Clover and Shopify POS are both point-of-sale platforms for small and growing businesses, but they suit different priorities. Clover leans toward flexible pos hardware sold through banks and merchant-services resellers. Shopify POS is built around unified online + in-person selling for commerce-first brands. In our testing Shopify POS scores higher overall (4.4 vs 3.9), but the right pick depends on your business.
Clover vs Shopify POS at a glance
| Clover | Shopify POS | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 3.9 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Software cost | $0+ per month (reseller-set) | $39+ per month (Basic plan) |
| In-person rate | ~2.5% + 10¢ (reseller-set) | 2.6% + 10¢ |
| Commitment | 3-year contract | No contract |
| Best for | Choosing your own processor | Online + in-person businesses |
Choose Clover if…
- You run retail
- You run full-service restaurants
Choose Shopify POS if…
- Ease of use matters most to you
- Pricing matters most to you
- Features matters most to you
- Support matters most to you
Pricing side by side
| Plan | Starter | Standard | Advanced | Basic + POS Lite | Retail (POS Pro) | Shopify plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | From ~$0–$15/mo | From ~$50/mo | From ~$85/mo | $39/mo (Basic plan) | $89/mo per location add-on | $105/mo |
| In-person rate | ~2.6% + 10¢ (reseller-dependent) | ~2.3%–2.6% + 10¢ | Reseller-dependent | 2.6% + 10¢ | 2.5% + 10¢ | 2.5% + 10¢ |
| Online rate | — | — | — | 2.9% + 30¢ | — | 2.7% + 30¢ |
| Keyed rate | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Hardware | From ~$799 or financed | — | — | — | — | — |
| Commitment | 3-year contract | 3-year contract | 3-year contract | No contract | No contract | No contract |
Feature comparison
| Feature | Clover | Shopify POS |
|---|---|---|
| Payments | ||
| Card-present payments | Yes | Yes |
| Offline mode | Yes | Partial |
| Inventory | ||
| Inventory tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Purchase orders | Partial | Yes |
| Reporting & analytics | ||
| Sales reporting | Yes | Yes |
| Online ordering | ||
| Menu / modifier management | Yes | No |
| First-party online ordering | Partial | Yes |
| Loyalty & marketing | ||
| Loyalty program | Partial | Partial |
| Gift cards | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-location | ||
| Multi-location management | Partial | Yes |
| Integrations & API | ||
| Open API | Yes | Yes |
| App marketplace | Yes | Yes |
Our verdict
Shopify POS is the stronger all-round choice for most businesses on our scoring. Pick Clover instead if its strengths — retail and full-service restaurants — line up with how you operate. Use the tables above to check pricing and features against your own numbers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Clover cheaper than Shopify POS?
Clover software runs $0+ per month (reseller-set) with an in-person rate of ~2.5% + 10¢ (reseller-set); Shopify POS is $39+ per month (Basic plan) at 2.6% + 10¢. Compare the effective rate on a real month of your own card volume, not the headline numbers.
Does Clover or Shopify POS lock you into a contract?
Clover: 3-year contract. Shopify POS: No contract. Confirm the term, auto-renewal window and any early-termination fee in writing before you sign.
Which is better, Clover or Shopify POS?
Shopify POS rates higher overall in our review, but Clover can be the better fit for specific business types. See "Our verdict" above.
Not sure which to pick?
Tell us about your business and we’ll recommend the better fit.