In the battle of Clover versus Shopify POS, both systems bring unique strengths to the table. Clover is particularly strong for Small to medium retail and restaurant businesses wanting premium hardware, while Shopify POS excels at Retailers already using or planning to use Shopify for eCommerce. Whether you prioritize Extensive app ecosystem or Best-in-class eCommerce integration, this comparison covers everything you need to know.
Quick Comparison: Clover vs Shopify POS
| Feature | Clover | Shopify POS |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Multi-Industry | Retail |
| Starting Price | $14.95/month (software) + hardware costs | $89/month (POS Pro) |
| Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Target Business | Small Business | Small Business |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Free Trial | No | Yes |
| Free Version | No | Yes |
| Best For | Small to medium retail and restaurant businesses wanting premium hardware | Retailers already using or planning to use Shopify for eCommerce |
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
Shopify POS Overview
Shopify POS seamlessly connects your online and retail stores, allowing you to sell anywhere. It syncs products, inventory, and customer data between your online store and physical locations.
Shopify POS is offered by Shopify Inc. (founded 2013) based in Ottawa, Canada. The system focuses on Retail, Pop-up shops, Markets, Omnichannel sellers.
Key Features:
- Unified inventory
- Customer profiles
- Staff management
- In-store analytics
- Product management
- Gift cards
Feature Comparison
Clover Features:
- App marketplace
- Employee management
- Inventory tracking
- Customer engagement
- Reporting
Shopify POS Features:
- Unified inventory
- Customer profiles
- Staff management
- In-store analytics
- Product management
When comparing features, Clover stands out with Extensive app ecosystem, while Shopify POS differentiates itself with Best-in-class eCommerce integration. Your choice should depend on which features align better with your specific business requirements.
Pricing Comparison
| Pricing Aspect | Clover | Shopify POS |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $14.95/month (software) + hardware costs | $89/month (POS Pro) |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Price Range | Mid-range | Mid-range |
| Free Trial | Not available | Available |
| Free Version | No | Yes |
Shopify POS offers a free version, which is great for testing or small operations. 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
Shopify POS
Pros:
- Seamless eCommerce integration
- Beautiful interface
- Strong brand recognition
- Extensive app store
- Great for omnichannel
Cons:
- Best with Shopify eCommerce
- POS Pro needed for key features
- Transaction fees without Shopify Payments
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 Shopify POS?
Shopify POS is ideal for Retailers already using or planning to use Shopify for eCommerce. The system is particularly well-suited for Retail, Pop-up shops, Markets, Omnichannel sellers.
However, Shopify POS may not be the best fit for Restaurants or businesses not doing eCommerce.
Our Recommendation
Both Clover and Shopify POS 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 Shopify POS if you’re Retailers already using or planning to use Shopify for eCommerce. Shopify POS has a higher user rating (4.5 vs 4.3). Also, choose Shopify POS if you want to start with a free version. We recommend trying demos or free trials of both systems before making your final decision.