Clover POS System Review and Pricing

Why We Chose Clover as the Best All-in-One POS System

Most of the POS systems we reviewed offer the standard features needed to streamline operations and customer checkout. This basic functionality may be enough for new businesses, but growing businesses often need advanced tools and features. That’s why we were impressed by the wide range of features Clover offers. The company offers retailers and restaurants an all-in-one solution that meets a variety of business needs.  

Clover’s fast and affordable payment processing comes with numerous hardware options and supports in-person and online transactions. The software handles multiple payment types and makes it easy for customers to refund, return or exchange an item. If you don’t have a Clover device, you can set up a virtual terminal that allows you to accept payments from anywhere. There are no additional fees for using the virtual terminal.

However, Clover’s hardware is top of the line and the company offers a variety of devices to suit your business needs. For example, the company offers handheld devices that can be used to accept orders on the go, and you can add accessories like barcode scanners and printers. 

Online ordering is available for no extra fees, and your restaurant can receive orders for takeout, curbside pickup, delivery or dine-in eating. The setup is relatively simple — Clover will build an online ordering page for your website, and you can customize the menu, restaurant hours and any other details quickly. 

The software offers features for customer engagement, loyalty programs, inventory management and staff management. It also provides real-time sales data and comprehensive reports to help you make better business decisions.  

Many businesses struggle with cash flow, so the company offers Clover Rapid Deposit for a small additional fee. If you need access to additional funds, you can turn on Rapid Deposit, and the funds from your credit card sales will be available instantly. It’s an excellent option for businesses that need extra cash but don’t want to take out a loan.

Certain businesses may be eligible for Clover Capital, which provides a cash advance on your future sales. It’s not technically a loan, so it won’t impact your credit and no personal guarantee is required.  

Clover offers a versatile and comprehensive POS system for businesses of all sizes, which is why it’s our pick for the best all-in-one POS system.

Clover’s virtual terminal allows you to process payments and refunds while in your store or on the go. Source: Clover

Ease of Use

During testing, we found Clover’s POS software exceptionally user-friendly and intuitive. It’s easy to set up menus and item modifiers on the dashboard to help employees offer effective upselling and cross-selling options. It’s also easy to set permissions to control which specific functions employees can access in the POS software. Additionally, Clover’s extensive integration options increase its usability.

We appreciate that Clover’s POS software and hardware support numerous payment types, which boosts customer convenience. You can accept credit card payments and many contactless and digital payment methods, including near-field communication mobile payments like Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay.  

We particularly like that Clover’s virtual terminal lets you accept and process credit card payments without hardware — a functionality many competitors don’t offer. You can accept credit and debit card payments from your Clover web dashboard, while end-to-end encryption ensures e-commerce website security and Payment Card Industry-compliant transactions. You can also use the dashboard to easily send invoices and receipts and set up recurring payments. 

If you’re a new customer, Clover will walk you through the setup process and provide ongoing support to ensure you can get started quickly and easily. After the initial setup phase is complete, the company offers 24/7 customer support by phone or through the Help app. So, if you run into issues, you can always get the assistance you need.

Clover POS Features

We were impressed with Clover’s numerous POS and payment processing features, making it an excellent option for nearly all types of businesses. Here are some of the notable features offered via Clover’s POS software and credit card processing solutions.

Customer Engagement

We appreciate Clover’s customer engagement features and, in particular, its customer loyalty tools. After a customer checks out, they can provide feedback directly from their receipts. This allows you to address customer concerns upfront and, hopefully, before they show up as a negative online review. 

We found it helpful how the software creates customer profiles automatically for you by pulling data from credit card sales. This data allows companies to create targeted promotions via text, email or social media marketing. You can use these promotions to drive more traffic to your website and re-engage old customers. 

Best of all, businesses can build customer loyalty by offering a rewards program. We like the fact that customers can track their points, redeem rewards and place orders through a mobile app.

Clover’s customer engagement features help you solicit feedback, manage customer profiles and create loyalty programs. Source: Clover

Online Ordering

Clover is one of the best POS systems for restaurants, and this is largely thanks to the company’s online ordering tools. We like how the company will build an online ordering page on your website and that the website shows up automatically in Clover’s mobile app.

You can create digital menus and, when changes are made, the information is immediately updated. Customers can place online orders, schedule orders ahead of time and choose curbside or in-person pickup.

Clover also integrates with DoorDash for delivery. And we were very impressed that Clover doesn’t charge commissions or setup fees for its online ordering options — something that sets it apart from many competitors.

Clover will help you build your online ordering page and process online orders without additional fees. Source: Clover 

Tracking and Reporting

Clover’s POS reports give real-time insights into your sales trends and revenue performance. You can create custom reports that outline your best-performing locations, best-selling menu items and monthly sales. We like how you can also manage staffing levels and inventory based on the data you collect and analyze. 

We appreciate that Clover syncs with accounting software like QuickBooks Online and Xero. And you can export these reports and hand them off to your accountant, making things easier come tax season.

Clover’s robust analytics and reporting tools help businesses track revenue and performance. Source: Clover

Mobile App

POS system mobile apps make it easier and more affordable for small businesses to process payments. The Clover Go app allows you to accept customer payments, check inventory levels, run reports and manage your staff from anywhere. If you run into any problems, you can also contact customer support directly through the app. 

E-Commerce

Clover’s e-commerce tools let you build a website and begin selling your products and services online. Customers can place orders, make payments and book appointments online. If you utilize the Order With Google service, you can accept orders directly from Google Search and Maps. 

We like that Clover’s partnership with the e-commerce platform BigCommerce gives businesses with existing websites more reach. Clover also integrates with marketplace platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Amazon, Etsy and eBay.

Clover’s e-commerce tools will help you build an online storefront and connect your POS systems to it. Source: Clover

Merchant Cash Advance (MCA)

Clover also offers financing options through Clover Capital, which is a feature many competing POS systems don’t have. If you apply for an MCA, Clover will take a percentage of your credit and debit card sales each day until the advance is repaid. 

The application is quick, and most customers find qualifying fairly easy. Since the repayments are based on your monthly sales volume, you don’t have to worry about overextending your business during a slow revenue month. However, cash advances do tend to come with high fees, so be sure to read the fine print before applying.   

Clover Capital provides MCAs to help businesses fund growth. Source: Clover

Rapid Deposit

Clover Rapid Deposit is another unique financial feature provided by Clover Capital. This service enables you to receive money from your card sales in minutes instead of the standard one to three days. 

Clover charges a flat 1.75% fee on the amount you choose to transfer. We appreciate that Clover allows credit card transactions to be processed in seconds and that businesses can set up tax rates once for all transactions that will be applied automatically in the future — a real time-saver.

Clover Rapid Deposit allows you to have transaction funds deposited into your account in minutes. Source: Clover

Clover Pricing 

Some vendors are vague about POS system costs, so we like that Clover is transparent about its hardware and software pricing. We also appreciate that it segments its offerings by industry, recognizing industry-specific needs. Clover offers Starter, Standard and Advanced packages for each of the six industries it covers. 

Starter package prices for each category are as follows: 

• Full-service dining: $1,699 plus $89.95 per month (or $165 per month for 36 months); includes a Station Solo 14-inch merchant-facing POS display with POS software.
• Quick-service restaurant: $799 plus $59.95 per month (or $105 per month for 36 months); includes a mini 8-inch touchscreen POS with a built-in receipt printer.
• All retail stores: $279 (or $13 per month for 36 months); includes a compact terminal system with a 3.6” touchscreen.
• Professional services: $14.95 per month; no hardware included on the Starter level (you’ll use your device with Clover’s dashboard and mobile app).
• Personal services: $279  (or $13 for 36 months); includes a compact terminal system with a 3.6” touchscreen.
• Home and field services: $14.95 per month; no hardware included on the Starter level (you’ll use your device with Clover’s dashboard and mobile app).

Credit Card Processing Costs

Clover’s credit card processing fee is a flat rate per charge plus a transaction fee (a percentage of the amount charged). Most packages incur charges of 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person transactions and 3.5% plus 10 cents for card-not-present transactions. 

You’ll need to use Clover’s credit card processing services when you purchase a bundle from Clover. However, if you’re unhappy with the company’s payment processing, you can keep your equipment and switch to a compatible processor when your contact with Clover ends. 

Hardware Costs

The Clover bundle you choose will include various hardware options. The Standard and Advanced packages typically include more hardware options than the Starter packages do. 

However, you can purchase additional hardware with varying levels of functionality directly from Clover or an authorized dealer. Costs range from $199 for a basic Clover Go card reader to $1,799 for a Clover Station Duo with a receipt printer. Kiosks, kitchen display systems and various accessories are also available.

Implementation and Onboarding

You’ll need to contact a sales representative to purchase a hardware and software bundle from Clover, and the initial sales call takes about 30 minutes. The sales rep will take some time to understand your business’s needs and recommend a solution for you. 

When purchasing from Clover, you must also apply for a merchant account to go along with Clover’s payment processing services. Clover typically approves these applications and ships equipment quickly. You’ll be able to start accepting payments immediately when you receive and activate your hardware. 

Once you receive your equipment, a Clover employee walks you through a guided onboarding session. During this setup, you can set up payment processing, connect your hardware and customize your system. 

Customer Support

We were impressed that Clover provides 24/7 customer support by phone or live chat. Clover recommends logging in to your Clover account and selecting Help to reach live support. You can also tap Help on any Clover device screen to reach live chat or access the Help option on your mobile app. 

If you prefer to talk to someone, you can call the customer service phone number provided on your statements. We appreciate that Clover offers several ways to reach out for support, which is on par with industry standards.

Limitations

Clover is an excellent option for retailers, restaurants and service-based businesses but there are some drawbacks to consider:

• Payment processing incompatibility: Clover’s robust POS system and credit card processing services are conveniently bundled, but some businesses may prefer to use a different payment processor. This isn’t possible if you purchase a system through Clover since you’re tied to Clover’s credit card processing. However, after your contract ends, you can keep any Clover hardware you purchased and use it with a compatible payment processor. If you prefer a POS system with more flexibility and the option to work with multiple third-party payment processors off the bat, check out our Epos Now review.
• Proprietary hardware: Clover’s hardware is proprietary, so if you have hardware from another brand you want to use with your new POS system, Clover may not be the right choice for you. Read our Lightspeed review to learn about a POS system that may let you reuse your hardware.
• Potentially high prices: Clover’s prices aren’t cheap, and designing a custom solution may be too expensive for new and smaller businesses. Businesses on a tight budget should check out our review of Square. This vendor has a free basic tier that includes robust features, such as inventory management and a virtual terminal.

Methodology

We researched and analyzed dozens of the best POS systems to identify the top industry solutions for businesses in the growth phase. We evaluated pricing, contracts, hardware, platform compatibility, features, reports, payment processing, integrations, usability and customer support. We watched product videos and demos and conducted hands-on testing when possible. When determining the best all-in-one POS system, we prioritized unique business features and add-ons, usability, comprehensiveness, affordability, customer support and integrations.

Bottom Line

We recommend Clover for …

• Small and midsize businesses that are looking for an all-in-one POS solution.
• Merchants that need a virtual terminal.
• Restaurants that want affordable and robust online ordering features.
• Companies that need advanced financing solutions like cash advances and rapid deposits.

We don’t recommend Clover for …

• Merchants that want to use a third-party payment processor with a Clover-purchased setup.
• Businesses that want to use non-Clover-brand hardware. 
• Companies on a tight budget that need a very affordable POS system.