Clover

Clover is best for retail shops, restaurants, and service businesses that need a full point-of-sale system to accept payments and manage daily operations. You get hardware (like countertop terminals and handheld devices) plus software to track sales, manage staff, and build customer loyalty — all in one place. Plans are built around your business type, so a quick-service restaurant gets different tools than a hair salon or boutique. You can take payments in person, online, or over the phone, and real-time reports help you see how your business is doing at a glance.

• •Pricing is not transparent — requires contacting sales for exact costs
• •Subscriptions are non-cancelable, which creates lock-in risk
• •Processing rates are tied to Clover's network — you can't use a different payment processor
• •Hardware costs add significant upfront or monthly expense on top of software fees

Clover is a strong pick for brick-and-mortar retailers and restaurants that want an all-in-one POS with solid hardware options and built-in payment processing. The biggest pro is how much is included out of the box — payments, reporting, staff tools, and loyalty. The main downside is that pricing is complex and varies by business type, reseller, and hardware choice, so your total monthly cost can be hard to pin down before you talk to sales.