Access2Pay vs Clover POS: Feature Comparison

When you start your search for an effective POS, you may be a little overwhelmed by the number of choices you have. It is true that there are many options, but they are not all equal. Some will be more suited to your business than others. Some simply offer more value than their competitors. As you consider your many options, be careful to weigh up all the benefits that each one offers. It would be worthwhile to do a point-for-point comparison, taking the time to assess each feature. After previously weighing up our solution, Access2Pay, against Lightspeed – one of the most widely used POS systems, we will do a similar exercise with Clover POS. Clover POS is another popular POS system. If you are considering the relative benefits of Access2Pay vs Clover POS, our step-by-step retail POS comparison will help you make your decision.

When choosing your retail cloud POS system, it is best to break down your business’s needs into the following common payment software features and categories:

Will you need to integrate your POS with other software packages? If so, you need to choose a solution that is optimized for integration. Both Clover POS and Access2Pay integrate well with third-party software, such as payroll and accounting packages. One area where Access2Pay undoubtedly outperforms Clover is in the integration of online and in-store functions. Access2Pay provides seamless integration, while Clover does not offer e-commerce functions at all.

How many payment methods do you plan to accept – and which ones? It is best to choose a POS system that either accepts the payment options you plan to focus on, or is compatible with all possible payment methods. Clover POS accepts multiple payment methods, including cash, cheques, gift cards, credit cards and debit cards. Access2Pay accepts all of these as well.

Every retail business likely has high-security needs. You will need a POS system that has strong security features for effectively protecting your customers’ private data and preventing fraud. Both Clover POS and Access2Pay provide robust data protection measures, including encryption, tokenization and PCI compliance tools.

Does the payment software system you are considering charge ongoing fees? If so, how are they charged – a flat rate per transaction or a monthly fee? Clover POS charges a monthly fee, which varies depending on the type and scale of your business. Access2Pay works in a similar way, with no added extras or hidden costs.

Is the software supported for global business transactions in multiple currencies? Both systems can support transactions in multiple currencies. Since they are cloud-based, they can also both support international transactions.

Does the vendor provide good, ongoing customer support to help you get the most out of the payment solution? 24/7 customer support is provided by both Clover POS and Access2Pay.

Is the solution a good cultural fit for your business? Has it been designed with the needs of your industry in mind? A good POS system should be capable of being tailored to your business and your industry. Some systems are more suitable for specific industries, while others are more flexible. Clover POS provides tailored solutions for restaurants, service-based businesses and retailers. Access2Pay works well with niche retailers, service-based businesses, government service providers, museums, theatres and amusement parks.

The payment system should be fast, efficient and easy to use. Access2Pay is designed with speed in mind, able to process transactions in a matter of seconds. The same applies to Clover POS.

Can you access your system remotely? You may need to pull reports or monitor sales while you are away from your business, for example. Both Access2Pay and Clover POS are cloud-based systems that can be accessed easily from anywhere in the world via a central dashboard on various devices.

Can the system work on multiple devices or is it designed to be used on specific point-of-sale hardware? Access2Pay is entirely cloud-based and does not require any proprietary hardware to function. You can use the software on dedicated POS hardware, or you can work from your mobile devices. Clover POS relies on specially designed hardware, while Access2Pay can operate on any hardware you have to hand, including tablets and mobile phones.

Most current POS systems are cloud-based, which provides a great deal of advantages. You would be unlikely to want to opt for a system that is not cloud-based. As already mentioned, both Clover POS and Access2Pay are cloud-based.

Your POS vendor should provide full training, including manuals and in-person training, as well as ongoing technical support. Access2Pay provides a comprehensive “train-the-trainer” program which empowers key personnel to train other employees in the use of the system. Clover POS offers webinars and in-person training sessions to assist users in learning to operate the system.

You must be able to pull customizable reports whenever you need to. This helps you to maintain stronger control over your business. Clover POS and Access2Pay both offer sophisticated reporting functions.

Your existing database will need to be imported from your current system onto the new one. The POS vendor you choose should offer this as a service. Once again, both systems are equipped with database import functionality. Clover POS has an import function that clients can carry by themselves. It works with a simple MS Excel spreadsheet. Access2Pay works differently, providing legacy data migration as an expert, value-added service.

Clover POS is a reputable payment and retail management system, but it has some drawbacks, which competing systems such as Access2Pay can make up for. Clover POS is far from the most affordable option on the market – depending on which plan you opt for. Its hardware is relatively expensive, although it offers competitive processing fees. Access2Pay is a scalable and affordable option. We tailor our system to each client’s resources and needs, ensuring that you get the best solution for your budget.

Ease of use is often a subjective matter, so it is always worth getting a demo of whatever software you are considering. Clover POS is a relatively easy-to-use system, especially compared to others, such as Lightspeed. At InfoCorp, we have worked hard to make Access2Pay even more user-friendly. Our system has an intuitive interface and is exceptionally easy to learn and master.

While Clover POS is quite a good option if you want to integrate it with other software, Access2Pay has even more capacity in this area. Clover works with a limited list of third-party partners, while Access2Pay can integrate with any software you want. 

You should consider alternatives to Clover POS if you have very specific demands relating to ease of use, third-party software integration and overall user experience.

Speaking of user experience, how do these two systems measure up in this regard? Access2Pay and Clover POS compete very closely with one another in many of the key POS performance areas. The real difference between the two is in the specifics of the POS user experience.

Access2Pay is the perfect solution for specialty retail businesses. Rather than providing a standard, off-the-shelf POS system, Access2Pay can be tailored to suit the special requirements of your business, your customers, your products, and your industry. Unlike Clover, it requires no special hardware, and it can be perfectly integrated with every aspect of your business. Among the key benefits of Access2Pay are:

We have already provided a brief comparison between Access2Pay and Clover POS, as far as the key POS features are concerned. Let’s go into more detail and see how their user experiences compare on the whole.

Clover POS benefits from an intuitive design and user-friendly interface. It also offers excellent mobile apps that businesses can use to enhance their payment processing experience with on-the-go solutions. It operates very effectively in offline mode, which is a great benefit for any business that has ever experienced the impact of a sudden lapse in internet service. 

However, there are some downsides to the system. Firstly, it requires an investment in proprietary hardware, which not all businesses can afford. Secondly, even though Clover offers a number of apps to supplement the primary payment system, it is not very conducive to customization. The core software comes pretty much as it is, requiring your business to work within and around it. Thirdly, Clover users may find themselves dealing with hidden fees, including transaction charges and the costs of additional features. 

Access2Pay offers all of these pros without any of the cons. The user interface is every bit as intuitive and easy to use as Clover’s, simplifying transactions, reducing training time and allowing business owners to focus on selling and managing their businesses. It does not offer any additional apps, but that is because they are not necessary: the software can be customized for each client and is accessible on multiple platforms. Like Clover, Access2Pay also works offline, allowing users to keep working when there is no internet service. 

Access2Pay does not require users to buy any proprietary hardware. It can work on your current hardware, including laptops, desktops and mobile devices. As already mentioned, it is fully customizable. There are also no hidden fees when you use Access2Pay.

While it can be difficult to choose the best payment software for retail, it gets easier when you examine the details of each package and how they compare with one another. This comparison of Access2Pay vs Clover POS shows two systems that each provide a sizeable set of benefits. What sets them apart is those vital details that contribute to a holistic POS user experience. If you would like to know more about our solution, why it stands as a powerful alternative to Clover POS, and how it compares with other systems, contact Access2Pay today.