Clover vs Toast: Which POS System Is Right for Your Business?
Choosing the right Point of Sale (POS) system is crucial for streamlining operations, managing inventory, and delivering excellent customer service. Two of the most popular choices in the market today are Clover and Toast. Both offer robust features, flexible hardware options, and strong industry reputations—but which one is right for you?
In this detailed comparison of Clover vs Toast, we’ll explore the pros, cons, pricing, hardware, integrations, and industry fit to help you make an informed decision.
Overview: Clover vs Toast
| Feature | Clover POS | Toast POS |
| Best For | Retail & quick-service restaurants | Full-service & quick-service restaurants |
| Hardware Type | Android-based, flexible & customizable | Proprietary Android hardware |
| Software Type | Cloud-based POS | Cloud-based POS |
| Offline Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Payment Processor | Fiserv (built-in) | Toast Payments (required) |
What Is Clover POS?
Clover is a versatile POS system built by Fiserv, designed for both retail and restaurant businesses. It supports various hardware options and is known for its user-friendly interface, third-party app marketplace, and flexible pricing.
Popular industries using Clover include:
- Coffee shops
- Food trucks
- Boutiques
- Quick-service restaurants
- Salons and spas
What Is Toast POS?
Toast is a restaurant-focused POS built specifically for foodservice operations. It’s a cloud-based platform that offers advanced tools for kitchen management, table service, delivery, and online ordering. Unlike Clover, Toast is exclusively designed for restaurants.
Popular users include:
- Full-service restaurants
- Bars and nightclubs
- Quick-service restaurants
- Cafes and bakeries
Pricing Comparison
Clover POS Pricing
- Starter plans: Begin around $0/month (processing fees only)
- Clover Register: ~$49.95/month
- Clover Flex terminal: ~$499 (one-time)
- Processing fees: ~2.3% + $0.10 to 2.6% + $0.10 per transaction
- App marketplace: May involve additional subscription costs
Toast POS Pricing
- Starter kit: ~$0/month + hardware lease
- Essentials: Starts at $69/month
- Custom plans available for larger restaurants
- Hardware (Toast Go 2, terminals): Sold separately
- Processing fees: Custom rates with Toast Payments (required)
Note: Clover allows more flexibility with third-party processors, while Toast locks you into its in-house payment system.
Hardware Options
Clover POS Hardware
- Clover Station Solo/Duo: For high-volume checkout
- Clover Mini: Mid-size countertop device
- Clover Flex: Handheld mobile POS
- Clover Go: Bluetooth reader for mobile use
Clover devices are Android-based, durable, and can be purchased outright or leased.
Toast POS Hardware
- Toast Terminal: Touchscreen, restaurant-grade durability
- Toast Go 2: Mobile POS device with long battery life
- Kitchen Display System (KDS): For real-time kitchen communication
- Self-Service Kiosks: Ideal for fast-casual dining
Toast’s hardware is purpose-built for foodservice and often bundled in financing packages.
Features Comparison
| Feature | Clover | Toast |
| Industry Focus | Retail, Restaurants | Restaurants only |
| Online Ordering | Via 3rd-party apps or Clover Online | Built-in Toast Online Ordering |
| Loyalty Programs | Available through app marketplace | Built-in loyalty & marketing tools |
| Delivery Integration | Basic via 3rd-party | Advanced (in-house & 3rd-party delivery) |
| Menu Management | Yes, customizable | Yes, deeply integrated |
| KDS Integration | Limited | Native KDS support |
| Reporting & Analytics | Customizable dashboards | Deep sales, labor & shift reports |
| Employee Management | Available | Built-in with scheduling tools |
Integration and App Support
Clover
Clover offers access to the Clover App Market, with 200+ third-party apps for:
- Accounting (QuickBooks, Xero)
- Marketing (Mailchimp, Perka)
- Inventory and CRM tools
- Time tracking and staff scheduling
Toast
Toast provides native integrations for restaurants, plus an app marketplace that includes:
- Grubhub, DoorDash, Uber Eats
- 7shifts (employee scheduling)
- MarginEdge (restaurant cost control)
- QuickBooks, Xero
Toast focuses more on restaurant-specific integrations, while Clover is more general-purpose.
Customer Support
| Support Area | Clover | Toast |
| Support Channels | 24/7 phone, email, help center | 24/7 phone, live chat, email |
| Onboarding Help | Varies by provider/reseller | Full onboarding & implementation support |
| Training Resources | Online guides, reseller assistance | Toast University, live webinars |
Toast generally receives high marks for restaurant-specific training and onboarding, while Clover’s experience can vary depending on the reseller.
Pros and Cons Summary
Clover Pros
- Flexible for various industries
- Open app marketplace
- Hardware options for all budgets
- Accepts third-party payment processors
Clover Cons
- Third-party support varies
- Limited restaurant-specific tools
- Can become pricey with add-ons
Toast Pros
- Built specifically for restaurants
- Robust delivery, menu, and kitchen tools
- Advanced reporting and analytics
- Excellent support and onboarding
Toast Cons
- Locked into Toast Payments
- Hardware costs may be high
- Not suitable for retail or non-restaurant businesses
Clover vs Toast: Which Should You Choose?
- Choose Clover if:
You run a retail business, café, or hybrid operation
You want hardware flexibility and more control over payment processing
You need a broad app ecosystem
- Choose Toast if:
You operate a restaurant or bar and need specialized features
You want built-in online ordering, kitchen displays, and loyalty tools
You value industry-specific support and reporting
Conclusion
When comparing Clover vs Toast, the decision ultimately comes down to your business type. Clover is a flexible, general-purpose POS system that’s ideal for mixed-use businesses and retailers. Toast, on the other hand, is laser-focused on the restaurant industry, offering tools tailored to foodservice operations from kitchen to table.
Evaluate your current business needs, growth plans, and budget before choosing a POS platform—both Clover and Toast are powerful, but designed with different end users in mind.
FAQs
1. Can Toast POS be used in retail stores?
No. Toast is designed specifically for restaurants and is not optimized for retail or general sales operations.
2. Can Clover integrate with DoorDash and Uber Eats?
Yes, through third-party apps in the Clover App Market. However, integrations are more native and seamless with Toast.
3. Do I have to use Toast Payments with Toast POS?
Yes. Toast requires merchants to use its in-house payment processing system.
4. Is Clover cheaper than Toast?
Clover can be more affordable upfront, especially if you already have a payment processor. However, total costs depend on your hardware, features, and third-party app usage.
5. Which POS system is better for food trucks?
Clover Flex is a solid option for food trucks due to its mobility. However, Toast Go 2 is built specifically for mobile food operations with restaurant-grade durability and battery life.
Also read: Biometric Punch Clock: The Future of Accurate and Secure Time Tracking
