merchant and customer takes place, and it is also where the sale price is calculated for the customer. Thus creating a record of the sales and payments. These machines can either generate digital or paper receipts or both. 

In this blog, we will see the difference between Clover and Square based on several factors so you can decide which is better for you!

 

Clover POS vs. Square POS Systems: What’s the Difference?

If you can’t decide between Clover vs. Square, we can help you make an informed decision!

Below, we provide a Clover POS vs.Square POS comparison, so you can decide which is perfect for your business. Let’s start by looking at how these two systems stack up in terms of cost, software, hardware, ease of use, merchant account, features, e-commerce integration, and customer support.

Cost Effectiveness

Here is a comparison of the monthly fees, transaction expenses, and hardware costs of these two point-of-sale (POS) solutions in case you’re wondering how they differ financially.

MONTHLY FEES

• When it comes to monthly fees, the Square for Retail plan is free. However, if you have the premium Square Plus plan you’ll have to part with $60 per month. The good thing about this plan is that you’ll enjoy additional features such as barcode printing, forecast reporting, and bulk inventory management.
• Clover also has a free plan for hardware users using the Just Payments software plan. However, the no-hardware users’ monthly fees start at $9.95 while other Clover hardware users’ fees range between $19.95 and $89.85.

TRANSACTION COSTS

The transaction costs for both systems depend on the hardware you choose.

• For Square, the in-person transaction costs include 2.6% plus ten cents, while the in-person transaction costs for Clover are 2.6% plus ten cents or 2.3% plus ten cents.
• For keyed-in and online transactions, Clover charges are 3.5% plus ten cents. Square charges are 2.9% plus 30 cents and 3.5% plus 15 cents for online and keyed-in transactions, respectively.

HARDWARE COSTS

• Mobile Card Reader: Both Square and Clover have mobile and countertop devices available for payment processing. As per recent pricing, The Square has a free mobile card reader, while Clover has one that will cost you around $69. 
• Wireless Reader: The Clover wireless reader costs $49 while the Square wireless reader retails for $49.
• Register: Clover also has several stationary registers retailing at around $749, $1349, and $1649 while Square’s register costs $799.
• Terminal Cost: The Clover handheld terminal costs $499 while the Square terminal retails at $299. Square doesn’t have a tablet terminal but Clover has one that will cost you $749.
• Additional Cost: When it comes to additional costs, Square is a plug-and-play system that doesn’t have setup costs. On the other hand, although you won’t need any training to start using Clover devices, setup costs may apply in certain circumstances.

Software

Both system apps can integrate with different software platforms including Scheduling, GoDaddy websites, Wix, and WooCommerce

🛒 CLOVER: Clover provides its users with various paid service software options, & The basic features included in Clover’s POS software plans include e-commerce integration, bill spitting, table mapping, discounts, tipping, contactless dining, and remote border firing

• Payment Plus which retails at $4.95 per month
• Register Lite which retails at $9.95 per month
• Register which retails at $39.95 per month
• Counter service restaurant at 39.95 per month
• Table Service Restaurant retailing at $69.95 monthly

🛒 SQUARE: Square has a free service software option, and some of the features included in Square’s software are credit card payments, e-commerce integration, team management, barcode label printing, item management, and automatic reminders.

The system also has other paid service options that include:

• Square For Retail at $60 per month and the premium option at $299 per month
• Square For Restaurants at $60 monthly and the premium option which starts at $299 monthly
• Square For Appointments is free for individuals but retails at $50 per month for 2 to 5 employees and $90 monthly for 6 to 10 employees

Hardware

Clover is known for its high-quality hardware systems, while Square’s simple hardware is easy to use and is also reliable. Another advantage of choosing Square is that the company offers a free card reader that you can use with mobile devices. Unfortunately, Clover doesn’t have a free option.

SQUARE HARDWARE PRODUCTS INCLUDE:

• Square Register – The Square Register costs $999, and it’s made up of a comprehensive payment register. The system can process credit card payments, and it also comes integrated with the Square POS app
• Square Terminal – This portable terminal that costs $299 has a functional POS, and it can connect to a wireless network.
• Square Stand – This is another portable terminal that will work with several contactless payments. It can also be used with iPad, iPad Air, and iPad Pro, and it only costs $169
• Square Card Readers – This terminal accepts different forms of payment including contactless payment readers, chip cards, and magstripe card readers

CLOVER HARDWARE PRODUCTS INCLUDE:

• Clover Station – This countertop POS comes with a cash drawer and a large HD display screen. An additional feature provided with this POS is a credit processing unit. Also, this hardware option comes in two versions, the Clover Station Solo and The Clover Station Duo.
• Clover Flex – If your business uses handheld payment devices such as tablets and smartphones, then this POS is for you. It’s wireless, and it can operate via Wi-Fi which means you can accept payments from anywhere.
• Clover Go – This is another hardware option that is perfect for businesses that use smartphones and other handheld devices to process payments. This POS accepts credit cards that have magstripes and security chips. This portable device also allows your business to process contactless payments made from your customers’ tablets and smartphones
• Clover Mini – The Clover Mini retails at $899 and is very much like the Clover Flex device but a bit smaller. The good thing about this POS is that it is cloud-based, meaning you can access payment-related files and applications from any device

Merchant Account

If you’ve just started accepting credit card payments, and you don’t have the time to shop for a merchant account, Square POS can help. The company offers its POS devices with a merchant account included. When you buy a POS device from this company, you also accept to become a sub-merchant under the company’s merchant account. On the other hand, Clover merchant devices don’t come with a merchant account. When you buy a POS device from Clover, you can open a merchant account directly with the company or get one from any of Clover’s partner financial institutions. While using Clover’s devices may mean dealing with other vendors when it comes to merchant account services, it also means that if you have an existing merchant account that is supported by Clover’s POS, you won’t have to switch when it comes to using this company’s devices.

E-Commerce Integration

Selecting between Square and Clover for your e-commerce platform is a crucial choice if you manage an online store. Square offers e-commerce service solutions that integrate easily with your website and come with a free online store builder for quick setup. However, you can use Clover app integrations or choose their e-commerce options by collaborating with BigCommerce, their online partner, for a cost. Clover does not offer a dedicated website builder.

Customer Support

While Clover offers 24/7 customer support, Square customer service hours are from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Unfortunately, customer experience with Square support in the past hasn’t been good, as the company can be hard to reach sometimes. In addition, the fact that customer support isn’t always available puts businesses that work 24 hours at a disadvantage, as they can only get support during the provided customer service hours.

Comparing Benefits of Clover, & Square POS Solutions

Benefits of Using Square’s POS System

Some of the advantages of choosing Square over Clover’s POS system include:

• Cheaper– Square is ideal for new and small businesses that are on a budget. The pricing is lower as there are no monthly fees. Besides, this company’s hardware systems are cheaper, and new business owners can even start with the free swipe reader as they wait for your business to scale up
• Merchant account included – Square is suitable for new businesses that might also be looking to open a merchant account. With this company, you don’t have to shop around for merchant service providers.
• Straightforward pricing– Square has a transparent pricing model as all POS cards cost the same. Besides, there are no different monthly or transaction fees for the various hardware options
• E-commerce support– If your business has an established online store you can use Square’s online checkout on your site for free. Besides, if you need to set up your E-commerce site, you can use Square’s free online store maker.

Benefits of Using Clover’s POS System

The benefits of choosing Clover POS solution over Square’s are explained below.

• Flexibility – When it comes to credit card processing, Clover offers more flexibility than Square. With Clover you can use a merchant account of your choice provided it’s compatible with Clover’s software. This is unlike Square which processes its payments using its merchant account.
• Scalable and customized options – Clover is perfect for businesses that are looking for scalable and customizable features. For instance, the company offers apps such as employee management, sales reports, dining table management, and inventory management that businesses can use to customize the services to their needs. Besides, most of these add-ons can be found on the Clover App at no cost while Square often provides the add-ons with extra costs.
• Customer support – Clover customer support is available 24/7 which is ideal for businesses that are open all day and night.

 

Understanding Clover, & Square POS Solutions

Clover POS

Clover is an Android-based point-of-sale system by Clover Network Inc. that provides businesses with a comprehensive and user-friendly solution for managing inventory, processing payments, tracking sales, and running various operations. 

Pros

• Clover is designed especially to provide solutions to retailers, businesses, and restaurants. No matter if you have a retail shop or run a decent restaurant, Clover hardware and software is available for every business need.
• The hardware devices accept payment methods such as – cash, credit cards, cheques, prepaid cards, debit cards, EBT, and gift cards.

Cons

• The cost of Clover retail POS hardware can be higher than that of other POS systems available.
• Clover charges for software updates, payment processing, and many more. 

Square POS

Square POS is a cloud-based retail POS system for businesses of all sizes. It is one of the best POS systems as it has no processing fee or fixed monthly costs. The only costs you need to pay for using Square are flat-rate payment processing fees – and that’s the reason why Square is best for small businesses. Also, this POS accepts all types of payments for in-person and online sales. 

Pros

• It is an easy-to-use and navigable interface that can be used by anyone who already has a smartphone.
• Free POS solution, which is reliable and integrates with businesses’ payment processing solutions without stacking on fees or hidden contract clauses. 
• Square POS offers real-time updates and allows businesses to track their sales business metrics.
• You can also customize your POS system as per your requirements and type. 

Cons

• Unlike other POS and payment processing services, square does not offer any accounting tool.
• Some users have found Square’s chip reader to be quite inconvenient when paired with mobile phones. This has impacted the user’s experience. 

Comparing Credit Card Processing: Square Vs Clover

 

Working with Clover, & Square POS Solutions

How does Clover POS work?

The Clover system’s primary job is to receive payments and enable sales transactions, and here’s how it works:

• Activate Your Account – Set up your tasks and services on Clover.com as it is simple to set up because you will be guided through the process. Once your account is established, you are ready to receive payments and sell hardware.
• Prepare Your Space – Set up a modest counter-like space with a stable internet connection for your POS. Also, make sure the location where you keep your POS gear is safe and secure.
  
• Activate the Device – Follow the Quick Start Guide’s instructions, and check your internet connection first, then switch on the power button, select a language, and enter the activation code. So, Your POS system is now ready to accept payments.

How does Square POS Work?

Square POS is simple to use, and here’s how it works:

• Install Square – Download and install the Square application and create an account. Also, check if your device is connected to the internet. 
• Connect Square – Open the Square app on your device and connect it to the Square account. Also, as Square does not connect to cash drawers, you need to set up the cash drawer and add it to your device’s application. 
• Set Up Your Inventory – Square can help you to manage your inventory. However, if you believe your inventory management system is complex, you can use a third-party system to manage your inventory. Now, you are ready to use the Square POS and scale your business. 

POS Comparison – Square Vs Clover

 

Features of Clover, & Square POS Solutions

With its seamless integration of state-of-the-art hardware and adaptable software, Clover POS provides businesses with a complete point-of-sale solution. With features like team management, cloud-based apps, and comprehensive reporting, Clover POS gives companies flexibility and efficiency.

Features of the Clover POS System

HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
The POS system consists of both hardware and software that caters to your needs. You can select mobile readers, countertops, and handheld devices, along with accessories such as printers and scanners. Businesses can also select several functions that fulfil their needs, which include employee management, customer engagement, and many more. 

CLOUD-BASED APPLICATION
You can integrate Clover with third-party applications such as QuickBooks, Time Clocks, Yelp, and many more – which makes the processes more convenient. It has a vast marketplace with a wide selection of both free and paid integrations. You can integrate software such as accounting and employee scheduling, in addition to applications for loyalty programs, online ordering, etc.

TEAM MANAGEMENT
Clover POS includes several management capabilities that are intended to streamline worker operations and increase efficiency. It’s simple to assign employees role-based access and authorization levels, track team performance, and reward employees for their efforts. With the availability of the Time Clock feature, supervisors and entrepreneurs may effectively track staff hours and attendance. 

INVENTORY MANAGEMENT
Clover has inventory management features that allow businesses to track stock levels, track expiration dates for perishable goods, and automate any repetitive inventory-related tasks. Also, restaurants’ POS solutions manage online menus and customize the items in the menu to enhance customer’s experience. 

TRAINING AND SUPPORT
Clover POS comes with guidance that will help you get started on the installation and training. 

REPORTING AND ANALYTICS
You can access real-time insight into sales data and generate comprehensive reports. In addition, you can filter data to identify information on the bestselling items and monthly sales trends. 

Features of the Square POS System

With a variety of alternatives like debit/credit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, Square POS revolutionizes payment methods. It stands out from the competition thanks to its emphasis on security, thorough reporting, effective team management, and inventory features.

PAYMENTS
The POS system allows customers to pay through debit credit cards, Google Pay, Apple Pay, plastic gift cards, invoices, transparent pricing, and also process refunds – which makes Square POS different from others. 

SECURITY
Square offers secure payment transactions through its gateways. It ensures companies that there will be no error transactions with customers. This is usually done by consistently doing dispute management, monitoring, payment encryption, PCI compliance, and account protection tools. 

REPORT AND INSIGHTS
You can check the dashboard using your mobile. It shows analytics based on sales transactions. You can generate real-time reports in addition to sorting specific information and reports like sales by item, sales by payment method, etc. 

TEAM MANAGEMENT
Square offers free team management software. It also has a paid version which obviously will have more features than the free version. The free version can be used to track clock-in and clock-out, whereas the paid version can track multiple wage rates, break clock-in prevention, and much more.

INVENTORY MANAGEMENT
Inventory management has three basic features – 

• Low Stock Alert – Allows the sending of emails to the customers if the items in the inventory are common in stock.
• Downloadable Report – All the sheets are downloadable and easy to access.
• Inventory Management Integration – Allows you to sync your system with an intermediary like Stitch Labs and Shopventory.
  

LOCATION MANAGEMENT
Square POS system allows you to oversee all the operations that go on in different outlets of your retail, restaurants, or shop through a single dashboard. The plus point is that this feature is available with the free version as well.

 

Clover vs. Square POS: Which One to Choose For Running Your Business?

There are several things to take into account when comparing the Square and Clover POS systems for processing payments. Square’s all-in-one POS and credit card processing functionality, together with its cheap beginning costs and affordability, make it a great choice for startups. However, Clover’s features are expandable and configurable, making it a good option for companies looking for flexibility. Users of Clover can select their merchant service account, potentially reducing transaction costs, and benefit from dependable round-the-clock customer assistance. Square is a more affordable choice for entrepreneurs, but the large upfront expenditure can put off new companies. Which option from Square or Clover is best for you will ultimately rely on your needs, your budget, and the size of your organization.

🔎 Square – Who is it Best For?

Square is a perfect choice for small and startup businesses – in-store or mobile stores. It has free services that pair perfectly with smartphones and tablets. Thus, it will help you get the most out of a POS system during your initial stage. 

🔎 Clover – Who is it Best For?

If you are expanding or wish to expand, you can choose Clover over any other POS. This is because it can help you keep track of employees, inventory, and customers. It allows you to collect data and feedback from the customer and store it for future use. Using the feature, you can analyze the scope of improvement and work on it. Hence, with Clover, you will find all the features necessary to scale your business effectively. 

🔎 Clover vs Square – Which One is Right for Your Business?

With all the benefits and features, it is quite challenging to decide between Square or Clover. So, if we talk about affordability, Square is an excellent choice, as it offers many benefits for small businesses but might limit the scope of expansion. On the other hand, compared to Square, Clover is considered the best solution as it has room for growth for the size of the business, also due to the advanced technology and customizable software solution, along with high-level customer services and a great app store. Also, Clover, along with merchant service providers and payment processors, provides the best possible solutions for small to medium-sized businesses. 

Comparing Square vs Clover based on Business Needs

POINT OF DIFFERENCE	SQUARE	CLOVER
Payroll for Employee	You can track employee hours and process wages for salaried workers, But that’ll cost around $35 per month.	Employee tracking capabilities come standard with the Clover applications and devices, even on the most basic software plan (Payment Plus).
Inventory Management	Basic inventory management is available for free with Square; but, to use its more sophisticated capabilities, you must subscribe to Square for Retail, which costs $60 per month. Better access to Square inventory tools, retail report generation, and multiple location connectivity will all be available to you.	Clover’s built-in features provide a variety of inventory tools to assist you in maintaining inventory, employee shifts, and sales reporting.
Promotional Tools	You can get marketing for a $15 per month add-on for email and social campaigns.	Right after creating profiles and an email list, you will be able to send personalized offers to your frequent customers.
Restaurant Tools	Square for Restaurants is a specialized approach that might help your business.	You can find it in Clover Applications and use it to create floor plans, maintain records of customers, and send orders to the kitchen. Clover offers a Happy Hour app that is simple to set up in the Clover POS System.
Employee Management	If you wish to track hours and have a large number of employees enrolled in your POS system, you may purchase a $5 monthly Square add-on that gives you different access for employees at different levels.	Clover offers staffing at no extra cost, and you can create staff statistics based on hours worked and volume of transactions. Additionally, you can give every employee a different set of software permissions.

Over to You: Clover vs. Square POS 

Now that you are clear about the debate through an article on Clover vs Square by eMerchant Authority – you can choose the one that fits small business needs. Both the POS have their benefits and drawbacks, which gives each of them an upper handset. Also, both the POS offers a secure payment option. It depends on your business and what POS you want to choose. So, if you are looking for a cheaper option with multiple features and benefits, Square is your choice. But if you are looking for something more flexible and can help you in the long run – Clover is your ultimate choice. 

So, What will you choose between Clover and Square? Let us know in the comments section below.

Q1. Which POS System is best – Clover or Square?

Ans. The right POS system depends on your business goal. If you opt for Clover, you have your merchant account, which saves you transaction fees. As it is highly customizable, it can help you scale your business. On the other hand, you can avail yourself of the benefit of a more easy and budget-friendly POS system with Square, and it is the best option if you are looking for something industry-specific. 

Q2. Which one is cheaper – Clover or Square?

Ans. Square is considered cheaper than Clover because of its free plan, and is mainly used by startups and newer businesses. But as you scale your business, you will find Clover to be worth the price because of its flexibility, especially while processing payments and app integration.

Q3. Is Square owned by Apple?

Ans. No, Square is owned by Block Inc. Apple wanted the company to come aboard, but due to the sticky price point, the offer was declined. 

Q4. Is Square worth it for small businesses?

Ans. Square has a free plan, which is best for small businesses and startups. The features and Square hardware can be customized as per the business types – making it one of the best free plan POS systems. 

Q5. Can I use Clover with Venmo?

Ans. Clover accepts Venmo and gives the customer different ways to pay. It offers businesses a secure and touchless in-store checkout solution designed to help reach more customers and enable faster and more convenient checkout. 

Q6. Can cash payment be tracked with Clover or Square?

Ans. Neither Clover nor Square can track the cash payments. It is technically not possible to track cash payments. However, these POS machines allow the cashier to enter the cash amount manually to keep track of the incoming cash. 

Q7. Is Clover connected with Square?

Ans. Clover is not connected with Square as Clover requires the merchants to set up their accounts, whereas Square puts payment into the merchant account business, passing it to the business owners. So, these POS are not and cannot be integrated; rather, they can be switched from Clover to Square and vice-versa. 

Q8. Does Square charge a monthly fee?

Ans. In the free plan, you do not have to pay any monthly fee, but only a transaction fee starting from 1.75% on the sales. However, in the Retail and Restaurant Plus Plans, the fee might cost $60 per month. 

Q9. Does Clover charge a monthly fee?

Ans. Clover charges a monthly fee of $4.95 per month and might go up to $69.95 per month, depending on the type of business. 

Q10. Does Clover charge per swipe?

Ans. Clover’s payment processing fee starts at 2.3% + $ 0.10 for the in-person transaction and 3.5% + $ 0.10 for keyed-in transactions. The rate might go up depending on the hardware your business uses.