Paid plans are $49 and $149 a month and lower the card rate. Hardware: Stand $149, Terminal $299, Register from $799.
Skip it if you need features it does not support for your store, such as EBT on your setup. Ask Square first.
Retail plans are listed at $0, $84.95 and $104.90 a month. Hardware: Go $199, Flex $749, Mini $849, Station Duo $1,899.
Skip it if you do not want a long contract. Promo pricing may require 3 years; get early-termination terms in writing.
A full store setup is Shopify Basic ($29/month billed yearly) plus POS Pro ($89/month per location).
Skip it if you do not sell online; Square or Clover will cost less for a counter-only store.
Here's what each one costs before card fees on every sale.
| Square | Clover | Shopify POS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software, per month | Free $0, Plus $49, Premium $149 | Retail Basic $0, Standard $84.95, Advanced $104.90 | Basic $29 (yearly) + POS Pro $89 per location |
| In-person card rate | 2.6% + 15¢ (Free), 2.5% + 15¢ (Plus), 2.4% + 15¢ (Premium) | About 2.3% to 2.6% + 10¢, by plan | 2.6% + 10¢ on Basic |
| Hardware to start | Stand $149, Terminal $299, Register from $799 | Go $199, Flex $749, Mini $849, Station Duo $1,899 | Sold separately by Shopify |
| Contract | None | Often required for promo pricing | None; monthly or yearly plan |
| Best for | Most small stores starting out | Owners who want all-in-one counter hardware | Stores that also sell online |
Square and Clover figures from NerdWallet (updated February 6, 2026) and KORONA POS (April 2026). Shopify figures from Shopify's pricing page, checked October 9, 2026. Providers change prices; confirm before you buy.
Square is the lowest-risk way to start. The Free plan costs $0 a month, and you pay only card fees: 2.6% + 15¢ per in-person sale. There is no long-term contract, so you can leave any time. Start with an iPad and the $149 Stand, or the $799 Register for a dedicated counter setup.
Skip it if you process a high card volume and can negotiate lower rates elsewhere, or you need features Square doesn't support for your store type.
Clover is known for its hardware, from the $199 Clover Go reader to the $1,899 Station Duo with a customer-facing screen. Retail software plans run from $0 to $104.90 a month, with in-person rates of about 2.3% to 2.6% + 10¢.
Skip it if you don't want a long contract. Clover is often sold through banks and resellers, and promotional pricing may require a 3-year agreement. Ask about early termination fees in writing.
Shopify POS keeps your counter and your online store on one product list and one inventory count. For a full store setup you need Shopify Basic ($29 a month billed yearly) plus POS Pro ($89 a month per location), so plan on about $118 a month. In-person rates on Basic are 2.6% + 10¢.
Skip it if you don't sell online. Square or Clover will cost less for a counter-only store.
Shopify's offer: 3 days free, then $1 a month for 3 months. Read our full Shopify review.
For most small convenience stores, Square is the easiest place to start. It has a free software plan, no long-term contract, and in-person card rates from 2.6% plus 15 cents on the free plan. Clover suits owners who want dedicated hardware and are comfortable with a contract. Shopify POS suits stores that also sell online.
Software runs from $0 to about $150 per month. Square's plans are $0, $49 and $149 per month. Clover's retail plans are listed at $0, $84.95 and $104.90 per month. Shopify POS for a physical store is about $118 per month: $29 for Shopify Basic billed yearly plus $89 for POS Pro. Card processing fees are charged on top of every plan.
Clover is often sold through banks and resellers, and terms vary. NerdWallet reports that a 3-year contract may be required to get promotional pricing. Read the agreement for early termination fees before you sign.
Accepting SNAP/EBT requires USDA authorization and equipment that supports it. Support differs by POS provider and setup, so ask each provider directly whether it supports EBT for your store before you buy.
