We may earn commissions from some providers for qualifying actions through our links. This page is currently ordered by editorial scores. Our published policy permits limited earnings-based reordering once real conversion data is available. How we make money.
Clover vs Shopify POS: $0 software on a $199 reader against a $29 plan with an online store
Updated Oct 15, 2026
Clover Starter and Shopify POS Basic both charge 2.6% + 10¢ per in-person card sale. Clover has no monthly software fee but its cheapest reader is $199, and its contract terms vary by provider. Shopify Basic costs $29 a month paid yearly or $39 monthly, includes a full online store, sells a $49 reader and can be cancelled anytime.
At a glance, by our score
#2 Shopify POS
Shops that also sell online: in-person sales on the $29-a-month Basic plan, cancel anytime
8.2/10Very goodOur scoreVisit Shopify POSOn shopify.com- Lowest pricePromotion
#4 Clover
$0 Starter software with a $199 Go reader at 2.6% + 10¢; contract terms vary by seller
Offer Essentials or Services Growth (90-day free trial)Checked Sep 27, 2026 · ends Dec 31, 2026
6.1/10FairOur scoreVisit CloverOn clover.com
Clover's lowest monthly price is lower than Shopify POS's, checked Sep 27, 2026 and Sep 27, 2026.
Side by side
| Criterion | Clover | Shopify POS |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 6.1/10FairOur score #4 of 8 | 8.2/10Very goodOur score #2 of 8 |
| Card rate (30%) | 9.3 / 10 | 9.3 / 10 |
| Monthly software fee (25%) | 10.0 / 10 | 7.1 / 10 |
| Contract (15%) | 0.0 / 10 | 10.0 / 10 |
| Cheapest card reader (15%) | 3.4 / 10 | 8.4 / 10 |
| Included on the entry plan (15%) | 2.0 / 10 | 6.0 / 10 |
| Price from | $0 / month | $39 / month |
| Best for | $0 Starter software with a $199 Go reader at 2.6% + 10¢; contract terms vary by seller | Shops that also sell online: in-person sales on the $29-a-month Basic plan, cancel anytime |
| Visit | Visit CloverOn clover.com | Visit Shopify POSOn shopify.com |
Who should pick which
- Clover: $0 Starter software with a $199 Go reader at 2.6% + 10¢; contract terms vary by seller
- Shopify POS: Shops that also sell online: in-person sales on the $29-a-month Basic plan, cancel anytime
At a glance
| Clover | Shopify POS | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | Starter | Basic |
| In-person card rate | 2.6% + 10¢ | 2.6% + 10¢ |
| Fee on a $30 card sale | about $0.88 | about $0.88 |
| Monthly software fee | $0 | $29 paid yearly, $39 monthly |
| Cheapest card reader | Go reader $199 | Tap & Chip $49 |
| Contract | not published; varies by provider | none; cancel anytime |
| Inventory tracking | not on Starter (Essentials, $29.95) | in POS Pro, $89 a month per location (pages conflict) |
| Online store or ordering | optional add-on | full-featured online store |
| Offline payments | yes, once turned on | yes, on compatible readers |
| Customer directory or loyalty | not on Starter (pages conflict) | simple customer profiles |
| Employee timecards | no shift management (pages conflict) | none built in |
Entry plans from Clover's Go pricing page and Shopify's pricing page, read Sep 27, 2026.
Price
The card rate is the same: 2.6% + 10¢ in person, about $0.88 on a $30 sale. Keyed-in cards cost 3.5% + 10¢ on both.
The software fee is not. Clover Starter is $0 a month. Shopify Basic is $29 a month paid yearly ($348 a year) or $39 paid monthly. New Shopify sign-ups get a 3-day free trial, then $1 a month for the first 3 months (POS pricing).
Hardware runs the other way. Clover's cheapest device is the $199 Go reader (shop); Shopify's Tap & Chip Card Reader is $49 (hardware store). Over a first year, ignoring the intro offer, a Shopify Basic yearly plan and its reader come to $397; Clover Starter and a Go reader come to $199.
On Shopify, using a payment provider other than Shopify Payments adds 2% on Basic.
Where they differ
- Selling online. Shopify's pricing table lists a full-featured online store on every plan. On Clover Starter, a new online store is an optional add-on.
- Contract. Shopify's pricing FAQ says you can "simply cancel your account" and mentions no fee. Clover's pricing FAQ says contract terms and termination fees "can vary based on your service provider", and its 36-month device subscriptions are non-cancelable.
- Inventory. On Clover, stock tracking starts at Essentials, $29.95 a month. Shopify's pages conflict: the POS pricing page puts inventory management in POS Pro, $89 a month per location, while the main pricing table marks it Included on Basic. We use the worse reading, POS Pro.
- Support. Clover promises 24/7 phone support on every plan (payments page). Shopify Basic gets 24/7 live chat; phone support is listed only for Plus.
- Offline and staff. Both take cards offline: Clover once you turn Offline Payments on, Shopify on a compatible reader (help centre). Neither includes timecards on its entry plan: Clover's pages conflict on shift management on Starter (we read it as not included), and Shopify points to Gusto and other apps (staff management).
Who should pick which
Pick Clover if you sell in person only, want no monthly software fee and 24/7 phone support, and will get the contract terms in writing from your provider.
Pick Shopify POS if you sell online too and want a cheaper reader and a plan you can cancel anytime, and the $29 monthly fee is worth it to you.
See both in our POS ranking.