Square POS vs Clover: Point of Sale (POS) Systems Compared (2026)
Square POS and Clover are two widely compared POS systems. Square POS is a point of sale system for retail, restaurants and services, combining free software, card processing, hardware and add-ons such as online stores and loyalty. Clover is a point of sale platform from Fiserv with hardware, payments and an app marketplace for niche business needs.
- Verified 10 Nov 2026Sources are dated on this page
- 4 sourcesLinked, typed and dated
- No winner declaredFit depends on your criteria
- Not tested by Stack18Editorial summary of documented facts
Square POS vs Clover: the short answer
Square POS is a point of sale system for retail, restaurants and services, combining free software, card processing, hardware and add-ons such as online stores and loyalty. Clover is a point of sale platform from Fiserv with hardware, payments and an app marketplace for niche business needs. Both are POS systems, but they differ in pricing model, target team size and focus.
On pricing, Square POS is described as: free or monthly software plus card processing fees; Clover as: monthly software via resellers plus processing. Square POS lists a free plan. Clover does not document a permanent free plan. Square POS is positioned for most small businesses wanting a free, easy POS, and Clover for businesses wanting flexibility through apps.
Everything below is drawn from the two sourced profiles and the 4 dated sources listed at the end. Where a source does not document something it is marked Unknown, and third-party estimates are labelled. No winner is declared: the better fit depends on your size, budget and requirements.
Square POS and Clover at a glance.
One card per product, drawn from each full profile. Open a profile for features, pricing plans, limits and sources.
Square POS
Block (Square) · Point of Sale (POS) Systems
Square POS is a point of sale system for retail, restaurants and services, combining free software, card processing, hardware and add-ons such as online stores and loyalty.
- Pricing
- Free plan; Plus $49, Premium $149 a month; processing ~2.6% + 15c on the free plan (US).
- Best for
- Most small businesses wanting a free, easy POS
Clover
Fiserv · Point of Sale (POS) Systems
Clover is a point of sale platform from Fiserv with hardware, payments and an app marketplace for niche business needs.
- Pricing
- Reported $14.95-$69.95 or $89.95-$109.90 per location a month; varies by reseller.
- Best for
- Businesses wanting flexibility through apps
Square POS vs Clover: feature-by-feature comparison.
Every row is drawn from the sources listed below. Rows that differ are marked, and you can filter the table to show only those.
- YesDocumented
- PartialAvailable with limits or on some plans
- NoDocumented as unavailable
- UnknownNot documented in the sources reviewed
| Dimension |  Square POS |  Clover |
|---|---|---|
| Product | ||
| Product typeDiffers | YesAll-purpose POS | YesFlexible POS with app market |
| VendorDiffers | YesBlock (Square) | YesFiserv |
| Best forDiffers | YesMost small businesses wanting a free, easy POS | YesBusinesses wanting flexibility through apps |
| Pricing | ||
| Pricing modelDiffers | YesFree or monthly software plus card processing fees. | YesMonthly software via resellers plus processing. |
| Pricing summaryDiffers | PartialFree plan; Plus $49, Premium $149 a month; processing ~2.6% + 15c on the free plan (US). | PartialReported $14.95-$69.95 or $89.95-$109.90 per location a month; varies by reseller. |
| Free planDiffers | YesYes | NoNo |
| Free trialDiffers | NoNot applicable | NoNot documented |
| Point of Sale (POS) Systems criteria | ||
| Pricing modelDiffers | YesFree + processing | YesReseller monthly |
| Software fromDiffers | YesFree | Partial~$14.95/mo (reported) |
| Industry | YesAll | YesAll |
| Best forDiffers | YesSmall businesses | YesApp flexibility |
| Fit and platform | ||
| Team size | YesSmall teams, Mid-size teams | YesSmall teams, Mid-size teams |
| Platforms | YesiOS, Android, Web | YesiOS, Android, Web |
| IntegrationsDiffers | YesSquare Online, QuickBooks, Xero, DoorDash | YesQuickBooks, Shopify, DoorDash, Homebase |
| API | UnknownNot reviewed for this profile. | UnknownNot reviewed for this profile. |
Square POS vs Clover pricing.
Plan names, prices and billing terms as reported in each profile's sources. Taxes, add-ons and discounts are excluded unless stated.
Square POS pricing
Free or monthly software plus card processing fees.
- Free$0 · Free
- Plus$49 per month · Monthly
- Premium$149 per month · Monthly
Prices from independent sources; treat as reported. Dupple (June 2026); UK figures from SumUp (June 2026, competitor). Currency: USD. Checked 10 Nov 2026.
All Square POS plans and sources
Clover pricing
Monthly software via resellers plus processing.
- SoftwareAbout $14.95-$109.90 per location per month (reported) · Monthly
Prices from independent sources; treat as reported. Dupple (June 2026) and CostBench (2026); ranges conflict. Currency: USD. Checked 10 Nov 2026.
All Clover plans and sourcesSquare POS vs Clover: pricing model, ecosystem and fit.
Pricing model and cost drivers
Square POS: free or monthly software plus card processing fees. Dupple (June 2026); UK figures from SumUp (June 2026, competitor). Clover: monthly software via resellers plus processing. Dupple (June 2026) and CostBench (2026); ranges conflict. Model costs at your real seat count, usage and contract term before comparing headline prices.
What sets each apart
The Square POS profile highlights: free plan; integrated payments; industry-specific apps. The Clover profile highlights: app marketplace; reseller pricing; processor-tied hardware.
Integrations and ecosystem
Square POS integrations named in its sources: Square Online, QuickBooks, Xero and DoorDash. Clover: QuickBooks, Shopify, DoorDash and Homebase. Check that the connectors you rely on exist on the plan you would buy.
Deployment and team fit
Square POS runs on iOS, Android and Web and is documented for small teams and mid-size teams. Clover runs on iOS, Android and Web and is documented for small teams and mid-size teams. We did not test setup or migration.
Square POS and Clover: each option, in balance.
Each point is linked to a dated source on the product's profile.
Square POS
Strengths and limitations from the profile
- Free plan.
- Easy setup.
- Broad ecosystem.
- Processing costs rise with volume.
- Advanced features need paid plans.
- Tied to Square payments.
Clover
Strengths and limitations from the profile
- App marketplace flexibility.
- Many hardware options.
- Broad industry use.
- Pricing varies by reseller.
- Extra fees can add $100+.
- Hardware tied to processor.
Square POS or Clover: which fits which situation?
No overall winner is declared. The better choice depends on the criteria that matter most to you, so test both against your own requirements.
Choose Square POS if you are…
- Most small businesses wanting a free, easy POS
- Pop-ups and markets
- Cafes
Less suited to: high-volume merchants seeking interchange-plus; complex enterprise retail.
See the Square POS profile
Choose Clover if you are…
- Businesses wanting flexibility through apps
- Retailers with niche needs
- Small restaurants
Less suited to: buyers wanting transparent pricing; merchants wanting to switch processors freely.
See the Clover profileSwitching between Square POS and Clover.
Moving off Square POS or Clover means exporting products or menus, customers, gift card balances and sales history, setting up new hardware and payment processing, retraining staff and reconnecting accounting and delivery integrations. Check contract end dates and plan the switch for a quiet trading day. Ring up a typical busy hour of real orders on each shortlisted POS and compare speed, total processing cost and reporting.
- Export a sample of your data and test an import into the other product.
- List the automations, integrations and permissions you would need to rebuild.
- Compare total cost at your real volume, including add-ons and services.
- Pilot with one team before a full cut-over.
- Check contract terms and notice periods with both vendors.
General guidance, not specific to either vendor. Confirm migration options with the vendors.
Square POS vs Clover: questions and answers
What is the difference between Square POS and Clover?
Square POS is a point of sale system for retail, restaurants and services, combining free software, card processing, hardware and add-ons such as online stores and loyalty. Clover is a point of sale platform from Fiserv with hardware, payments and an app marketplace for niche business needs. Both are POS systems, but they differ in pricing model, target team size and focus. Square POS is positioned for most small businesses wanting a free, easy POS; Clover for businesses wanting flexibility through apps.
Is Square POS cheaper than Clover?
It depends on your volume and plan. Square POS: Free plan; Plus $49, Premium $149 a month; processing ~2.6% + 15c on the free plan (US). Clover: Reported $14.95-$69.95 or $89.95-$109.90 per location a month; varies by reseller. Compare both at your real seat count, usage and contract term.
Do Square POS or Clover have a free plan?
Square POS lists a free plan. Clover does not document a permanent free plan. Square POS free trial: Not applicable. Clover free trial: Not documented.
Square POS or Clover: which is better for small teams?
Square POS and Clover are both documented for small teams. Square POS suits most small businesses wanting a free, easy POS; Clover suits businesses wanting flexibility through apps. Neither is best for everyone.
What are the main limitations of Square POS and Clover?
Square POS: Processing costs rise with volume. Clover: Pricing varies by reseller.
How much does Square POS cost?
The software has a free plan; Plus is $49 and Premium $149 a month, plus processing fees.
How much does Clover cost?
Reported software prices range from about $14.95 to $109.90 per location a month and vary by reseller.
What are the alternatives to Square POS and Clover?
Stack18 has alternatives guides for both: Square POS alternatives and Clover alternatives, each comparing at least four other POS systems on pricing, free plan, features and fit. The Point of Sale (POS) Systems category lists every profile.
Where this comparison comes from.
- The 8 Best POS Systems in 2026 (16 June 2026) Dupple Third-party Accessed 11 Nov 2026
- Revel Systems alternatives (verified June 2026) CostBench Third-party Accessed 11 Nov 2026
- SumUp vs Zettle and Square: Fees, Card Readers and POS Compared (2026) SumUp (competing vendor) Third-party Accessed 11 Nov 2026
- Revel Systems Pricing 2026 CostBench Third-party Accessed 11 Nov 2026
This comparison summarises the Square POS and Clover profiles and their sources. Third-party figures are labelled; confirm current pricing and terms with each vendor. Stack18 has not tested these products.
Ready to test Square POS and Clover?
Check each vendor's current pricing and terms, run both against a real scenario from your business, or talk to Stack18 if off-the-shelf software is not the answer.
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