We are comparing Clover Vs. Square: Which is the Best POS system for your business. Here's a comparison of pricing, features, hardware & many more.
3. The Point of Sale or Point of Purchase
occurs where a transaction takes place for a
product or service, and the merchant
calculates the amount owed by the
customer. After the entire process of
purchasing, the merchant generates the
invoice and offers various payment options
to the customers (which may be a cash
register printout). Similarly, it is a POP
where the customer pays the amount to the
merchant in exchange for providing the
service. After receiving the payment, the
merchant may ask for a transaction receipt,
usually printed or sent electronically.
4. Marylise Tauzia says, “[Retailers]
run the risk of slowing down their
operations and missing critical
data that could help them grow
their business faster. Having key
insight about their customers,
their inventory level, and ordering
more supplies are examples of
information a POS provides.”
7. Record and analyze sales data to make
informed business decisions that allow you
to focus on your sales. The POS system
creates a sales report based on the total
retail amount, profit percentage, and gross
margin. The difference lies in how those
numbers are displayed and how much detail
you get. Additionally, it offers a quick
snapshot of your store’s sales performance.
Sales Reporting
8. Manage the quantity of stock to determine
how often to reorder products and keep
track of all products. It is one of POS
systems’ most important features that
keeps track of all products when it’s time to
order specific products. It also allows you to
identify pieces of inventory using unique
serial numbers and count products digitally.
Inventory Management
9. Transaction management makes the entire
process easier for you and your customers
and provides you with a payment receipt in
whatever form you prefer. If you prefer a
digital receipt, there should be two options
available; a texted or an emailed receipt. If
they prefer a paper receipt- your system
should be able to print one quickly.
Transaction
Management
10. Log purchases and keep in touch with
customers using marketing tools. It builds
strong relationships with customers and
leads to repeat business. Your POS system
must have a CRM to track all customer
interactions and data. The system can
attach a sales transaction to a customer and
record/track its purchase history. You can
also use email marketing to keep in touch
with customers and capture their
information such as name, age, birthday,
and email address.
Customer Management
11. Track employee’s sales while evaluating
your top performers and who require extra
coaching to increase sales. It can set sales
targets and break the supply chain of your
business/store. It is convenient to add
employees to your system and modify
schedules based on forecasted activities.
Employee Management
Accept online payments or be able to read
card magstripes. For your business growth,
your POS system needs to contain various
additional payment methods if you don’t
want to lose out on a sale. There are
multiple payment processing methods,
such as online processing, magstripes, chip
cards, contactless payments, etc., for
payment.
Payment Processing
13. The POS industry is gaining continuous
popularity and significant momentum in
recent years as it is improving return on
investment and the payment processing
system. It has a wide range of applications
carrying out loyalty programs such as
hospitality and entertainment.
Some advanced POS systems offer higher
durability than cash registers (a type of
traditional methods) that leads to
significant reductions in the total cost of
ownership (TCO).
14. Mobile POS terminals have come up as a
challenger to replace the payment
techniques due to mobility and better user
experience. It also allows service industries
to perform financial transactions and to
free up valuable space for business
transactions. Besides, mobile POS terminals
are cheaper than traditional fixed POS
terminal systems and medium-sized
businesses.
The global POS terminals market is divided
into various segments, such as:
POS Terminals Market, by Type
✤ Wireless and Mobile POS
✤ Fixed POS
16. POS Terminals Market, by Geography
✤ Europe
✤ North America
✤ Asia Pacific
✤ South Africa
✤ Middle East & Africa (MEA)
Many key players in the market have
profiled in the report with their market
positions. Some profiled companies include
PAXS technology, Cisco Systems Inc.,
Ingenico S.A., and Samsung Electronics Co.
Ltd.
18. A POS system is essential for any merchant
running a physical location. It allows you to
keep track of customers’ purchases,
payments, and inventory. There are various
types of POS systems, but Clover and
Square are the two most popular solution
providers, and choosing one of them for
your business is a bit tough job. Let’s look at
the best POS system that offers unique
features and solutions in more detail.
19. Clover is a cloud-based Android POS
platform with custom hardware designed
for several types of retailers launched in
April 2012. The company is headquartered
in Sunnyvale, CA. Businesses can easily
streamline payment processing and
inventory management using the Clover
POS system. It automatically replaces
outdated processes such as label printer,
receipt printer, cash register, plus others.
The payment processing system in POS
supports PIN and chip card payments,
credit card swipes, etc. for online payment.
The POS system is available for server-
based and web-based development
versions, including the mobile POS option.
Clover: A POS system
designed to make things
easy
20. Automatic software updates
Menu editing
Completely customizable
Add & delete products in real-time.
Staff management.
Track revenue and employee sales
Assign or reassign tables
Identify the top customers
Accessible from anywhere
With the Clover POS system, businesses
can visualize key data metrics in real-
time and track customers’ orders and
data reporting.
Clover POS system offers
features like:
21. Square is a free POS app that uses a credit
card reader to process payments and
manage sales. Affordable card processing
rates are a great way for small businesses to
start selling in minutes without using any
applications or monthly fees. To use Square,
you need to sign up for a free account,
download the app on your smartphone or
tablet, and start selling.
Square: Fully Integrated
POS Solution
22. Credit card processing.
Full and partial refunds
Adjustable taxes
Printable sales reports
Accounting system integration
Tipping by percentage or a custom
amount
Discount management
Customizable loyalty programs &
rewards
Other features include inventory
management, sales reports, and
customer directories to manage your
business.
You may also like: Clover Provides The Most
Secure POS Software In Its Class
Square POS system
offers features like:
24. All-in-one POS systems allow you to run
your business fast and smoothly by offering
significant payment processing and
inventory management features. It offers
various payment options like two printer
capabilities and a 14-inch display for
customer signatures. It allows you to enable
your business and focus on your
customers.Have a quick peek into the
differences between the best POS systems:
26. With the Clover POS system, you can
improve your business management and
monitor your inventory list by which you
can get a clear idea of what products you
need to order. It also allows you to use an
effective inventory system and saves time
and money to focus on your business.
Business Management
Assistance
Dependable Processing
Software
Clover POS systems work with the help of
WiFI or Ethernet. The processing software
also provides an offline mode that can still
run even if your internet speed is down,
ensuring that you can continue to serve
customers and make sales.
27. The Clover POS system is available for the
Android Operating system, which clearly
shows that the user experience will be a bit
similar to that of a smartphone. There are a
few app-based functionalities, and you may
face difficulty understanding how to use the
Clover POS system.
Intuitive and User-
Friendly
Ready To Go
The Clover POS system offers high features,
and it is ready out of the box. It is
recommended that a merchant services
consultant help you set up your system and
get the most out of your POS system.
29. If you are willing to use the POS system,
you must pay for the hardware and related
services.
Requires Clover
Hardware
Monthly Service Fee
If you are not processing any payments the
whole month, you still need to pay a
monthly fee and the payment processing
fees.
31. You can use the Square POS system just by
downloading the free app on your device. It
offers drag and drops functionality to make
things easier for you to manage. With
Square, one can quickly create and add
orders to the list using the ticket
management feature.
Simple and Powerful
Fast processing
With Square, you can often get paid the
next day. Every transaction is implemented
in less time than waiting for printing a
receipt.
32. The Square POS system makes things easier
for businesses in making decisions as the
software uses analytics tools to generate
reports in intelligent decision making.
Intelligent Reports
34. Square POS system depends on conducting
their customer support via social media and
emails. Many users have reported several
days until they receive a reply as Square’s
customer service fails to respond to the
customer’s query adequately.
Lack of Support and
Customer Service
Numerous Cases of
Phishing Scams
Reported
The mode of communication in the Square
POS system is done through social media
and email that can be easily exposed to
security risks.
37. Clover POS Hardware
There are four types of POS hardware kits
that Clover offers. They are:
Clover Go: It connects to your device
(smartphone or tablet) and processes
contactless payments, chip cards, and
magstripe. Clover Go will only be activated
if it’s attached to another device.
Clover Flex: Flex is Clover’s WiFi-connected
payment processing option that accepts all
the payment options and captures
signatures and print receipts.
Clover Mini: Clover Mini is somehow
similar to Clover Flex but in a countertop
format. Tasks such as scanning barcodes
and receipts can be done quickly.
38. Clover Station: Clover Station is the most
secure and fastest POS offering that accepts
credit cards with a cash drawer.
All the hardware devices can work together
or alone- choose the tools that can serve
your business requirements.
Square POS Hardware
Square POS offers you two options to
purchase your iPad as your POS terminal or
all-in-one POS terminal for your payment.
Have a sneak peek into the Square’s
hardware and different types of card
payments each can accept:
39. Square Register: It is an all-in-one
countertop payment processing system that
allows credit card payments and contactless
payments included in the hardware.
Square Terminal: Square terminal offers the
most comparable to Clover Flex and accepts
all the types of payments connected via
Ethernet or WiFi.
Square Stand for Contactless and
Chip: Square Stand can be used once you
download the Square POS app and use your
iPad as your business’s POS system.
Square Card Readers: It collects external
hardware that accepts various payments
such as a magstripe card reader, chip card,
and contactless payment reader.
41. Clover offers three categories of Clover
Station as follows:
Station for full-service Restaurants: $1349
Station Pro for counter service
restaurants: $1649
Station for any Business: $1399
Pricing for Clover Mini – $749
Pricing for Clover Go – $69
Pricing for Clover Flex – $499
43. Square Register: $39/month Or you can buy
outright for $799 + 2.6% + 10¢ Per tap, dip, or
swipe taken on Square Register.
Square Terminal: $27 per month for 12
months Or $299 + 2.6% + 10¢ Per tap, dip or
swipe taken on Square Terminal.
Square Chip Reader: $49 + 2.6% + 10¢ per
tap, swipe for Visa, Mastercard, and
American Express.
Square Magstripe Reader: You will get you,
first magstripe reader, free and afterward
$10
45. As you have probably guessed, it’s a tie to
which the POS system is cheaper since
Clover and Square obtain many different
processing companies for price variation.
Here are some rules of thumb:
When Square is Cheaper
If your business is accepting credit cards,
then Clover offers an average transaction of
over $10.
Food trucks, coffee shops, and other small
businesses can benefit from the Square POS
system.
46. When Clover is Cheaper
If your business is accepting credit cards,
then Clover offers an average transaction of
over $10.
48. Clover:
Payments Plus $4.95/month – No inventory
or order management
Compatible devices: Clover Go/Clover
Flex/Clover Mini
Register Lite $9.95/month – manage orders,
the budget-friendly option for retail
environments
Compatible devices: Clover Go/Clover
Flex/Clover Mini
Register $39.95/month –manage your day-
to-day, perfect for a fast-paced retail
environment
49. Compatible devices: all Clover models
Counter-Service Restaurant $39.95/month –
restaurant software
Compatible devices: all Clover models
Table Service Restaurant $69.95/month –
restaurant software
Compatible devices: all Clover models (must
have additional Clover device to use on Go)
50. Square:
Square For Restaurants
Free- seating management and limited
reporting, including $60/ month, and the
premium starts at 299/month.
Square For Retail
No exchanges and limited reporting
including $60/month and premium starting
at $299/month
Square Appointments
Free for individuals.
2-5 Employees $50/month
6-10 Employees $90/month
52. Clover POS offers 24/7 tech support, which
can be ideal for a retail business and
payment processing company having a lot
of traffic on the weekends.
If you are willing to use the Square POS
system, you must be an existing customer
to use the phone support available Monday
to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., including
documentation and guides online. Similarly,
POS systems and payment processing
companies offer 24/7 support, whereas
Square’s availability is not ideal.
54. Clover is an approved POS system, so
keeping aside the setup process, you can
directly navigate the home screen that
includes features such as inventory,
employee management, and sales. Using
Clover doesn’t require any training or
learning experience.
Square is a plug-and-play system that does
not require any application or complicated
setup. You can simply create a free Square
account and download the app and start
selling right away.
56. Clover is an all-in-one POS system and
payment processing solution. Clover is
expensive when compared to Square
payment processing and hardware costs.
Clover includes employee management
features, such as payroll processing and
scheduling.
When to use Clover?
57. Square is a perfect choice for small
businesses, whether it’s an in-store or
mobile store. It is a good choice for payment
processing with an average transaction size
of under $20.
When to Use Square?
58. I hope now you have a clear understanding of
Clover and Square POS systems, but how
would you choose the best out of it for your
business?
Both the POS systems have their benefits and
features that make it the best choice for
business.
It depends upon your business, whether you
choose Square or Clover. Both the POS system
offers various features and functionality that
you are expecting from your POS terminal.
Clover and Square offer the most secure all-
in-one payment processing system on the
market.
The Bottom Line on
Clover vs. Square: Which
One is Best for You?
60. As you can see, Clover and Square POS
systems offer similar features.
So, what’s the verdict?
It doesn’t matter whether you’re running:
A restaurant,
Traditional retail store.
A service-based business.
61. I would recommend you to go with Clover
as it offers the handy solution that your
business requires. If you are searching for
the best Clover Application Development
Company, Bacancy Technology offers
Clover POS services and has the Clover
Station Hardware Development Kit to meet
your industry’s needs. I am eagerly waiting
to hear from you about the experience you
have either with Clover or Square. So
comment down and kick-start the
conversation!
Wrapping Up