Quick answer
Paladin and Clover both build POS software for retail stores but operate under different business models and specialize in different industries. Paladin is employee-owned and designed for independent hardware stores, lumberyards, feed and seed stores, pharmacies and other complex retail operations, with a long list of built-in features plus dozens of software integration options with partner developers. Clover is owned by financial technology company/payment processor Fiserv and built for restaurants, other service businesses, and general retail, with expansion possible through add-ons offered by third-party developers. Paladin sells and supports its own products exclusively, while Fiserv works with a network of banks and other resellers for some of its sales and support.
Choosing a point-of-sale system is one of the biggest decisions a retailer makes, and you will likely live with that decision for years. The following guide focuses on the contrasts between Paladin and Clover so you can more easily determine which is the better system for your business.
What are the major differences between Paladin and Clover?
| Paladin | Clover | |
| Founded | 1980 | 2010 [1] |
| Ownership | Employee owned, no outside investors | Owned since 2019 by Fiserv, a financial technology and payments company [2, 3] |
| Headquarters | Bend, Oregon and the Phoenix, Arizona metro region | Sunnyvale, California |
| Deployment | Hybrid (in-store server and terminals, plus cloud and local backup; remote PC and mobile device access available) | Cloud (Android-based payment terminals sync with cloud servers) |
| Industries served | Hardware, LBM, feed and seed, pharmacy, general retail | Restaurants, service providers, general retail |
| Inventory and ROI management | Market Driven Inventory Management, Suggested Order, Order Analyst, PaladinNsight™, Non-Performing Assets and Lost Opportunity tools automatically analyze inventory flows and optimize stock, purchase orders and pricing to grow profits | Real-time inventory tracking, revenue trend reporting, and low stock alerts; advanced features may be available through add-on app subscriptions from third-party developers (Clover App Market) |
| Works during an internet outage | Yes (single-store systems can operate indefinitely without internet service) | Temporarily (payments queued locally for up to 7 days, then synced when internet service returns) [4] |
| Support | US-based phone, e-mail, and chat included for all customers (no separate support tiers); dedicated account manager from onboarding through Go Live; 24/7 emergency support | Tiered plans (fees and agreements vary); some support direct through Clover, some indirect through a distribution network of banks, independent sales organizations, and payment processors [5, 6, 7, 8] |
| Mobile | PaladinGo™ iOS and Android apps (count inventory; sell from anywhere; receive POs; build supplier POs; check and adjust store performance with PaladinNsight and Market Driven Inventory Management) | Clover Go proprietary mobile device (payments and refunds, pending transaction management, receipt printing); Clover Dashboard (mobile management web app and iOS/Android app) |
| Beyond POS | PaladinShop™ e-commerce, PaladinGo mobile apps, Paladin Pilot™ remote PC access, managed IT and cybersecurity, Microsoft 365 licensing; dozens of integrations from promotions to accounting and workforce management | Payment processing services; Clover Capital merchant cash advances; e-commerce/website building; staff management/payroll/HR; Clover Go mobile device; Clover Dashboard remote management tools; Clover App Market (third party apps for Clover systems) |
| Agreements | Month to month, no long-term contracts, no cancellation fees. All customers get all of Paladin’s built-in POS features with their monthly fees. | Fixed contract terms with equipment financing; month to month without. Early termination fees may apply. Subscription tiers start with basic payments on a single device and progressively add features for inventory management, e-commerce, employee management, mobile payments, multiple terminals, reporting and specialized options by industry. [6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] |
Is Clover or Paladin better for hardware and LBM retailers?
Paladin is arguably the stronger fit for hardware and LBM retailers that need industry-specific tools built into their POS system. Paladin has worked with hardware stores and lumberyards since 1980. The result is a robust software package with a long list of features specifically built for hardware and LBM, covering business needs including:
- Various materials calculations (MBF, MSF, ton pricing, lineal foot tally, square footage calculator)
- Specialized and precise quoting and invoicing
- Buy/sell unit of measure conversions
- Lumber order management for staged and partial fulfillment and special orders
- Yard order and delivery management
- Construction bundles and kits
- Pro customer-friendly return wizard
- Contractor and job account management
- Supplier EDI connections and integrations including loyalty programs
Clover does not specifically market its products to hardware and LBM retailers or maintain direct EDI integrations with distributors. The system’s general retail features and third-party applications from the Clover App Market may be adaptable to retailers in those industries.
Industry-specific relationships, reputation and experience are important considerations for any prospective POS provider. Before signing a contract, consider the details of what your team does every day or week, including receiving, ordering, inventory management, and customer account management. Make sure the platform you choose is truly efficient or automated in those areas whenever possible. If it’s not, you may be stuck with more costly manual work than you expected.
Are reviews from Paladin and Clover users positive or negative?
A sampling of current online user reviews and ratings reveals users tend to rate Paladin higher overall than Clover: The average Paladin rating from recent analysis across Capterra, GetApp, Software Advice, SourceForge and Slashdot is 4.64 out of 5. The average Clover rating from the same sample (with the caveat that Clover is not currently rated on SourceForge or Slashdot) is 3.8 out of 5.
Positive reviews for Paladin tend to praise our 100% US-based customer support (included with every Paladin subscription) [22, 23]. Reviewers also commonly rave about the simplicity and speed of the Paladin system, in terms of both new user training and everyday use [24]. They appreciate our month-to-month subscription terms and cost savings over other systems [22]. They also call out Paladin’s built-in, automated PaladinNsight inventory analytics and Suggested Order Report, which help improve profit margins and automate time-consuming inventory tasks [24].
On one hand, positive reviews for Clover often mention the simplicity or general quality of the interface design, or the availability of add-on options from Clover’s third-party app marketplace. On the other hand, some users bemoan the app marketplace as a source of excess expense or add complaints about Clver’s support options, reliability, proprietary hardware, unexpected fees and contract terms [25, 26, 27, 28].
Is Paladin or Clover simple for retail stores to learn and use?
Online reviews for both Paladin and Clover are often positive in terms of simple design and quick employee training. The primary difference is in the way features are added to the systems, which in itself can impact complexity.
Aside from integrations we develop with partner companies, Paladin focuses on developing new features internally and adding them to our software through frequent updates. Our developers maintain a philosophy of simple, clean design and efficiency, so features we build and improve over time (our automated Suggested Order and PaladinNsight inventory management tools, for example) boost speed and increase ROI instead of adding complication.
Clover brings third-party app developers into the equation with its Clover App Market. Setting aside the potential for extra subscription fees for add-on apps, this approach provides a relatively open-ended way to add features to Clover products. But it also adds potential complexity, both in learning and using the different parts of the software and in getting effective technical support for every part of the POS system.
What do you get from Paladin and Clover beyond POS checkout functionality?
Clover offers its own payment processing services, Clover Capital merchant cash advances, e-commerce/website solutions, HR tools, and its Clover App Market featuring apps built for Clover systems by third-party developers. Its mobile option is a Clover-branded hardware device equipped for payments and refunds, pending transaction management and receipt printing. The Clover Dashboard takes some management tasks online with a web app and iOS or Android options.
Paladin is not a direct payment processor, nor do we offer cash advances. We integrate with processors like BlockChyp and Worldpay for payment processing, and other integration partners like Deputy for HR software needs. Beyond the checkstand, Paladin’s products and services stay focused on making retail operations quicker, easier and more efficient: The PaladinGo app for iOS and Android devices handles mobile checkout, receiving, inventory, delivery management, PO building and a growing list of integrations (ranging from contactless payment options to FastQuery for AI-fueled business insights) on iOS and Android. PaladinShop provides e-commerce solutions and an online customer self-service portal managed from inside Paladin POS. Beyond software, we offer managed services: ManagedSecurity, Managed Network, ManagedUpdates, ManagedBackups, Microsoft Office 365 licensing and remote access through Paladin Pilot™.
Since Paladin can handle your network, your backups, your security, and Microsoft licensing, a small team can work with one technology partner instead of a POS vendor plus a separate IT company.
When did Paladin and Clover start doing business and how do they operate today?
Paladin was founded in 1980 to build computerized point-of-sale software for hardware stores and lumberyards. The company has remained focused on hardware and LBM over the years, eventually expanding into additional retail industries including pharmacies, feed and seed stores, and many others. Ongoing product development has focused on delivering more efficiency and actionable business data analysis within our POS software as well as new offerings like the PaladinGo™ mobile applications, PaladinShop™ e-commerce solutions, PaladinMSP™ managed IT services and an ever-growing list of integrations with suppliers and other vendors. Paladin builds, sells and supports its products and services directly, not through commissioned third-party companies.
Clover was founded in 2010. It launched its cloud-based Android POS platform in 2012. It began shipping Clover-branded hardware in 2014, adding various options over the years. Clover’s business has centered on its POS software/hardware packages and third-party app market, payment processing services, and business financing for customers in its target restaurant, service business, and healthcare industries. Clover is sold and supported by a combination of Clover itself and a network of authorized resellers, independent payment processors, banks and other third-party vendors.
Consider: Do your prospective POS providers’ employees have real long-term stakes in the company’s success? Is their primary interest in keeping your store profitable through the POS system itself, or other ventures? Meanwhile, will a network of third-party sales and support organizations provide what you need in terms of costs and technical help, or might you end up with a different experience than a store who bought a Clover system from a completely different third-party company?
Who owns Paladin and Clover, and why does it matter?
Paladin has been self-funded since its founding in 1980, and is employee owned.
Clover started with venture capital funding. Over the years it has been acquired by two financial technology and payment processing companies: First Data Corporation bought Clover in 2012, then Fiserv merged with First Data and assumed ownership of Clover in 2019.
The software industry experiences constant change. Outside funding and growth objectives can eventually lead to acquisition, merger, or ownership changes. An acquisition does not automatically create risk, but retailers should understand what it could mean for future pricing, support, product direction, and company priorities.
When evaluating any vendor, ask:
• Who owns the company today?
• What is the company’s long-term vision?
• How long has its leadership team been serving this industry?
• What commitments exist to current customers?
Stability and continuity are important considerations in a technology partner. The employee ownership model at Paladin encourages long, productive careers and continuous work to innovate and remain competitive.
What are pricing and contracts like at Paladin and Clover?
Paladin positions itself as an affordable but robust POS platform for independent retailers. Our onboarding fees and monthly subscriptions intentionally cost less on average than many of our competitors, because we focus on long-term relationships and work constantly to earn the next month’s subscription.
Clover has month-to-month subscription options for customers who do not finance their equipment through the company, and fixed contract terms for those who do (we’ve seen evidence of terms between one and four years). Pricing and contracts themselves, meanwhile, can vary depending on whether you’re buying your Clover system direct or through Clover’s network of authorized resellers, independent payment processors, banks and other third-party vendors. In terms of negative reviews of Clover, third-party arrangements and “locked in” long-term contracts are commonly cited as sources of frustration and inconsistency in pricing and contract terms. [18, 19, 20, 21]
At Paladin, while we have dozens of healthy relationships and product integrations with third-party software developers and often receive referrals to prospective clients from stores, suppliers and others, every contract is executed and onboarded by Paladin employees. We set our own prices according to the Paladin mission and philosophy, and after signing, Paladin is the primary developer and support organization for your retail technology. We believe this is an inherently more stable, equitable, and ultimately affordable approach for our customers across the country.
I have more questions. Who should I ask about how Paladin compares with Clover or other POS vendors?
Our Sales team is always eager to hear about your retail technology needs and answer any additional questions you may have. Click the button below to get in touch.
Sources
1: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1517885/000151788511000001/xslFormDX01/primary_doc.xml; 2: https://uk.clover.com/about-us/who-we-are/; 3: https://investors.fiserv.com/news-releases/news-release-details/fiserv-completes-combination-first-data-further-cementing/; 4: https://www.clover.com/en-US/help/accept-offline-payments; 5: https://merchants.fiserv.com/en-us/approved-resellers/; 6: https://www.clover.com/pricing 7: https://www.clover.com/contact; 8: https://www.paymentcompanies.com/companies/clover/; 9: https://directprocessingnetwork.com/documents/Clover%20Lease%20Agreement.pdf; 10: https://www.dwt.com/files/paymentlawadvisor/2016/03/Clover-Merchant-Services-Agreement.pdf; 11: https://www.wellsfargo.com/biz/merchant/payment-processing-options/clover-compact/; 12: https://merchantinsiders.com/blogs/clover-fees/; 13: https://smbcompare.com/providers/clover; 14: https://www.sleftpayments.com/learning-hub/clover-pos-review-honest-pricing-2026; 15: https://www.clover.com/pricing/retail; 16: https://www.clover.com/pos-systems/ecommerce; 17: https://gravitypayments.com/support-library/account-management/clover-service-plans/; 18: https://www.capterra.com/p/226864/Clover/reviews/; 19: https://www.reddit.com/r/POS/comments/15pchk0/clover_pos_is_a_nightmare/; 20: https://www.trustpilot.com/review/clover.com; 21: https://www.posusa.com/clover-pos-review/; 22: https://www.softwareadvice.com/scm/paladin-pos-profile/reviews/; 23: https://checkthat.ai/brands/paladin-point-of-sale/reviews; 24: https://www.capterra.com/p/155794/Paladin-POS/reviews/
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