Choosing between Clover and Lightspeed for your business? Both are popular multi-industry solutions, but they serve different needs. Clover starts at $14.95/month (software) + hardware costs and is Customizable POS with sleek hardware and app marketplace, while Lightspeed starts at $89/month (Lean plan) and is Advanced cloud POS for retail and hospitality with strong eCommerce. This comprehensive comparison will help you decide which POS system is the right fit for your operation.
Quick Comparison: Clover vs Lightspeed
| Feature | Clover | Lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Multi-Industry | Multi-Industry |
| Starting Price | $14.95/month (software) + hardware costs | $89/month (Lean plan) |
| Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.4/5 |
| Target Business | Small Business | Mid-Market |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Free Trial | No | Yes |
| Free Version | No | No |
| Best For | Small to medium retail and restaurant businesses wanting premium hardware | Growing retailers with complex inventory, multi-location businesses, omnichannel sellers |
Clover Overview
Clover is a versatile POS system offering customizable hardware and software solutions for retail, restaurant, and service businesses. Known for its sleek hardware design and app marketplace.
Clover is offered by Fiserv (formerly First Data) (founded 2010) based in Sunnyvale, CA. The system focuses on Retail, Restaurants, Services, Professional Services.
Key Features:
- App marketplace
- Employee management
- Inventory tracking
- Customer engagement
- Reporting
- Online ordering
Lightspeed Overview
Lightspeed is a cloud-based commerce platform providing POS, eCommerce, and payment solutions for retail and hospitality businesses. Known for advanced inventory management and omnichannel capabilities.
Lightspeed is offered by Lightspeed Commerce Inc. (founded 2005) based in Montreal, Canada. The system focuses on Retail, Restaurants, Golf courses, Hotels.
Key Features:
- Advanced inventory
- Multi-location support
- Omnichannel selling
- B2B capabilities
- Purchase orders
- Vendor management
Feature Comparison
Clover Features:
- App marketplace
- Employee management
- Inventory tracking
- Customer engagement
- Reporting
Lightspeed Features:
- Advanced inventory
- Multi-location support
- Omnichannel selling
- B2B capabilities
- Purchase orders
When comparing features, Clover stands out with Extensive app ecosystem, while Lightspeed differentiates itself with Best-in-class inventory. Your choice should depend on which features align better with your specific business requirements.
Pricing Comparison
| Pricing Aspect | Clover | Lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $14.95/month (software) + hardware costs | $89/month (Lean plan) |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Price Range | Mid-range | Premium |
| Free Trial | Not available | Available |
| Free Version | No | No |
Both systems offer competitive pricing for their respective feature sets. Consider the total cost of ownership including hardware, processing fees, and add-on modules when making your decision.
Pros and Cons
Clover
Pros:
- Beautiful hardware design
- Extensive app marketplace
- Flexible configurations
- Multiple hardware options
- Strong payment processing
Cons:
- Locked to Fiserv processing
- Hardware is proprietary
- Pricing can be confusing
- Contract requirements vary
Lightspeed
Pros:
- Powerful inventory management
- Excellent for multi-location
- Strong eCommerce integration
- Good for complex catalogs
- Built-in B2B features
Cons:
- Higher price point
- Learning curve
- Some features require higher tiers
- Contract requirements
Who Should Choose Clover?
Clover is ideal for Small to medium retail and restaurant businesses wanting premium hardware. The system is particularly well-suited for Retail, Restaurants, Services, Professional Services.
However, Clover may not be the best fit for Businesses wanting processor flexibility.
Who Should Choose Lightspeed?
Lightspeed is ideal for Growing retailers with complex inventory, multi-location businesses, omnichannel sellers. The system is particularly well-suited for Retail, Restaurants, Golf courses, Hotels.
However, Lightspeed may not be the best fit for Very small businesses or those on tight budgets.
Our Recommendation
Both Clover and Lightspeed are solid POS solutions, but they excel in different areas. Choose Clover if you’re Small to medium retail and restaurant businesses wanting premium hardware. Choose Lightspeed if you’re Growing retailers with complex inventory, multi-location businesses, omnichannel sellers. Lightspeed has a higher user rating (4.4 vs 4.3). We recommend trying demos or free trials of both systems before making your final decision.