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Card processing review

Clover

Clover's card processing (Fiserv), required with Clover POS: 2.3% + 10¢ in person and 3.5% + 10¢ typed in on clover.com. Its other processing fees (monthly, annual, PCI) depend on your account and aren't published, contract terms vary by who sells you Clover, and its devices only work with Clover's processing.

By CloverParent company: Fiserv, Inc.
Not enough data to score

Our verdict

Clover publishes its card rates but not the rest of its processing fees, and its contract depends on who sells it to you (clover.com, a bank or a reseller). Its devices are tied to Clover's processing and its 36-month hardware subscriptions can't be canceled. Before you sign, ask for the full fee schedule and the termination terms in writing.

What we like

  • Card rates published on clover.com: 2.3% + 10¢ in person and 3.5% + 10¢ typed in.
  • A cash discount program that covers every card, so your customers pay the card cost.
  • 24/7 support.
  • Rapid Deposit puts your money in your account within minutes for 1.75%.

What to watch

  • Monthly, annual and PCI fees depend on your account and aren't published, so we can't calculate its cost.
  • Contract terms and termination fees vary by who sells you Clover; the current hardware promotion requires a 3-year contract.
  • Clover devices can't be used with another processor, and hardware subscriptions can't be canceled.
  • Deposits typically take 1 to 3 business days.

How the score breaks down

RTC ScoreNot enough data

Methodology v0.1.0

We could verify less than 60% of what we score, so we don't rank it.

Data completeness43%

We could verify 43% of the scoring data

Strongest points
24/7 support, Standard deposit speed, Published pricing
Weakest point
Standard deposit speed

Score by criterion

  • 12-month cost of the reference restaurantWeight 37%No data
  • Standard deposit speedWeight 11%StrongestWeakest5.0 out of 10
  • What leaving in month 12 costsWeight 9%No data
  • Price increases during the contractWeight 8%No data
  • Published pricingWeight 7%Strongest4.0 out of 10
  • 24/7 supportWeight 6%Strongest10.0 out of 10
  • Contract termWeight 4%2.5 out of 10
  • Support channelsWeight 4%5.0 out of 10
  • No equipment lease you can't cancelWeight 3%0.0 out of 10
  • Works with restaurant POS systemsWeight 3%3.3 out of 10
  • Automatic renewalWeight 2%No data
  • Equipment works with another processorWeight 2%0.0 out of 10
  • Offers dual pricing or a surcharge programWeight 2%10.0 out of 10
  • Works without the vendor's own POSWeight 1%10.0 out of 10

Before you pass the card fee to your customers

This vendor offers a program that passes the card cost to your customers. Card network rules cap credit card surcharges (Visa 3%, Mastercard 4%) and never allow them on debit, and some states ban or limit them.

This is general information, not legal advice. Card network rules and state laws change, and how they apply depends on your business: check with a lawyer and with your processor before adding a surcharge or a cash discount.

See the rules by state

Current promotion

  • Signing bonus

    $450Source: Clover (opens in a new tab)
    Conditions
    A $450 statement credit for new merchants who have never had a Clover account or processed with First Data. You must apply online at clover.com, buy a Clover hardware or software subscription that includes a Flex, Flex Pocket, Mini, Station Solo or Station Duo, be credit approved by January 31, 2027, submit a batch of at least $25 within 30 days of approval and process at least $10,000 in card sales within the first four billing cycles. It requires a 3-year contract, there is one per business relationship, it cannot be combined with other offers, and Clover decides who qualifies and can change it without notice. It is a credit for new merchants, not a payment of your current provider's early termination fee.
    What you need to qualify
    • An average of at least $2,500 a month in card sales over the first 4 months
    Valid until

Counts in the RTC Score only if our reference restaurant qualifies.

The switching or signing incentive is one of the criteria with the most weight in the RTC Score. We count a promotion only while it's current, with a fixed published amount and conditions our reference restaurant meets. "Up to" amounts, buyouts of your current contract and unpublished amounts don't count. The cost calculator subtracts one only when your numbers qualify.

Check it with your numbers

All the data, with sources

Each value links to its source. "Not published" means the vendor doesn't disclose it; "Unconfirmed" means we looked and couldn't confirm it. Data points we have for fewer than four vendors are left out until we can compare them.

Type of processor and pricing
Data pointValue
Type of processorProcessor or its sales partners (acquirer, ISO)Source: Clover (opens in a new tab)Fiserv's POS and processing, sold directly and through more than 3,000 banks and resellers.
Pricing modelFlat rateSource: Clover (opens in a new tab)One in-person and one typed-in rate per plan on clover.com; banks and resellers that sell Clover set their own pricing.
Published pricing (points out of 100)40Source: Clover (opens in a new tab)In-person rate 25 and typed-in rate 15 published on clover.com. Monthly processing fees, the early termination fee and other fees vary by account or provider and aren't published: 0.
Card rates
Data pointValue
In-person rate2.3%Source: Clover (opens in a new tab)Rate on Clover's full-service and quick-service restaurant bundles bought on clover.com. Banks and resellers set their own.
In-person fee per transaction10¢Source: Clover (opens in a new tab)
Online rate3.5%Source: Clover (opens in a new tab)Clover's typed-in rate also covers online and phone orders, where the card isn't present.
Online fee per transaction10¢Source: Clover (opens in a new tab)
Keyed-in rate3.5%Source: Clover (opens in a new tab)
Keyed-in fee per transaction10¢Source: Clover (opens in a new tab)
American Express pricingSame rate as other cardsSource: Clover (opens in a new tab)On clover.com, American Express and rewards cards pay the same rate as other cards; banks and resellers that sell Clover can set other pricing.
American Express rateN/ASource: Clover (opens in a new tab)Doesn't apply: on clover.com, American Express costs the same as other cards.
Rates by monthly volumeNo tiers by volume on clover.com: one in-person and one typed-in rate for the restaurant plans. Banks and resellers that sell Clover can quote other rates.Source: Clover (opens in a new tab)
Monthly and other fees
Data pointValue
Monthly account or plan feeNot publishedSource: Clover Help Center (opens in a new tab)Clover's statements can include monthly maintenance and platform access fees whose amounts depend on your account. The software plan is apart (Restaurant Growth, $89.95 a month with the Station Solo bundle), and we compare it in our restaurant POS section.
Annual fee per accountNot publishedSource: Clover Help Center (opens in a new tab)Clover lists this fee among those its statements can include, but the amount depends on your account and isn't published.
Annual fees per device or locationNot publishedSource: Clover Help Center (opens in a new tab)Clover's list of statement fees has annual maintenance and compliance fees per account; it doesn't publish amounts or say whether any is per device.
PCI compliance fee (yearly)Not publishedSource: Clover Help Center (opens in a new tab)Clover lists this fee among those its statements can include, but the amount depends on your account and isn't published. Another Clover help article describes a monthly PCI fee.
PCI non-compliance fee (monthly)Not publishedSource: Clover Help Center (opens in a new tab)Clover lists this fee among those its statements can include, but the amount depends on your account and isn't published.
Statement feeNot publishedSource: Clover Help Center (opens in a new tab)Clover lists a fee for each paper statement mailed, without the amount; it doesn't say whether electronic statements cost anything.
Monthly minimumNot publishedSource: Clover Help Center (opens in a new tab)Clover lists this fee among those its statements can include, but the amount depends on your account and isn't published.
Fee per batchNot publishedSource: Clover Help Center (opens in a new tab)Clover lists batch fees among the fees on its processing statement, without the amount.
Chargeback feeNot publishedSource: Clover Help Center (opens in a new tab)Clover lists chargeback, dispute resolution and reversal fees, and a fee for each disputed debit card transaction, without the amounts.
Other feesStart-up fees that can apply: application, debit set-up, menu load and wireless activation. Account fees: monthly and annual maintenance, platform access, TransArmor tokenization and reprogramming. Rapid Deposit: 1.75% of the amount. Except Rapid Deposit, Clover doesn't publish the amounts.Source: Clover Help Center (opens in a new tab)
Equipment
Data pointValue
How you get the equipmentYou buy it, LeaseSource: Clover (opens in a new tab)You buy the devices (with installments at no interest on clover.com) or take a 36-month hardware subscription that can't be canceled.
Price of a countertop terminal$1,799 one-timeSource: Clover (opens in a new tab)Station Solo full-service bundle with receipt printer and cash drawer, bought outright; the software plan is apart.
Equipment lease you can't cancelYesSource: Clover (opens in a new tab)Only if you choose a hardware subscription; buying outright avoids it. You can pay a subscription off at any time.
Equipment lease term36 monthsSource: Clover (opens in a new tab)
Equipment at $0 upfront: what it commits you toA hardware subscription gets you the devices with no money down for 36 months; it can't be canceled, and at the end you buy or return them, or it continues month to month at the same charge unless you tell Clover 30 days before. The $450 statement credit for new merchants on clover.com requires a 3-year contract.Source: Clover (opens in a new tab)
Equipment only works with this processorYesSource: Clover (opens in a new tab)
Getting your money
Data pointValue
Standard deposit speedTwo business daysSource: Clover (opens in a new tab)Clover says deposits typically take 1 to 3 days depending on your bank, and many businesses get them the next business day; its Rapid Deposit page also calls 1 to 3 days the standard. We count the middle of that range (two business days). Rapid Deposit gets funds to you within minutes for 1.75%.
Instant payout fee1.75%Source: Clover (opens in a new tab)Rapid Deposit, within minutes of a card sale.
Holds and reservesUnconfirmedSource: Clover (opens in a new tab)Clover doesn't publish the merchant agreement it signs with restaurants, so the rules for holds and reserves aren't public.
Contract and exit
Data pointValue
Contract term36 monthsSource: Clover (opens in a new tab)Clover's hardware promotion requires a 3-year contract. Terms vary by bank or reseller; a CardConnect agreement filed in court in 2021 also set three years.
Automatic renewalQuote onlySource: Clover (opens in a new tab)Clover says contract terms and termination fees vary by who sells you Clover (Clover directly, a bank or a reseller), and it doesn't publish its agreement.
Notice to avoid renewalQuote onlySource: Clover (opens in a new tab)Clover says contract terms and termination fees vary by who sells you Clover (Clover directly, a bank or a reseller), and it doesn't publish its agreement.
Notice to cancelQuote onlySource: Clover (opens in a new tab)Clover says contract terms and termination fees vary by who sells you Clover (Clover directly, a bank or a reseller), and it doesn't publish its agreement.
Early termination feeQuote onlySource: Clover (opens in a new tab)Clover says contract terms and termination fees vary by who sells you Clover (Clover directly, a bank or a reseller), and it doesn't publish its agreement.
How the early termination fee is calculatedQuote onlySource: Clover (opens in a new tab)Clover says contract terms and termination fees vary by who sells you Clover (Clover directly, a bank or a reseller), and it doesn't publish its agreement.
Liquidated damages clauseQuote onlySource: Clover (opens in a new tab)Clover says contract terms and termination fees vary by who sells you Clover (Clover directly, a bank or a reseller), and it doesn't publish its agreement.
Price increases during the contractQuote onlySource: Clover (opens in a new tab)Clover says contract terms and termination fees vary by who sells you Clover (Clover directly, a bank or a reseller), and it doesn't publish its agreement.
Right to raise pricesQuote onlySource: Clover (opens in a new tab)Clover says contract terms and termination fees vary by who sells you Clover (Clover directly, a bank or a reseller), and it doesn't publish its agreement.
Personal guarantee by the signerNot publishedSource: Clover (opens in a new tab)Clover doesn't publish its merchant agreement.
Dual pricing and surcharges
Data pointValue
Dual pricing or surcharge programYesSource: Clover (Fiserv) (opens in a new tab)Clover documents credit card surcharging (credit cards only; Clover sets the rate, which it says is 3.00% for most US merchants, and it is not offered where state law restricts it) and a cash discount program in its help center. With the program, card processing costs your restaurant $0 in our estimate and your customers pay the difference. Clover doesn't say whether its cash discount or surcharge covers tips. Card network rules and state laws apply, and some states limit or ban surcharges.
Cards the program coversEvery card, debit and credit (dual pricing or cash discount)Source: Clover Help Center (opens in a new tab)Clover offers a cash discount, where every card pays the listed price, and a credit card surcharge, which never applies to debit. When a vendor publishes both, we use the program that covers every card, the same for every vendor.
Monthly fee for the programUnconfirmed()Source: Clover Help Center (opens in a new tab)Clover's help articles on cash discount and surcharging don't mention a fee for the program.
Your POS and your business
Data pointValue
Works with these restaurant POSClover, OthersSource: Clover (opens in a new tab)Processing built into Clover POS, and other POS systems too: Clover's semi-integration lets another POS take payments on a Clover device (see "Requires the vendor's own POS"). Same rule for every vendor: "others" when the vendor documents its processing on another POS.
Requires the vendor's own POSNoSource: Clover (Fiserv) developer docs (opens in a new tab)Clover's processing comes with Clover POS, and other POS software can use it too: Clover's semi-integration lets another POS take payments on a Clover device, with Clover's processing. Same rule for every vendor: "no" when the vendor documents a way to use its processing with another POS.
Monthly volume it's built forUnconfirmedSource: Clover (opens in a new tab)Clover publishes no minimum volume; its account minimum fee depends on your account.
Accepts high-risk businessesUnconfirmedSource: Clover (opens in a new tab)Clover doesn't publish which business types it accepts.
Routes debit to the lowest-cost networkNot publishedSource: Clover Help Center (opens in a new tab)Clover doesn't publish how it routes debit cards.
Support
Data pointValue
24/7 support for merchantsYesSource: Clover (opens in a new tab)
Support channelsPhoneSource: Clover Help Center (opens in a new tab)Phone, plus the help options inside the dashboard and on the devices; Clover doesn't list chat or email.
Language
Data pointValue
Support in SpanishUnconfirmedSource: Clover Help Center (opens in a new tab)Clover's US help center and contact page don't mention support in Spanish.
Merchant dashboard in SpanishUnconfirmedSource: Clover Help Center (opens in a new tab)Clover doesn't document a Spanish version of its US dashboard.
Contract or terms in SpanishUnconfirmedSource: Clover (opens in a new tab)Clover doesn't publish its merchant agreement.
US website in SpanishNoSource: Clover (opens in a new tab)The /es-US address shows the site in English and the site's language map has no US Spanish version.

More about Clover

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How we score