Choosing the right payment processing provider can make a significant difference in your day-to-day business operations. Two major competitors in this field are Clover vs Zettle, both offering a range of features and benefits for small to medium-sized businesses. But how do these two providers stack up against each other?
In this comprehensive comparison, we will delve into the details of Clover and Zettle’s offerings, pricing, and customer support, to help you make an informed decision.
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Clover vs Zettle
| Feature/Service | Clover | Zettle |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | Owned by Fiserv | Owned by PayPal |
| Hardware | Clover Station, Clover Mini, Clover Flex | Zettle card reader |
| Software | Clover POS, with additional features available via App Market | Zettle mobile app, integrates with other POS systems |
| Customisability | High, with various apps available for different functionalities | Limited, focuses on simplicity and ease-of-use |
| E-commerce Integration | Yes | Yes |
| Contactless Payments | Yes | Yes |
| Inventory Management | Yes, via apps | Basic functionality |
| Reporting & Analytics | Yes, advanced | Yes, basic |
| Employee Management | Yes, via apps | No |
| Loyalty Programmes | Yes, via apps | No |
| Customer Support | 24/7 phone support, email support, online help centre | Phone, email, and live chat support during UK business hours |
| Transaction Fee | Varies, offers flat-rate and interchange-plus pricing | 1.75% flat rate per card transaction |
| Monthly Fees | Varies depending on apps and services used | None |
| Hardware Cost | Clover Station from £1,269, Clover Mini from £599 | Zettle card reader £59 |
This table provides a high-level comparison of the two providers, but each business should thoroughly research and consider their specific needs when choosing a payment processing provider.
Understanding the landscape
Before we go into the comparison, it’s essential to understand the context in which these two companies operate. Payment processing has become a crucial part of modern commerce, enabling businesses to accept card payments, mobile payments, and online transactions.
As technology advances, so do consumers’ expectations for fast, seamless, and secure payment experiences. With both Clover and Zettle offering a plethora of payment solutions, it’s vital to assess their capabilities to meet these expectations.
Features and functionality
Clover – comprehensive and customisable
Clover is a US-based company owned by Fiserv. It offers an all-in-one system that integrates with point-of-sale (POS) hardware and software. Clover’s platform is renowned for its customisability, offering businesses the ability to tailor the system to their specific needs.
Clover’s offerings include the Clover Station, a countertop POS system; the Clover Mini, a smaller, portable POS system; and the Clover Flex, a handheld device for taking payments anywhere. Moreover, Clover’s App Market allows you to add specific features to your system, such as inventory management, employee scheduling, and customer loyalty programmes, among others.
Zettle – simplicity and ease-of-use
Zettle, a company owned by PayPal and based in Sweden, is known for its simplicity and user-friendly design. Zettle’s core offering is a mobile card reader that works in tandem with a mobile app, enabling businesses to take card payments anywhere.
Besides this, Zettle also offers an e-commerce platform and integrates with several third-party POS systems. Unlike Clover, Zettle doesn’t have as many in-built features or apps. However, its ease of use, quick setup, and straightforward pricing model are key advantages, particularly for smaller businesses or sole traders.
Pricing comparison
Clover – flexible but potentially costly
Clover offers a variety of pricing models, from flat-rate pricing to interchange-plus pricing, which can provide more cost-effective rates for businesses with larger transaction volumes. The hardware prices can vary, with the Clover Station priced from £1,269 and the Clover Mini from £599. The cost of apps can also add up, making Clover a potentially costly option, particularly for smaller businesses.
Zettle – straightforward and competitive
Zettle, on the other hand, has a straightforward pricing model. It charges a flat rate of 1.75% per card transaction, with no monthly fees or contract commitments. The Zettle card reader costs £59, and the POS app is free. For businesses looking for a simple, predictable pricing structure, Zettle offers a competitive option.
Customer support
Clover – extensive but US-centric
Clover offers extensive customer support, including 24/7 phone support, email support, and an online help centre. However, Clover’s customer service is US-centric, which can lead to longer response times for UK businesses.
Zettle – responsive and locally focused
Zettle’s customer support includes phone, email, and live chat services. Unlike Clover, Zettle’s customer service is more locally focused, offering UK-based support during local business hours. This often leads to quicker response times for UK businesses.
The final verdict
The choice between Clover and Zettle for your payment processing provider ultimately depends on your business’s specific needs.
Clover is a robust, highly customisable system that offers a range of features and functionalities. However, this comes with a potentially higher cost, and its customer service may not be as responsive for UK-based businesses.
On the other hand, Zettle offers simplicity, ease of use, and a competitive, straightforward pricing structure. Its customer support is more locally focused, which could benefit UK businesses. However, Zettle lacks the extensive customisability and features offered by Clover.
Therefore, when choosing between Clover and Zettle, consider your business size, the volume of transactions, the level of customisability you require, and the level of customer support you might need. Both providers offer quality solutions, but the best choice will depend on your business’s specific circumstances.
FAQ
Clover is a payment processing provider that offers point-of-sale hardware and software, with a range of features available through its App Market.
Zettle is a payment processing provider owned by PayPal, known for its user-friendly mobile card reader and app.
Clover offers a more customisable system, with a range of apps available to tailor its services to specific business needs.
Both Clover and Zettle can accept credit and debit card payments, as well as contactless and mobile payments.
Clover’s costs include the hardware price, a variable transaction fee, and potential monthly fees depending on the apps and services used.
Zettle charges a flat rate of 1.75% per card transaction, with a one-time cost of £59 for the card reader. There are no monthly fees.
Clover offers 24/7 phone support, email support, and an online help centre. However, their support is primarily US-based.
Zettle offers phone, email, and live chat support during UK business hours, and its support is more locally focused.
Yes, both Clover and Zettle can integrate with e-commerce platforms, allowing businesses to manage both in-person and online sales.
Clover offers advanced reporting and analytics, with features available to track sales, monitor inventory, and manage employees.
Zettle offers basic reporting and analytics, providing insights into sales and performance.
Clover offers more advanced inventory management features via its apps, whereas Zettle only provides basic inventory tracking.
Clover offers the ability to set up loyalty programmes through its apps. Zettle does not currently offer this feature.
Clover has apps available for employee management, including scheduling and task assignment. Zettle does not have this functionality.
Clover offers the Clover Station, a countertop POS system, the Clover Mini, a smaller, portable POS system, and the Clover Flex, a handheld device for taking payments anywhere.
Zettle offers a mobile card reader that works with a mobile app, allowing businesses to accept card payments anywhere.
Yes, both Clover and Zettle are compatible with most major credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, and American Express.
Yes, both Clover and Zettle are PCI compliant, meaning they adhere to the security standards set by the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).
Both Clover and Zettle are known for their easy setup. However, Clover’s system may take longer to customise due to the range of apps and features available.
The choice depends on the specific needs of the business. Zettle’s simplicity, competitive pricing, and ease of use make it a good choice for smaller businesses or sole traders. Clover, however, could be beneficial for small businesses looking for a more comprehensive and customisable system.