Square vs Clover: fees, plans and which fits your business
Square and Clover both serve restaurants, retailers and service businesses. Compare the workflows you need and the full offer: Clover fees and agreement terms can vary by seller, while Square publishes plan-based pricing and may offer custom pricing to eligible businesses.
Disclosure: Roots Payments is an independent Square Reseller. We earn revenue when businesses choose Square through us. This comparison is prepared by Roots Payments using the published sources linked below.
Square or Clover? Start here.
The biggest difference is the offer you buy. Square publishes plan-based pricing; Clover processing and agreement terms can vary by seller. Compare the complete package, including equipment obligations.
Consider Square when
Published software and processing plans make it easier to budget your setup
Square Free covers your required features, or a paid plan fits your budget
You want to compare retail, restaurant or appointment tools within the Square platform
Consider Clover when
Your written Clover quote provides a lower total cost for your transaction mix
A particular Clover device or app solves a requirement in your business
Your bank or another Clover seller offers useful services under terms you accept
See the software
Stock counting
Stock count screen with product list, quantities and a numeric keypad.
Source: Square · Enlarge screenshotSales reporting
Vendor reporting view with sales totals, order counts and an hourly chart.
Source: Clover · Enlarge screenshotFeatures and day-to-day operations
Compare the capabilities in the proposed plan. Some features require an upgrade, a separate app or compatible hardware.
Daily checkout and inventory
POS tools for menus, products, payments and inventory, with features varying by plan.
Software plans combine payments, inventory and reporting with a choice of devices.
Extensions and integrations
An App Marketplace offers third-party integrations; confirm the specific connection.
Clover App Market offers third-party extensions and approved accessories.
Devices and portability
Choose compatible Square payment devices; reused accessories require a compatibility check.
Countertop and portable Clover devices are available; payment hardware has processor restrictions.
Seller and service terms
Square sets provider pricing; Roots setup services are scoped separately.
Direct and partner offers can differ in processing and agreement terms.
Pricing: what goes into the bill
Compare processing, software and equipment together. Published rates below are separate from hardware, implementation and any negotiated offer.
In-person card rate
Free: 2.6% + 15¢ Plus: 2.5% + 15¢ Premium: 2.4% + 15¢
Request a quote for your business type and software/hardware package
Online / keyed rate
Online payments Free: 3.3% + 30¢ Plus: 2.9% + 30¢ Premium: 2.9% + 30¢ Manually entered: 3.5% + 15¢
Request a quote for online and manually entered payments
How to compare the total cost
Request a written Clover quote separating software, hardware, processing and terms. Square online rates here refer to standard checkout or invoices; API payments are priced separately. Required KDS apps add per-device charges.
Processing charges + location subscriptions + device software + recurring apps + equipment payments.
Keep one-time hardware, setup and migration costs alongside that total. Use the same sales volume and transaction count for each offer, with in-person and online payments calculated separately.
A percentage rate alone leaves out the fixed fee on each transaction. Software can also change the result: count every location, required add-on and device subscription before deciding which offer costs less.
Plans, agreements and platform fit
Understand what you are buying, who supplies it and what happens when you change your setup.
With Clover, the seller is part of the decision
A Clover device is only one part of the offer. The seller may bundle software, processing and equipment under different agreements. Two offers for similar hardware can therefore carry different recurring costs and exit obligations.
Square publishes its software and processing plans. A Roots implementation quote covers separate work such as menu setup, device configuration and training. Keep those services separate from provider charges when comparing the two offers.
Identify the company responsible for processing, software support and equipment.
Separate an equipment purchase from a subscription or financing agreement.
Read what happens to fees and hardware if you cancel or change processors.
What to request in the written quote
Ask each provider to itemize the same requirements. These are the details that turn an advertised package into an offer you can compare.
- 01
Software and location fees for the required features
- 02
Processing rate and fixed fee for each payment channel
- 03
Equipment purchase, subscription or financing terms
- 04
App subscriptions, implementation and data-transfer scope
- 05
Contract length, renewals, cancellation charges and hardware portability
Plan the switch before cancelling anything
- 1.Data and catalog
Confirm what can be exported and imported. Map products, menu modifiers, customer records and gift cards; identify anything that must be rebuilt.
- 2.Hardware and integrations
Inventory terminals, printers and connected software. Get compatibility and recurring app requirements in writing before ordering replacements.
- 3.Staff and cutover
Schedule configuration, training and a cutover window. Check the current software, processing and equipment agreements before ending service.
Our recommendation
Square is a strong option to investigate when its published plans cover your operations and you want a clear starting point for costs. Clover deserves a close look when a specific device, app or seller package meets a need Square does not. Use the configured system and written offer to make the final decision.
See how we set up Square for restaurantsSources and review notes
This guide uses U.S. provider documentation. Published prices and features can change; use the plan and written agreement offered to your business when making a decision.
- 1.
Square pricing (official)
- 2.
Square retail workflows (official)
- 3.
Square restaurant workflows (official)
- 4.
Square App Marketplace (official)
- 5.
Clover pricing (official)
- 6.
Clover POS features (official)
- 7.
Clover hardware and processor FAQ (official)
Clover is a trademark of its owner. Its appearance here does not imply affiliation or endorsement.
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Get help comparing your offers
Bring your processing statement, software bill and written quote. We can review the costs and scope a Square setup around your business.