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Determine if Clover or Toast is a better POS system and payment platform for your food business.
Ensuring you’re using the right POS system and payment processor for your food and beverage business can be the key to long-term growth and stability. Clover and Toast are payment processing options that give restaurant businesses a convenient, easy way to accept credit cards and other digital payment methods while providing card readers, POS system functionality, backend software and customer support.
We’ll examine these two vendors’ features and costs to help you find the best credit card processor and POS solution for your unique needs. Our comparison focuses on several key areas, including fees, payment processing costs, ease of use, POS hardware and customer service.
Clover and Toast are comprehensive payment processors with extensive POS system functionality. Both can help you abide by crucial credit card payment processing rules and laws. However, the vendors have several key differences, and one may be a better match for your food business than the other.
Criteria | Clover | Toast |
|---|---|---|
Best for | Retailers and fine-dining restaurants | Fast-food, casual and quick-service restaurants |
Monthly fee | Varies by industry; retail plans start at $349 or $16/month for 36 months, while restaurant plans start at $89.95/month plus hardware | Ranges from free to $165 per month, or custom pricing based on functionality needed |
Payment processing costs | Varies by industry; in-person transactions typically cost 2.3%-2.5% + 10¢, while card-not-present transactions cost 3.5% + 10¢
| Interchange plus or flat rates, which vary depending on volume; the default flat rate is 2.49% + $0.15 |
Ease of use | Easy and intuitive | Easy and intuitive |
POS system hardware and features | Change POS system hardware and features to: Flexible hardware options, including countertop and handheld POS devices; robust and versatile software | Restaurant-specific POS functionality and robust software; hardware is incompatible with other processors |
Customer service | 24/7 phone support, plus email and online FAQs | 24/7 phone, email and chat support |
Clover is ideal for established restaurants and retailers seeking a combined payment processor and POS system. Clover can handle nearly every aspect of business operations, such as payment processing, marketing and inventory. Learn more details about Clover’s capabilities in our in-depth Clover review.
Clover’s customer-management interface is intuitive and easily navigable. Source: Clover
Toast is a restaurant payment processor as well as a complete hardware and software POS solution, which makes it an excellent option for restaurants and bars of any size — particularly since smaller establishments can access a plan with no monthly fee. Our detailed Toast review goes into great depth about its restaurant-specific functions and features, including online ordering.
Toast’s POS equipment is spill-proof, making it an excellent option for bars. Source: Toast
Here’s how Clover and Toast stack up on the crucial factors you must consider when choosing a payment processor and POS system for your business.
Clover’s pricing varies by industry. While restaurant plans start at $89.95 per month plus hardware, the company also offers retail, personal services, professional services and home-services packages with different pricing structures and equipment options.
For restaurants, Clover offers separate pricing for quick-service and full-service establishments. Businesses can either purchase hardware upfront or finance it over 36 months. For example, a full-service dining Starter package includes a Clover Station Solo and costs $1,799 upfront plus $89.95 per month, or $179 per month for 36 months. Standard and Advanced packages add hardware such as handheld POS devices, cash drawers and customer-facing displays.
One advantage of Clover’s pricing structure is that businesses can choose from multiple hardware configurations rather than paying for equipment they don’t need. However, costs can increase as you move to higher-tier packages or add additional devices.
Clover’s Station Duo boasts a merchant-facing POS and a customer-facing screen. Source: Clover
Toast has two options for its Starter Kit package: Pay as You Go and Standard.
Clover’s payment processing rates vary by industry and plan. Current restaurant plans charge 2.3% + 10¢ for in-person transactions and 3.5% + 10¢ for card-not-present transactions, such as online orders or payments taken over the phone.
Businesses evaluating Clover should consider processing fees alongside software and hardware costs, since payment processing is bundled with Clover-purchased systems. Depending on the package you choose, Clover may also offer programs designed to help offset processing expenses, such as cash discounting or surcharge options where permitted by law.
Toast’s payment processing rate depends on whether you opt for its Pay as You Go or Standard plan. With Pay as You Go, the rate is 2.99% + $0.15 per transaction. The Standard Plan is 2.49% + $0.15 per transaction for card-present transactions and 3.5% + $0.15 per transaction for card-not-present transactions.
Clover’s backend software and POS system are intuitive and extremely easy to use. The interface is well-labeled and straightforward, whether you’re running a report or processing a transaction.
Clover’s marketing and loyalty program modules are particularly helpful. SMS marketing is built in and customers are automatically enrolled after opting in. Additionally, the Clover system makes it easy to set up an e-commerce site fully integrated into Clover’s payment, inventory and customer data systems.
For restaurants, Clover supports linking ingredient inventory with online menus so items that are no longer available won’t be displayed.
Clover’s ordering interface and handheld Mini device are straightforward and easy to use. Source: Clover
Toast’s restaurant-focused software has many more features than Clover’s system, so it takes more time to learn and set up. For example, Toast’s Order & Pay can help you accept mobile payments by enabling customers to order and pay from their mobile phones with little interaction with the server. Toast also facilitates transmitting tableside orders to the kitchen.
While Toast offers plenty of setup and troubleshooting support, its additional features incur a steeper learning curve than Clover’s system.
Toast’s ordering interface is intuitive, but its fully featured system may incur a steep learning curve. Source: Toast
Clover’s proprietary hardware is tightly integrated with Clover’s payment processing platform. In terms of design, Clover’s POS and handheld hardware are sleek and intuitive, making them well-suited for restaurants and retailers alike. Clover accepts a variety of payment types, including credit cards, digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay, and debit cards with PIN capability.
In addition to POS stations with screens, stands, cash drawers and receipt printers, Clover offers Flex and Mini handheld devices that facilitate tableside payments. Its Station Duo features a large POS screen for employees and a smaller, customer-facing screen for PIN entry, tipping and signatures.
Businesses can choose from a wide range of Clover hardware configurations, from compact handheld devices to full countertop systems. While merchants that purchase bundles directly from Clover generally use Clover’s payment processing services, businesses that own Clover hardware may be able to use it with a compatible processor after their agreement ends.
Toast’s POS hardware design is not quite as attractive as Clover’s. However, it has much of the same functionality. Like Clover, Toast offers a countertop kit with a screen, stand, payment device and CPU. Receipt printers are sold separately. Toast also has a handheld point-of-sale terminal similar to Clover’s Mini, although there is nothing comparable to the Clover Flex, a mini tablet with a bigger screen.
While Toast’s hardware isn’t as attractive as Clover’s, its unique options stand out. For example, its handheld POS terminals allow servers to take orders and payments. We also like Toast’s guest self-service kit; it allows customers of fast-food or quick-service restaurants to place their orders and pay all on their own.
Unlike Clover, Toast’s hardware can only be used with its payment processing services. If you eventually change processors, you’ll need to repurchase POS terminals and other hardware.
Toast’s self-service kiosks make it easy for customers to order and pay. Source: Toast
The best hardware for you depends on your business type. Quick-service and fast-food restaurants will benefit from Toast's less expensive hardware and self-service kiosks, while other retailers and fine-dining restaurants may prefer Clover's sleeker look.
Clover provides 24/7 phone and web chat support, along with email support, which may take a little longer. The company also offers a robust online help center and self-service resources for merchants who need troubleshooting assistance or answers to common questions.
Toast has 24/7 phone support and 24/7 email and chat support, so your questions are more likely to be answered quickly whichever contact method you use. Toast also offers generous troubleshooting resources online.
Clover and Toast both provide reliable POS systems and credit card processing services for businesses in the food and beverage industry. They offer similar features and equipment, so determining which solution is right for your establishment will come down to the finer details.
Clover offers a wide range of attractive hardware options, though some bundles can be more expensive than comparable Toast packages. If you have a retail business or your restaurant includes a retail component, Clover’s inventory management tools and broader industry support may be especially appealing. Unlike Toast, Clover also offers industry-specific solutions for retailers and service-based businesses in addition to restaurants.
Toast’s unique self-service kiosk can reduce wait times and order-taking staff requirements. You’ll also appreciate how the hardware is designed to withstand the temperatures and spills common in restaurant environments. Another asset is that Toast’s many restaurant-specific features make it easy for diners to order online for delivery or pickup through your website or Google.