Is Square or Clover cheaper?

It depends on your volume. For food trucks and low-volume operations (under $15K/month), Square is cheaper because the $0/month plan beats Clover's $135+ minimum. For restaurants processing $30K+/month in card sales, Clover's lower processing rate (2.3% vs 2.6%) saves enough to be the cheaper option overall.

Does Clover require a contract?

Yes. Clover's standard plans come with a 36-month hardware financing commitment. You can buy hardware outright to get a lower monthly software fee, but the 36-month option is the default. Square has no contracts whatsoever — cancel anytime with no penalties.

Can I use my own payment processor with Clover?

If you buy Clover directly from clover.com, you're locked into Fiserv processing. However, Clover is also sold through independent resellers and banks, some of whom can pair it with a different processor. Square never allows third-party processors.

Which has better hardware?

Clover offers more hardware variety — the Flex works as both a handheld and countertop device, and the Station Duo has a built-in customer-facing display. Square's hardware is simpler (Terminal and Register), but works with standard iPads and iPhones. Neither system's hardware can be used with other POS systems.

What happens if I want to switch from Clover to Square?

You'll need to manually rebuild your menu and customer data — there's no automated migration tool. Clover hardware cannot be reused for anything else. If you're still on a 36-month contract, check for early termination fees. The transition typically takes 1-2 weeks.

Home / Square vs Clover

Square vs Clover POS: Which Is Right for Your Business in 2026?

Square and Clover are two of the most widely used POS systems in the U.S., but they take very different approaches. Square offers zero-commitment pricing with a free plan and no contracts. Clover bundles hardware and software into monthly payments but typically requires 36-month commitments. We compared real 2026 costs, features, and contract terms to help you choose.

Last updated Mar 2026

Disclosure: Some links below are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you sign up — at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we'd use ourselves.

Square for Restaurants

Zero-cost entry with no contracts

4.3/5

Clover

Flexible hardware with built-in loyalty and lowest card-present rates

3.8/5

Square for Restaurants

Zero-cost entry with no contracts

4.3/5

Plan	Monthly	Processing	Notes
Free	Free	2.6% + $0.15	—
Plus	$49/mo	2.5% + $0.15	—
Premium	$149/mo	2.4% + $0.15	—

Hardware	Price	Notes
Terminal	$299	—
Register	$799	—
Card Reader	$49	—

Contract: Month-to-monthFree tier available30-day trial on paid plans

Pros

✓Genuinely free plan
✓No contracts or cancellation fees
✓500+ app integrations
✓Works across business types
✓Use with any iPad or phone

Cons

✗Higher processing rate than Clover at volume
✗KDS costs extra per device
✗Loyalty is a paid add-on
✗No phone support on lower tiers

Best for: Food trucks and pop-upsBest for: New businesses testing the marketBest for: Multi-concept operations

Not ideal: High-volume restaurants wanting lowest processing ratesNot ideal: Businesses wanting bundled financing

User reviews (GetApp: 3.9/5)

Praise: Easy setup, transparent pricing

Complaints: Limited restaurant depth, add-on costs

Visit Square for Restaurants Official website →

Clover

Flexible hardware with built-in loyalty and lowest card-present rates

3.8/5

Plan	Monthly	Processing	Notes
QSR Starter	$135/mo	2.3% + $0.10	Includes hardware financing
QSR Standard	$185/mo	2.3% + $0.10	—
FSR Starter	$179/mo	2.3% + $0.10	—
FSR Standard	$239/mo	2.3% + $0.10	—

Hardware	Price	Notes
Clover Flex	$599	—
Station Solo	$799	—
Station Duo	$1,099	Often included in bundle pricing

Contract: 36-month standard

Pros

✓Lowest card-present rate at 2.3% + $0.10
✓Built-in loyalty at no extra cost
✓Hardware bundled into monthly payment
✓300+ apps in Clover App Market
✓Available through many US banks

Cons

✗36-month contracts are restrictive
✗Pricing varies wildly by reseller
✗Not restaurant-first platform
✗Limited multi-location tools
✗Proprietary hardware only

Best for: High-volume restaurants wanting low processing ratesBest for: Businesses wanting hardware bundled in monthly paymentBest for: Independent restaurants and cafes

Not ideal: Businesses avoiding long-term contractsNot ideal: Operators wanting hardware flexibility

User reviews (G2/Capterra: 3.8/5)

Praise: Hardware quality, bank availability, App Market

Complaints: Long contracts, inconsistent reseller pricing

Visit Clover Official website →

Feature Comparison

Feature	Square for Restaurants	Clover	Edge
Online ordering	Square Online (free tier available)	Via integrations	Square for Restaurants
Kitchen display system	Third-party iPad	Third-party only	Tie
Inventory management	Basic stock tracking	Good; integrates third-party apps	Tie
Employee management	Basic timecards	Scheduling and permissions	Clover
Reporting & analytics	Solid dashboards	Customizable reports	Tie
Customer loyalty	Add-on at $45/mo	Clover Rewards built-in	Clover
Offline mode	Limited offline payments	Full offline capability	Clover
Third-party integrations	500+ apps	300+ apps in Clover App Market	Square for Restaurants
Tableside ordering	Square Terminal	Clover Flex	Tie
Hardware flexibility	Works with any iPad	Clover hardware only	Square for Restaurants
Payment processor choice	Square payments only	Resellers may offer choice	Clover

Cost Comparison

Scenario	Square for Restaurants	Clover	Winner
Small restaurant (10 tables, 5 staff, $360K/yr volume)	$12,648/yr	$11,160/yr	Clover
Food truck (1 terminal, $96K/yr volume)	$3,107/yr	$4,428/yr	Square for Restaurants

* Small restaurant (10 tables, 5 staff, $360K/yr volume): Clover's lower processing rate (2.3% vs 2.6%) saves enough to offset higher monthly fees at this volume

* Food truck (1 terminal, $96K/yr volume): Square's free plan and no contracts make it $1,300 cheaper for low-volume operations

Our Verdict

Square wins for startups, food trucks, and anyone allergic to contracts. Clover wins on processing rates for established restaurants doing $30K+/month in card sales — the 0.3% rate difference saves over $1,000/year at that volume. The dealbreaker is Clover's 36-month contract: if you're not sure you'll be in the same location for 3 years, Square's month-to-month flexibility is worth the higher processing rate.

Choose Square for Restaurants if…

→You want zero startup costs and no hardware lock-in
→You're running a temporary or pop-up business
→You want to test a POS before committing long-term
→You're a very small food business with simple needs
→You run multiple business types under one account

Choose Clover if…

→You process high card volume and want the lowest per-transaction rates
→You want hardware and software bundled in one monthly payment
→You need built-in loyalty without paying extra
→You're an established restaurant wanting richer app integrations
→You're comfortable with a 36-month commitment

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