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Clover vs Toast
Clover vs Toast for restaurants: payment processing, hardware, business types, upfront costs and support, compared fairly with dated sources.
Compare
Clover vs Square
Both are good point of sale systems. The real difference is how you get paid and who sets you up: Clover runs on a merchant account from a provider like us, and Square is its own payment provider with published flat rates.
Two-minute request. Our team in Newnan follows up.
Registered ISO · Office in Newnan, Georgia · Serving businesses nationwide
The short answer
Clover or Square?
Pick Clover if
- You want a merchant account of your own, with processing quoted for your business
- You want a local team to pick your devices, install them and train your staff
- You want a range of devices, from a payments-only Compact to a two-screen station and a self-order kiosk
- You want the 3.5% off for cash program at your counter
Pick Square if
- You want to sign up yourself online and start selling the same day
- You want to start on a free software plan
- You prefer published flat rates that are the same for every card brand
- Your volume is small and occasional, so a quote for your business matters less
Side by side
Clover and Square, row by row
| Compared | Clover through Stratamize | Square |
|---|---|---|
| How you get paid53 | A merchant account set up with your Clover. Clover's own materials state that use of Clover requires a merchant processing agreement. | Square is the payment provider. Square says you do not need a separate merchant account, only a dedicated bank account. |
| Processing pricing2 | Quoted for your business before you sign; the quote names the model and your rates. | Published flat rates that differ by plan and by how the card is taken (in person, online or keyed), at the same rate for every card brand. |
| Software plans1 | Monthly Clover plans by business type: payments, restaurant, retail or services. Confirmed with your order. | A free plan, plus paid plans with more features and lower processing fees. |
| Contracts1 | Terms are set out in your processing agreement, and we walk through them with you before you sign. | Square says there are no locked-in contracts, and you can cancel or switch anytime. |
| Hardware41 | Station Duo, Station Solo, Mini, Flex, Go, Kiosk, Kitchen Display and Compact. | Square lists Handheld, Terminal, Register, Stand, Kiosk and card readers. |
| Who sets it up1 | Our team: on site in Coweta County and metro Atlanta, by phone anywhere else in the U.S. | You sign up and set up from Square's website. |
| Who you call2 | Our team in Newnan, GA, at (770) 629-0928. | Square Support. |
See what Clover would cost your business
Send a two-minute request and we quote the devices, the Clover plan and your processing together, so you can compare it with what you pay Square today.
- Send a two-minute requestWhat you need is already selected.
- Confirm your emailThen finish a short checklist.
- Get approvedUnderwriting reviews it and we keep you posted.
- Get set upWe install your Clover, test it and train your staff.
Switching
Moving from Square to Clover
Send us what you sell
An export of your item list, or even a printed menu, plus a recent month of sales so we can size the devices and quote your processing.
Get approved and pick a day
We set up your merchant account and order your Clover. You keep taking payments on Square until the day we switch, so there is no gap.
Install, test and train
We load your items, run a live sale and a refund, and train your staff. Then you close out Square on your own schedule.
FAQ
Questions owners ask
Is Clover more expensive than Square?
It depends on your volume, your average sale and how your customers pay. Square publishes flat rates; a Clover merchant account is quoted for your business. The only fair comparison is your own numbers: send us a recent Square statement and we will show you both.
Is Square a merchant account?
Not in the usual sense. Square says you do not need a separate merchant account to process with Square, only a dedicated bank account. With Clover, a merchant account is set up for your business with the devices.
Can I bring my Square items over to Clover?
Yes. Send us your item list and we load it into Clover with your prices, categories and modifiers, then check it with you before go-live.
Which is better for a restaurant?
Both have restaurant plans. Clover's lineup runs from a Mini at the counter to a Station Solo server station with Flex handhelds and a Kitchen Display. Tell us how you serve and we will recommend a setup and show you how it compares with your Square costs.
Sources
- Square pricing: plans, hardware and contract terms, checked 2026-10-12
- Square Support Center: What are Square's fees?, checked 2026-10-12
- Square: Merchant services, checked 2026-10-12
- Clover developer docs: Clover devices, checked 2026-10-12
- Clover device sales sheets (Clover Network): "Use of Clover requires a Merchant Processing Agreement.", checked 2026-10-12
Competitor details come from each company’s own pages or a dated review, as of the date shown. They change; check the source before you decide.
Get your Clover set up right.
Thinking about leaving Square? Tell us how you sell, and we will quote your Clover setup with your processing, before you sign. Our team is based in Newnan, Georgia, and we work with businesses nationwide.
Get Clover pricingCall (770) 629-0928
Approvals usually come back within hours, three days at most.
Book a call with our team- Call our team: (770) 629-0928
- Registered ISO; every account is subject to underwriting approval
- Based in Newnan, Georgia, serving merchants nationwide
- Card details go on the processor’s secure hosted forms; we never handle them