The verdict
- Pick Square if you’re small, new or seasonal. Square Free is $0 a month at 2.6% + 15¢ per in-person sale, and Square says there are no locked-in contracts.
- Pick Clover if you want a full hardware bundle and have the sales to cover it. Clover’s Growth bundles charge 2.3% + 10¢ in person, but rent for $179 to $354 a month over 36 months.
- Clover’s cheapest bundle is close to Square Free. Retail Basic is $16 a month for 36 months (or $349 up front) at 2.6% + 10¢. It saves 5¢ a sale, so it beats Square Free once you pass 320 payments a month.
- Square publishes more of its prices. Square lists its online rate. Clover doesn’t publish an online rate or payout timing on its pricing pages.
| Feature | Square Checked Oct 19, 2026 | Clover Checked Oct 19, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Flat rate | Flat or custom |
| In person | 2.6% + 15¢ | 2.3% + 10¢ |
| Online | 3.3% + 30¢ | By quote |
| Keyed in | 3.5% + 15¢ | 3.5% + 10¢ |
| Monthly cost | $0 (Free plan) | Plans from $16 |
| Contract | No contract | 36-month hardware subscription option; terms vary by reseller |
| Payouts | Next business day free (payments before 5 PM PT); faster for a fee | Not published |
| True cost: first year at $10K/month | $3,899 (est.) | Not calculable from published prices |
| Visit | Visit Square | Visit Clover |
The Clover in-person rate in the table is the 2.3% + 10¢ on its Growth software bundles. Its Retail Basic bundle charges 2.6% + 10¢.
What a month costs
These are estimates. They use Square’s Free plan and Clover.com’s listed retail bundle prices, with the hardware rented for 36 months unless we say otherwise. They assume every payment is a card used in person. Square’s figures don’t include hardware: its basic reader is $59, bought once.
Example 1: a small shop, $5,000 a month, 200 payments.
- Square Free: 2.6% × $5,000 = $130, plus 200 × 15¢ = $30. About $160 a month.
- Clover Retail Basic: 2.6% × $5,000 = $130, plus 200 × 10¢ = $20, plus $16 for the bundle. About $166 a month.
- Clover Retail Standard: 2.3% × $5,000 = $115, plus $20, plus $180 for the bundle. About $315 a month.
Example 2: a busier shop, $20,000 a month, 800 payments.
- Square Free: 2.6% × $20,000 = $520, plus 800 × 15¢ = $120. About $640 a month.
- Clover Retail Basic: 2.6% × $20,000 = $520, plus 800 × 10¢ = $80, plus $16. About $616 a month.
- Clover Retail Standard, rented: 2.3% × $20,000 = $460, plus $80, plus $180. About $720 a month.
- Clover Retail Standard, hardware bought for $1,899: $460, plus $80, plus $84.95 software. About $624.95 a month, after the $1,899 up front.
Retail Basic beats Square Free only when its 5¢ per-sale saving passes its $16 bundle price, which takes 320 payments a month. These are Clover.com prices. Clover says prices through a bank or reseller can differ. Compare your own month in the fee calculator.
Differences that matter beyond rates
Hardware and contracts. Clover rents its bundles over 36 months. Clover says that if you don’t buy or return the equipment at the end, “your subscription term will be extended at the same monthly charge,” and you must tell Clover at least 30 days before the term ends. Square lists one-off hardware prices, from a $59 reader to an $899 register, and says you can “cancel or switch anytime.”
Hardware promotions. Clover says its hardware promotion “requires a 3-year contract” and $10,000 or more in card sales within the first four billing cycles.
Who sells it. Clover is sold direct and by Citi, PNC, Wells Fargo and more than 3,000 other financial institutions. Clover says contract terms and termination fees “can vary based on your service provider.”
Online and typed-in cards. Square publishes 3.3% + 30¢ online on Free. Clover doesn’t publish a separate online rate. Typed-in cards cost 3.5% + 15¢ at Square and 3.5% + 10¢ at Clover.
Payouts. Square: next business day, free, for payments before 5 PM PT, or instantly for 1.95%. Clover doesn’t publish standard payout timing. Its Rapid Deposit, with funds in minutes, costs 1.75%.
Pick Square if
- You want $0 a month in slow months and no contract.
- You don’t want a 36-month hardware term that extends unless you act.
- You sell online as well as in person and want to see the online rate up front.
Pick Clover if
- You want a complete hardware bundle and can commit to a 36-month term.
- You take more than 320 payments a month, where Retail Basic’s 10¢ per sale beats Square’s 15¢.
- You’re buying direct from Clover.com, so the listed prices apply to you.
More on each: our full pages on Square fees and Clover pricing. Running a restaurant? See Toast vs Clover and Square vs Toast.
Common questions
Is Clover cheaper than Square?
Per sale, Clover's Growth bundles are cheaper: 2.3% + 10¢ in person, against 2.6% + 15¢ on Square Free. But those bundles cost $179 to $354 a month when you rent the hardware for 36 months. Clover's cheapest retail bundle is $16 a month at 2.6% + 10¢. On a small business, Square Free often costs less in total.
Does Clover have a contract?
Clover offers 36-month hardware subscriptions. Clover says the term extends at the same monthly charge if you don't buy or return the equipment, and you must tell Clover at least 30 days before the term ends. Clover also says contract and termination terms vary by who sells it to you. Square says there are no locked-in contracts.
Why do Clover prices differ from what my bank quoted?
Clover says the prices on its site "are only available on Clover.com." Clover is also sold by banks such as Citi, PNC and Wells Fargo, and by more than 3,000 other financial institutions, each with its own terms. So a quote from your bank may not match Clover's website. Get every fee in writing.
Which is better for online sales, Square or Clover?
Square publishes its online rates: 3.3% + 30¢ on the Free plan, or 2.9% + 30¢ on Plus and Premium. Clover doesn't publish a separate online rate on its pricing pages. Both list typed-in card rates at 3.5%, plus 15¢ at Square and 10¢ at Clover. If you sell online, get Clover's rate in writing first.