Square vs Clover: what a US shop actually pays
Square sells month to month and publishes one card rate per plan. Clover sells hardware packages, often on a 36-month subscription, with a lower card rate on its bigger retail package. Which one costs less depends mostly on how much you run through cards each month. Every Square and Clover number below comes from their own US pricing pages as of October 9, 2026. POS Review is VoVi-owned; this page compares two other providers.
Published by VOVI POS, INC. We have a commercial interest in VoVi. Research-based assessment; no hands-on test or independent customer score is implied.
Your side-by-side comparison
US public plans as checked October 9, 2026. Regional editions differ. “Confirm” identifies an evidence gap, not an absent feature. Swipe the table or use the mobile cards.
| What matters | VoVi | Square | Shopify POS | Clover | Lightspeed Retail | Toast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software starting point | $25 Light / $39 Pro per location; 30-day Pro trialVoVi · US Owner terms + product source · | $0 Free; $49 Plus; $149 PremiumSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US Provider source · | $39 Basic/account, monthly billing; +$89 Pro/location, annual billingBasic / POS Pro · US Provider source · | Quote by package and sellerClover · seller package · US Provider source · | $89 Basic, annual billingRetail X-Series Basic · US Provider source · | Eligible $0 Starter; POS from $69Starter Kit / POS · US Provider source · |
| Typical buying focus | Retail software valueVoVi · US Editorial check · | Simple selling and paymentsSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US Editorial check · | Connected ecommerce and retailBasic / POS Pro · US Editorial check · | Hardware and merchant-service bundleClover · seller package · US Editorial check · | Advanced retail inventoryRetail X-Series Basic · US Editorial check · | Restaurant operationsStarter Kit / POS · US Editorial check · |
| Payment setup | External terminal with your own processor; $0 Pro with VoVi Payments coming soon (US)VoVi · US Owner terms + product source · | Square processingSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US Provider source · | Shopify Payments / supported alternativesBasic / POS Pro · US Provider source · | Seller merchant agreementClover · seller package · US Provider source · | Lightspeed Payments termsRetail X-Series Basic · US Provider source · | Toast processing termsStarter Kit / POS · US Provider source · |
| US card-present pricing reference | Request written quoteVoVi · US Owner terms + product source · | Free 2.6% + $0.15Square Free / Plus / Premium · US Provider source · | Basic 2.6% + $0.10Basic / POS Pro · US Provider source · | Request written quoteClover · seller package · US Provider source · | 2.6% + $0.10Retail X-Series Basic · US Provider source · | Request written quoteStarter Kit / POS · US Provider source · |
| Inventory / variants | Retail inventory and variantsVoVi · US Owner terms + product source · | Confirm exact tier for advanced workflowsSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US Provider source · | Admin inventory; test Stocky transitionBasic / POS Pro · US Provider source · | App and package dependentClover · seller package · US Provider source · | Strong retail inventory focusRetail X-Series Basic · US Provider source · | Restaurant/menu focusStarter Kit / POS · US Provider source · |
| Online store | Verify required integrationVoVi · US Owner terms + product source · | Square Online; plan differencesSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US Provider source · | Core Shopify strengthBasic / POS Pro · US Provider source · | App/partner configurationClover · seller package · US Provider source · | Ecommerce plan and integration checkRetail X-Series Basic · US Provider source · | Restaurant ordering optionsStarter Kit / POS · US Provider source · |
| Hardware | Compatible device; separate external card terminalVoVi · US Owner terms + product source · | Square hardware and compatible devicesSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US Provider source · | Supported Shopify payment hardwareBasic / POS Pro · US Provider source · | Clover hardware familyClover · seller package · US Provider source · | Compatible retail hardwareRetail X-Series Basic · US Provider source · | Toast restaurant hardwareStarter Kit / POS · US Provider source · |
| Kitchen / table service | Demonstrate requirements before choosingVoVi · US Editorial check · | Restaurant-specific products and tiersSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US Editorial check · | Not the primary retail focusBasic / POS Pro · US Editorial check · | Restaurant configurations availableClover · seller package · US Editorial check · | Separate restaurant product; not this Retail reviewRetail X-Series Basic · US Editorial check · | Core focus; verify required modulesStarter Kit / POS · US Editorial check · |
| Multiple locations | Light $25 / Pro $39 per location; separate country accountsVoVi · US Owner terms + product source · | Software tiers per locationSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US Provider source · | Basic/account; Pro per locationBasic / POS Pro · US Provider source · | Location/package quotesClover · seller package · US Provider source · | Extra location quote requiredRetail X-Series Basic · US Provider source · | Location/package quotesStarter Kit / POS · US Provider source · |
| Outside the US | Local Light/Pro prices in supported countries; see vovipos.com/pricingVoVi · Country-specific Owner terms + product source · | Country-specific service/payment availabilitySquare Free / Plus / Premium · Country-specific Provider source · | Country-specific payments and hardwareBasic / POS Pro · Country-specific Provider source · | Local seller and platform availabilityClover · seller package · Country-specific Provider source · | Local retail edition and written quoteRetail X-Series Basic · Country-specific Provider source · | Local restaurant edition and availabilityStarter Kit / POS · Country-specific Provider source · |
| Account currency | One country and currency per accountVoVi · Country-specific Owner terms + product source · | Local account rulesSquare Free / Plus / Premium · Country-specific Provider source · | Store and payment-country rulesBasic / POS Pro · Country-specific Provider source · | Seller/account rulesClover · seller package · Country-specific Provider source · | Edition/account configurationRetail X-Series Basic · Country-specific Provider source · | Local account configurationStarter Kit / POS · Country-specific Provider source · |
| Before signing | Test support, exports and processor conditionsVoVi · US Editorial check · | Confirm paid feature entitlementsSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US Editorial check · | Confirm Pro, subscriptions and inventory workflowBasic / POS Pro · US Editorial check · | Check reseller contract and equipment ownershipClover · seller package · US Editorial check · | Confirm annual terms, registers and locationsRetail X-Series Basic · US Editorial check · | Confirm processing, hardware and module totalsStarter Kit / POS · US Editorial check · |
| Practical tradeoff | Smaller, newer company; validate operational depthVoVi · US Editorial check · | Advanced needs can move you to paid tiersSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US Editorial check · | Added store features can raise software costBasic / POS Pro · US Editorial check · | Seller terms make quotes hard to generalizeClover · seller package · US Editorial check · | Higher software budget and configuration workRetail X-Series Basic · US Editorial check · | Restaurant fit; quote may add modulesStarter Kit / POS · US Editorial check · |
VoVi
- Software starting point
- $25 Light / $39 Pro per location; 30-day Pro trialVoVi · US
Owner terms + product source · - Typical buying focus
- Retail software valueVoVi · US
Editorial check · - Payment setup
- External terminal with your own processor; $0 Pro with VoVi Payments coming soon (US)VoVi · US
Owner terms + product source · - US card-present pricing reference
- Request written quoteVoVi · US
Owner terms + product source · - Inventory / variants
- Retail inventory and variantsVoVi · US
Owner terms + product source · - Online store
- Verify required integrationVoVi · US
Owner terms + product source · - Hardware
- Compatible device; separate external card terminalVoVi · US
Owner terms + product source · - Kitchen / table service
- Demonstrate requirements before choosingVoVi · US
Editorial check · - Multiple locations
- Light $25 / Pro $39 per location; separate country accountsVoVi · US
Owner terms + product source · - Outside the US
- Local Light/Pro prices in supported countries; see vovipos.com/pricingVoVi · Country-specific
Owner terms + product source · - Account currency
- One country and currency per accountVoVi · Country-specific
Owner terms + product source · - Before signing
- Test support, exports and processor conditionsVoVi · US
Editorial check · - Practical tradeoff
- Smaller, newer company; validate operational depthVoVi · US
Editorial check ·
Square
- Software starting point
- $0 Free; $49 Plus; $149 PremiumSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US
Provider source · - Typical buying focus
- Simple selling and paymentsSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US
Editorial check · - Payment setup
- Square processingSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US
Provider source · - US card-present pricing reference
- Free 2.6% + $0.15Square Free / Plus / Premium · US
Provider source · - Inventory / variants
- Confirm exact tier for advanced workflowsSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US
Provider source · - Online store
- Square Online; plan differencesSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US
Provider source · - Hardware
- Square hardware and compatible devicesSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US
Provider source · - Kitchen / table service
- Restaurant-specific products and tiersSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US
Editorial check · - Multiple locations
- Software tiers per locationSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US
Provider source · - Outside the US
- Country-specific service/payment availabilitySquare Free / Plus / Premium · Country-specific
Provider source · - Account currency
- Local account rulesSquare Free / Plus / Premium · Country-specific
Provider source · - Before signing
- Confirm paid feature entitlementsSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US
Editorial check · - Practical tradeoff
- Advanced needs can move you to paid tiersSquare Free / Plus / Premium · US
Editorial check ·
Shopify POS
- Software starting point
- $39 Basic/account, monthly billing; +$89 Pro/location, annual billingBasic / POS Pro · US
Provider source · - Typical buying focus
- Connected ecommerce and retailBasic / POS Pro · US
Editorial check · - Payment setup
- Shopify Payments / supported alternativesBasic / POS Pro · US
Provider source · - US card-present pricing reference
- Basic 2.6% + $0.10Basic / POS Pro · US
Provider source · - Inventory / variants
- Admin inventory; test Stocky transitionBasic / POS Pro · US
Provider source · - Online store
- Core Shopify strengthBasic / POS Pro · US
Provider source · - Hardware
- Supported Shopify payment hardwareBasic / POS Pro · US
Provider source · - Kitchen / table service
- Not the primary retail focusBasic / POS Pro · US
Editorial check · - Multiple locations
- Basic/account; Pro per locationBasic / POS Pro · US
Provider source · - Outside the US
- Country-specific payments and hardwareBasic / POS Pro · Country-specific
Provider source · - Account currency
- Store and payment-country rulesBasic / POS Pro · Country-specific
Provider source · - Before signing
- Confirm Pro, subscriptions and inventory workflowBasic / POS Pro · US
Editorial check · - Practical tradeoff
- Added store features can raise software costBasic / POS Pro · US
Editorial check ·
Clover
- Software starting point
- Quote by package and sellerClover · seller package · US
Provider source · - Typical buying focus
- Hardware and merchant-service bundleClover · seller package · US
Editorial check · - Payment setup
- Seller merchant agreementClover · seller package · US
Provider source · - US card-present pricing reference
- Request written quoteClover · seller package · US
Provider source · - Inventory / variants
- App and package dependentClover · seller package · US
Provider source · - Online store
- App/partner configurationClover · seller package · US
Provider source · - Hardware
- Clover hardware familyClover · seller package · US
Provider source · - Kitchen / table service
- Restaurant configurations availableClover · seller package · US
Editorial check · - Multiple locations
- Location/package quotesClover · seller package · US
Provider source · - Outside the US
- Local seller and platform availabilityClover · seller package · Country-specific
Provider source · - Account currency
- Seller/account rulesClover · seller package · Country-specific
Provider source · - Before signing
- Check reseller contract and equipment ownershipClover · seller package · US
Editorial check · - Practical tradeoff
- Seller terms make quotes hard to generalizeClover · seller package · US
Editorial check ·
Lightspeed Retail
- Software starting point
- $89 Basic, annual billingRetail X-Series Basic · US
Provider source · - Typical buying focus
- Advanced retail inventoryRetail X-Series Basic · US
Editorial check · - Payment setup
- Lightspeed Payments termsRetail X-Series Basic · US
Provider source · - US card-present pricing reference
- 2.6% + $0.10Retail X-Series Basic · US
Provider source · - Inventory / variants
- Strong retail inventory focusRetail X-Series Basic · US
Provider source · - Online store
- Ecommerce plan and integration checkRetail X-Series Basic · US
Provider source · - Hardware
- Compatible retail hardwareRetail X-Series Basic · US
Provider source · - Kitchen / table service
- Separate restaurant product; not this Retail reviewRetail X-Series Basic · US
Editorial check · - Multiple locations
- Extra location quote requiredRetail X-Series Basic · US
Provider source · - Outside the US
- Local retail edition and written quoteRetail X-Series Basic · Country-specific
Provider source · - Account currency
- Edition/account configurationRetail X-Series Basic · Country-specific
Provider source · - Before signing
- Confirm annual terms, registers and locationsRetail X-Series Basic · US
Editorial check · - Practical tradeoff
- Higher software budget and configuration workRetail X-Series Basic · US
Editorial check ·
Toast
- Software starting point
- Eligible $0 Starter; POS from $69Starter Kit / POS · US
Provider source · - Typical buying focus
- Restaurant operationsStarter Kit / POS · US
Editorial check · - Payment setup
- Toast processing termsStarter Kit / POS · US
Provider source · - US card-present pricing reference
- Request written quoteStarter Kit / POS · US
Provider source · - Inventory / variants
- Restaurant/menu focusStarter Kit / POS · US
Provider source · - Online store
- Restaurant ordering optionsStarter Kit / POS · US
Provider source · - Hardware
- Toast restaurant hardwareStarter Kit / POS · US
Provider source · - Kitchen / table service
- Core focus; verify required modulesStarter Kit / POS · US
Editorial check · - Multiple locations
- Location/package quotesStarter Kit / POS · US
Provider source · - Outside the US
- Local restaurant edition and availabilityStarter Kit / POS · Country-specific
Provider source · - Account currency
- Local account configurationStarter Kit / POS · Country-specific
Provider source · - Before signing
- Confirm processing, hardware and module totalsStarter Kit / POS · US
Editorial check · - Practical tradeoff
- Restaurant fit; quote may add modulesStarter Kit / POS · US
Editorial check ·
Sources and current verification notes · Country compatibility
Who each one fits
Square fits an owner who wants to start small and keep the exit door open. The Free plan has no monthly software fee, the paid plans are billed per location per month, and Square’s pricing page says there are no locked-in contracts. You can start with a US$59 reader and add a register later.
Clover fits an owner who wants one countertop system bought as a package and who processes enough card volume for a lower rate to matter. The trade is commitment: Clover’s pricing FAQ says device subscriptions are non-cancelable, and its online hardware promotion requires a 3-year contract.
Plans and card rates
Square has three plans: Free at US$0, Plus at US$49 and Premium at US$149 per location per month. In-person card rates drop as the plan goes up: 2.6% + 15¢, 2.5% + 15¢ and 2.4% + 15¢. Manually entered cards cost 3.5% + 15¢ on every plan.
Clover’s retail page shows three packages. Basic pairs the Starter software with a compact terminal and charges 2.6% + 10¢ in person. Standard and Advanced use the Retail Growth software and charge 2.3% + 10¢ in person. Typed-in cards are 3.5% + 10¢ across all three.
| Square | Clover (retail packages) | |
|---|---|---|
| Software | US$0 / US$49 / US$149 per location per month | Included in the package price; Standard bought outright adds US$84.95/mo |
| In-person card rate | 2.6% / 2.5% / 2.4% + 15¢ | 2.6% + 10¢ (Basic); 2.3% + 10¢ (Standard, Advanced) |
| Keyed-in card rate | 3.5% + 15¢ | 3.5% + 10¢ |
| Countertop hardware | Register (2nd gen) US$899; Terminal US$299; Stand US$149 | Basic US$349 or US$16/mo for 36 months; Standard US$1,899 + US$84.95/mo or US$180/mo for 36 months |
| Contract | No locked-in contracts, per Square | Device subscriptions non-cancelable; hardware promo needs a 3-year contract |
Hardware: buy it or pay for it over three years
Square lists its hardware with a one-time price: US$59 for the contactless and chip reader, US$149 for Stand, US$299 for Terminal, US$399 for Handheld and US$899 for the second-generation Register. Monthly installments are offered, but the device price is stated up front.
Clover’s Standard retail package, built around Station Duo, is US$1,899 plus US$84.95 a month, or US$180 a month for 36 months. Over three years the subscription adds up to US$6,480. Buying outright comes to US$4,957.20 over the same 36 months, software included. Advanced adds a Flex handheld: US$2,648 plus US$104.90 a month, or US$240 a month for 36 months.
A worked month at two sales levels
Assumptions: one US store, every sale tapped, dipped or swiped, an average ticket of US$25, no keyed-in cards, no refunds and no add-on apps. The table adds card fees and monthly software only. Clover Standard appears twice, bought outright and on the 36-month subscription. Hardware paid up front stays out of the monthly line.
At US$20,000 a month, Square Free and Clover Standard bought outright land about US$15 apart, and Clover’s outright route needs US$1,899 up front against US$899 for a Square Register. At US$40,000 a month, Clover’s 2.3% rate pulls ahead of Square Free by about US$115 a month. Clover’s FAQ also says its partners may offer different plans and prices, so a quote from your bank can differ from these numbers.
| Monthly cost | US$20,000 / 800 sales | US$40,000 / 1,600 sales |
|---|---|---|
| Square Free (2.6% + 15¢) | US$640.00 | US$1,280.00 |
| Square Plus (2.5% + 15¢ + US$49) | US$669.00 | US$1,289.00 |
| Clover Standard bought (2.3% + 10¢ + US$84.95) | US$624.95 | US$1,164.95 |
| Clover Standard subscription (2.3% + 10¢ + US$180) | US$720.00 | US$1,260.00 |
Questions to settle before you sign
With Clover, ask who is selling it to you. Clover is sold online and through banks and resellers, and its FAQ says prices can differ between them. Get the term length, the early-exit cost and the subscription buyout amount in writing. If you want the US$450 hardware credit, read the conditions: new merchants only, US$10,000 in card sales within the first four billing cycles, and a 3-year contract.
With Square, check which features sit in Plus or Premium before you settle on Free. Add-on apps are priced separately, such as the Kiosk app at US$50 a month per device on Plus. Both companies process the cards themselves, so leaving later means changing processor and register at the same time. If you would rather keep your current processor, some systems, VoVi among them, work with an external terminal from the processor you choose.
Sources & verification
Provider details can change. Confirm your written quote and local requirements before signing.
- Square pricing: plan prices, card rates, contract statement (checked October 9, 2026)
- Square fees by plan and payment type (checked October 9, 2026)
- Square hardware prices (checked October 9, 2026)
- Clover retail packages, card rates and hardware (checked October 9, 2026)
- Clover pricing FAQ, subscription and promotion terms (checked October 9, 2026)