Quick answer
On card fees Clover and Square are close: a $50 in-person card sale costs $1.40 on Clover Starter and $1.45 on Square Free. The bigger difference is commitment: Square has no monthly fee on Square Free, a $59 reader and No surprise fees or long-term contracts required, while Clover's countertop devices are paid monthly over 36 months or bought outright, and Clover says Subscriptions are non-cancelable and ineligible for refunds. Pick Square for low fixed cost and flexibility, and Clover if you want its countertop hardware and accept a longer commitment.
Nation, an AI store builder, publishes this page. It is pre-launch, with a waitlist on withnation.ai, so it is not in the comparison or the fee example. See where Nation fits.
How we compared
Clover and Square were checked against the same four questions, using each company's own US pricing pages.
- Hardware cost What the card reader or countertop system costs up front, or per month if you pay over time.
- Monthly software The plan fee you pay every month, including months with few sales.
- Card rates The percentage and fixed fee on each in-person, online and typed-in card payment.
- Contracts and lock-in Whether you can cancel, what happens at the end of a term, and whether the hardware works with another processor.
Clover vs Square at a glance
Both are shown on the entry plan a small business would start on: Clover Starter with the Go reader, and Square Free. The source and check date for every number are listed under each product and at the end of the page.
Clover vs Square fees on a $50 card sale
Rates are easier to compare on one order. The example is one $50 purchase paid in person with a card that is tapped, dipped or swiped. Clover lists Starter rates as low as 2.6% + 10¢, and Square Free charges 2.6% + 15¢ on Square Free.
- Clover baseline $1.40 Go reader $199, no monthly fee listed on Starter Card 2.6% + 10¢ $1.40
- Square $1.45 chip reader $59, no monthly plan Card 2.6% + 15¢ $1.45
Assumes a $50 sale, a US card presented in person, no tip and no instant payout. Clover's rate is its advertised Starter rate, and Clover notes: Prices shown are only available on Clover.com. Typed-in and online payments cost more on both: 3.5% + 10¢ on Clover, and 3.5% + 15¢ typed in or 3.3% + 30¢ online on Square Free.
Clover and Square in detail
Each product gets the same five lines: price, fees per sale, what it is strong at, who it is best for and its main limit.
The baseline. Clover sells card readers and countertop systems with its own software, either from Clover.com or through banks such as Citi, PNC, and Wells Fargo.
- Price
- Clover lists Starter at $199 with the Go reader and no monthly charge. Essentials adds $29.95/mo, with a 90-day trial for eligible new merchants. Countertop devices are paid monthly or bought outright: Compact $16/mo for 36 months or $349, Flex $40/mo for 36 months or $749, Mini $45/mo for 36 months or $849 and Station Duo $180/mo for 36 months or $1,899. Countertop software plans can add a monthly fee, for example Retail Growth at $84.95/mo.
- Fees per sale
- In person, as low as 2.6% + 10¢ on Starter and 2.5% + 10¢ on Essentials, and as low as 2.3% + 10¢ on Retail Growth plans. Typed-in and online card payments cost 3.5% + 10¢.
- Strong at
- Countertop hardware, from the Compact terminal to the Station Duo for both sides of the counter.
- Best for
- Businesses that want dedicated POS hardware and plan to keep it for years.
- Limit
- Subscriptions are non-cancelable and ineligible for refunds, and Clover devices they cannot be used with other payment processors. At the end of a term, your subscription term will be extended at the same monthly charge unless you buy or return the equipment.
Square's point of sale has no monthly fee on Square Free. Hardware can be bought outright, and the larger devices can also be paid monthly.
- Price
- Square Free has no monthly fee. Square Plus is $49 a month per location and Square Premium is $149 a month per location, each with a free 30-day trial, and you can cancel or switch plans anytime. Hardware: chip reader $59, magstripe reader first reader free, Stand $149 or $14/mo over 12 months, Terminal $299 or $27/mo over 12 months, Register $899 or $44/mo over 24 months.
- Fees per sale
- In person, 2.6% + 15¢ on Square Free. Online, 3.3% + 30¢ on Square Free and 2.9% + 30¢ on paid plans. Typed-in cards and cards on file cost 3.5% + 15¢.
- Strong at
- Low fixed cost: no plan fee on Square Free and a $59 reader.
- Best for
- New or small businesses, market sellers and anyone who wants to cancel or switch without a penalty.
- Limit
- Square describes Stand as a swiveling iPad POS, so it needs an iPad, and online card payments on Square Free cost 3.3% + 30¢.
Which one fits you
You are starting out and want the lowest fixed cost.
Square
No monthly fee on Square Free, a $59 reader, and No surprise fees or long-term contracts required.
You want a countertop system and can commit for 36 months.
Clover
Countertop devices from Compact at $16/mo for 36 months or $349 up to Station Duo at $180/mo for 36 months or $1,899, with in-person rates as low as 2.3% + 10¢ on Retail Growth plans.
You sell mostly online or by invoice.
Square
Square's online store builder allows unlimited items, and online card payments cost 3.3% + 30¢ on Square Free or 2.9% + 30¢ on paid plans. Clover charges 3.5% + 10¢ for typed-in and online payments.
You may want to change payment processor later.
Square
Clover devices they cannot be used with other payment processors, and Clover says Subscriptions are non-cancelable and ineligible for refunds. Square's fee page lists no fee for early termination.
Where Nation fits
Nation
Category: an AI store builder
Nation says one description of what you make builds the store, then agents handle orders, customers and delivery and run ads, content and social posts, with you approving the work. Nation is not a card terminal or POS system, so it is not compared on fees here.
Limits today
- Status: pre-launch, with a waitlist on withnation.ai.
- Pricing and fees: not announced yet.
- Shopper marketplace: no shopper marketplace has been announced.
- Track record: no independent reviews or public stores yet.
Nation publishes this page. Nation is not ranked here and is not part of the Clover and Square comparison or the fee example.
Describe what you makeDisclosure and method
Nation, an AI store builder, publishes this page. Nation is not ranked here and is not part of the comparison.
The page compares Clover and Square for a US business taking card payments in person. Neither company paid to be included, and none of the links are affiliate links.
Every price and fee was read on Clover's and Square's own pricing, hardware and fee pages on 2 Oct 2026. Each product's section names its source, and the full list is below.
Questions about Clover vs Square
Which is cheaper, Clover or Square?
Clover and Square cost almost the same per in-person card sale: $1.40 on Clover Starter and $1.45 on Square Free for a $50 sale. Square is usually cheaper to start, because Square Free has no monthly fee and the chip reader costs $59. Clover's countertop devices are paid monthly over 36 months or bought outright, for example Mini at $45/mo for 36 months or $849.
What are Clover vs Square fees for card payments?
Clover vs Square fees for in-person cards are as low as 2.6% + 10¢ on Clover Starter and 2.6% + 15¢ on Square Free on Square Free. Typed-in cards cost 3.5% + 10¢ on Clover and 3.5% + 15¢ on Square. Square charges 3.3% + 30¢ for online payments on Square Free. Clover notes: Prices shown are only available on Clover.com.
Does Clover have a contract?
Clover hardware subscriptions run for a fixed term, and Clover's pricing page says Subscriptions are non-cancelable and ineligible for refunds. At the end of the term, your subscription term will be extended at the same monthly charge unless you buy or return the equipment. Clover also says Contract terms and any termination fees can vary based on your service provider, so read the agreement from whoever sells you the system.
Does Square have a contract or cancellation fee?
Square does not require a long-term contract for its point of sale: its hardware page says No surprise fees or long-term contracts required. Square's fee page lists no fee for early termination. Square Plus and Square Premium come with a free 30-day trial, and you can cancel or switch plans anytime, so you can try a paid plan before keeping it.
Can I use Clover hardware with Square?
Clover hardware cannot be used with Square or any other processor. Clover's pricing page says that while Clover devices may be bought or leased from other companies, they cannot be used with other payment processors. If you switch from Clover to Square, plan to buy Square hardware, for example the $59 chip reader or the Terminal at $299 or $27/mo over 12 months.
Is Nation a POS system like Clover or Square?
Nation is not a POS system like Clover or Square, and it is not compared with them here. It is an AI store builder, pre-launch, with a waitlist on withnation.ai, and its pricing is not announced yet. Clover and Square sell card readers and point of sale software for taking payments in person.