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.
Not enough data to score Toast Payments
Toast's card processing, required with Toast POS: a flat rate Toast quotes to each restaurant and doesn't publish. Toast Dual Pricing, for eligible new customers, passes the card cost to your customers. The term is set in your order form, and leaving early costs the software fees left in it.
Key differences
| Data point | Clover | Toast Payments |
|---|---|---|
| Published pricing (points out of 100) | 40 | 20 |
| In-person rate | 2.3% | 2.49% |
| In-person fee per transaction | 10¢ | 15¢ |
| Online fee per transaction | 10¢ | 15¢ |
| Keyed-in fee per transaction | 10¢ | 15¢ |
| Equipment lease term | 36 months | 6 months |
| Works with these restaurant POS | Clover, Others | Toast |
| Requires the vendor's own POS | No | Yes |
| Support channels | Phone | Phone, Chat |
Side by side
| Feature | CloverRTC Score: Not enough data | Toast PaymentsRTC Score: Not enough data |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Processing built into a restaurant POSSource: Toast (opens in a new tab)This is the processing that comes with Toast POS: you also pay the POS software, which we compare in our restaurant POS section. |
| 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 rate()Source: Toast (opens in a new tab)Flat rates by card-present and card-not-present sale, quoted per restaurant. Toast's help center also mentions interchange-plus customers. |
| Published pricing (points out of 100) | 40(Best value)Source: 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. | 20Source: Toast (opens in a new tab)Early termination fee published (the software fees left, or $150 a month on pay-as-you-go) 20. Card rates, monthly and other processing fees are only in your quote: 0. |
| 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. | 2.49%()(due for a re-check)Source: NerdWallet (opens in a new tab)Rate with hardware paid up front, as reported by NerdWallet; Toast does not publish its rates on its own site. Pay-as-you-go (Starter Kit) is 3.09% to 3.69% + 15¢. |
| In-person fee per transaction | 10¢(Best value)Source: Clover (opens in a new tab) | 15¢()(due for a re-check)Source: NerdWallet (opens in a new tab)As reported by NerdWallet (Aug 6, 2026). Toast quotes each restaurant its own rate ("custom-built rate") and doesn't publish it. |
| 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. | 3.5%()(due for a re-check)Source: NerdWallet (opens in a new tab)As reported by NerdWallet (Aug 6, 2026). Toast quotes each restaurant its own rate ("custom-built rate") and doesn't publish it. |
| Online fee per transaction | 10¢(Best value)Source: Clover (opens in a new tab) | 15¢()(due for a re-check)Source: NerdWallet (opens in a new tab)As reported by NerdWallet (Aug 6, 2026). Toast quotes each restaurant its own rate ("custom-built rate") and doesn't publish it. |
| Keyed-in rate | 3.5%Source: Clover (opens in a new tab) | 3.5%()(due for a re-check)Source: NerdWallet (opens in a new tab)NerdWallet reports one card-not-present rate for keyed and online payments (Aug 6, 2026); Toast quotes its rates and doesn't publish them. |
| Keyed-in fee per transaction | 10¢(Best value)Source: Clover (opens in a new tab) | 15¢()(due for a re-check)Source: NerdWallet (opens in a new tab)As reported by NerdWallet (Aug 6, 2026). Toast quotes each restaurant its own rate ("custom-built rate") and doesn't publish it. |
| 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. | Quote onlySource: Toast (opens in a new tab)Toast accepts American Express through the Amex OptBlue program; its rate is in your quote. |
| 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. | Quote onlySource: Toast (opens in a new tab)Toast quotes each restaurant its own rate and doesn't publish it; you see it in your order form and on your processing statement. |
| 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) | Quote onlySource: Toast (opens in a new tab)Toast publishes no tiers: it builds a custom rate for each restaurant. |
| 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. | Quote onlySource: Toast Central (help center) (opens in a new tab)Any monthly processing fee is set in your order form. The POS software subscription is apart (from $69 a month on the Point of Sale plan), and we compare it in our restaurant POS section. |
| 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. | Not publishedSource: Toast Central (help center) (opens in a new tab)Toast publishes no fee schedule for its processing: the line items of its processing statement show card fees based on your rate, monthly adjustments and withholdings, but Toast doesn't say it charges no such fee. The fees are in your order form. |
| 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. | Not publishedSource: Toast Central (help center) (opens in a new tab)Toast publishes no fee schedule for its processing: the line items of its processing statement show card fees based on your rate, monthly adjustments and withholdings, but Toast doesn't say it charges no such fee. The fees are in your order form. |
| 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. | Not publishedSource: Toast Central (help center) (opens in a new tab)Toast publishes no fee schedule for its processing: the line items of its processing statement show card fees based on your rate, monthly adjustments and withholdings, but Toast doesn't say it charges no such fee. The fees are in your order form. |
| 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. | Not publishedSource: Toast Central (help center) (opens in a new tab)Toast publishes no fee schedule for its processing: the line items of its processing statement show card fees based on your rate, monthly adjustments and withholdings, but Toast doesn't say it charges no such fee. The fees are in your order form. |
| 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. | Not publishedSource: Toast Central (help center) (opens in a new tab)Toast publishes no fee schedule for its processing: the line items of its processing statement show card fees based on your rate, monthly adjustments and withholdings, but Toast doesn't say it charges no such fee. The fees are in your order form. |
| 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. | Quote only()Source: Toast Central (help center) (opens in a new tab)With Toast Dual Pricing packages: if your card fees in a month are below the minimum, you pay the difference (Toast's example is a $1,600 minimum). It's waived the month you go live and the next two. Pay-as-you-go plans can also carry processing minimums. |
| 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. | Not publishedSource: Toast Central (help center) (opens in a new tab)Toast publishes no fee schedule for its processing: the line items of its processing statement show card fees based on your rate, monthly adjustments and withholdings, but Toast doesn't say it charges no such fee. The fees are in your order form. |
| 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. | Not publishedSource: Toast Central (help center) (opens in a new tab)Toast doesn't publish it; a Toast order form a county made public in 2025 charged $15 per chargeback. |
| 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) | Toast Easy Pay (hardware lease): Toast keeps 0.75% of your daily card sales (1.75% before you go live) for 180 days. Instant deposit: Toast doesn't publish its cost. Toast Dual Pricing packages can carry a Monthly Minimum Processing Fee, and pay-as-you-go plans an inactivity fee when you miss their processing minimums.Source: Toast (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 it, LeaseSource: Toast (opens in a new tab)You pay the hardware upfront (0% financing by application) or with Toast Easy Pay, a 180-day lease paid from your card sales. |
| 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. | Quote onlySource: Toast (opens in a new tab)Toast doesn't publish the price of a terminal on its own. |
| 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. | YesSource: Toast (opens in a new tab)Only if you choose Toast Easy Pay: you owe the whole lease amount, and Toast collects what's left at the end of the term. Buying the hardware upfront avoids it. |
| Equipment lease term | 36 monthsSource: Clover (opens in a new tab) | 6 months(Best value)Source: Toast (opens in a new tab)180 days. |
| 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) | Toast's pay-as-you-go plan in the Starter Package lowers the upfront hardware cost through a higher all-in rate; leaving it early costs $150 for each month left in the term.Source: Toast (opens in a new tab) |
| Equipment only works with this processor | YesSource: Clover (opens in a new tab) | YesSource: Toast Central (help center) (opens in a new tab)Toast's services only run on approved Toast hardware, and Toast requires its own processing. |
| 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%. | Two business daysSource: Toast Central (help center) (opens in a new tab)Batches that process before 9:30 p.m. ET deposit the next business day, but Toast says most restaurants batch after closing and often miss that cutoff; then the deposit takes two to three business days. We count two business days, because Toast says most restaurants miss the cutoff. Toast's processing terms say 1 to 2 business days after settlement, and instant deposit is also available. |
| Instant payout fee | 1.75%Source: Clover (opens in a new tab)Rapid Deposit, within minutes of a card sale. | Not publishedSource: Toast (opens in a new tab)Toast offers instant deposit (up to $10,000 a day, not for American Express Direct sales) but doesn't publish its cost. |
| 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. | Toast may delay payouts, set a reserve of your funds or require you to keep funds in your account to cover risks, and may defer payouts during an investigation or dispute (Payment Processing Terms §4 and §8).Source: Toast (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. | Quote onlySource: Toast (opens in a new tab)Set in your order form (Merchant Agreement §8.1). NerdWallet reports terms of two to three years, and Toast order forms made public by local governments show 36 months (2023) and 24 months (2025). |
| 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. | 12 monthsSource: Toast (opens in a new tab)A renewal is under the then-current Merchant Agreement, and earlier promotions no longer apply (§8.1). |
| 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. | 30 daysSource: Toast (opens in a new tab) |
| 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: Toast (opens in a new tab)You can end the agreement before its term if you pay the early termination fee; the agreement sets no notice period for that. To stop the automatic renewal you give 30 days' written notice. |
| 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. | The software subscription fees left in the term; on a pay-as-you-go plan such as the Starter Kit, $150 for each month left. Plus any processing fee tied to software financing (Merchant Agreement §8.4). If Toast raises your card rates and you terminate before they take effect, the fee doesn't apply (§6.2).Source: Toast (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. | Liquidated damages: the fees or processing left in the termSource: Toast (opens in a new tab)The software fees left in the term, or $150 for each month left on pay-as-you-go (Merchant Agreement §8.4). |
| 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. | YesSource: Toast (opens in a new tab) |
| 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: Toast (opens in a new tab)Scored on card processing rates, the same for every vendor: Toast can change them with 30 days' written notice, and if it raises them you can terminate without the early termination fee (Merchant Agreement §6.2). If it raises another non-software fee, you can only drop that product or service, not the agreement; at or during a renewal Toast can change any fee with 30 days' notice; and prepaid amounts aren't refunded. |
| 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. | Software fees stay the same during the initial term. Toast may change card rates and other non-software fees at any time with 30 days' written notice, and any fee at or during a renewal. If it raises card rates or the core POS fee, you can terminate without the early termination fee (Merchant Agreement §6.2).Source: Toast (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. | NoSource: Toast (opens in a new tab)Neither the Merchant Agreement, its payment processing terms nor a public Toast order form (2025) contains a personal guarantee. Each owner of 25% or more authorizes Toast to pull personal credit reports. |
| 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: Toast (opens in a new tab)Toast publishes two programs: Toast Dual Pricing (card price and a cash price 4% lower by default; for now only for eligible new US customers) and Credit Card Surcharging (credit cards only, up to 3%, not in CT, ME or MA). With the program, card processing costs your restaurant $0 in our estimate and your customers pay the difference. Toast itself says surcharging offsets your costs by adding revenue, not by lowering your fees. Toast's cash discount applies to the subtotal before tax and tip, so the card fee on tax and tips isn't offset. Card network rules and state laws apply, and some states limit or ban surcharges. |
| 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. | Every card, debit and credit (dual pricing or cash discount)Source: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)Toast also offers credit card surcharging, which only covers credit cards. When a vendor publishes both, we use the program that covers every card, the same for every vendor. Toast says you still pay your contract rate on every card sale; the card price your customers pay offsets it. Toast Dual Pricing is for eligible new US customers. |
| 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. | Unconfirmed()Source: Toast Central (help center) (opens in a new tab)Toast doesn't publish a separate fee for Dual Pricing or surcharging; its Dual Pricing packages can carry a monthly processing minimum. |
| 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. | ToastSource: Toast Central (help center) (opens in a new tab)Processing built into this POS: it lists its own POS. |
| Requires the vendor's own POS | No(Best value)Source: 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. | YesSource: Toast Central (help center) (opens in a new tab)Toast's processing only runs through Toast POS, and Toast POS only works with it; Toast documents no way to use its processing with another POS. Same rule for every vendor: "yes" unless 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. | Quote onlySource: Toast (opens in a new tab)Toast publishes no minimum volume; pay-as-you-go plans and Dual Pricing packages can carry processing minimums set in your order. |
| Accepts high-risk businesses | UnconfirmedSource: Clover (opens in a new tab)Clover doesn't publish which business types it accepts. | UnconfirmedSource: Toast (opens in a new tab)Toast serves restaurants and retail; its terms don't publish a list of accepted or refused business types. |
| 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: Toast (opens in a new tab)Toast doesn't publish how it routes debit cards. |
| Support | ||
| 24/7 support for merchants | YesSource: Clover (opens in a new tab) | YesSource: Toast (opens in a new tab) |
| 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, ChatSource: Toast (opens in a new tab) |
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 |
| Toast PaymentsSource: Toast (opens in a new tab) | Quote only | Renews for 12 months30 days' notice to cancel renewal | The software subscription fees left in the term; on a pay-as-you-go plan such as the Starter Kit, $150 for each month left. Plus any processing fee tied to software financing (Merchant Agreement §8.4). If Toast raises your card rates and you terminate before they take effect, the fee doesn't apply (§6.2).How it's calculated: 100% of the fees left in the term | Software fees stay the same during the initial term. Toast may change card rates and other non-software fees at any time with 30 days' written notice, and any fee at or during a renewal. If it raises card rates or the core POS fee, you can terminate without the early termination fee (Merchant Agreement §6.2). | 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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