Clover is a feature-rich POS and payments system — but the bundled pricing model means the true cost of payment processing is often higher than it first appears.
Clover bundles hardware, software and processing — which makes the true cost of payments harder to isolate than it should be.
Clover processing rates vary by reseller and plan, typically 1.5–2.5%+. Rates depend on the software plan selected and the reseller you signed with — not a single published rate.
Clover Go: ~$49. Clover Flex: ~$499. Clover Station: $999–$1,299. Hardware must be purchased from a Clover reseller and is locked to Clover's payment processing.
Payments Only: $14/mth. Essentials: $60/mth. Register: $135/mth. Counter Service Restaurant: $290/mth. These are on top of the processing rate and hardware cost.
Clover is sold through resellers in Australia, not directly. Pricing, contract terms and support quality vary by reseller. Always get multiple quotes and read the contract carefully.
Most Clover arrangements in Australia involve 3-year contracts through resellers covering hardware, software and processing. Early exit fees apply.
Clover hardware is locked to Clover's payment processing. You cannot use a Clover terminal with a different payment provider. Switching providers means replacing hardware.
How Clover's bundled costs compare to other payment providers in Australia.
| Provider | Rate | Software Fee | Lock-in | Negotiable | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clover | 1.5–2.5%+ bundled | $14–$290/mth | 3yr typical | No | Hospitality, retail with complex needs |
| Square | 1.6% flat | $0 base | No | No | Simple low-volume |
| Tyro | 1.2–1.8% blended | $29–$49/mth terminal rental | 3yr common | Rarely | Mid-size retail |
| UrPay Recommended | 0.85–1.4% negotiated | $0 | No | Yes — always | Any volume, 500+ POS |
Clover's bundled model makes it hard to know what you're actually paying for card processing — versus what you're paying for POS software and hardware.
When a reseller quotes you a Clover arrangement, all three costs are typically combined into a single monthly or per-transaction figure. This makes it very difficult to isolate what you are paying purely for card processing.
When comparing Clover to alternatives, the relevant question is: what is the processing rate, excluding software and hardware? This number is rarely front-of-mind in a Clover sales conversation.
UrPay integrates with 500+ specialist POS systems for hospitality, retail and healthcare. In many cases, choosing a best-in-class POS separately — combined with a negotiated UrPay payment rate — delivers better outcomes than a Clover bundle.
From 1 October 2026, the processing component of your Clover bundle — which you may have been surcharging — comes directly off your margin. At 2%+ on significant card volume, this is material.
Find out if you can get a better payment rate without replacing your whole system.