Clover vs Square for restaurants
Square lets a restaurant start at $0 a month with no contract, and sells hardware separately.1, 2 Clover sells hardware and software as bundles, on a 36-month subscription or bought upfront, and charges less per card payment: 2.3% + 10¢ in person, against Square's 2.4% to 2.6% + 15¢.1, 3 Which costs less depends on your card sales and how you want to pay for hardware.
Side by side
| Square for Restaurants | Clover | |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Free $0, Plus $49, Premium $149 a month per location1 | Included in bundles with hardware3 |
| Quick-service bundles | No bundles; hardware from $592 | $135, $185 or $245 a month for 36 months, or $849 to $2,648 upfront plus $89.95 to $109.90 a month3 |
| Full-service bundles | No bundles; hardware from $592 | $179, $239 or $354 a month for 36 months, or $1,799 to $4,447 upfront plus $89.95 to $129.85 a month4 |
| Card present | 2.6% + 15¢ (Free), 2.5% + 15¢ (Plus), 2.4% + 15¢ (Premium)1 | 2.3% + 10¢3 |
| Card typed in | 3.5% + 15¢1 | 3.5% + 10¢3 |
| Online payments | 3.3% + 30¢ (Free), 2.9% + 30¢ (Plus and Premium)1 | 3.5% + 10¢: Clover applies its typed-in rate when the card is not present, as in online sales3, 5 |
| Kitchen display | $30 a month per device on Plus, $20 on Premium, not on Free1 | Not priced on the restaurant pricing pages |
| Contract | "No hidden fees or locked-in contracts"2 | 36-month subscription, "non-cancelable"5 |
| Free trial | 30 days on Plus and Premium2 | Not shown for the restaurant bundles |
| Support | Phone 6am to 6pm Pacific on weekdays (first 90 days only on Free); 24/7 on Premium1 | 24/7/3655 |
Read on November 13, 2026, then checked a second time. Clover says the prices shown are only available on Clover.com.3
What each costs at your sales level
The table compares Square's two cheapest plans with Clover's quick-service Starter bundle. It assumes checks of $40, all paid by card in person.
| Card sales a month | Square Free | Square Plus | Clover Starter, subscription | Clover Starter, bought |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $20,000 (500 checks) | $5951 | $6241 | $6453 | $599.95 + $849 once3 |
| $40,000 (1,000 checks) | $1,1901 | $1,1991 | $1,1553 | $1,109.95 + $849 once3 |
| $80,000 (2,000 checks) | $2,3801 | $2,3491 | $2,1753 | $2,129.95 + $849 once3 |
Our arithmetic: card fees plus the monthly fee. Square's figures leave out hardware; Clover's subscription includes it. Typed-in, online and Amex payments, add-ons and taxes are left out.
At $20,000 a month Square Free costs least, before you buy hardware.1, 3 By $40,000, Clover's subscription costs less than either Square plan even though it includes the hardware.1, 3 With $40 checks, it overtakes Square Free once card sales pass about $31,800 a month.1, 3
Buying the quick-service Starter system costs $849 upfront plus $89.95 a month: $4,087.20 over 36 months, against $4,860 for the subscription.3 The subscription costs $772.80 more, but needs no money down.3 It also comes with broader cover: accidental damage (except in New York and Oregon), theft and loss. Bought hardware gets a one-year warranty for manufacturer defects.5
Contracts and hardware
Square says there are "no hidden fees or locked-in contracts" and that you can cancel or switch anytime.2 With Square Free there is no monthly subscription, only processing fees when you take a payment.2 Hardware is bought separately, with options from $59.2
Clover's subscription works differently. Clover says subscriptions are "non-cancelable and ineligible for refunds"; you can pay one off at any time or end it through a buyout or an upgrade.5 At the end of the term you buy or return the equipment, and if you do neither, the subscription continues at the same monthly charge.5 Clover devices cannot be used with other payment processors, even when bought or leased from other sellers.5
Clover is also sold by banks and other partners. Clover says contract terms and any termination fees can vary with the provider, so read the agreement you are offered.5
Restaurant features
Square
Food and beverage features come with every plan. Plus adds integrated inventory tracking and close-of-day reports; Premium adds coursing and seat management.1 Self-order kiosks cost $99 a month per device.1
Clover
Every full-service bundle includes table mapping, open tabs with card pre-authorization, bill splitting, QR-code order and pay, and online ordering with no fee. Tableside ordering needs Standard or Advanced.4
Which to choose
- Choose Square if you are opening, your card sales are modest, or you want to test a system for 30 days without a contract.
- Choose Clover if your card sales are steady and above roughly $30,000 a month, and you are ready to commit to its hardware and processing for 36 months.
- Compare more systems, including SpotOn, TouchBistro and Lightspeed, on our restaurant POS comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Is Clover cheaper than Square for restaurants?
Per card payment, yes: 2.3% + 10¢ in person against 2.4% to 2.6% + 15¢ on Square.1, 3 Clover's monthly bundle costs more than Square's software, so Square can still cost less overall at low sales.
Can I cancel a Clover subscription?
Clover says subscriptions are non-cancelable and ineligible for refunds. You can pay one off at any time, or end it through a buyout or an upgrade.5
Does Square charge a monthly fee for restaurants?
Square Free has no monthly fee. Square Plus costs $49 and Square Premium $149 a month per location.1
Can I use Clover hardware with Square?
No. Clover says its devices cannot be used with other payment processors.5
How we compared
We read Square's and Clover's pricing pages on November 13, 2026 and checked every figure a second time. The cost table is our own arithmetic from the published rates. We have not used either system in a restaurant.
We use AI tools to help research and draft our pages. Every figure is checked against the vendors' own published pages, and each page shows the date of that check.
Prices and processing rates change often; check the vendor's website before you sign. Best POS System for Restaurants is not affiliated with Clover or Square.