Clover Credit Card Processing Review and Pricing

Clover Editor’s Score: 9.2/10

Why We Chose Clover as the Best POS Credit Card Processor 

We chose Clover as the best credit card processor for POS functionality because it provides business owners with comprehensive solutions to meet all their POS needs. Clover’s software lets you accept credit card payments and various digital payment methods. You can also process returns and exchanges, offer digital receipts, enable fast tipping, manage inventory and generate reports. 

On the hardware side, Clover offers various POS devices, including card readers, terminals and handheld devices. We like that with Clover, you don’t have to shop around for separate vendors for your POS and credit card processing needs. For these reasons, Clover is our choice for the best POS credit card processor.  

Clover offers various POS hardware and software options to suit your business’s needs.  Source: Clover

Ease of Use

We tested Clover’s platform in depth and found the interface intuitive and straightforward to navigate. Clover’s layout is logical, with separate tabs for reporting, orders, transactions, inventory and more. We appreciated that the virtual terminal tool is displayed prominently as a green button at the top — a key feature users will likely rely on frequently. We feel that business owners and their teams won’t encounter significant difficulties or challenges when learning how to use the system.

We found the virtual terminal straightforward to figure out. You can toggle between entering a customer’s payment information and sending an email invoice manually. The email invoice feature is particularly useful because an embedded link brings customers directly to the virtual terminal to enter their payment information. 

On the hardware side, we like that Clover’s devices are plug-and-play, requiring no technical ability for setup. (Clover even includes a screwdriver in its packaging for applicable products.) Another great feature is the Clover Go app, which can be paired with the Clover Go device to turn your smartphone into an easy-to-use mobile POS (mPOS) system.

Clover’s desktop layout is well-organized and intuitive. Source: Clover

Clover Features

In addition to payment processing functionality, Clover provides a host of helpful tools for accepting payments, managing inventory, running an online store, integrating with business software and services and more. Here’s an overview of key Clover features we think business owners will find valuable.

Virtual Terminal 

When testing Clover, we liked how the virtual terminal lets you accept and process credit card payments without additional hardware. You can accept credit and debit card payments from your Clover web dashboard while end-to-end encryption ensures e-commerce website security with secure and Payment Card Industry (PCI)-compliant transactions. 

Sellers can enter a buyer’s credit card information manually or send invoices via email. The ability to enter credit card information manually will be particularly useful for businesses that accept credit card payments over the phone. We appreciate that you can use the dashboard to send invoices and receipts and store customers’ card information to speed up checkout. Plus, Clover’s address verification service and card verification value tools can help you reduce the risk of credit card fraud.

Inventory Management

We were impressed by Clover’s in-depth inventory management and monitoring features. You can import and export inventory lists and assign stock-keeping unit numbers and other information. For example, you can include various product characteristics, such as different sizes and colors. When an item is out of stock, it won’t appear available on online menus. If your inventory needs are more complex, Clover also integrates with several third-party inventory management apps. 

E-commerce

Clover provides customers with straightforward e-commerce tools to build an online store or website, synchronize orders and manage inventory and customer data. Through the Clover dashboard, businesses can sell products, accept online payments, create menus and allow customers to book appointments. 

Customer Management and Marketing

Clover’s customer management and marketing tools are among our favorite features. With Clover, you can manage customers and build customer loyalty with personalized deals and reward programs. You can also solicit customer feedback via the company’s customer engagement platform. In an era where customers often take out their displeasure on social media and online reviews, we believe this is a particularly valuable tool. You can also use the software to create customer profiles, allowing you to send birthday rewards and personalized emails with relevant offers. 

When customers opt in to receive receipts by text, they are automatically enrolled in short message service marketing — although they can opt out at any time by unchecking the box. We like how this process involves nearly zero friction. Customers can also create an account with your business using their phone number for faster ordering. The Clover app allows you to set up a profile page for your business, providing another avenue to engage customers and boost sales.

Clover makes customer management straightforward with a specialized dashboard. Source: Clover

Integrations

We were impressed that Clover integrates with hundreds of third-party apps through its Clover App Market — among the most robust integrations of the credit card processors we reviewed. For example, Clover integrates with:

• Many of the best accounting software solutions, including QuickBooks and Xero
• Some of the best online payroll services, such as Gusto and ADP
• Most popular e-commerce platforms, such as BigCommerce and Ecwid
• Social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook
• Online marketplaces like Amazon, Etsy and eBay

Security

Clover has multiple built-in security features, including two-factor authentication for logging in and end-to-end encryption with tokenization for all transactions. For an additional fee, merchants who want enhanced security to help maintain PCI compliance can opt for the Clover Security Plus plan.

Payouts

Deposits can take one to three days, but many businesses receive their funds the next business day. If your business experiences a cash flow problem, you can opt for Clover’s Rapid Deposit, which allows you to select specific transactions for immediate funding for a 1.75 percent fee. You can also take a cash advance against future credit card sales with Clover Capital.

Reporting

Clover’s POS software can run detailed data analytics reports on sales, inventory and employees. We like how you can track sales by product, employee and time period. We were also impressed that POS reports can be generated at a highly granular level, allowing business owners to view which products are selling hour by hour. 

By leveraging big data insights, you can also identify the best- and worst-performing products and manage staffing levels and inventory based on data collected at checkout.

View detailed Clover reports to track sales trends, revenue and performance in real time. Source: Clover

Clover POS System

In addition to credit card processing, Clover offers a one-stop shop for small businesses’ point-of-sale needs. This complete system includes proprietary POS hardware, online ordering software, gift cards and a well-regarded mobile app. Here’s an overview of Clover’s top POS features.

POS Hardware

Clover is well-known for its proprietary POS hardware, including card readers, terminals and handheld devices, which it pairs with its credit card processing software. 

• Clover Go: A small, square device that lets you accept credit card payments on a mobile phone. 
• Clover Flex and Flex Pocket: Lightweight handheld POS devices for accepting payments on the shop floor or tableside in restaurants. 
• Clover Mini: A compact, tablet-like POS device for countertop or tableside use.
• Clover Compact: A small, budget-friendly countertop terminal. 
• Clover Kiosk: An all-in-one central ordering station, ideal for fast-casual eateries.
• Clover Kitchen Display System: A complete order-management system for restaurants.
• Clover Station Solo: A full-scale POS terminal with a touchscreen display for managing transactions and orders.
• Clover Station Duo: A full-scale POS terminal that functions as a traditional cash register and has a customer-facing touchpad. 

The Clover Station Duo is an all-in-one POS system with a customer-facing display. Source: Clover

Online Ordering

Restaurants and other service-based businesses will welcome Clover’s well-thought-out online ordering capabilities. We were impressed by how easy it was to create an online menu and appreciated Clover’s ability to manage order and payment processing automatically. Customers can place orders for delivery or schedule curbside pickups.

We also like that Clover works with DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub and other third-party delivery platforms to simplify delivery and reach more potential customers. 

Gift Cards

We liked Clover’s extensive gift card features and tools. It offers physical and digital gift cards with more than 70 design templates to choose from. You can also create your own gift card with customized brand images.  

Mobile App

We liked Clover’s mobile app, Clover Go. Not every provider offers a mobile app, so we found this feature especially valuable — particularly for eateries.

The Clover Go app can be paired with the Clover Go device to turn your smartphone into a mPOS system. You can accept card and digital payments, making it an excellent option for restaurant mobile payments and other businesses that want to offer mobile payment convenience. We were impressed that the mobile app maintains a 4.8 out of 5 rating on Apple’s App Store — an exceptionally high score compared to many small business apps.

Retailers can pair the Clover Go app with the Go reader to accept payments via chip or tap. Source: Clover

Clover Pricing

We like that Clover offers a flexible pricing structure tailored to different business types and hardware needs. Each business category features three plan tiers — Starter, Standard and Advanced — with included POS hardware ranging from handheld terminals to full cash registers.​

Plans can be purchased on an annual or monthly basis. Starter plans begin at $14.95 per month while the Full-Service Dining Advanced plan can reach $354 per month.​

Monthly costs for Clover’s six business categories are as follows:

*Note: Some plans are based on a 36-month agreement.​

If Clover’s plans don’t meet your needs, you can contact the company for a custom quote.

Processing Fees

You’ll pay credit card processing fees in addition to software and hardware costs. These fees consist of a percentage of the total transaction amount plus a small, fixed fee. The exact processing fees depend on your plan.

Implementation and Onboarding

Getting started with Clover is relatively straightforward. When you purchase a software and hardware bundle, you must apply online for a merchant account. We like that Clover offers a fast approval process and can ship hardware as quickly as the next business day after approval. All Clover devices are shipped “payments-ready,” meaning you can start accepting payments immediately.

We were impressed by Clover’s extensive availability. Clover systems are sold through various authorized dealers, including financial institutions like Citibank, PNC, SunTrust and Wells Fargo, as well as retailers like Restaurant Depot and Sam’s Club. More than 3,000 authorized partners sell Clover devices. However, you can also purchase a system directly from Clover’s website.

Customer Service

We like that Clover offers merchants 24/7 customer support, accessible through the Help option in your Clover account, on a Clover device or in the mobile app. You can also contact support directly by phone.

Clover provides additional support through email and answers frequently asked questions (FAQs) on its website.

Limitations

While Clover provides top-notch POS hardware and software, there are a few downsides to consider: 

• Proprietary hardware: Clover’s credit card processing and POS services are designed to work as an integrated system. Therefore, its hardware and software are not compatible with competitors’ offerings, limiting flexibility.
• Potentially high costs: Clover charges a monthly subscription fee even if you don’t use its hardware. Additionally, the company’s processing fees can be higher than those of some competitors.
• Customer service concerns: On independent review sites, some Clover merchants have reported long hold times for customer support and difficulty canceling Clover’s services. We recommend that business owners carefully review the terms of service before committing to any credit card processor.

Methodology

We researched and analyzed many of the best credit card processors to help small businesses find a service to meet their unique needs. We took advantage of demos and free trials, carefully examined user reviews and interacted with each vendor’s customer service team. We evaluated the usability of each company’s hardware and software offerings, as well as how fair the contract terms were to merchants. Furthermore, we scrutinized the rates and fees each processor charged.

To identify the best credit card processor for POS functionality, we paid particular attention to POS hardware and included software features. To learn more about our methodology, see our full editorial process.

Bottom Line

We recommend Clover for …

• Businesses that need a more advanced POS solution. 
• Brick-and-mortar businesses that can benefit from the wide variety of POS hardware solutions Clover offers. 

We don’t recommend Clover for …

• Business owners who want free hardware from their credit card processor. 
• Businesses on a budget seeking the lowest processing rates.

Anna Baluch contributed to this article.