Clover vs Square: Honest POS Comparison, Pricing & Features

My take: For cafés, bars, and food trucks, Square is hard to beat for speed. For full-service restaurants or more complex operations, you may outgrow it.

Key Features: Clover vs. Square

The fastest way to judge a POS system is to watch it during a rush. Does it speed up service? Does it reduce mistakes?

Both Square and Clover cover the basics like order taking, restaurant inventory management, and online ordering, but they take different paths. Clover leans into flexibility and processor choice. Square focuses on simplicity and built-in tools that work out of the box.

Here’s how features compare in daily restaurant use.

My take: If you want a customizable setup and control over your payments, Clover gives you more freedom. If you want everything working on day one with fewer decisions, Square keeps it simple.

Pick the system that shortens ticket time during your busiest hour.

Clover Feature Highlights

Clover’s features are built to adapt to how you already work, not force you into one fixed flow.

You can tailor the POS software to your layout, mix counter and handheld ordering, and add only the tools that actually support your service. 

It’s easy to adjust menus, plug in new apps, and switch payment processing services as your costs or needs change.

Where this helps during service:

• Quick learning curve: staff get comfortable in a single shift
• Flexible workflows: counter and handheld setups work side by side
• Pay for what you use: add features over time instead of upfront
• Processor control: negotiate lower payment fees as volume grows

Square Feature Highlights

Square’s features are designed to remove friction.

Everything lives in one place, so staff can take orders, accept payments, and manage online ordering without jumping between screens. The system stays consistent across devices, which keeps training and mistakes to a minimum.

Where this helps during service:

• Fast checkout: fewer taps to complete in-person payments
• One dashboard: POS, online store, and Square payments together
• Low training time: new hires pick it up almost instantly
• Consistent flow: the same simple process at every station

Hardware: Clover vs Square

Your hardware quietly decides how smooth a shift feels.

It affects how fast you take orders, how reliably you process payments, and whether devices survive heat, spills, and long hours on the counter. A good POS system can still feel slow if the hardware hinders performance.

Below is a practical, service-first look at how Clover and Square hardware stacks compare.

My takeaway: If you want modular devices and flexibility in setup and payment processing, Clover offers more mix-and-match options. If you prefer standardized hardware that installs fast and works the same everywhere, Square keeps things simpler.

Before you buy anything, map your stations first. Decide exactly where you need a counter, handheld, or printer. Then match the hardware to your real workflow, not the other way around.

Pricing: Clover vs Square

For most operators I work with, the real POS system costs are not from software, but from processing fees.

A small difference like 0.3% can mean hundreds or thousands of dollars per month once your volume grows. That’s why comparison is less about the sticker price and more about how you’re charged to process payments every day.

Below is a simple view of what actually shapes your monthly fees.

My take: Clover gives you more room to negotiate your payment processor and build a customized payment solution, which can save money at higher volume. Square wins on transparent pricing, predictable fees, and fewer surprises.

Before you choose either, run last month’s real sales through both rate structures. That math tells you more than any sales demo.

Customer Service: Clover vs Square

When your POS system freezes mid-rush, support is not a nice extra. It’s the difference between a five-minute fix and a line out the door.

Decisions often come down to customer service more than features. Both Clover and Square handle onboarding and troubleshooting differently, especially around payment processing, hardware swaps, and day-to-day fixes.

Here’s how Clover and Square compare when something actually breaks.

My take: If you prefer a local, dealer-style relationship and want a more customized payment solution, Clover can work well. Just know that support speed depends on who sold you the system.

If you want one direct line and fewer handoffs, Square is usually simpler. Everything from processing payments to replacing a terminal or reader goes through one team.

Who is the winner?

Short answer: neither system wins for everyone.

Both handle the core needs of a modern POS system, such as payment processing, online ordering, and everyday restaurant operations. The difference comes down to how you prefer to run your restaurant.

Square keeps things simple and predictable. Clover gives you more flexibility and control.

Choose based on how your floor actually works, not on a long list of features.

If you lean Square

You want speed and clarity.

You prefer to sign up, add your menu, and start accepting payments immediately. Everything from in-person payments to online payments and your online store runs inside one system, with clear monthly fees and posted payment processing fees.

You’re fine with fewer configuration choices because the goal is consistency and less setup work.

What you gain:

• Faster onboarding
• Straightforward pricing
• Simple training for staff
• All core tools built into one system

What to watch:

• Flat processing fee can cost more at higher volume
• Advanced features often require paid plans
• Less customization compared to more modular systems

If you lean Clover

You want flexibility and room to optimize costs.

Clover lets you choose your own payment processor, negotiate processing rates, and build a more customized payment solution. You add tools like a restaurant loyalty program or marketing only when they make sense, instead of paying for everything upfront.

It works well if you like tailoring your POS software to match your workflow.

What you gain:

• Control over payment processing rates
• Modular growth with add-ons
• Flexible setup for different service styles

What to watch:

• Pricing depends on your provider
• Real software fees can vary
• Support quality may differ by reseller

Quick decision check

• Want fast setup and predictable costs? Choose Square.
• Want processor choice and customization? Choose Clover.
• Running lean or single location? Choose Square.
• Want more control over pricing and structure? Choose Clover.

Cost reality in one line

Your bill is driven more by payment processing fees than by the subscription price. Run last month’s volume through each rate structure before you sign.

My guidance to wrap it up

If your priority is speed, predictable costs, and a system that works out of the box, choose Square. It keeps operations simple and reduces friction during busy shifts.

If your focus is flexibility, processor choice, and a modular path you can shape over time, choose Clover. Start lean, then add tools as they prove their value.

Either way, design your setup around your floor plan and peak hour. That’s where the right POS system pays for itself.