Not enough data to score 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.
RTC SCORE
7.3
#4 of 16 with enough data
Square
Square's card processing, built into Square for Restaurants: flat rates from 2.6% + 15¢ in person on Square Free (2.5% on Plus and 2.4% on Premium), with no PCI, statement or chargeback fees, month to month and with no early termination fee. Its surcharge only covers in-person credit card sales.
Key differences
| Data point | Clover | Square |
|---|---|---|
| Published pricing (points out of 100) | 40 | 100 |
| In-person rate | 2.3% | 2.6% |
| In-person fee per transaction | 10¢ | 15¢ |
| Online rate | 3.5% | 3.3% |
| Online fee per transaction | 10¢ | 30¢ |
| Keyed-in fee per transaction | 10¢ | 15¢ |
| Price of a countertop terminal | $1,799 one-time | $299 one-time |
| Equipment lease you can't cancel | Yes | No |
| Instant payout fee | 1.75% | 1.95% |
| Contract term | 36 months | Month to month |
| Works with these restaurant POS | Clover, Others | Square, Others |
| 24/7 support for merchants | Yes | No |
| Support channels | Phone | Phone, Chat, Email or form |
Side by side
| Feature | CloverRTC Score: Not enough data | SquareRTC Score: 7.3 out of 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Type of processor and pricing | ||
| Type of processor | Processor 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. | Flat-rate payment company (payment facilitator)Source: Square (opens in a new tab)A flat-rate payment company whose processing comes with its own POS. |
| Pricing model | Flat 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. | Flat rateSource: Square Support Center (opens in a new tab) |
| 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. | 100(Best value)Source: Square (opens in a new tab)In-person rate 25, online and keyed-in rates 15, plan fees 20, $0 early termination fee stated 20, other fees 20 (PCI, chargebacks, inactivity, transfers and international cards are listed). |
| Card rates | ||
| In-person rate | 2.3%(Best value)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. | 2.6%Source: Square (opens in a new tab)On Square Free. Square Plus is 2.5% + 15¢ and Square Premium 2.4% + 15¢. Businesses processing over $250,000 a year can ask about custom pricing. |
| In-person fee per transaction | 10¢(Best value)Source: Clover (opens in a new tab) | 15¢Source: Square (opens in a new tab) |
| Online rate | 3.5%Source: Clover (opens in a new tab)Clover's typed-in rate also covers online and phone orders, where the card isn't present. | 3.3%(Best value)Source: Square (opens in a new tab)On Square Free. Square Plus and Square Premium charge 2.9% + 30¢ online. |
| Online fee per transaction | 10¢(Best value)Source: Clover (opens in a new tab) | 30¢Source: Square (opens in a new tab) |
| Keyed-in rate | 3.5%Source: Clover (opens in a new tab) | 3.5%Source: Square (opens in a new tab)The same on every plan, also for cards on file. |
| Keyed-in fee per transaction | 10¢(Best value)Source: Clover (opens in a new tab) | 15¢Source: Square (opens in a new tab) |
| American Express pricing | Same 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. | Same rate as other cardsSource: Square (opens in a new tab) |
| American Express rate | N/ASource: Clover (opens in a new tab)Doesn't apply: on clover.com, American Express costs the same as other cards. | N/ASource: Square (opens in a new tab)Doesn't apply: American Express costs the same as other cards. |
| Rates by monthly volume | No 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) | No tiers by volume: the rate depends on the plan (in person, 2.6% + 15¢ on Square Free, 2.5% + 15¢ on Square Plus and 2.4% + 15¢ on Square Premium). Over $250,000 a year you can ask Square for custom pricing.Source: Square (opens in a new tab) |
| Monthly and other fees | ||
| Monthly account or plan fee | Not 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. | $0/moSource: Square (opens in a new tab)Square Free, $0 a month per location. Square Plus is $49 and Square Premium $149 a month per location, with lower card rates; for our reference restaurant Square Free costs less. |
| Annual fee per account | 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. | $0/yrSource: Square (opens in a new tab)Square publishes its full fee list (Learn about Square fees), and it has no statement, annual, batch or minimum fee: on Square Free you only pay processing fees when you take a payment. |
| Annual fees per device or location | Not 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. | $0/yr per deviceSource: Square Support Center (opens in a new tab)Square publishes its full fee list (Learn about Square fees), and it has no annual, PCI or regulatory fee per device. What it does charge per device is monthly: the KDS and Kiosk apps on Square Plus and Premium. |
| 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. | $0/yrSource: Square Support Center (opens in a new tab) |
| 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. | N/ASource: Square (opens in a new tab)Doesn't apply: Square keeps the PCI certification as merchant of record, so you don't validate your own. |
| Statement fee | Not 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. | $0/moSource: Square (opens in a new tab)Square publishes its full fee list (Learn about Square fees), and it has no statement, annual, batch or minimum fee: on Square Free you only pay processing fees when you take a payment. |
| Monthly minimum | 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. | $0/moSource: Square (opens in a new tab)Square publishes its full fee list (Learn about Square fees), and it has no statement, annual, batch or minimum fee: on Square Free you only pay processing fees when you take a payment. |
| Fee per batch | Not publishedSource: Clover Help Center (opens in a new tab)Clover lists batch fees among the fees on its processing statement, without the amount. | $0Source: Square (opens in a new tab)Square publishes its full fee list (Learn about Square fees), and it has no statement, annual, batch or minimum fee: on Square Free you only pay processing fees when you take a payment. |
| Chargeback fee | Not 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. | $0Source: Square Support Center (opens in a new tab)Square doesn't charge for chargebacks or dispute management; you still lose the disputed amount if the customer wins. |
| Other fees | Start-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) | Cards issued outside the US: an extra 1.5%. Gift card loads: 2.5% on Square Free and Plus. Afterpay: 6% + 30¢. ACH bank transfers on invoices: 1% ($1 minimum). Instant or same-day transfers: 1.95%. KDS app: $30 a month per device on Square Plus ($20 on Premium); Kiosk app: $50 ($30 on Premium).Source: Square (opens in a new tab) |
| Equipment | ||
| How you get the equipment | You 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. | You buy itSource: Square (opens in a new tab)You buy it, upfront or in monthly installments financed by Block (for example $27 a month for 12 months for Square Terminal). |
| 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. | $299 one-time(Best value)Source: Square (opens in a new tab)Square Terminal, a countertop and portable card terminal. Square Register costs $899. |
| Equipment lease you can't cancel | YesSource: 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. | No(Best value)Source: Square (opens in a new tab)You buy Square's hardware; the installments are a purchase loan from Block, not a lease. |
| Equipment lease term | 36 monthsSource: Clover (opens in a new tab) | N/ASource: Square (opens in a new tab)Doesn't apply: Square doesn't lease its hardware. |
| Equipment at $0 upfront: what it commits you to | A 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) | No equipment at $0 upfront tied to a term. Square gives you the magstripe reader at no cost and sells the rest, with optional installments.Source: Square Support Center (opens in a new tab) |
| Equipment only works with this processor | YesSource: Clover (opens in a new tab) | UnconfirmedSource: Square (opens in a new tab)Square's hardware runs Square's own apps, but its hardware pages, sales policy and terms don't say whether it can work with another processor. |
| Getting your money | ||
| Standard deposit speed | Two 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%. | Next business daySource: Square Support Center (opens in a new tab)Every Square merchant starts on the standard next-business-day transfer, at no extra cost: payments taken before 5 p.m. PT (8 p.m. ET) arrive the next business day, and later ones by the second business day. Instant or same-day transfers cost 1.95%. With Square Checking, your money is available right after each sale. |
| Instant payout fee | 1.75%(Best value)Source: Clover (opens in a new tab)Rapid Deposit, within minutes of a card sale. | 1.95%Source: Square (opens in a new tab)For instant and same-day transfers, from $25 up to $10,000 per transfer. |
| Holds and reserves | UnconfirmedSource: 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. | Square may delay payouts or require a reserve if it considers your business risky, and it can hold chargeback amounts and delay payouts while chargebacks are pending (Payment Terms §14 and §20).Source: Square (opens in a new tab) |
| Contract and exit | ||
| Contract term | 36 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. | Month to month(Best value)Source: Square (opens in a new tab) |
| Automatic renewal | Quote 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. | Month to monthSource: Square (opens in a new tab)Month to month, with no renewal term. |
| Notice to avoid renewal | Quote 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. | 0 daysSource: Square (opens in a new tab)No notice: you deactivate your account. |
| Notice to cancel | Quote 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. | 0 daysSource: Square (opens in a new tab)You end the agreement by deactivating your account, with no notice period. |
| Early termination fee | Quote 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. | No early termination fee. Subscription fees already paid are not refunded.Source: Square Support Center (opens in a new tab) |
| How the early termination fee is calculated | Quote 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. | No early termination feeSource: Square Support Center (opens in a new tab)Square lists early termination among the things it doesn't charge for. |
| Liquidated damages clause | Quote 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. | NoSource: Square Support Center (opens in a new tab)No early termination fee or liquidated damages. |
| Price increases during the contract | Quote 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. | With notice, and you can leave without a feeSource: Square (opens in a new tab)Square can change its fees with reasonable advance notice; since there is no term or early termination fee, you can leave if you don't accept the change. |
| Right to raise prices | Quote 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. | Square may change its processing fees with reasonable advance notice (Payment Terms §4), and its terms at any time with the notice it considers reasonable (General Terms §2).Source: Square (opens in a new tab) |
| Personal guarantee by the signer | Not publishedSource: Clover (opens in a new tab)Clover doesn't publish its merchant agreement. | No()Source: Square (opens in a new tab)Neither Square's General Terms nor its Payment Terms contain a personal guarantee by the signer. |
| Dual pricing and surcharges | ||
| Dual pricing or surcharge program | YesSource: 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. | YesSource: Square Support Center (opens in a new tab)Credit card surcharging, in open beta in the US: in person only, credit cards only, up to 3% and never above your cost of acceptance, and not available in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts or Puerto Rico. Square publishes no dual pricing program. In our estimate, card processing on in-person credit card sales costs your restaurant $0 with the surcharge and your customers pay it; debit and online sales keep Square's rate. In practice part of that cost stays with you: Square charges its fee on the whole sale, including tax and tip, tips can't be surcharged, and the 3% cap can fall below Square's fee on small tickets (2.6% + 15¢ is about 3.03% of a $35 ticket). Card network rules and state laws apply. |
| Cards the program covers | Every 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. | Credit cards only (surcharge)Source: Square Support Center (opens in a new tab) |
| Monthly fee for the program | Unconfirmed()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. | UnconfirmedSource: Square Support Center (opens in a new tab)Square's surcharge article and its fee list don't mention a fee for the program, and Square doesn't say it charges none. |
| Your POS and your business | ||
| Works with these restaurant POS | Clover, 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. | Square, OthersSource: Square (opens in a new tab)Processing built into Square's POS, and other POS systems too: Square's Terminal API connects another POS application to Square Terminal (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 POS | NoSource: 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. | NoSource: Square Developer (opens in a new tab)Square's processing comes with Square's POS, and other POS software can use it too: Square's Terminal API connects another POS application to Square Terminal, and its fee list publishes rates for payments through its APIs. Same rule for every vendor: "no" when the vendor documents a way to use its processing with another POS. |
| Monthly volume it's built for | UnconfirmedSource: Clover (opens in a new tab)Clover publishes no minimum volume; its account minimum fee depends on your account. | $0/moSource: Square (opens in a new tab)No minimum volume. Over $250,000 a year (about $20,800 a month) Square offers custom pricing. |
| Accepts high-risk businesses | UnconfirmedSource: Clover (opens in a new tab)Clover doesn't publish which business types it accepts. | NoSource: Square (opens in a new tab)Square's Payment Terms list business types it doesn't serve; it isn't a high-risk specialist. |
| Routes debit to the lowest-cost network | Not publishedSource: Clover Help Center (opens in a new tab)Clover doesn't publish how it routes debit cards. | Not publishedSource: Square (opens in a new tab)Square doesn't publish how it routes debit cards; with flat pricing the routing doesn't change your rate. |
| Support | ||
| 24/7 support for merchants | Yes(Best value)Source: Clover (opens in a new tab) | NoSource: Square (opens in a new tab)24/7 phone support comes only with Square Premium ($149 per location a month). On Square Free, phone support is 6 am to 6 pm PT on weekdays for the first 90 days; on Square Plus it's 6 am to 6 pm PT on weekdays. We score the support of the plan our cost uses (Square Free), the same for every vendor. |
| Support channels | PhoneSource: 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. | Phone, Chat, Email or formSource: Square (opens in a new tab)Chat and email on every plan; phone hours depend on the plan (see 24/7 support). |
Contracts compared
| Product | Initial term | Auto-renewal | Early termination fee | Price increases during the term | Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CloverSource: Clover (opens in a new tab) | 36 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. | Quote only | Quote only | Quote only | No data |
| SquareSource: Square Support Center (opens in a new tab) | Month to monthSource: Square (opens in a new tab) | No auto-renewalSource: Square (opens in a new tab)Month to month, with no renewal term. | No early termination fee. Subscription fees already paid are not refunded. | Square may change its processing fees with reasonable advance notice (Payment Terms §4), and its terms at any time with the notice it considers reasonable (General Terms §2).Source: Square (opens in a new tab) | No data |
This is general information about published contracts, not legal advice: read your own contract and check with a lawyer before you sign.
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