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Shopify POS vs Clover: Complete Comparison 2026

An in-depth comparison of features, pricing, and user experience to help you make the right choice.

Shopify POS logo

Shopify POS

8.0(14,200 reviews)

Shopify's in-store POS that unifies online and physical retail. Included with Shopify plans; Pro upgrade at $89/mo per location.

Clover logo

Clover

7.9(22,400 reviews)

Flexible POS hardware ecosystem with app marketplace for retail, restaurants, and services. Plans from $14.95/mo plus hardware.

Quick Comparison

AspectShopify POSClover
Best ForShopify merchants expanding from online-only to physical retail locationsBusinesses that want premium-quality dedicated POS hardware instead of tablet-based setups
Pricing ModelSubscriptionSubscription
Starting Price$39/mo$14.95/mo
Deploymentcloudcloud
PlatformsWEB, IOS, ANDROIDWEB, ANDROID
Rating8.0/107.9/10

Pros & Cons

Shopify POS

Pros

  • Seamless omnichannel sync between online and physical store for inventory, customers, and orders
  • POS Lite is included free with any Shopify plan — no additional software cost to start selling in-person
  • Access to 8,000+ Shopify apps that extend POS functionality with loyalty, marketing, and more
  • Buy-online-pickup-in-store (BOPIS) and ship-from-store workflows are best in class
  • Works on existing iPhones and iPads so you can start with hardware you already own

Cons

  • Not competitive as a standalone POS — the value is only realized if you also run a Shopify online store
  • Restaurant features are completely absent — this is a retail-only POS system
  • Requires a Shopify subscription ($39-399/month) even if your online store is secondary to physical retail
  • Inventory management on POS Lite lacks depth — no purchase orders, vendor management, or aging reports
  • In-store analytics and staff performance tracking require the $89/month POS Pro upgrade per location

Clover

Pros

  • Premium hardware lineup with modular options from a $49 pocket reader to a $1,699 full station
  • App marketplace with 400+ apps lets you customize functionality without switching platforms
  • Competitive processing rates (2.3% + 10¢ on Register plan) when purchased directly from Clover
  • Works for retail, restaurants, and service businesses with industry-specific plan configurations
  • Hardware build quality is noticeably better than generic tablet-based POS setups

Cons

  • Reseller model creates wildly inconsistent pricing — some ISOs overcharge by $200+/month
  • Hardware is tied to your merchant account and becomes useless if you cancel — you don't truly own it
  • App marketplace costs stack up quickly at $10-50/month per app if you need multiple extensions
  • Restaurant features aren't as deep as Toast's purpose-built kitchen workflow tools
  • The initial hardware investment is significant — a full Station Duo setup runs $1,699+

Pricing Comparison

ProductPricing ModelStarting Price
Shopify POSsubscription$39/mo
Cloversubscription$14.95/mo

Our Verdict

Choose Shopify POS if...

Shopify merchants expanding from online-only to physical retail locations

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Choose Clover if...

Businesses that want premium-quality dedicated POS hardware instead of tablet-based setups

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Still Not Sure?

Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.