Our Take
4.0
The bottom line:
Clover POS
on Clover's website
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free plan available if you’re only using a mobile card reader.
- 24/7 phone and email support.
- All restaurant plans include no-fee online ordering, and retail plans let you integrate with existing online stores.
Cons
- Promotions require a three-year contract.
- Charges termination fees, though they may be waived in certain cases.
- Online payment processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
- Popular accounting integrations are only available through third-party apps.
Full Review
- Full-service and quick-service dining. Features on Clover POS systems for restaurants are generally standard across tiers, unlike other POS systems that limit features on lower-priced options. The primary difference is the number and types of hardware.
- Retail. As you go up the three pricing tiers in Clover’s Retail plans, you get more hardware, but there are other differences to consider. The Standard and Advanced plans have a lower payment processing rate: 2.3% plus 10 cents per in-person transaction compared with 2.6% plus 10 cents in the Starter plan. Additional software features in the two higher plans include the ability to itemize returns and exchanges and integrate a scale to weigh items.
- Professional services. Unlike restaurants or retailers, professional service providers like an architect or a designer might regularly accept payments in a variety of ways — invoices, over the phone or in person, for example. If you don’t expect to accept in-person payments, the Starter plan will save you money because it doesn’t require hardware.
- Personal services. You can use Clover if you provide personal services, like at a hair salon or fitness studio. Like the Retail plan, the Personal Services Standard and Advanced offerings have a lower payment processing rate and can handle a few more complex tasks, like weighing items and itemizing returns.
- Home and field businesses. If you’re an electrician, landscaper or other type of professional who travels to job sites, Clover allows you to take payments in the field. If you prefer to send electronic invoices, the Starter plan is the best pick. The other two plans include a mobile solution so you can get paid anywhere.
Clover is best for businesses that:
- Want competitive, flat-rate in-person processing fees. Clover has one of the lowest in-person transaction rates among providers that use a flat-rate payment processing model.
- Don’t mind filling gaps in features with integrated apps. Clover’s system comes with standard POS capabilities, but some businesses may find they need to turn to third-party apps that integrate with Clover to fill all their business needs.
- Value 24/7 customer support. Clover offers 24/7 customer support by phone and email.
Deciding factors
Payment processing model | Flat rate. |
Payment processing fees |
Note: Prices are based on using Clover’s parent company, Fiserv, as your merchant service provider. If you use a different provider, your costs may differ. |
Monthly fee |
|
Hardware cost |
|
Contract length | 12-36 months. |
Customer support | 24/7 phone, chat and email support. |
Where Clover stands out
Low flat rates for in-person payment processing
Decent monthly rates and features
Top-notch hardware
Extensive library of software integrations
Where Clover falls short
No free options
Products and pricing can be hard to understand
Alternatives to Clover
Square
- $0 for Square POS, Restaurant, Retail and Appointments Free plans.
- $29 for Square Appointments Plus plan.
- $69 for Square Appointments Premium and Square Restaurants Plus plans.
- $89 for Square Retail Plus plan.
- $165 for Square Restaurant Premium plan.
- Custom pricing for Square Retail plan.
- 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions.
- 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions.
- 3.5% plus 15 cents for manually keyed transactions.
- 3.3% plus 30 cents for invoices.
- $0 for Square magstripe-only card reader ($10 for each additional reader) or if using Tap to Pay for iPhone (iPhone not included).
- $59 for Square Reader contactless and chip card reader.
- $149 for Square Stand iPad POS or Square Stand Mount (iPad not included; monthly financing available).
- $299 for Square Terminal mobile card reader with built-in printer (monthly financing available).
- $799 for Square Register two-screen system (monthly financing available).
Payment Depot
Compare POS providers
on Clover's website
Methodology
Frequently Asked Questions