Clover and Square 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. Square is built around simple, low-barrier pos for brick-and-mortar businesses. In our testing Square scores higher overall (4.6 vs 3.9), but the right pick depends on your business.
Clover vs Square at a glance
| Clover | Square | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 3.9 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Software cost | $0+ per month (reseller-set) | $0+ per month |
| In-person rate | ~2.5% + 10¢ (reseller-set) | 2.6% + 15¢ |
| Commitment | 3-year contract | No contract |
| Best for | Choosing your own processor | Overall / getting started |
Choose Clover if…
- You run retail
- You run full-service restaurants
Choose Square 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 | Free | Plus (Retail) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | From ~$0–$15/mo | From ~$50/mo | From ~$85/mo | $0 | $89/mo per location |
| In-person rate | ~2.6% + 10¢ (reseller-dependent) | ~2.3%–2.6% + 10¢ | Reseller-dependent | 2.6% + 15¢ | 2.5% + 10¢ |
| Online rate | — | — | — | 2.9% + 30¢ | 2.9% + 30¢ |
| Keyed rate | — | — | — | 3.5% + 15¢ | — |
| Hardware | From ~$799 or financed | — | — | — | — |
| Commitment | 3-year contract | 3-year contract | 3-year contract | No contract | No contract |
Feature comparison
| Feature | Clover | Square |
|---|---|---|
| Payments | ||
| Card-present payments | Yes | Yes |
| Offline mode | Yes | Partial |
| Inventory | ||
| Inventory tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Purchase orders | Partial | Partial |
| Reporting & analytics | ||
| Sales reporting | Yes | Yes |
| Online ordering | ||
| Menu / modifier management | Yes | Partial |
| 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
Square 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 Square?
Clover software runs $0+ per month (reseller-set) with an in-person rate of ~2.5% + 10¢ (reseller-set); Square is $0+ per month at 2.6% + 15¢. Compare the effective rate on a real month of your own card volume, not the headline numbers.
Does Clover or Square lock you into a contract?
Clover: 3-year contract. Square: No contract. Confirm the term, auto-renewal window and any early-termination fee in writing before you sign.
Which is better, Clover or Square?
Square 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.