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POS Systems

Square vs Clover: Which POS System Fits Your Business in 2026?

Square has a $0 software plan, a $59 reader and no contracts. Clover sells software and hardware as bundles, with lower in-person rates on its Growth plans but hardware that works only with Clover. Here is the full cost picture.

By Bill Belcamino · Last updated September 19, 2026 · Our methodologyResearched and fact-checked by the HelpCompare team
Square logoSquare Free $0/mo (2.6% + 15¢ in person); Plus $49/location/mo

Square

VS
Clover logoClover Go reader $199; Essentials $29.95/mo (2.5% + 10¢ in person)

Clover

Run the cost calculator Compare pricing tiers
Square vs CloverVerified Sep 19, 2026
Bottom line Editorial assessment

Which POS is better for a small business, Square or Clover?

Choose Square to start with no monthly fee, a $59 reader and no contract; choose Clover if you want bundled counter or restaurant hardware and your card volume justifies its Growth plans’ 2.3% + 10¢ rate. Clover hardware works only with Clover processing, and its 36-month hardware subscriptions are non-cancelable.

Quick verdict: Square is the cheaper, lower-commitment start: Square Free costs $0 a month, the contactless and chip reader is $59, there are no locked-in contracts, and paid plans (Plus $49, Premium $149 a location a month) lower the in-person rate from 2.6% + 15¢ to 2.4% + 15¢. Clover bundles software with hardware by business type: Essentials with a Go reader is $199 plus $29.95 a month, and the Growth plans ($84.95 to $129.85 a month, with Station hardware from $1,799) bring the in-person rate down to 2.3% + 10¢. The catch is lock-in: Clover says its devices cannot be used with other payment processors, its 36-month hardware subscriptions are non-cancelable, and terms vary by who sold you the account.
Verified data

Square vs Clover: quick facts

At a glanceSquareClover
CategoryPOS Systems
Entry priceSquare Free $0/mo (2.6% + 15¢ in person); Plus $49/location/moClover Go reader $199; Essentials $29.95/mo (2.5% + 10¢ in person)
Free planYes — Square Free, $0/mo; you pay processing feesNo free plan; Starter lists no monthly fee (reader $199)

Is Square cheaper than Clover?

To start, Square: $0 a month on Square Free plus a $59 reader, against Clover Go at $199 plus $29.95 a month on Essentials. At higher card volume, Clover’s Growth plans charge 2.3% + 10¢ in person against Square Plus at 2.5% + 15¢, so a busy counter can recover Clover’s higher monthly fee through processing. Run your own monthly card sales through both rate cards before deciding.

Verified data

Square vs Clover at a glance

CategorySquareClover
Monthly software feeFree $0; Plus $49; Premium $149 per locationEssentials $29.95; Retail Growth $84.95–$104.90; Restaurant Growth $89.95–$129.85 (bundles)
In-person card rate2.6% + 15¢ (Free), 2.5% + 15¢ (Plus), 2.4% + 15¢ (Premium)2.6% + 10¢ (Starter), 2.5% + 10¢ (Essentials), 2.3% + 10¢ (Growth plans)
Online / keyed-in rateOnline 3.3% + 30¢ (Free), 2.9% + 30¢ (Plus, Premium); keyed 3.5% + 15¢3.5% + 10¢ (typed in, online or phone)
Hardware (list)Reader $59; Stand $149; Terminal $299; Handheld $399; Register $899Go reader $199; Compact $349; Station Solo bundle $1,799; Station Duo $1,899
ContractNo locked-in contracts36-month hardware subscriptions are non-cancelable; termination fees vary by provider
Use another processor?Not statedNo — Clover devices work only with Clover processing
Offline card paymentsYes on supported hardware; upload within 24 hoursYes, if turned on per device, for up to 7 days
Staff time clockTimecards and shift scheduling on Plus and upShift management on Growth plans
Fast payoutsNext business day free; instant transfer 1.95%Rapid Deposit 1.75% per deposit
SupportChat always; phone 6am–6pm PT weekdays (Free: first 90 days); 24/7 phone on Premium24/7/365

Verified September 19, 2026Prices recorded from each vendor’s own pricing page. See sources

US prices from squareup.com/us/en/pricing, squareup.com hardware pages and clover.com (Clover.com prices; plans sold through banks and resellers may differ). All checked September 19, 2026.

Editorial assessment

How they actually differ

Both run in-person checkout with a card reader, item library, receipts and reports, and both take online and keyed-in payments. The differences are how you pay for software, how much you commit to up front, and whether you can ever change processors without changing hardware.

How each charges

Square charges a monthly software fee per location (Free $0, Plus $49, Premium $149) and card processing that drops as the plan rises. Clover shows its prices as bundles of software and hardware by business type: Starter or Essentials with a Go reader or Compact, and Retail or Restaurant Growth with Station hardware. Clover notes that prices on Clover.com are only available there, and that terms from banks and resellers differ.

Commitment and lock-in

Square says there are no locked-in contracts. Clover says its devices cannot be used with other payment processors, that hardware bought on a 36-month subscription is non-cancelable (buyout or upgrade is possible), and that termination fees depend on whether your account is with Clover Direct or a bank partner.

When the internet drops

Square accepts offline card payments on supported hardware; they must be uploaded within 24 hours and expire after 72. Clover lets each device take offline payments for up to 7 days if the feature is turned on, with limits you set. In both cases, a card declined when it finally uploads is your loss.

Editorial assessment

Pros & cons

Square

Pros

  • $0 software plan and $59 reader
  • No locked-in contracts
  • Online store and invoicing on the free plan
  • Clear per-location pricing

Cons

  • Higher per-sale fixed fee (15¢ vs 10¢)
  • Phone support on Free ends after 90 days
  • Restaurant KDS and Kiosk apps cost extra per device
  • Staff scheduling needs Plus

Clover

Pros

  • Lowest in-person rate here on Growth plans (2.3% + 10¢)
  • All-in-one hardware bundles by business type
  • 24/7/365 support
  • Offline payments for up to 7 days

Cons

  • Hardware works only with Clover processing
  • 36-month hardware subscriptions are non-cancelable
  • Prices and terms vary by reseller
  • Typed-in and online payments at 3.5% + 10¢
Verified data

Cost calculator: what does your team actually pay?

Square

 
$0/mo

Clover

 
$0/mo
 

Software fees only, checked September 19, 2026. Card processing is charged on top as a percentage plus a fixed fee per sale (see the rates table above), and hardware is bought separately. Clover.com shows each plan as a single bundle and does not publish pricing for more locations, so we show no Clover figure above one location.

Choose Square if…

You want to start with no monthly fee and cheap hardware, keep the freedom to leave, or sell online and in person from one free plan.

Choose Clover if…

You want a full counter or restaurant setup bundled with hardware, your card volume makes 2.3% + 10¢ worth the higher monthly fee, and you accept the hardware lock-in.

Total cost over time

Uses your selections above. Estimate excludes add-ons, overages, and negotiated discounts.

Ready to pick your POS?

Price your real month: take last month’s card sales and ticket count, and run them through each rate card with the monthly fee added.

See Square pricing See Clover pricing
Verified data

Clover vs Square: security, offline & remote work

How Clover and Square compare on compliance reports, sign-in controls, offline access and the setup details that matter for remote, hybrid and in-office teams. Every value links to the vendor page it came from.

What we checkedCloverSquare
Security & compliance
SOC 2 reportNot publishedNot published
ISO/IEC 27001Not publishedCertifiedsource
Other certificationsPCI DSS (QSA-validated; level not stated)sourcePCI DSS Level 1source
HIPAA (BAA)Not publishedNot published
GDPR data processing agreementNot publishedNot published
Single sign-on (SAML/OIDC)Not publishedNot published
SCIM user provisioningNot publishedNot published
Two-factor authenticationNot publishedYessource
Admin audit logNot publishedNot published
Data residency choicesNot publishedNot published
EncryptionEnd-to-end encryption and tokenization via Clover Security PlussourceCard-present payments encrypted end to end; no unencrypted payment data touches the devicesource
Self-hosting optionNot publishedNot published
Offline access
Offline modePartialClover devices with Offline Payments turned on can take card payments without internet for up to 7 days; they are stored on the device and submitted for authorization automatically on reconnection (EBT and gift cards excluded).sourcePartialSquare POS apps on supported Square hardware can take cash and card payments offline; payments are stored in the app and process automatically on reconnection (ideally within 24 hours, expiring after 72 hours), while online orders, gift cards, Tap to Pay and manual card entry are unavailable offline.source
Desktop appsNot publishedNot published
Mobile appsiOS, AndroidsourceiOS, Androidsource
Offline limitsUp to 7 days per device; optional per-payment limit, total offline limit and approval threshold; not for EBT or gift cards; uninstalling the app while offline deletes offline payments.sourceUpload within 24 hours, no later than 72 hours; not supported on Square Reader 1st gen v1/v2, Kiosk, Tap to Pay, manually entered cards, gift cards, Afterpay, Cash App Pay, Invoices app or services mode.source
Remote, hybrid & in-office
IP allowlistingNot publishedNot published
Device & session controlsNot publishedYesRemote device management: device profiles and codes, printer profiles, monitoring from off-site.source
Office & room hardwareClover sells its own locked POS devices: Go reader ($199), Compact ($349), Flex and Flex Pocket handhelds, Mini, Station Solo, Station Duo ($1,899), Kiosk and Kitchen Display System; they cannot be used with other processors.sourceSquare sells its own POS hardware: Reader for contactless and chip ($59), Terminal ($299), Handheld ($399), Stand ($149), Kiosk ($149) and Register ($899).source
Editorial assessment

What this means for your team

  • Audit reports: Square holds ISO/IEC 27001; neither SOC 2 statement was found on the vendors’ sites.
  • Working offline: Clover and Square work offline only in part. Details are in the Offline mode row above.
  • In the office: Clover: Clover sells its own locked POS devices: Go reader ($199), Compact ($349), Flex and Flex Pocket handhelds, Mini, Station Solo, Station Duo ($1,899), Kiosk and Kitchen Display System; they cannot be used with other processors. Square: Square sells its own POS hardware: Reader for contactless and chip ($59), Terminal ($299), Handheld ($399), Stand ($149), Kiosk ($149) and Register ($899).

Clover: worth knowing

  • OfflineOffline payments carry decline risk: expired or canceled cards and wrong PINs are only declined once the device reconnects. source
  • OfficeClover hardware bought on a 36-month subscription cannot be canceled; it can only be bought out or upgraded. source
  • RemoteThe customer list can be exported only from the web dashboard, not from a Clover device. source
  • RemoteClover Go needs a WiFi or cellular connection and pairs with a phone for taking payments away from the counter. source

Square: worth knowing

  • OfflineOffline payments not uploaded within 72 hours expire; Square recommends reconnecting within 24 hours. source
  • OfficeOffline payments will be enabled on all devices automatically unless the seller opts out (change rolled out March–April 2026). source
  • RemotePhone support is 6am–6pm PT on weekdays for Square Plus (first 90 days only on Square Free); only Square Premium includes 24/7 phone support. source
  • SecuritySquare is the merchant of record and maintains PCI certification, so sellers do not validate PCI compliance individually. source

Checked September 19, 2026 against each vendor’s own trust center, help docs and app pages. Hover or tap “source” to see the exact wording we relied on. “Not published” means we could not find the vendor saying it on its own site — it doesn’t mean the feature is missing. Plan names are the lowest plan the vendor says includes the feature. Security · Offline · Remote vs office · Download the data

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Square cheaper than Clover?

To start, yes: Square Free is $0 a month and its reader $59; Clover Go is $199 plus $29.95 a month on Essentials. At higher volume, Clover’s Growth plans have a lower in-person rate (2.3% + 10¢) than Square Plus (2.5% + 15¢). Prices checked September 19, 2026.

Can I use Clover hardware with another processor?

No. Clover states that its devices cannot be used with other payment processors.

Does Square require a contract?

No. Square says there are no locked-in contracts and you can cancel or switch plans anytime.

Do Square and Clover work offline?

Both can take card payments offline on supported devices. Square offline payments must be uploaded within 24 hours; Clover allows up to 7 days if you turn the feature on.

Why do Clover prices differ between sellers?

Clover is also sold through banks and resellers. Clover.com says its listed prices are available only on Clover.com and that terms and termination fees vary by provider.

Migration Guides

Already decided? Here’s how to actually switch.

Step-by-step migration guides covering what transfers automatically, what doesn’t, and how to handle the gap — in both directions.

Switching from Square to Clover Switching from Clover to Square
Editorial assessment

When to Buy — and When to Walk Away

Every “best POS system” listicle tells you why to buy. Here’s the other half: the specific conditions under which Square or Clover is the wrong purchase for your team.

Square

Buy Square if:

  • You want $0 software and cheap hardware to start
  • You may change providers later
  • You sell online and in person on a small budget

Do NOT buy Square if:

  • High card volume makes a lower rate worth a monthly fee
  • You need 24/7 phone support without paying for Premium
  • You want one bundled hardware-and-software contract

Clover

Buy Clover if:

  • You want a bundled counter or restaurant setup
  • Your volume justifies the Growth plans’ 2.3% + 10¢ rate
  • You need 24/7 support

Do NOT buy Clover if:

  • You want to keep the option to change processors
  • You cannot commit to 36 months of hardware payments
  • You take many keyed-in or phone payments

Canonical data for the tools on this page

Every pricing fact, rating, AI billing model and switching guide we hold on each tool, on one page — with the date each figure was last verified.

SquarePricing, free plan, AI cost & every comparison›CloverPricing, free plan, AI cost & every comparison›
Clover vs Shopify POSHead-to-head comparisonSquare vs Shopify POSHead-to-head comparison

Sources

Prices on this page were recorded from each vendor’s own pricing page on the date shown at the top of the page. Vendors change pricing often — check the live source before you buy.

Every figure is also in our open dataset (JSON and CSV, CC BY 4.0), with its source page and verification date. See how we research pricing.

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Plain-language guides: the steps, what to check before you buy, common mistakes, and every tool it takes with verified prices.

Take card paymentsSell in person with a POSTrack inventoryAll 50 job guides
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Verified prices costed for your team size, a check against your must-have requirements, the questions to settle before you sign, and a source for every figure. Print it, or paste it into an email to whoever approves the spend.

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Built for the leader who owns the selection, answers for the spend, drives the rollout, and lives with the results. HelpCompare covers the whole decision, not just the first step.

01 · CompareWhich tool fits your team, side by side.75 comparisons 02 · Price & approveSourced, dated pricing and a one-page brief for sign-off.Decision brief 03 · SwitchWhat moves, what you rebuild, what it costs.150 guides 04 · ShareDownload and cite the data. CC BY 4.0.Open data
Bill Belcamino, founder of HelpCompare
About the author

Bill Belcamino

Founder and author, HelpCompare

Bill has worked in software and digital marketing for more than 20 years. He spent nine years as an engineer at HP, served as COO scaling a platform past 200,000 users, and ran Google’s $70M/year search syndication partnership at Alot.com. He has bought, trialled, integrated and cancelled more SaaS tools than he can count, and started HelpCompare because the real cost of switching tools is the part nobody covers.

“I’ve sat on both sides of the table: the agency recommending the tool and the client paying for it.”

Researched and fact-checked by the HelpCompare team. Pricing on this page was last verified on September 19, 2026. No paid sponsorships, no affiliate commissions.

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