Choosing a point of sale system is about more than the device on your counter. Each system comes with its own software, its own way of handling menus or inventory, its own add-ons, and its own approach to processing. Clover, Square and Valor PayTech are three of the most widely used options, and each has a different personality. None is best for everyone. The right choice depends on how your business takes payments today and how you expect it to grow.
Start with how you take payments
Before comparing brands, write down how money actually comes in. The answers narrow the field faster than any feature list.
- Where do you take payments: at a counter, at tables, in the field, at events, online or by invoice?
- Do you need inventory tracking, a menu with modifiers, appointments, or simply a way to enter an amount?
- How many locations, registers and employees will use the system?
- Which software must it work with: accounting, ecommerce, scheduling, loyalty or a CRM?
- Do you plan to use a cash discount or surcharge program?
- Who will set it up and support it when something breaks on a busy day?
Square: an all-in-one software ecosystem
Square is known for its integrated software. Point of sale, online store, appointments, invoices, team management and reporting are designed to work together under one login, and the interface is approachable for owners who are not technical. That has made Square popular with small sellers, cafes, salons, market vendors and businesses that want to be up and running quickly.
Square hardware includes the Square Terminal, an all-in-one device with a built-in receipt printer; Square Register, a two-screen countertop system; Square Stand, which turns an iPad into a register; Square Handheld; Square Kiosk for self-serve ordering; and contactless, chip and magstripe readers for phones and tablets.
Square tends to fit businesses that value a single, tightly integrated set of tools and are comfortable working within that ecosystem.
Clover: broad hardware and an app market
Clover offers one of the broadest hardware lineups, from countertop stations to handhelds, and an app market where businesses can add capabilities such as loyalty, scheduling, payroll integrations and specialized tools for particular industries. That flexibility makes Clover a common choice for restaurants, retailers and service businesses whose needs go beyond the basics.
Clover devices include the Clover Station Duo, a countertop system with a customer-facing screen; the compact Clover Mini; the Clover Flex Pocket handheld; Clover Go, a reader for a phone or tablet; Clover Kiosk for self-serve ordering; and the Clover Kitchen Display for sending orders straight to the kitchen.
Clover tends to fit businesses that want to tailor their system with apps, need several device types working together, or run a full-service restaurant with tableside and kitchen workflows.
Valor PayTech: flexible terminals and pricing programs
Valor PayTech focuses on payment terminals and PIN pads built for merchants who want reliable card acceptance and flexibility in how they are processed. Valor devices are widely used for cash discount and surcharge programs, with tools designed to help merchants present those programs in line with card brand rules. They also pair well with existing point of sale software when a business needs a dependable payment device rather than a full new system.
The Valor lineup includes countertop devices such as the VP800 all-in-one smart POS, the VP550C and the VP100; handhelds such as the VP550 and VL550; PIN pads such as the VP350, VP300 and VP300 Pro; and the pocket-sized RCKT Mobile POS.
Valor tends to fit businesses that want straightforward, dependable terminals, need a PIN pad to connect to other software, take payments in the field, or plan to run a compliant cost-recovery program.
How the three compare at a glance
- If you want one integrated set of business tools and a fast start, look closely at Square.
- If you want to customize with apps and need a wide range of devices, look closely at Clover.
- If you want flexible terminals and PIN pads, or a cost-recovery program, look closely at Valor.
- If you are not sure, start from your workflow and let it point to the hardware, not the other way around.
Questions to ask before you buy
- Can this system handle every way I take payments, or will I need a second device or service?
- Does it work with the accounting, ecommerce and scheduling software I already use?
- What happens if the internet goes down? Can it take payments offline, and with what limits?
- How are software subscriptions, if any, billed, and what is included?
- Can I keep this hardware if I change processors later, or is it tied to one provider?
- Who installs it, trains my staff and answers the phone when it stops working?
The answers to these questions often matter more over the life of the system than any single feature. A slightly less capable device that your team understands and that someone supports well will usually serve you better than the most impressive option on the shelf.
Do not forget the software behind the counter
A POS system handles the sale, but many businesses also need to manage customers, follow up on quotes and send invoices. BizSimple, made by our processing partner NetSimple, is a CRM with contacts, a sales pipeline and invoicing, and it includes free add-ons for point of sale, an online store, online booking, an AI assistant and automations. For some businesses it complements a terminal; for others it covers most of what they need.
Getting it matched to you
BrightStar carries Clover, Square and Valor PayTech hardware, so we do not need to steer you toward one brand. We start with how you take payments, recommend the devices and setup that fit, and walk you through how processing and pricing work for each option. If you already accept cards, we match or beat your current rate in writing. And through the BrightStar Impact Network, a share of our profit on your account goes every month to a nonprofit you choose, at no extra cost to you.
Published · BrightStar Merchant Services
