Restaurant POS Studio vs Clover
Clover is sold through many banks and processors, so the deal you get depends on who sells it to you. Restaurant POS Studio is sold directly, month to month. This page compares both for full-service restaurants and shows when Clover is the better fit.
Restaurant POS Studio
$59
Full Service · per location / month · no PCI fee from us
Clover
$29.95–$89.95+ (some sources higher)
Published list price range · checked 2026-10-17
The short answer
Clover is a solid choice if you want polished all-in-one devices, a wide app marketplace and a single relationship with the bank or processor that sells it. Restaurant POS Studio fits owners who want direct month-to-month billing, their own tablets, their own processor, full-service tools in one plan, and staff screens in their team's language. Read the service agreement either way.
Feature by feature
| What matters | Restaurant POS Studio | Clover |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly software price | See pricing — Full Service plan per location | About $29.95–$89.95+ per month, some sources higher (as published in third-party pricing reviews checked October 17, 2026 — confirm with the vendor) |
| Extra fees | No PCI or statement fees from us | No separate PCI fee listed in reviews; ask your processor for its full fee schedule |
| Contract | Month to month; cancel in Settings | A 3-year service contract through the processor is often reported; terms vary by seller |
| Hardware | Your own iPad, Android tablet or PC; common ESC/POS printers and cash drawers | Clover devices, bought outright or bundled with the service agreement |
| Online ordering | Included on every plan; online store built from your menu | Varies by plan and provider |
| Kitchen display (KDS) | Unlimited kitchen screens on Full Service, with station routing and ticket timers | Available; ask which plan or app provides it |
| Coursing | Course markers, fire and hold from the POS, rush and re-fire | Ask which plan or app supports coursing |
| Tip pooling | Card and declared cash tips per server; pools by role points or hours | Tip tools available; ask whether tip pooling needs an app |
| Split checks | Evenly, by seat, by item or by amount; several payment methods per bill | Split checks supported |
| Languages for staff screens | Each user picks: English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Arabic, Urdu | Ask which languages staff screens and kitchen tickets support |
| Markets (US / UAE / Pakistan) | Sold in the USA, UAE and Pakistan with local currency and tax setup | Sold through processors in several countries; confirm availability in the UAE and Pakistan |
| Card processing | Works with your own processor | Processing through the bank or processor that sells the Clover |
List prices as published by the vendor or by third-party pricing reviews on the date checked. Sources disagree in places; ranges are shown. Confirm with each vendor before relying on them. Sources: Expert Market — Clover review (2026) · Merchant Maverick — Clover POS review
Which one fits your restaurant?
Choose Clover if…
- Your bank or processor offers you a Clover deal you are happy with, and you like one relationship for everything.
- You want well-made all-in-one devices, including handhelds for pay-at-table.
- You want a large app marketplace to add tools over time.
- You run a mixed counter-service and retail business where Clover's range of devices fits well.
Choose Restaurant POS Studio if…
- You want to buy software directly, month to month, without a multi-year service agreement.
- You want to use tablets or PCs you already own.
- You need coursing, tip pooling, kitchen screens and bookings in one plan without picking apps.
- Your staff need screens in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Arabic or Urdu.
Why does Clover pricing look different from one seller to another?
Clover is usually sold through banks and payment processors, and each seller can set its own bundle, processing rate and contract. That is why reviews show a range, about $29.95 to $89.95 or more per month, as published in third-party pricing reviews checked October 17, 2026. Confirm with the vendor.
Two restaurants on the same Clover device can pay different amounts because they signed with different processors. The software plan, device payments and processing rate may all sit in one agreement. Ask for each part to be listed separately so you can compare.
We sell Restaurant POS Studio directly at one published price per location per month. Card processing is a separate agreement with the processor you choose, so you can change either one without changing the other.
- Ask who your Clover seller is and what the service agreement covers.
- Ask for the software, hardware and processing costs listed separately.
- Ask about the early termination terms and when your term ends.
- Compare against our plan price plus your processor's rate.
What happens to my Clover devices if I switch?
Clover devices are built to run Clover software, so plan to replace them with tablets or PCs. If you bought them outright, they are yours. If they are bundled or leased in a service agreement, ask the seller about payoff, return and early termination terms before you cancel anything.
Check your printers too. Many restaurants keep network or USB ESC/POS receipt and kitchen printers, cash drawers kicked by the printer, and barcode scanners in keyboard mode. We can check your models on a demo call.
For screens, any iPad, Android tablet or PC with a current browser works. Many owners use iPads for servers and a PC at the host stand or office.
- Find your agreement and look for the term end date.
- List printer and scanner models to check compatibility.
- Budget for tablets at each register and kitchen station.
Restaurant POS Studio vs Clover: questions
Onboarding desk · usually replies within a business day
Is Clover a good POS for a full-service restaurant?
It can be, depending on the plan and apps you add. Clover's devices are well made and its app marketplace is large. Ask your seller to show coursing, seat-level ordering, tip pooling and kitchen screens on the plan in your quote. Restaurant POS Studio includes all of those in Full Service.
Can I cancel my Clover contract to switch?
Usually yes, but there may be an early termination fee. Reviewers often report three-year service agreements through the processor, and terms vary by seller. Read your agreement, note the end date, and ask the seller for the exact cost to leave early before you switch.
Do I have to change banks to use Restaurant POS Studio?
No. We work with your own card processor or acquiring bank, and we do not process cards ourselves. Ask your processor which integrated terminals they support. If your Clover processing is tied to your Clover agreement, you may choose a new processor or a new terminal from them.
Who do I call for support with Clover, Clover or my bank?
Often the bank or processor that sold you the Clover handles first-line support, though it depends on the seller. Ask before you sign. With Restaurant POS Studio, you contact us directly for the software, and your processor for card payments.
Does Clover include online ordering?
Reviews say it varies by plan and provider, so ask your seller. With Restaurant POS Studio, an online store is created automatically from your menu, prices, photos and stock on every plan, with a QR contactless menu. Your processor's card fees apply to online payments.
Can I move my Clover inventory and menu?
Yes. Export your item list from Clover as a spreadsheet, then import it with CSV or Excel, or let us import it for free when you switch. Check modifiers and sizes after import, because every system structures them a little differently.
Is Clover sold in Dubai or Lahore?
Clover is sold through processors in several countries; check with a local processor whether it is offered in the UAE or Pakistan. Restaurant POS Studio is sold in the USA, UAE and Pakistan, with AED and PKR pricing, VAT or sales tax setup, and Arabic or Urdu screens.
What should I compare besides the monthly price?
Compare the term length, early termination fee, hardware payments, processing rate, and which features need an extra app. Add them up for a full year. Then run a test service on our free trial so you know how the system feels on a busy night, not just on paper.
Compare it on your own menu.
Free trial, no card. We import your menu for free when you switch.
