Square POS vs Clover: Complete Comparison 2026

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

Square POS

8.6(48,500 reviews)

Free POS system with flat-rate processing at 2.6% + 10 cents. Works on iPad and Android with optional hardware from $49.

7.9(22,400 reviews)

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

Aspect	Square POS	Clover
Best For	Small businesses and solopreneurs who want a free POS with zero monthly commitment	Businesses that want premium-quality dedicated POS hardware instead of tablet-based setups
Pricing Model	Freemium	Subscription
Starting Price	Free	$14.95/mo
Deployment	cloud	cloud
Platforms	WEB, IOS, ANDROID	WEB, ANDROID
Rating	8.6/10	7.9/10

Genuinely free plan with no monthly fees — you only pay per-transaction processing costs
Hardware is affordable starting at $49, and you can use your own iPad or Android tablet
The ecosystem (Payroll, Banking, Online, Loyalty) connects everything under one roof
Setup takes under 15 minutes with no technical knowledge required
Next-day deposits are included free on all plans, same-day available for a small fee

Processing rates are non-negotiable — 2.6% gets expensive at high transaction volumes
Customer support has declined and relies heavily on chatbots for free plan users
Reporting lacks depth compared to Lightspeed or Toast for detailed business analytics
The free online store template looks basic without heavy customization work
Account stability issues — some sellers report sudden holds or terminations without clear explanation

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

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+

Product	Pricing Model	Starting Price
Square POS	freemium	Free0
Clover	subscription	$14.95/mo

Choose Square POS if...

Small businesses and solopreneurs who want a free POS with zero monthly commitment

Choose Clover if...

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

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