Clover vs Toast

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Our analysts compared Clover vs Toast based on data from our 400+ point analysis of POS Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Clover Software Tool

Product Basics

Clover is an all-in-one point of sale system that helps users manage staff and clients, monitor inventory, create and view reports and track revenue streams. Users can personalize workflows by integrating multiple modules and third-party developers. Its dashboard simplifies real-time monitoring of sales, refunds and customer spending from any device.-

It connects to the cloud, allowing users to access sales, reimbursements, deposits and reports regardless of location. It also offers hardware like Clover Mini, flex, go device and a station with a cash drawer and receipt printer.

Pros
  • Reliable hardware & design
  • User-friendly interface
  • Strong customer support
  • Variety of apps & integrations
  • Competitive pricing for low volumes
Cons
  • Higher fees for high volume
  • Limited reporting & inventory
  • Costly hardware upgrades
  • Contracts for some plans
  • Not ideal for complex needs
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Toast is a cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) system designed to streamline operations for restaurants and businesses in the hospitality industry. It offers a comprehensive suite of features, including order processing, inventory management, employee scheduling, and customer relationship management (CRM) tools. Toast caters to businesses of all sizes, from independent cafes to multi-location restaurant chains. One of its key strengths lies in its ease of use and intuitive interface, making it suitable for both tech-savvy and non-technical users. Additionally, Toast boasts robust reporting capabilities, providing valuable insights into sales trends, customer behavior, and staff performance. Integration with third-party delivery services and online ordering platforms further enhances its functionality. While Toast offers a free basic plan with limited features, paid subscriptions are required to access its full potential. Pricing varies depending on the number of users, terminals, and desired functionalities. Compared to similar POS systems, Toast generally falls within the mid-range price bracket, offering a good balance between affordability and feature richness. However, user reviews highlight that its pricing structure can become complex for businesses with intricate needs.

Pros
  • Easy to use interface
  • Robust reporting tools
  • Third-party integrations
  • Scalable for all businesses
  • Free basic plan option
Cons
  • Mid-range pricing complexity
  • Limited customization options
  • Occasional technical issues
  • Long customer support wait times
  • Not ideal for complex inventory
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$0.10/Transaction, 2.3% Flat Rate
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Tailored to your specific needs
$69/Terminal, Monthly, Freemium
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Tailored to your specific needs
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Windows
Mac
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Android
Chromebook
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Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile

Product Assistance

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Streamlined operations: Simplify daily tasks like checkout, inventory management, and employee management, freeing up time and resources for other aspects of your business.
  • Enhanced customer experience: Offer your customers faster checkout times, convenient payment options, and loyalty programs to build stronger relationships and boost repeat business.
  • Data-driven insights: Gain access to comprehensive sales reports, inventory tracking, and customer analytics to make informed decisions about your business, optimize operations, and identify growth opportunities.
  • Scalability and flexibility: Adapt to your evolving business needs with a variety of hardware options, app integrations, and customizable features, ensuring your POS system grows alongside your business.
  • Reliable support: Access dedicated customer support via phone, email, and online resources to get help quickly and resolve any issues that may arise.
  • Security and peace of mind: Benefit from industry-leading security features to protect your customer data and financial information, giving you peace of mind and building trust with your customers.
  • Improved employee efficiency: Empower your employees with easy-to-use tools for managing orders, tracking tasks, and accessing customer information, leading to increased productivity and better customer service.
  • Mobile accessibility: Manage your business on the go with Clover's mobile app, allowing you to take payments, track sales, and monitor inventory from anywhere.
  • Integration with existing tools: Connect Clover with your existing accounting software, marketing platform, and other business tools to create a seamless workflow and eliminate data silos.
  • Payment flexibility: Accept a wide range of payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, contactless payments, and gift cards, to cater to your customers' preferences and boost sales.
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  • Smooth Onboarding: Simplify the training process with access to a knowledge base in Toast University that offers informative videos and interactive tutorials. 
  • Tech-Enabled: Allow dine-in guests to order and pay from their own devices. Save time and expedite processes by accepting payments for orders made using the in-store kiosk, on the app or in the restaurant with the Order & Pay tool. 
  • Ideal for the Enterprise: Improve capabilities and enhance the performance of the new business with Starter Kit. Place orders in less than 15 minutes and customize with preferred hardware and software solutions available at flat-rate pricing. 
  • Profitable: Integrate with third-party software providers, including Grubhub and OpenTable, to expand the customer base and boost sales. 
  • Accessible: Save efforts and complete time-sensitive tasks by storing information for multiple outlets, viewing data by location, updating menus, accessing employee activity, monitoring performance reports and more with remote and offline accessibility. 
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  • Intuitive interface: Easy-to-use touchscreen interface for quick navigation and efficient transactions.
  • Payment processing: Accepts major credit cards, debit cards, contactless payments, gift cards, and more.
  • Inventory management: Track stock levels, set alerts, and generate purchase orders to optimize inventory control.
  • Employee management: Track employee hours, assign permissions, and manage payroll with ease.
  • Sales reporting: Generate detailed sales reports to track revenue, analyze trends, and make informed business decisions.
  • Customer management: Store customer information, track purchase history, and create loyalty programs to foster customer relationships.
  • App marketplace: Access a wide range of third-party apps to extend Clover's functionality and cater to specific business needs.
  • Hardware options: Choose from various terminals, card readers, and printers to create a custom POS setup that suits your business.
  • Mobile app: Manage your business on the go with Clover's mobile app for iOS and Android devices.
  • Cloud-based: Access data and manage your POS system from anywhere with an internet connection.
  • Security: Protects sensitive customer data with industry-leading security measures.
  • Customer support: Offers 24/7 customer support via phone, email, and online resources.
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  • Online Ordering: Allow guests to order food online for takeout and delivery, schedule orders in advance, access the online menu and make contactless payments. Receive new orders directly in the restaurant’s point of sale system, customize the online ordering page, access customer insights and request guest feedback to modify services. 
  • Gift Cards and Rewards: Boost customer influx and increase revenue by selling modern e-Gift Cards. Allow users to text or email cards for in-store and online purchases. Check card balance and schedule gift cards in advance to build relationships with customers. Sell customized physical gift cards and review detailed reports on gift card sales. 
  • Expedited Delivery: Create an on-demand delivery network with local drivers at a single per-order fee. Simplify the process with real-time order tracking and advance scheduling, online payment options and review restaurant services based on customer behavior with reporting and analytics. 
  • Email Marketing: Improve communication and drive customer retention with emails. Run targeted promotions, increase revenue, automate outreach and campaigns, create custom email lists, run A/B tests to refine communication, and send customized messages to deepen brand loyalty. 
  • Self-help Services: Accelerate the online ordering experience with self-help kiosks. Leverage quick restaurant service, reduce wait times and increase staff productivity. Offer a personalized dining experience with order add-ons, SMS notifications and real-time menu updates. 
  • Workspace Management: Facilitate efficient team regulation with a centralized labor management system. Log and track work hours, monitor timesheets, calculate tips, ensure paycheck accuracy with automated wage recording, register new staff electronically and more. Get insight into employee performance with detailed reports and analytics. 
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Product Ranking

#3

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POS Software

#5

among all
POS Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

73
79
67
67
98
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60
100
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Integration and Extensibility
Customer and Loyalty Management
Reporting and Insights
Types of POS
Customer and Loyalty Management
Employee Management
POS Hardware
Integration and Extensibility
Reporting and Insights

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Clover
Toast
+ Add Product + Add Product
Compliance And Security Customer And Loyalty Management Employee Management Inventory Management Items And Service Management Payment Transactions And Cash Management POS Hardware Reporting And Insights Sales And Marketing Management Store Management Types Of POS 67 98 60 59 74 67 81 94 53 44 85 67 100 100 68 85 76 93 88 52 54 85 0 25 50 75 100
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Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

100%
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User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 376 reviews
Great User Sentiment 451 reviews
81%
of users recommend this product

Clover has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 81% when considering 376 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

86%
of users recommend this product

Toast has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 86% when considering 451 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

4.6 (28)
4.7 (27)
3.9 (45)
4.4 (144)
4.0 (294)
4.2 (270)
4.4 (9)
4.3 (10)

Awards

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SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Toast and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Customer and Loyalty Management and POS Hardware.

Customer and Loyalty Management Award
POS Hardware Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Ease of use: Praised for its intuitive interface and touchscreen operation, enabling quick learning and adoption for new employees, saving training time and boosting efficiency.
App customization: Users love the vast app marketplace offering industry-specific integrations and features, like appointment booking for salons or online ordering for restaurants, tailoring Clover to unique business needs.
Data-driven insights: Detailed sales reports and inventory tracking are seen as game-changers, providing valuable data to optimize operations, identify marketing opportunities, and make informed business decisions.
Reliable hardware: Users appreciate the quality and durability of Clover hardware, minimizing downtime and disruptions during peak hours, with features like offline payments ensuring service even without internet.
Scalability and flexibility: Clover's ability to adapt to growing businesses is a plus, with various hardware options and plan upgrades facilitating smooth transitions as transaction volume and business needs increase.
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Intuitive interface: Users consistently praise Toast's easy-to-learn and navigate interface, with clear menus, large buttons, and simple workflows, making it accessible for staff of all technical levels.
Robust reporting: Toast's comprehensive reporting tools provide valuable insights into sales, inventory, labor costs, customer behavior, and more, empowering data-driven decision-making.
Mobile flexibility: Staff can take orders, process payments, and manage tables directly from tablets or smartphones, enhancing tableside service and flexibility during busy periods.
Reliable payment processing: Users commend Toast's integrated payment processing for its speed, reliability, and security, ensuring smooth transactions and minimizing downtime.
Scalability for growth: Toast's ability to accommodate multiple locations, expanding menus, and growing staff needs makes it a popular choice for businesses with expansion plans.
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Higher monthly fees for high volume: While competitive for low-volume businesses, Clover's transaction fees and higher-tier plan costs can become significant for businesses processing large volumes, making other options like Stripe potentially more cost-effective.
Limited reporting customization: Users with complex reporting needs may find Clover's report customization options insufficient, lacking the depth and flexibility offered by dedicated business intelligence tools or high-end POS systems.
Potential hardware lock-in: Some features require specific Clover hardware, making switching to other POS systems or even upgrading within Clover potentially expensive as existing hardware may not be compatible.
Occasional app limitations: While the app marketplace is vast, certain industry-specific features or integrations may be missing, requiring workarounds or alternative solutions if Clover doesn't fully address a specific business need.
Steeper learning curve for complex features: While basic operations are user-friendly, advanced features like inventory management or employee roles can require more training and familiarization, potentially slowing down adoption for some users.
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Pricing complexity: Users express frustration with Toast's tiered pricing structure, which can become confusing and expensive, especially for businesses with multiple locations or add-on features.
Limited customization: Some users find Toast's customization options for menus, reporting, and workflows to be somewhat restrictive, hindering their ability to tailor the system to unique business processes.
Technical glitches: Users occasionally report software glitches, hardware issues, or slow performance during peak hours, leading to temporary disruptions in operations.
Customer support wait times: While Toast offers 24/7 support, users sometimes experience long wait times for phone assistance or delayed responses to inquiries, causing frustration when urgent issues arise.
Inventory management limitations: Users with complex inventory needs, such as multiple suppliers or intricate recipe tracking, find Toast's inventory management capabilities to be somewhat basic and lacking in advanced features.
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Clover shines for its user-friendly interface and extensive app marketplace, winning praise for its ease of use and flexibility. "It took my new employee barely a day to get comfortable with the system," one restaurant owner shared. Users rave about the ability to customize Clover with industry-specific apps, like a salon owner who added online booking, saying it "streamlined appointments and boosted customer satisfaction." However, Clover's appeal may wane as businesses scale. Some users feel constrained by the reporting capabilities, wishing for the deeper customization offered by competitors like Shopify POS. "Clover reports were too basic for analyzing my inventory trends," noted one retailer. Additionally, transaction fees for high-volume businesses can become a sticking point compared to more cost-effective options like Stripe. Finally, some users caution about potential hardware lock-in, where switching to different POS systems or even upgrading within Clover can be expensive due to incompatible hardware. This can be a deal-breaker for businesses unsure about their long-term needs. Overall, Clover excels for smaller businesses or those prioritizing ease of use and app integrations. However, its limitations in reporting, fee structure, and hardware flexibility become more apparent as businesses grow, pushing them towards more powerful and scalable POS solutions. Ultimately, the choice boils down to prioritizing user-friendliness and flexibility in the early stages versus advanced features and scalability as a business matures.

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Toast garners praise for its user-friendly interface, robust reporting, and mobile capabilities, making it a popular choice for restaurants of various sizes. Users appreciate its intuitive design, which simplifies training and streamlines daily operations compared to competitors like Square and Lightspeed POS. Toast's extensive reporting, often highlighted as superior to competitors, empowers data-driven decision-making by offering detailed insights into sales, labor, and customer behavior. Additionally, the ability to manage orders and payments tableside using mobile devices sets Toast apart, enhancing staff flexibility and customer service during peak hours. However, concerns arise regarding Toast's pricing structure, customization options, and technical glitches. The multi-tiered pricing, perceived as more complex than competitors, can become expensive for businesses with specific needs or multiple locations. While Toast offers various features, users sometimes find them less customizable than those in competitors like Revel Systems, restricting their ability to tailor the system to their unique workflows. Occasional technical issues and reported long wait times for customer support raise concerns about reliability compared to competitors known for their robust technical support, such as Micros. Ultimately, Toast's strengths in user-friendliness, reporting, and mobility resonate with many users, but its pricing complexity, limited customization, and potential technical issues demand careful consideration. Deciding factors often boil down to individual business needs, budget constraints, and desired level of customization. Weighing Toast's strengths against its potential drawbacks alongside competitor offerings becomes crucial for making an informed decision.

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Screenshots

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