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 starts from ~£6.99/month for software plus hardware from an estimated £449, with rates from 1.49% – but nothing is publicly priced. You’ll need a quote from an authorised reseller.
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We verified Square’s pricing from squareup.com/gb and Clover’s from clover.com/gb in March 2026. Clover’s UK pricing is not publicly listed – all figures marked “estimated” are sourced from reseller quotes and third-party reviews.
- Square costs 60% less monthly - £29/month software versus Clover’s £49+ subscription fees for comparable features
- Clover hardware starts at £499 - Premium terminals cost significantly more than Square’s £169 entry-level EPOS system
- Square better for businesses under 10 staff - Simplified interface and pricing structure suits smaller operations perfectly
- Clover offers 50+ more integrations - Extensive third-party app marketplace versus Square’s 20 core integrated solutions
- Transaction fees identical at 1.75% - Both providers charge same rate for card-present payments with chip and PIN
Quick Comparison
Square offers transparent pricing from £0/month with hardware from £19. Clover’s costs are quote-based through authorised resellers, with hardware estimated from £449 to £1,200+. Square is self-serve; Clover requires a sales process.
| Square | Clover | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly software fee | £0 (free plan) | Estimated £6.99-£99/month |
| In-person rate | 1.75% (1.6% Retail Plus) | From 1.49% |
| Cheapest hardware | £19 + VAT (Reader) | ~£449 (Clover Flex, estimated) |
| Top-end hardware | £599 + VAT (Register) | ~£1,200+ (Station Duo, estimated) |
| Contract | None – cancel anytime | 12-48 months (varies by reseller) |
| App marketplace | Yes (growing) | 200+ apps |
| Offline mode | Yes (all devices) | Yes |
| Table management | Yes (free tier) | Yes |
| Chargeback fee | £0 | 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, but we can estimate based on publicly available data.
| Cost element | Square | Clover (estimated) |
|---|---|---|
| Software (monthly) | £0 (Free) / £49 (Retail Plus) / £69 (Restaurant Plus) | £6.99-£99/month (varies by tier) |
| Transaction fee | 1.75% in-person / 1.4% + 25p online | From 1.49% in-person / online custom |
| Basic reader | £19 + VAT | Clover Go: quote required |
| Portable terminal | £169 + VAT (Handheld) | ~£449 (Clover Flex) |
| Countertop POS | £149 + VAT (Terminal) | ~£750+ (Clover Mini) |
| Full station | £599 + VAT (Register) | ~£1,200+ (Station Duo) |
| Contract lock-in | None | 12-48 months |
Year 1 cost for a single-location cafe (estimated): Square with a Terminal (£149) and free plan = ~£149 upfront + 1.75% on sales. Clover with a Flex (~£449) and mid-tier software (~£30/month) + 1.49% on sales = ~£809 upfront + lower transaction fees. At £5,000/month in card sales, Square costs ~£1,199/year total. Clover costs ~£1,703/year. Square is cheaper by ~£500.
The crossover happens at higher volumes. At £15,000/month, Clover’s lower transaction rate (1.49% vs 1.75%) saves £468/year in fees, which starts to offset the higher hardware and software costs. But this assumes you actually get 1.49% from your reseller – many small businesses are quoted higher.
The contract is the biggest hidden cost with Clover. A 48-month agreement ties you to both the hardware and the payment processor. If your business needs change, you’re paying exit fees. Square lets you walk away tomorrow.
Square is cheaper for most single-location businesses processing under £15,000/month. Clover can be more cost-effective at higher volumes if you negotiate a competitive transaction rate – but the long contract and opaque pricing add risk.
Hardware
Square sells hardware directly from its website at fixed prices. Clover hardware is only available through authorised resellers (AIB Merchant Services, Lloyds Cardnet, Fiserv) at negotiated prices. Both ranges cover every use case from mobile reader to full countertop station.
Square’s hardware is processor-unlocked – the Reader, Terminal, and Register work exclusively with Square, but you bought them outright 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 (50+ integrations) | 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 commit to a longer-term contract for potentially lower transaction rates.
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 £15,000+/month in card sales, Clover’s lower transaction rates (from 1.49%) save more than Square’s 1.75%. The volume discount matters at scale.
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 price, transparency, and flexibility. Clover wins on hardware quality, app ecosystem, and potentially lower transaction rates at volume.
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 the total cost of ownership is lower unless you process very high card volumes.
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 90% of what a single-location retail or hospitality business needs. 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 £15,000+/month in card sales, or need integrations that Square doesn’t offer natively. Clover’s hardware is premium, its ecosystem is deep, and its transaction rates can be competitive at scale. Just go in with eyes open on the contract length and total costs.
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.
