Clover vs Toast
Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial
Clover
Point-of-sale hardware and software from Fiserv for restaurants, retail and services.
Toast
Restaurant point-of-sale platform with its own hardware, payments, online ordering and payroll.
The short answer
Clover suits restaurants, retail shops and service businesses that want POS hardware with an app market for add-ons, sold through banks, resellers or directly. Toast suits US restaurants that want POS, payments, online ordering and payroll from one restaurant-only vendor. The biggest difference is scope: Clover serves many business types with published package prices, while Toast is built only for restaurants and mostly quotes after a sales call.
Clover or Toast: our take
Clover, owned by Fiserv, pairs its own countertop stations, compact terminals and handheld Flex devices with software for checkout, table service, online ordering, inventory, staff scheduling, loyalty and gift cards, in packages for full-service restaurants, quick service, retail and services. Its App Market adds hundreds of third-party apps for accounting sync, payroll, reservations and more, and a Virtual Terminal takes card payments from a browser with no device. Toast is made only for restaurants, from counters and cafes to fine dining and multi-location groups, with rugged Android-based terminals, handhelds for ordering and paying at the table, kitchen display screens, online ordering, delivery, loyalty, reporting and optional payroll. Developers can connect other systems through Toast's APIs and partner integrations program.
Both charge a monthly software fee plus card processing, with hardware bought outright or financed. Clover publishes prices: its Basic retail system starts at $16/month for 36 months or $349 upfront, the retail Standard plan is $1,899 hardware + $84.95/month, and in-person card fees run from 2.3% + 10¢ to 2.6% + 10¢ per transaction. But because Clover is also sold through banks, resellers and retailers, terms and fees can depend on where it is bought, and accounts need credit approval. Toast processes payments itself, so software and card fees come from one company and rates can't be shopped around; most of its plans are quoted after a call with sales.
Toast mainly serves restaurants in the United States, with operations in a few other countries. Clover is widely sold through banks and retailers. Choose Toast for a US restaurant that wants an all-in-one, restaurant-specific system and one vendor for everything. Choose Clover for a retail or service business, a restaurant that wants published pricing and a broad app market, or a buyer who prefers to go through their own bank.
Which should you pick?
Choose Clover if…
- Restaurants and shops that want bank-backed POS hardware with an app market for add-ons
- Hundreds of third-party apps in the Clover App Market
- Packages tailored to restaurants, retail and service businesses
Choose Toast if…
- US restaurants that want POS, payments, online ordering and payroll from one vendor
- Built only for restaurants, from counter service to fine dining
- Handhelds let servers take orders and payments at the table
About each app
What is Clover?
Clover is a point-of-sale system owned by Fiserv, the payments company. It pairs Clover's own countertop stations, compact terminals and handheld Flex devices with software for checkout, table service, online ordering, inventory, staff scheduling, customer loyalty and gift cards. Businesses pick a package for full-service restaurants, quick service, retail or services, and pay a monthly software fee plus card processing rates per transaction; hardware can be bought outright or financed. A distinctive part of Clover is the App Market, where hundreds of third-party apps add features such as accounting sync, payroll or reservations. Clover is sold directly at clover.com and also through banks, payment resellers and retail stores, so the price and contract you get can depend on where you buy it. A Virtual Terminal lets you take card payments from a browser without any device.
What is Toast?
Toast is a point-of-sale platform made only for restaurants, from quick-service counters and cafes to full-service dining rooms and multi-location groups. It combines rugged Android-based terminals and handhelds with software for ordering, menus, kitchen display screens, online ordering, delivery, gift cards, loyalty and reporting, plus optional payroll and team management. Payments are processed by Toast itself, so card fees and software come from the same company. Restaurant owners manage everything from a web back office and a mobile app, and developers can connect other systems through Toast's APIs and partner integrations. Pricing is a mix of monthly software plans, card processing rates and hardware bought up front or financed, and most plans are quoted after a call with sales. Toast is based in Boston and mainly serves restaurants in the United States, with operations in a few other countries.
Side by side
| Attribute | Clover | Toast |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Paid |
| Open source | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| Platforms | Android, iOS, Web | Android, iOS, Web |
| Best for | Restaurants and shops that want bank-backed POS hardware with an app market for add-ons | US restaurants that want POS, payments, online ordering and payroll from one vendor |
| Status | Active | Active |
Clover vs Toast pricing
Clover: paid
- Starting price: $16/month for 36 months or $349 upfront (Basic retail system) source
- Standard plan: $1,899 hardware + $84.95/month (retail) source
- Advanced plan: $2,648 hardware + $104.90/month (retail) source
Toast: paid
We couldn't verify Toast's plan details on its own site yet, so we don't list them.
Toast pricing pagePlatforms
| Platform | Clover | Toast |
|---|---|---|
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android |
Clover facts
8 of 8 verified- App market
- Hundreds of third-party apps
- Checked Nov 8, 2026clover.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “You’ll also have access to hundreds of business management software apps in the Clover App Market that integrate seamlessly with your devices.”
- Virtual Terminal
- Yes, browser-based payments
- Checked Nov 8, 2026clover.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Yes, the Clover Virtual Terminal gives you the convenience of processing payments”
- Where to buy
- Clover.com, banks and retailers
- Checked Nov 8, 2026clover.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “You can also find Clover hardware at trusted retailers including Restaurant Depot and Sam’s Club .”
- Starting price
- $16/month for 36 months or $349 upfront (Basic retail system)
- Checked Nov 3, 2026clover.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “$16/mo for 36 months or $349”
- Standard plan
- $1,899 hardware + $84.95/month (retail)
- Checked Nov 3, 2026clover.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “$1,899 + $84.95/mo”
- Advanced plan
- $2,648 hardware + $104.90/month (retail)
- Checked Nov 3, 2026clover.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “$2,648 + $104.90/mo”
- In-person card fee
- 2.3% + 10¢ to 2.6% + 10¢ per transaction
- Checked Nov 3, 2026clover.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “2.6% + 10¢ 2.3% + 10¢”
- Pricing model
- Monthly software fee plus processing
- Checked Nov 8, 2026clover.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Clover merchants can expect to pay a monthly software fee plus processing rates per transaction.”
Toast facts
4 of 4 verified- API
- Standard, analytics and custom API access
- Checked Nov 8, 2026doc.toasttab.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Next steps You purchased self-service standard API access from the Toast Shop.”
- Headquarters
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Checked Nov 8, 2026central.toasttab.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Schedule a free demo with a Toast specialist Get a demo 333 Summer Street Boston, MA 02210”
- Mobile app
- Toast Now app for support
- Checked Nov 8, 2026central.toasttab.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Connect with support in the Toast Now app”
- Partner integrations
- Toast Partner Integrations program
- Checked Nov 8, 2026doc.toasttab.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Your API access is granted through the Toast Partner Integrations program, which includes a formal application and certification process.”
Pros and cons of Clover
- Hundreds of third-party apps in the Clover App Market
- Packages tailored to restaurants, retail and service businesses
- Virtual Terminal takes payments from a browser with no device
- Widely sold through banks and retailers, with local support options
- Terms and fees can differ depending on the bank or reseller you buy from
- Processing fees are charged on top of the monthly software fee
- Accounts need credit approval before you can start
Pros and cons of Toast
- Built only for restaurants, from counter service to fine dining
- Handhelds let servers take orders and payments at the table
- Online ordering, loyalty and payroll available in the same system
- Open APIs and a partner program for third-party integrations
- Card processing is tied to Toast, so you can't shop around for rates
- Most pricing needs a sales quote and hardware is a separate cost
- Mainly available in the US and a handful of other countries
Other apps to consider
Square POSInstead of Clover
No monthly fee on the Free plan and the same flat pricing wherever you sign up.
PetpoojaInstead of Clover
Restaurant POS for India and the Gulf with delivery-app order sync built in.
ShopifyInstead of Clover
Shopify POS links in-store sales to an online store with shared stock, for retailers who sell both ways.
TouchBistroInstead of Toast
Restaurant-only POS that runs on iPads instead of proprietary Android hardware.
Clover vs Toast: common questions
Is Clover better than Toast?
Clover suits restaurants, retail shops and service businesses that want POS hardware with an app market for add-ons, sold through banks, resellers or directly. Toast suits US restaurants that want POS, payments, online ordering and payroll from one restaurant-only vendor. The biggest difference is scope: Clover serves many business types with published package prices, while Toast is built only for restaurants and mostly quotes after a sales call.
Is Clover free?
No. Clover is paid, though it may offer a trial.
Is Toast free?
No. Toast is paid, though it may offer a trial.
Is Clover or Toast open source?
Neither is open source.
Which platforms do Clover and Toast support?
Clover: Android, iOS and Web. Toast: Android, iOS and Web.