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Square vs. Clover

The best choice comes down to whether you want to open an online store.

Shannon Terrell

Updated Jul 27, 2020. What changed?

Fact checked

Square offers more robust e-commerce support, while Clover’s hardware can be used with third-party payment processors. But before you decide, also consider monthly fees, point-of-sale (POS) packages, customer support options and software integrations.

Which one is better?

Square is better for small businesses that want to establish an online presence, since it includes tools to build an e-commerce storefront. We also like Square for first-time entrepreneurs and folks with a side hustle, since a card reader is included for free when you sign up — a low-risk way to start accepting in-person transactions.

Clover, on the other hand, is best if you need hardware but not payment processing, because you can pair its POS services with a third-party processor. It’s also better for restaurants, with a bundle of rich POS offerings designed specifically for the service industry.

How do Square and Clover compare?

	Square	Clover
	Read our review Go to site	Read our review
Which should I choose?	Choose Square if you want to take your store online and don’t mind using Square as your processor. Its free proprietary card reader and all-in-one processing service can be a practical choice for both brick-and-mortar and e-commerce merchants.	Choose Clover if you’re seeking an in-person POS system with 24-hour tech support. It’s well suited to small- to medium-sized brick-and-mortar businesses.
Overview	Square offers payment processing, POS systems, an online store builder and the ability to link a debit card to your merchant balance.	Clover is best known for its sleek POS systems. To purchase its hardware directly from its website, you have to sign up for Clover Payments — powered by a First Data merchant account. But purchasing Clover hardware from third-party providers gives you the flexibility to use a different payment processor.
Products	Payment processing POS software POS hardware Inventory tracking Website builder	Payment processing POS software POS hardware Inventory tracking
Price starts at	2.6% + $0.10 for payment processing, POS software included	2.7% + $0.10 for in-person payment processing
Contract required?	No	No
Hardware	Proprietary	Proprietary
Industries	Restaurant Retail	Restaurant Retail Service
Pros	Free card reader. All new merchants that sign up with Square receive a free card reader. Free service tier. Its standard POS software includes payment processing, inventory management, invoicing, gift cards, loyalty programs and multi-channel selling. Online store builder. Access its online store builder with the free service tier, for a resource-rich tool for e-commerce merchants looking to sell online. Industry-specific systems. Offers three distinct POS packages designed for those in the restaurant, retail and service industries.	24/7 tech support. Get round-the-clock access to its tech support team. Free service tier. The Clover Payments Plus software plan is free and includes payment processing, employee management, customer management and rewards programs. App market. Offers access to a variety of free and paid apps in inventory management, employee tracking and more. Niche restaurant offerings. Those in the restaurant business can benefit from a POS app for table-service restaurants and a hardware bundle designed for counter-service restaurants.
Cons	Limited tech support. Unlike Clover’s 24/7 tech support, Square’s support team is only available weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., PT. Square advertising. The free online store builder can be an attractive feature, but you’ll need to upgrade to its Professional service tier if you want to remove Square ads from your site. Required processing. While Clover’s hardware can be sourced from a third-party processor, a Square account requires you to use Square as your processor.	Potential contract. Clover doesn’t disclose whether its merchants are required to sign a contract on its website, but several reviewers reported being roped into a contract when they applied. No free hardware. Unlike Square, Clover doesn’t offer any free hardware when you sign up. Poorly reviewed. A majority of the feedback on both the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot is negative, with complaints targeting its PCI-compliance fees and lackluster tech support.
Tools	Loyalty programs. Offer customers the opportunity to purchase gift cards and earn loyalty program incentives. Business debit card. Apply for a Square business card for same-day access to transaction funds. Square installments. Increase conversions by offering customers monthly payment plans for large purchases. Invoicing. Send customers automated invoices from your mobile device using the Square Invoices app. Website builder. Create an online store with beginner-friendly design templates and app integrations. Inventory management. Keep track of in-store and online inventory levels. Social media integration. Market and sell your wares across Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram. Product reviews. Ask satisfied customers to leave reviews and display feedback directly on your website. Abandoned cart emails. Follow up on abandoned carts with emails urging customers to complete their purchase.	Offline payments. Process payments even when you experience an occasional lapse in Internet connectivity. Staff management. Manage your team with time clocks, sales reports and payroll features. Customer management. Create a customer rewards program, build your marketing strategy or launch a social media campaign. Virtual terminal. Log into your Clover Web Dashboard to accept credit and debit card payments from your mobile device, tablet or computer. App market. Customize your software with a variety of free and paid apps in the Clover App Market. Clover Go. A compact card reader and app that syncs with your web dashboard so you can process transactions, track inventory and manage employees on the fly.
BBB letter rating	A+	D+
Trustpilot rating	★★★★★ Based on 1,523 reviews	★★★★★ Based on 242 reviews
Reputation and customer reviews	Reviews are: Mixed — it’s amassed 2,941 BBB complaints — a cringe-inducing figure considering Clover received just seven complaints over the same period of time. That said, Square boasts an impressive TrustScore of 4.7 out of 5. Customers praise: Easy onboarding and friendly customer service reps. Customers complain about: Chargebacks and the Square Cash app.	Reviews are: Mostly negative — both its BBB feedback and TrustScore reveal frustrated customers. Customers praise: Customizable software through the app market and quick onboarding. Customers complain about: Frustrating tech support experiences and transaction holds.
Support	Phone. Call 800-474-3398, weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., PT. Email. Fill out a secure online form from your Square account	Phone. Call 866-330-3392 if you don’t have a account. Account holders can find the number in the Clover Go app. Support is available 24/7. Live chat. Available on its website weekdays 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. EST, and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Bottom line

Square and Clover have a lot in common and are good for businesses just getting started. They both offer hardware, a free POS software tier and have similar processing rates. Square shines when it comes to hosting your online storefront, while Clover’s flexibility when it comes to choosing a payment processor may come in handy for some.

Not sure about either yet? Review your options with other merchant services providers.

Frequently asked questions

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Shannon Terrell

Shannon Terrell is a writer for Finder who studied communications and English literature at the University of Toronto. On any given day, you can find her researching everything from equine financing and business loans to student debt refinancing and how to start a trust. She loves hot coffee, the smell of fresh books and discovering new ways to save her pennies.

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Square vs. Clover