Choosing the right payment platform is one of the most important decisions for your business — whether you’re a retail store, a restaurant, an e-commerce site or a subscription service. This comparison breaks down key metrics, features, pricing and user feedback so you can decide between Stripe and Clover with confidence.

Platform Overview

• Stripe is a payments platform designed for online commerce, mobile apps, subscriptions, marketplaces and global transactions. It emphasizes developer-friendly APIs, flexible online checkout, and scaling.
• Clover is a full-featured point of sale (POS) system built largely for in-person retail and restaurant operations—hardware terminals, employee tracking, inventory, loyalty/gift card integration.
  In other words: if you operate primarily in-store, Clover may be more tailored; if you operate online, globally or with subscriptions, Stripe often wins.
  
  

Quick Comparison Table

Feature	Stripe	Clover
Overall User Rating*	4.6 / 5 (3,236 reviews) Software Advice+1	3.8 / 5 (559 reviews) Software Advice
Ease of Use Rating	4.5 / 5 Software Advice	4.0 / 5 Software Advice
Value for Money Rating	4.4 / 5 Software Advice	3.4 / 5 Software Advice
Customer Support Rating	4.2 / 5 Software Advice	3.2 / 5 Software Advice
Feature Rating – Payment Processing	4.61 / 5 Software Advice	3.40 / 5 Software Advice
Feature Rating – Online Payments	4.70 / 5 Software Advice	4.30 / 5 Software Advice
Feature Rating – Data Security	4.60 / 5 Software Advice	4.20 / 5 Software Advice

*Based on verified user reviews aggregated by SoftwareAdvice. Software Advice

Pricing & Cost Structure

Stripe:

• Standard online transaction rate: 2.9% + US$0.30 per successful payment. Software Advice
• In-person (via Stripe Terminal): ~2.7% + US$0.05. Software Advice
• International card surcharge: +1.5%. Currency conversion: +1%. Software Advice
• Recurring billing / subscriptions add 0.5%–0.8% on top of transaction fees. Software Advice
  Clover:
• Monthly software/hardware bundles (vary by industry) plus transaction rate starting around 2.3% + US$0.10. Software Advice
• Example: A retail “Starter” plan might start at US$16/month (36-mo term) or US$349 upfront + US$0/month. Software Advice
• Additional costs: hardware units, apps, contract lock-in and potential hidden fees. Software Advice
  Insight: While Clover may appear lower cost for in-store transactions (especially if bundled with hardware), the upfront hardware cost + monthly plan can add up. Stripe’s pay-as-you-go model gives clear transparency for online/volume scale.
  
  

Features & Capabilities

Stripe Strengths:

• Supports multiple payment methods (cards, wallets, ACH), online checkout, subscriptions, billing, marketplaces. Software Advice
• Highly rated for integrations, developer API flexibility and global reach.
• Ideal for businesses with online or hybrid models.
  Stripe Limitations:
• More technical setup may be required (APIs, custom flows).
• For very small in-person only business, hardware/terminal may add extra cost.
  Clover Strengths:
• Turn-key POS system: hardware + software, inventory, employees, loyalty/gift features, ideal for retail/restaurant.
• Easy for non-technical staff to run.
  Clover Limitations:
• Less strong for complex online commerce or subscription models.
• User support and long-term cost concerns noted by users. Software Advice

Integrations, Support & Ecosystem

• Stripe offers broad ecosystem: e-commerce platforms (e.g., Shopify, WooCommerce), custom APIs, global expansion.
• Clover offers an App Market and built-in integration for in-store operations (inventory, staff, loyalty).
• User feedback: Stripe’s support rated 4.2/5; Clover’s 3.2/5. Software Advice
• Users report Stripe’s documentation is extensive and self-service friendly; Clover users say support can sometimes be slower or require contacting the hardware merchant provider.
  
  

Pros & Cons

Stripe – Pros:

• Transparent pricing, usage-based model.
• Strong online commerce + subscription features.
• High user ratings overall.
  Stripe – Cons:
• Can be overwhelming for non-technical businesses.
• Extra surcharges can add cost (international cards, currency conversion).
  Clover – Pros:
• Optimised for in-store businesses with hardware + software bundle.
• Quick to set up for retail/restaurant operations.
  Clover – Cons:
• Contract terms, hardware commitments, hidden fees reported. Software Advice
• Online/subscription features less mature than Stripe.
  
  

Which Should You Choose?

Go with Clover if:

• You run a primarily brick-and-mortar business (retail shop, café, restaurant).
• You need integrated POS hardware + software, employee tracking, inventory, loyalty/gift programs.
• You’re okay committing to a hardware + monthly plan structure.
  Go with Stripe if:
• You do most of your business online, use subscriptions, have a marketplace or serve global customers.
• You have or are comfortable with some technical setup (or developer access).
• You prefer a pay-as-you-go, transparent pricing model without large upfront hardware cost.
  
  

Real-World Data Highlights

• Stripe holds an overall rating of 4.6/5 from 3,236 user reviews; Clover holds 3.8/5 from 559 user reviews. Software Advice
• On “Value for Money”, Stripe averages 4.4/5, Clover averages 3.4/5. Software Advice
• On “Feature – Payment Processing”, Stripe is rated 4.61/5, Clover 3.40/5. Software Advice
  These metrics show Stripe is stronger overall in the online/tech space and among review users; Clover excels for its niche but has more mixed feedback.
  
  

There’s no one-size-fits-all. If your business is scaling online, uses subscriptions, or operates globally, Stripe is the clear choice. If your business is mostly in-store and you need a complete POS system, Clover is a strong contender. Some businesses may even use both: Clover in-store + Stripe online. Evaluate your transaction volume, location (Philippines, global), in-person vs online split, hardware needs and budget before locking in.

References

1. “Stripe vs. Clover: 2025 Comparison” – SoftwareAdvice. Available online. Software Advice
2. Additional user-review metrics from SoftwareAdvice’s independent research. Software Advice

(For broader context) See other comparisons: PayPal vs Stripe, Clover vs other POS systems. Software Advice