Clover POS vs Square Point of Sale: POS Systems Compared

Verified by the SoftVane editorial team · June 2026

Clover POS vs Square Point of Sale at a glance

Clover POS

Rating: ★★★★½ 4.3

Price: $0/month

Best for: Small retail and service businesses on a budget

Square Point of Sale

Rating: ★★★★½ 4.6

Price: Free

Best for: Small retailers and service businesses

Feature-by-feature comparison

Dimension	Clover POS	Square Point of Sale
Starting price	$0/month	Free
Rating	★★★★½ 4.3	★★★★½ 4.6
Best for	Small retail and service businesses on a budget	Small retailers and service businesses
Top features	Mobile and terminal POS, Payment processing, Basic inventory management	Mobile point of sale on phone/tablet, Payment processing, Inventory management
Top strengths	Affordable pricing options; Flexible hardware	Flexible hardware options; Easy to set up and use
Main tradeoffs	Limited advanced features; Customer support can be slow	Limited for large retailers; Can feel limited for complex operations

When Clover POS wins

Clover POS is the better pick if you prioritize affordable pricing options and flexible hardware. The entry plan at $0/month fits teams that want to get running quickly without paying for capabilities they may not need for 12-18 months.

Best for: Small retail and service businesses on a budget

Try Clover POS →

When Square Point of Sale wins

Square Point of Sale is the better pick if you prioritize flexible hardware options and easy to set up and use. The entry plan at Free suits teams that already know their workflow and want a platform that scales without surprise pricing tiers later.

Best for: Small retailers and service businesses

Try Square Point of Sale →

Mistakes to avoid when choosing between Clover POS and Square Point of Sale

Comparing the starter plans only. Both tools usually move you to a middle plan within 6 months. Compare the plan you'll actually use, not the one they advertise.
Ignoring the migration cost. The cheaper monthly fee disappears if migration takes weeks. Ask both vendors for their data-import templates and migration support before committing.
Skipping the integration check. Map your existing stack first, then compare which of these two has native integrations vs. which makes you build a Zapier workflow per connection.
Treating "starts at $X" as the real price. Add seats, advanced features, and payment processing where relevant. Build a 12-month TCO before signing.

Frequently asked questions

Clover POS starts at $0/month, Square Point of Sale at Free. They are similar at the entry tier, but neither stays the cheapest once you add seats and the features you actually need. Always compare total cost at the plan you'll use, not the starter plan.

Yes, both platforms support data import from competitor systems. Square Point of Sale typically provides a migration template and dedicated support during the trial period. Confirm the scope of the migration (records, attachments, history) with the vendor before signing.

For teams under 10 users, either platform usually offers an accessible starter plan. The pricier option often justifies the cost at 15+ users via better reporting and admin controls. If you expect to cross that headcount within a year, factor in the plan jump before deciding.

Both Clover POS and Square Point of Sale ship iOS and Android apps. The functional gap is in offline mode and how much of the desktop feature set works on phones. Walk through your real daily workflow on mobile during the trial. One will feel native; the other will feel like an afterthought.

Not blindly. Most platforms list 100+ integrations, but only a handful matter for your stack. List your 3 to 5 must-have integrations (accounting, payments, calendar, etc.) and check whether each is NATIVE (not Zapier-only) on both platforms. Native integrations are typically faster, cheaper, and more reliable than Zapier-glued ones.

Ready to pick a winner?

Square Point of Sale edges out Clover POS for most teams in our testing. Start a free trial and run your real workflow through it before committing to an annual plan.

Try Square Point of Sale free →