Square vs. Clover: Who Wins The Battle of Payment Processing?

In the booming world of e-commerce, having a reliable payment process is a must. Square and Clover are two heavyweights in the payment processing arena, both popular among small businesses and startups. However, which system is better suited for your business? In this blog post, we'll provide an unbiased comparison of Square and Clover, and hopefully help you make an informed decision.

Overview

Before jumping into specifics, let's start with some general information about the two systems:

• Square: Launched in 2009, Square is a payment processing company that offers an array of services, including a point-of-sale (POS) system and a payment gateway that connects physical and online sales. It's ideal for small business owners and startups who need simple setup and ease of use. Square charges a flat fee per transaction, making it easy to predict costs.

• Clover: Clover was founded in 2010 and offers similar services to Square, including POS systems and payment gateways. However, it also offers advanced features such as inventory management and scheduling. Clover is ideal for small to mid-sized businesses that have more complex needs. Clover's pricing structure varies based on features, making it harder to predict costs.

Features

When comparing Square vs. Clover, the first thing to consider is what features each platform offers:

As we can see, both systems offer similar features, but Clover offers more advanced features for inventory management, scheduling, and customer management. Square, on the other hand, offers more robust reporting and analytics tools.

Pricing

When it comes to pricing, both Square and Clover offer transparent pricing structures, but there are some differences between them:

Square charges a flat rate of 2.75% per transaction, making it easy for small business owners to predict their costs. Clover, on the other hand, charges a transaction fee of 2.7%, plus additional fees for features such as inventory management, scheduling, and customer management. In terms of POS system pricing, Square offers a range of options from $0 to $299, while Clover's systems range from $799 to $1,649.

Ease of Use

When it comes to ease of use, Square has an edge over Clover, but only by a small margin. Square's POS system is quick and easy to set up, and its user interface is intuitive, making it perfect for small business owners without much technical expertise. Clover also has an easy-to-use interface, but its systems have more advanced features, which can be a bit overwhelming for beginners.

Customer Service

Both Square and Clover offer customer support via phone, email, and live chat. However, Clover's support system is more comprehensive, offering 24/7 support, a knowledge base, and a community forum. Square, on the other hand, offers phone support during business hours, but has limited email and live chat support.

Verdict

So, who wins the battle of Square vs. Clover? Well, it depends on your business needs. If you're a small business owner or startup with basic payment processing needs, Square is a great option. It's easy to set up, has an intuitive interface, and has a predictable pricing structure.

However, if you're a small to mid-sized business with more complex needs, Clover is the way to go. It has more advanced features and more comprehensive customer support. Just be aware that its pricing structure is more complicated than Square's.

References

• Square
• Clover
• Square vs Clover: Which Payment System is Best for Your Business?

Now that you have a clear understanding of the pros and cons of each payment processing system, go forth and choose the one that suits your business needs the best. And may your sales be steady, and your transactions be seamless!