Clover POS Review: Pricing, Features & Pros vs Cons

Updated: January 2026 • Verified Q1 2026

Clover POS is a cloud-based point of sale system owned by Fiserv (formerly First Data), one of the largest payment processing companies in the world. Founded in 2012 in California, Clover has grown into one of the most recognizable POS brands, known for its distinctive white-and-silver hardware and Android-based software that works across restaurants, retail stores, and service businesses.

What sets Clover apart is its all-in-one approach—hardware, software, and payment processing come bundled together. The Clover App Market offers hundreds of third-party integrations for everything from accounting to loyalty programs. However, you’re locked into Clover’s proprietary hardware (no BYOD), and most plans require a 36-month contract. For restaurants wanting flexibility, that’s worth considering before signing.

Pros & Cons

Clover POS Pricing

Clover structures pricing by business type, with each category offering Starter, Standard, and Advanced tiers. Hardware is included in monthly pricing for contract plans, or you can pay upfront for lower monthly fees. All promotional pricing requires a 36-month commitment.

Restaurant Plans

*36-month contract required. Upfront purchase option available (e.g., Full-Service Starter: $1,799 hardware + $89.95/mo).

Hardware Costs (If Purchased Separately)

Key Features

POS & Order Management

• Table Management: Visual floor plans with drag-and-drop table assignment and status tracking
• Tableside Ordering: Clover Flex handheld for taking orders and payments at the table
• Order Modes: Dine-in, takeout, delivery, curbside, and drive-thru supported
• Bill Splitting: Split by item, seat, percentage, or custom amounts
• Pre-authorized Tabs: Hold cards for bar tabs with automatic closure

Back-Office & Reporting

• Clover Dashboard: Remote access to sales, inventory, and employee data from any device
• Real-Time Reporting: Sales by item, time period, employee, and revenue center
• Cloud Backup: All data stored securely with automatic sync
• Offline Mode: Continue processing payments during internet outages

Inventory & Staff Management

• Inventory Tracking: Stock counts, low-stock alerts, and variance reporting
• Employee Management: Individual logins, permission levels, and shift tracking
• Time Clock: Built-in clock in/out with timecard reports for payroll

Integrations (Clover App Market)

Clover’s Android-based platform supports 300+ apps:

• Accounting: QuickBooks, Xero, FreshBooks
• Online Ordering: ChowNow, DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber Eats
• Loyalty: Fivestars, Loyalzoo, Perka
• Scheduling: Homebase, 7shifts, Deputy
• Marketing: Mailchimp, Constant Contact
• Reservations: Yelp, OpenTable integration available

Real User Feedback

✅ What Users Like:

• “Clover is a smooth system that allows employees to have autonomy in how they ring up their sales. I’d recommend it to anyone.”
• “The system is easy to navigate and training new staff takes minimal time. The big, colorful buttons help.”
• “We love the offline mode—when our internet goes down, we can still process cards and sync later.”
• “The dashboard lets me check sales from home. Very convenient for multi-tasking owners.”

❌ What Users Don’t Like:

• “If you buy through a reseller, watch out for hidden fees. Our processing ended up way higher than quoted.”
• “The app market is great but expensive. We’re paying $50+ extra per month just for the apps we need.”
• “Customer support can be hit or miss. Sometimes great, sometimes impossible to reach.”
• “We couldn’t get out of our lease even after closing the business. Read the fine print carefully.”

Clover vs. Competitors

Who Should Use Clover?

✅ Best fit for:

• Small to mid-sized restaurants — Full-service features without enterprise complexity
• Retail stores with food service — Clover handles both restaurant and retail workflows
• Businesses wanting all-in-one bundles — Hardware, software, and processing in one package
• Operators who value hardware aesthetics — Clover’s design looks professional in customer-facing settings
• Multi-location operators — Centralized dashboard for managing multiple stores

❌ Not ideal for:

• Budget-conscious startups — Square’s free plan offers more value at $0/mo
• Businesses wanting hardware flexibility — Clover requires proprietary hardware only
• Those avoiding long contracts — 36-month commitments are standard
• Large full-service restaurants — Toast offers deeper restaurant-specific features
• Anyone buying through resellers — Direct purchase from Clover is safer

FAQ

Verdict

Clover POS delivers what it promises: sleek, reliable hardware with an intuitive interface and extensive customization options through its app marketplace. For restaurants and retail businesses that want an all-in-one solution without piecing together separate hardware, software, and processing vendors, Clover simplifies the decision. The offline payment capability is a genuine advantage over competitors, and the Clover Dashboard makes remote management straightforward.

The downsides are real, though. The 36-month contracts lock you in, and costs escalate quickly once you start adding apps from the marketplace. Perhaps most importantly, buying through third-party resellers (banks, ISOs) instead of directly from Clover often leads to higher processing rates and frustrating experiences. If you go with Clover, buy direct.

For most independent restaurants, we’d suggest comparing Clover against Square for Restaurants (if you want month-to-month flexibility) or Toast (if you need deeper restaurant-specific features). For retail with more demanding needs, like strong inventory management, we recommend checking out Lightspeed. Clover fits best when you value hardware quality, want retail and restaurant capabilities in one system, and don’t mind committing to a multi-year contract.

About the Author

Jason Feemster
POS systems expert and founder of POSUSA.com, a trusted industry resource since 2011. With over a decade of hands-on experience testing and reviewing point-of-sale systems, he helps business owners choose solutions that actually fit their needs.