In the battle of Clover versus Heartland Retail, both systems bring unique strengths to the table. Clover is particularly strong for Small to medium retail and restaurant businesses wanting premium hardware, while Heartland Retail excels at Retail stores wanting integrated payments. Whether you prioritize Extensive app ecosystem or Heartland integration, this comparison covers everything you need to know.
Quick Comparison: Clover vs Heartland Retail
| Feature | Clover | Heartland Retail |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Multi-Industry | Retail |
| Starting Price | $14.95/month (software) + hardware costs | Contact for pricing |
| Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.1/5 |
| Target Business | Small Business | Small Business to Mid-Market |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Quote-based |
| Free Trial | No | No |
| Free Version | No | No |
| Best For | Small to medium retail and restaurant businesses wanting premium hardware | Retail stores wanting integrated payments |
Clover Overview
Clover is a versatile POS system offering customizable hardware and software solutions for retail, restaurant, and service businesses. Known for its sleek hardware design and app marketplace.
Clover is offered by Fiserv (formerly First Data) (founded 2010) based in Sunnyvale, CA. The system focuses on Retail, Restaurants, Services, Professional Services.
Key Features:
- App marketplace
- Employee management
- Inventory tracking
- Customer engagement
- Reporting
- Online ordering
Heartland Retail Overview
Heartland Retail is a point-of-sale and payment processing solution for retail businesses. Part of the Heartland family, it offers inventory management, customer loyalty, and integrated payments.
Heartland Retail is offered by Heartland Payment Systems (Global Payments) (founded 2001) based in Jeffersonville, IN. The system focuses on Retail, Specialty Stores.
Key Features:
- POS System
- Inventory Management
- Customer Loyalty
- Payment Processing
- Reporting
- E-commerce Integration
Feature Comparison
Clover Features:
- App marketplace
- Employee management
- Inventory tracking
- Customer engagement
- Reporting
Heartland Retail Features:
- POS System
- Inventory Management
- Customer Loyalty
- Payment Processing
- Reporting
When comparing features, Clover stands out with Extensive app ecosystem, while Heartland Retail differentiates itself with Heartland integration. Your choice should depend on which features align better with your specific business requirements.
Pricing Comparison
| Pricing Aspect | Clover | Heartland Retail |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $14.95/month (software) + hardware costs | Contact for pricing |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Quote-based |
| Price Range | Mid-range | Mid-range |
| Free Trial | Not available | Not available |
| Free Version | No | No |
Both systems offer competitive pricing for their respective feature sets. Consider the total cost of ownership including hardware, processing fees, and add-on modules when making your decision.
Pros and Cons
Clover
Pros:
- Beautiful hardware design
- Extensive app marketplace
- Flexible configurations
- Multiple hardware options
- Strong payment processing
Cons:
- Locked to Fiserv processing
- Hardware is proprietary
- Pricing can be confusing
- Contract requirements vary
Heartland Retail
Pros:
- Heartland ecosystem
- Integrated payments
- Retail focus
- Customer loyalty tools
Cons:
- Custom pricing
- May require Heartland processing
Who Should Choose Clover?
Clover is ideal for Small to medium retail and restaurant businesses wanting premium hardware. The system is particularly well-suited for Retail, Restaurants, Services, Professional Services.
However, Clover may not be the best fit for Businesses wanting processor flexibility.
Who Should Choose Heartland Retail?
Heartland Retail is ideal for Retail stores wanting integrated payments. The system is particularly well-suited for Retail, Specialty Stores.
However, Heartland Retail may not be the best fit for Restaurants.
Our Recommendation
Both Clover and Heartland Retail are solid POS solutions, but they excel in different areas. Choose Clover if you’re Small to medium retail and restaurant businesses wanting premium hardware. Choose Heartland Retail if you’re Retail stores wanting integrated payments. Clover has a higher user rating (4.3 vs 4.1). We recommend trying demos or free trials of both systems before making your final decision.