Square and Clover are two of the most widely used EPOS systems in the UK. Both handle payments, inventory, and staff management – but they’re built for different businesses. Square is a self-serve platform you can set up in minutes with transparent pricing. Clover is a reseller-distributed system with powerful hardware but opaque costs.
Square starts free with a £19 card reader and 1.75% per transaction – no monthly fees, no contracts, no sales calls. Clover publishes no card rates or software prices – it rents its devices from £15 + VAT a month (Flex Pocket and Flex) and quotes everything else individually, so you’ll need a quote from an authorised reseller.
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We verified Square’s pricing from squareup.com/gb and checked Clover’s UK site (uk.clover.com) in October 2026. Clover publishes no card rates or software prices, so this guide gives no Clover card or software figures beyond its published device rental – ask a reseller to quote software, card rates and contract length individually.
- Square starts free, Clover card rates and software are quote-only - Square has a £0 plan and paid tiers at £49 (Retail Plus) / £69 (Restaurant Plus); Clover publishes no card rates or software prices, so those costs are quoted individually
- Clover’s card rates can’t be compared up front - Square charges 1.75% in-person (1.6% on Retail Plus at £49/month), while Clover rates are quoted per business, so get a written quote before assuming either is cheaper at high volume
- Square hardware prices are published - a £19 + VAT Reader up to a £699 + VAT Register, while Clover rents its devices from £15 + VAT a month (Flex Pocket and Flex), £20 (Mini) and £30 (Station Duo)
- Clover has the bigger ecosystem - 200+ app marketplace versus Square’s smaller marketplace, plus built-in KDS and fingerprint staff login
- Square is contract-free and fully published - cancel anytime with every price online, from a £19 + VAT Reader; Clover card rates and software are quoted through resellers, so get the contract length in writing
Quick Comparison
Square offers transparent pricing from £0/month with hardware from £19. Clover’s costs are quote-based through authorised resellers, and it publishes no card rates or software prices. Square is self-serve; Clover requires a sales process.
| Square | Clover | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly software fee | £0 (free plan) | Quote only |
| In-person rate | 1.75% (1.6% Retail Plus) | Quote only |
| Cheapest hardware | £19 + VAT (Reader) | £15 + VAT/month rental (Flex) |
| Top-end hardware | £699 + VAT (Register) | £30 + VAT/month rental (Station Duo) |
| Contract | None – cancel anytime | Not published (set by your quote) |
| App marketplace | Yes (growing) | 200+ apps |
| Offline mode | Yes (all devices) | Yes |
| Table management | Yes (free tier) | Yes |
| Chargeback fee | Check Square’s current terms | Not published |
| Pricing transparency | Fully published online | Quote required from reseller |
Pricing and Total Cost
Square publishes every cost on its website. Clover doesn’t – you’ll get different prices depending on which reseller you contact. This makes direct comparison difficult, so we show Square’s published prices and mark Clover’s card and software costs as quote only.
| Cost element | Square | Clover |
|---|---|---|
| Software (monthly) | £0 (Free) / £49 (Retail Plus) / £69 (Restaurant Plus) | Quote only |
| Transaction fee | 1.75% in-person / 1.4% + 25p online | Quote only |
| Basic reader | £19 + VAT | Clover Flex Pocket: £15 + VAT/month rental (Clover Go is not listed on Clover’s UK site) |
| Portable terminal | £169 + VAT (Handheld) | £15 + VAT/month rental (Clover Flex) |
| Countertop POS | £149 + VAT (Terminal) | £20 + VAT/month rental (Clover Mini) |
| Full station | £699 + VAT (Register) | £30 + VAT/month rental (Station Duo) |
| Contract lock-in | None | Not published |
Year 1 cost for a single-location cafe (estimated): Square with a Terminal (£149) and free plan = £149 upfront + 1.75% on sales. At £5,000/month in card sales, Square costs about £1,199/year in total (£149 plus £1,050 in fees). Clover can’t be costed the same way because it publishes no card rates or software prices. Ask each reseller for the hardware, monthly software, card rate and contract length in writing, then run the same sum.
Higher volumes change the sum. A lower card rate matters more the more you process, so a business with high card sales has more to gain from negotiating. Square’s rate is published (1.75%, or 1.6% on Retail Plus); Clover’s is quoted per business, so compare the written in-person rate with Square’s before assuming it saves anything.
The contract is the biggest thing to pin down with Clover. A long agreement can tie you to both the hardware and the payment processor, and if your business needs change you may be paying exit fees. Contract length is set in your quote, so get it in writing. Square lets you walk away tomorrow.
Square is the easier option to cost for most single-location businesses, because every price is published. Clover can be more cost-effective at higher volumes if you negotiate a competitive transaction rate – but the contract and opaque pricing add risk.
Hardware
Square sells hardware directly from its website at fixed prices. Clover devices are rented, with prices from £15 + VAT a month published on Clover’s UK site. Card rates and contract terms come from authorised resellers (AIB Merchant Services, Lloyds Cardnet, Fiserv). Both ranges cover every use case from mobile reader to full countertop station.
Square’s hardware is bought outright – the Reader, Terminal, and Register work with Square’s payment processing, with no contract attached. You can stop using Square tomorrow and your only loss is the hardware cost.
Clover’s hardware is processor-locked. The devices are tied to the payment processor your reseller sets up. If you want to switch from, say, AIB Merchant Services to another processor, your Clover hardware may not transfer. This is the single biggest criticism of Clover’s model.
Clover’s hardware is objectively impressive. The Station Duo’s dual screens (merchant-facing + customer-facing), the Flex’s portability with built-in printer, and the fingerprint login across all devices show genuine engineering investment. Square’s Register is the closest competitor to the Station Duo but doesn’t match its build quality.
Software and Features
Square’s free EPOS includes inventory, table management, customer directory, and staff accounts. Clover’s software varies by plan but offers a 200+ app marketplace that Square can’t match in depth.
| Feature | Square | Clover |
|---|---|---|
| Inventory management | Yes (advanced on Retail Plus) | Yes (multi-location) |
| Table management | Yes (free tier) | Yes |
| Kitchen display | Yes (Restaurant Plus) | Yes (built-in KDS) |
| Loyalty programme | Add-on | Built-in |
| Staff management | Yes (free tier) | Fingerprint login, permissions |
| App marketplace | Growing | 200+ apps |
| Online ordering | Yes (free online store) | Via marketplace apps |
| Bookings | Square for Appointments | Via marketplace apps |
| Offline mode | Yes (all devices) | Yes |
| Reporting | Yes (advanced on Plus plans) | Yes |
Clover’s app marketplace is its standout feature. With 200+ integrations covering accounting, marketing, delivery platforms, and industry-specific tools, Clover functions more like an ecosystem than a single product. If you need a niche integration – say, connecting to a specific brewery ordering system or a dental practice management tool – Clover is more likely to have it.
Square’s strength is doing the core things well out of the box. You don’t need to browse a marketplace to get table management, online ordering, bookings, or basic loyalty. It’s all there on the free plan. For businesses that want a clean, complete system without plugin complexity, Square’s approach is simpler.
Clover’s fingerprint staff login is a small but practical advantage for hospitality. Staff clock in with a fingerprint rather than a PIN, which is faster during busy periods and prevents PIN-sharing. Square uses PIN codes or team member login.
Who Should Choose Square
Square suits small businesses, sole traders, and multi-location operators who want a transparent, self-serve EPOS they can set up today without a sales call or contract.
New businesses and sole traders – start with the £19 Reader and free plan. No monthly fees, no commitment. Upgrade hardware and software as your business grows. You can’t do this with Clover.
Service businesses – Square for Appointments is a native booking system that Clover doesn’t offer. Hairdressers, therapists, and consultants get scheduling, no-show protection, and payment in one platform.
Businesses that value flexibility – no contract means you can switch providers, close locations, or scale down without penalty. If your business is seasonal or unpredictable, this flexibility has real financial value.
Who Should Choose Clover
Clover suits established SMEs in retail or hospitality that need feature-rich hardware, deep integrations, and are willing to negotiate a reseller quote and agree the contract terms in writing.
Multi-location retail or hospitality – Clover’s multi-location inventory syncing, kitchen display system, and 200+ app marketplace support complex operations. If you run 3+ locations with different menus or stock, Clover’s ecosystem handles this natively.
High-volume businesses – if you process high card volumes, a negotiated Clover rate may beat Square’s published 1.75% (1.6% on Retail Plus). Clover publishes no card rates, so the saving depends entirely on the written quote you get.
Businesses needing niche integrations – the 200+ app marketplace covers accounting, delivery, loyalty, and industry-specific tools. If you need something specific that Square doesn’t offer natively, Clover likely has a marketplace app for it.
Square vs Clover: Strengths Compared
Square wins on published pricing, transparency, and flexibility. Clover wins on hardware quality and app ecosystem.
Use our free EPOS System Cost Calculator to get a personalised cost estimate based on your specific requirements.
Our Verdict
For most UK small businesses, Square is the safer and more cost-effective choice. You get a complete EPOS with no upfront commitment, and every cost is published before you buy.
Choose Square if you want to start quickly, know exactly what you’ll pay, and value the freedom to change providers without penalty. The free plan covers the core needs of many single-location retail or hospitality businesses. Upgrade to Retail Plus (£49/month) or Restaurant Plus (£69/month) only when you genuinely need advanced features.
Choose Clover if you run a multi-location business, process high card volumes you can negotiate on, or need integrations that Square doesn’t offer natively. Clover’s hardware is premium, its ecosystem is deep, and a negotiated transaction rate can be competitive at scale. Just go in with eyes open: get the contract length and total costs in writing.
The biggest risk with Clover is the reseller model. Your experience depends heavily on which reseller you work with – pricing, support quality, and contract terms all vary. Get everything in writing before signing.
Other EPOS options: SumUp vs Square compares the two leading no-contract providers. Our best EPOS systems guide covers 10+ UK platforms, and the card machine transaction fees data shows what each provider actually charges.
