RetailPOS vs Clover
Last reviewed 2026-08-13 · by the RetailPOS team
Clover is a mature, capable platform and its hardware is genuinely good. The differences that matter are commercial, not functional: how you get the hardware, whether your processing is locked, and whether features come included or as paid apps. Here is the honest breakdown.
At a glance
| RetailPOS | Clover | |
|---|---|---|
| Software pricing | $29–69/shop/month, flat | $0–80/mo + marketplace app costs |
| Hardware | Use your own, buy once | Clover hardware, often leased $60–120/mo |
| Card processing | Bring your own (e.g. Stripe) | Fiserv/First Data (locked) |
| Feature model | All features on every plan | Base plan + paid marketplace apps |
| All-in-one first-party terminals | No | Yes — Station, Mini, Flex |
| Multi-store on base plan | Yes | Varies |
| Works offline | Yes | Limited |
| Tamper-evident audit trail | Yes — hash-chained | No |
Where Clover wins
Hardware.Clover's Station, Mini and Flex are well-built, purpose-designed all-in-one units with integrated card handling. RetailPOS has no first-party hardware — you assemble a tablet, printer and card reader yourself, which is more flexible but less turnkey.
Bank / ISO distribution and support. Clover is sold and supported by banks and merchant service providers, so many owners get it bundled with a local relationship and in-person help. RetailPOS is self-serve.
Bundled processing simplicity.If your bank negotiated a Clover processing rate you're happy with, having payments, hardware and software from one provider is genuinely simpler to manage.
App marketplace breadth.Clover's marketplace has a wide range of third-party add-ons for niche needs. RetailPOS ships a fixed, included feature set rather than an app store.
Where RetailPOS wins
No hardware lease. Clover hardware is frequently quoted at $0 down with a $60–120/month lease over 36 months — often $2,160–4,320 total. RetailPOS runs on tablets and printers you buy once and own.
Bring your own processing. Clover ties payments to Fiserv/First Data at their rate. RetailPOS lets you connect your own processor and negotiate the rate against your volume.
Features included, not bought app-by-app.Advanced reporting, customer engagement and employee management are often $10–50/month marketplace apps on Clover. On RetailPOS they're in the base plan.
Multi-store, offline and audit. Cross-location stock and reporting are standard, the register runs offline, and receipts are tamper-evident and hash-chained with regional e-invoicing built in.
Who should pick which
Pick Clover if you want polished all-in-one hardware, prefer buying through a bank or ISO with local support, are happy with a bundled processing deal, or need a specific third-party app from its marketplace.
Pick RetailPOS if you want to own your hardware rather than lease it, choose and negotiate your own processor, avoid paying app-by-app for features, or need offline resilience and compliance-grade audit trails across multiple stores.
One caveat before switching: check your Clover/ISO contract for lease and early-termination terms — those are set by your provider, not by RetailPOS. If you move, the Clover migration guide covers exporting items, inventory and customers.
Frequently asked
- Do I have to use Fiserv processing with RetailPOS?
- No. RetailPOS is bring-your-own-processor, so you choose your provider (e.g. Stripe) and negotiate the rate. Clover locks processing to Fiserv/First Data.
- Can I use my Clover hardware with RetailPOS?
- Clover's all-in-one terminals are tied to Clover's software and processing and won't run RetailPOS. RetailPOS runs on standard tablets and printers; general-purpose peripherals you own (printers, cash drawers, scanners) usually carry over.
- Is Clover cheaper than RetailPOS?
- Look at the total, not the monthly software fee. Clover's base plan can be cheap or free, but hardware lease and marketplace app costs add up; RetailPOS is a flat per-shop fee with hardware you buy once and features included. Compare over 36 months, not per month.
- Can I get out of a Clover hardware lease?
- That depends on your Clover/ISO contract terms, not on RetailPOS — check your lease before switching. RetailPOS itself has no hardware lease.
Open your shop in 30 seconds.
No card. Free until your first 100 sales. No cut of your sales; keep your hardware.