Square Retail vs Clover
Choose Square Retail if you want a retail POS with a $0 monthly plan and published per-location pricing; choose Clover if you want a retail system built around a choice of countertop and handheld device bundles. Both sell retail POS systems with inventory, reporting, online-selling options, and app integrations. The key differences are how their plans package those features and how much pricing detail each vendor publishes.
Last updated October 27, 2026.
At a glance
| Dimension | Square Retail | Clover |
|---|---|---|
| Retail plans | Square Free, Plus, and Premium | Basic with Starter; Standard and Advanced with Retail Growth |
| Monthly software price | Free $0; Plus $49/location; Premium $149/location | Not published |
| In-person processing | 2.6% + 15¢ Free; 2.5% + 15¢ Plus; 2.4% + 15¢ Premium | Not published |
| Contract terms | No long-term contracts | Terms vary by service provider |
| POS hardware | Reader, Stand, Terminal, Register, and Handheld | Basic Compact; Standard Station Duo; Advanced Duo and Flex |
| POS platforms | Square devices; compatible iOS and Android devices | Clover devices; Android-based POS software |
| Inventory | Basic tools; purchase orders and barcode labels on Plus | Item and category management on Retail Growth, not Starter |
| Online selling | Square online store with connected in-store sales | Online-store tools on Retail Growth; store build is an add-on |
| Sales reporting | Sales insights; COGS reporting on a paid plan | Real-time tracking on Starter; detailed reports on Retail Growth |
| Integrations | Square App Marketplace and developer APIs | Clover App Market and developer tools |
| Live support | Phone: 6am–6pm PT weekdays on Free and Plus; 24/7 on Premium | 24/7 live support advertised with retail bundles |
| Offline payments | Available on supported devices; reconnect within 24 hours | Available on supported POS devices when enabled |
Scroll the table sideways to compare each row.
Which should you choose?
Choose Square Retail if
- Retailers starting with a $0 monthly POS plan
- Stores that want published per-location plan prices
- Teams needing purchase orders and barcode labels on a paid plan
- Sellers who want Tap to Pay on a compatible phone
Choose Clover if
- Stores choosing a bundled countertop POS
- Retailers wanting a Station Duo with a customer-facing screen
- Teams adding a Flex handheld to a countertop setup
- Buyers prioritizing advertised 24/7 live support
The verdict
Square Retail is the better fit when a no-monthly-fee starting point, published processing rates, or retail inventory tools such as purchase orders and barcode labels on a paid plan decide the purchase. Clover is the better fit when its Compact, Station Duo, and Flex device bundles or the 24/7 live support advertised with its retail bundles matter more. Compare the full hardware, software, processing, and contract terms before committing: Clover does not display a numeric retail bundle price in its published comparison, and says contract terms can vary by provider.
Square Retail vs Clover: common questions
- Is this comparison worth publishing?
- Yes. Square Retail and Clover both currently offer retail POS systems, publish substantial product and plan information, and compete for stores choosing a checkout and inventory system.
- Does Square Retail or Clover have a free plan?
- Square Retail features are available on Square Free at $0 per month, with payment-processing fees. Clover lists a Starter software plan in its Basic retail bundle but does not publish a numeric price in its retail bundle comparison.
- What do Square Retail and Clover cost?
- Square publishes monthly prices of $0 for Free, $49 per location for Plus, and $149 per location for Premium, plus processing fees. Clover's retail bundle comparison does not publish a numeric bundle price; confirm its hardware, software, processing, and contract costs before buying.
- Which has more inventory tools?
- Square Retail lists purchase orders, vendor management, and barcode-label printing on Plus, with inventory transfers on Premium. Clover lists item and category management on Retail Growth rather than Starter, and describes stock tracking, variants, and barcode scanning for its retail POS.
- Can both systems sell online and in a store?
- Yes. Square connects its retail POS with online sales and inventory. Clover lists online-store and online/offline dashboard tools on Retail Growth, while its retail comparison marks building a new online store as an optional add-on.
- Do I need dedicated hardware?
- Square says it can take payments without purchased hardware through options including Tap to Pay on compatible phones, invoices, and payment links; it also sells POS devices. Clover's advertised retail bundles pair software plans with Clover devices, including Compact, Station Duo, and Flex.
- Can Square Retail and Clover take payments without internet?
- Both publish offline-payment capabilities for supported POS devices. Square says offline payments must reconnect within 24 hours of the first offline payment; Clover says offline payments must be enabled and are submitted for authorization after connectivity returns.
- How do support and contracts compare?
- Square publishes weekday phone-support hours for Free and Plus, 24/7 phone support for Premium, and no long-term contracts. Clover advertises 24/7 live support with its retail bundles and says contract terms and termination fees vary by service provider.