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.
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
| 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 | — |
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
User reviews (GetApp: 3.9/5)
Praise: Easy setup, transparent pricing
Complaints: Limited restaurant depth, add-on costs
Clover
Flexible hardware with built-in loyalty and lowest card-present rates
| 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 |
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
User reviews (G2/Capterra: 3.8/5)
Praise: Hardware quality, bank availability, App Market
Complaints: Long contracts, inconsistent reseller pricing
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
FAQ
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.