Clover POS Review 2023

Clover Editor’s Score: 8.9/10

Affordable pricing	8/10
Free trial	10/10
Robust integrations	9/10
Invoicing and bill pay	8.5/10
Mobile app	9/10

Why Clover Is Best for Overall Value

Clover is our pick for the best POS system for overall value because it offers numerous POS features to help growing businesses, including online ordering, employee management, invoicing and more. The company offers affordable pricing in the form of one easy monthly payment for all the hardware and software you need.

Clover’s hardware is expertly designed and performs well in busy restaurant and retail environments. You’ll get access to all the features you need to run your business, including reporting tools, POS inventory management and customer engagement features.

You’ll also have 24/7 access to Clover’s customer support if you run into problems. Clover is known for providing excellent service and going above and beyond for its customers.

Today’s POS systems are changing and evolving to address shared commerce, mobile trends, POS-CRM integrations and big data utilization.

Clover lets businesses customize their systems with the right mix of software, hardware and add-ons. Source: Clover

Pros

Clover provides a wide variety of visually appealing and durable hardware options.
Clover’s hardware is intuitive and easy to set up right out of the box.
Clover’s payment processing rates are competitive.

Cons

The pricing listed on Clover’s website can be hard to understand.
You’ll have to speak with a sales rep to sign up for Clover’s POS system.

Usability

Clover’s POS system is one of the most user-friendly options we evaluated. The software is easy to set up and fairly intuitive to use, which isn’t the case with some competitors. We were impressed that the software becomes even more helpful when combined with the Clover App Market — an integrated digital tool that allows you to download various applications to help you run your business. Business owners can use the system to manage customers and employees, set up menus, and monitor sales.

We like that Clover’s virtual terminal allows you to accept customer payments without purchasing any hardware. However, if you need hardware, Clover’s hardware is equally functional and easy to use. Clover’s POS devices work well independently or together. Plus, we appreciate that Clover’s hardware integrates with third-party software, which increases its functionality.

Clover POS apps

Clover’s POS system is even more functional when combined with the Clover App Market. Source: Clover

Clover Features

Point of sale	Clover’s hardware and software allow businesses to accept customer payments anywhere.
Reporting	Manage multiple businesses and locations from one easy-to-access dashboard.
Employee management	Clover’s software lets you track employee schedules and approve time-off requests.
Online ordering	Create a digital menu and let customers order online.
Customer management	Use Clover to store customer information and build loyalty.
Invoicing	Service-based businesses can send invoices and track customer payments.

Point of Sale

Clover provides the hardware and software businesses need to take orders and accept customer payments. We like that the software has cloud-based storage, allowing you to access your data from anywhere. We also appreciate that Clover offers accessories like barcode scanners, a cash drawer, and a weight scale for added functionality. (You can buy Clover hardware directly through Clover or from a third party.)

Clover POS hardware

Clover’s hardware gives you all the tools you need to run your business efficiently. Source: Clover

Clover works with service providers, restaurants and retail locations to provide robust POS system benefits. For instance, the company offers mobile POS systems for restaurants, as well as online ordering and contactless NFC mobile payments.

Reporting

Clover’s POS reporting functions allow you to track real-time data about your business from one easy-to-access dashboard. We like that the company provides a mobile dashboard where you can review sales, identify top-performing locations, and stay on top of customer refunds.

We also appreciate that the reporting software integrates with dozens of popular third-party apps. Not all competitors offer so many integrations. The Clover App Market offers various apps to help you manage customers, employees, and business expenses.

POS sales reports provide insights into sales and inventory trends to help you optimize promotions, understand customer buying trends, and evaluate your marketing campaign’s effectiveness.

Employee Management

Your employees are the life of your business, so the right staff management software is crucial. We were impressed that Clover helps you create employee schedules, manage employee time-off requests, and reward your workers with customizable tip screens. You can also use the software to track how many hours your employees work, set up employee benefits, and run payroll.

If you prefer using a separate payroll system to manage employee pay and benefits, check out our reviews of the best payroll services to identify the right solution for your business.

Online Ordering

Most customers like to engage in online ordering and in-person dining, so restaurants should offer both options. We like that Clover lets you create a digital menu that guests can easily scroll through.

Additionally, we were impressed that your menu changes will show up automatically on your online ordering page, helping to eliminate errors and confusion. We also like that once guests place an order, they can schedule it for curbside pickup. Clover doesn’t charge fees for its online ordering options — another big plus that sets it apart from competitors we reviewed.

Clover POS software

Clover’s software allows you to accept and manage online orders. Source: Clover

Customer Management

We were pleased that in addition to providing tools for managing your business and employees, Clover provides a CRM-enabled POS system that helps you manage customer relationships via CRM metrics. Its tools can help you build customer loyalty — which is crucial for every business.

You can use Clover’s Customer Engagement suite to do the following:

Contact customers directly
Send promotional offers
Offer customer loyalty program rewards
Solicit feedback from your guests

You can also use the software to send physical or digital gift cards and choose from over 70 premade templates — a fun option we didn’t see with many of the competitors we evaluated. Customers can buy gift cards and redeem them directly through their smartphones.

Woman using a gift card at a checkout with a Clover POS system

Clover’s spectrum of gift card tools helps you attract more foot traffic and retain existing customers. Source: Clover

Invoicing

Clover is widely known for helping restaurants and e-commerce businesses. However, we found the POS system is also an excellent option for service-based businesses. You can use the software to create invoices, set up recurring payments, and accept online payments.

If you need a more comprehensive solution, Clover features QuickBooks POS integration and integrates with many other accounting software solutions.

If you’re looking for accounting software for your business, check out our reviews of the best accounting software solutions to help evaluate your options.

Clover Costs

We were impressed that Clover offers a 30-day free trial so businesses can assess its features and functionality. Not every competitor we reviewed offered a free trial.

If you decide to sign up with Clover, the company’s pricing breaks down into three categories.

Credit card processing fees: Clover charges 2.3 percent + $0.10 for in-person transactions and 3.5 percent + $0.10 for card-not-present transactions.
Monthly fees: Depending on the plan you choose, Clover’s monthly fees range from $14.95 to $94.85.
Hardware costs: Clover’s hardware pricing depends on the options you select and how you bundle them. Costs also depend on whether you buy the hardware through Clover or a third party.

Once you sign up, you can choose from three plans:

Starter
Standard
Advanced

Clover offers a wide range of software and hardware options for each plan; costs depend on your industry and how many add-on features you select. For instance, if you use Clover to operate a full-service restaurant, plans start at $1,699 plus $84.95 per month. On the other hand, if you run a professional services business, pricing starts at $599 plus $14.95 per month.

Speak with a customer service representative to get an accurate estimate of the costs your business will incur with Clover.

If transparent pricing for monthly and annual plans is a priority for your POS system, check out our review of Lightspeed. However, you’ll need to call the company about its POS hardware pricing.

Clover Setup

To get started with Clover, contact one of its sales reps, who will help you determine the best plan for your business. We like that Clover allows you to start with the devices you need and easily add more later.

Setting up your new Clover hardware is straightforward and should take only a few minutes. You’ll start by activating your device, which you can do by following the device-specific PDFs the company provides on its website. If you run into any issues setting up your POS system, you can log in to your account and receive personalized support.

Clover Customer Service

We were impressed that accessing customer support is as easy as pushing the callback feature on your Clover device and entering your phone number. A Clover business consultant will call you right back. We preferred this system to other vendors that only offer live chats or forums. We also like that Clover support simplifies the process of managing disputes and chargebacks — a significant problem many providers have trouble solving.

Clover POS online help resources

Clover’s online help resources can assist with setup, troubleshooting or learning how to use your Clover system. Source: Clover

Clover Drawbacks

The biggest drawback of Clover’s POS is that it requires using Clover-branded hardware and doesn’t work with third-party options. Although Clover’s hardware options are extensive and the equipment is high quality, the fact that it won’t integrate with non-Clover hardware could be a problem for some business owners.

Additionally, Clover’s pricing can be challenging to understand. All its plans are listed on its website. However, because their costs depend on the industry, you’ll likely need to speak to a sales rep to learn more.

If you own a restaurant and prioritize a variety of hardware options in your POS system, check out our review of Toast — our pick for the best POS for hardware.

Methodology

When researching the best POS systems for overall value, we sought a competitively priced solution with comprehensive features and numerous customization options. Our process included comparing more than a dozen POS systems. After careful evaluation and analysis — including an hour-long demo with the Clover team — we found that Clover met our overall value goals. Our research helped us see where Clover shines among competitors and where it could stand to improve.

Clover FAQs

How much does Clover cost?

Clover’s fees range from $14.95 to $94.85 monthly. You’ll also have to purchase the hardware you need and pay credit card processing fees. You can buy the hardware through Clover or a third party, so those costs can vary.

Clover’s base rate is 2.3 percent + $0.10 for in-person transactions and 3.5 percent + $0.10 for card-not-present transactions. However, your fees may be higher depending on the software plan you choose.

What are Clover’s hardware options?

Clover offers four main hardware options: the Clover Go, Mini, Flex and Station.

Go: The Clover Go is a mobile credit card reader that comes with a user-friendly design and cross-platform support. When paired with the Clover app, you can use the Go to accept payments from anywhere.
Mini: The Clover Mini is a portable way to accept payments. However, this hardware does much more than that. You can use the Mini to track inventory, manage customers and employees, and run reports.
Flex: The Clover Flex is a handheld device that accepts payments and tracks your sales. It comes with end-to-end encryption and fingerprint logins so you know your data is secure.
Station: The Station is Clover’s full POS system. Restaurants can use it to split checks, create customer orders, and accept gift card payments.

How many apps does Clover integrate with?

One of the benefits of using Clover is that it gives you access to the Clover App Market. The market has more than 300 integrations with various services businesses need, including accounting, payroll and employee management apps.