Clover POS vs Helcim
Clover POS
clover.comHelcim
helcim.comSide by side
| Figure | Clover POS | Helcim |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $14.95/mo | $0.40/mo |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 6 | 6 |
| Spec score · Point of Sale POS software | 9.1 (#2) | 9.3 (#1) |
| API authentication | Production REST integrations use OAuth 2.0 with expiring access and refresh tokens plus permission scopes. | API endpoints require a Helcim API token and accept requests only from a secure back-end server. |
| Company legal name | Crunchbase identifies the legal entity as Clover Network, Inc. | The Google Play listing identifies the developer as Helcim Inc. |
| Headquarters | Sunnyvale, California, United States | Helcim lists its primary headquarters at 440 2 Ave SW, Suite 400, Calgary, Alberta T2P 5E9, Canada. |
| Integrations | Clover lists integrations and services including QuickBooks, Shopify, Woo, Magento, Yelp, and payroll tools. | Listed integrations include QuickBooks Online, Xero, WooCommerce and Foxy, with additional software connections available. |
| Inventory | Its food-truck page says merchants can track sales and ingredients in real time to help with preparation and planning. | Inventory tools support product catalogs, CSV imports, stock counts and low-inventory alerts. |
| Payment methods | The food-truck page says Clover processes cash, credit, debit, and smartphone payments. | Its in-person tools accept major payment types, including Apple Pay and Google Pay. |
| Rating on Google Play | 4.8 out of 5 from 7.42K reviews | 3.0 out of 5 from 179 reviews |
| Rating on Trustpilot | 1.9 out of 5 from 2,211 reviews | 4.0 out of 5 from 1,100 reviews |
| Reporting | The platform includes analytics with real-time reports, key metrics and performance insights. | Real-time reporting provides sales and transaction data from a centralized dashboard. |
| Security | Clover Security Plus describes end-to-end encryption and tokenization to help protect customer data, plus an online PCI compliance tool. | Helcim identifies itself as a PCI Level 1 Service Provider and says it protects cardholder data with AES-256 encryption and TLS 1.2 or higher in transit. |
| Support | Clover advertises 24/7/365 troubleshooting and support for merchants. | Helcim offers phone support Monday through Friday 7 a.m.–5 p.m. MT and Saturdays 9 a.m.–5 p.m. MT, and says contact-form questions receive a reply within one business day. |
| What it does | Clover is a cloud point-of-sale and payments platform for small and medium businesses, running on Android-based devices. | Helcim is a payment-processing platform for small and medium-sized businesses accepting card, debit and ACH/EFT payments online and in person. |
Plans
Clover POS
- StarterPriced on request
- StandardPriced on request
- AdvancedPriced on request
- Basic retail setup$14.95 a month
- Quick-service restaurant package$60 a month
- Full-service restaurant package$90 a month
Helcim
- Helcim payment processingFree
- Helcim platformFree
- Recurring payments$0.40 a month
- 4G wireless data$7 a month
- Helcim Card Reader$199, paid once
- Helcim Smart Terminal$349, paid once
In their own words
Clover POS
Clover POS combines cloud-based point-of-sale software and hardware for food trucks. It handles payments and orders, tracks inventory, and provides business-management tools. Merchants can monitor sales and ingredients in real time to support preparation and planning. Offline Mode keeps payments going when Wi-Fi or cell service is unavailable, with transactions processed after reconnection. Payment types include cash, credit, debit, and smartphone payments.
Quick-service plans include online menus and pickup and delivery ordering. Starter, Standard, and Advanced bundles list different POS hardware, but prices are not shown. Starter lacks customer tools such as a database, promotions, loyalty, private feedback, and Clover gift cards; Standard and Advanced include them. Integrations include QuickBooks, Shopify, Woo, Magento, Yelp, and payroll tools. Subscription fees vary by business type, and processing fees are separate. Eligible merchants in selected business types may receive a 90-day trial without SaaS subscription fees for Clover Essentials or Services Growth, subject to the offer's terms. Clover supports Android, iOS, and web.
Helcim
Helcim provides businesses with payment processing tools for in-person and online sales, invoices, and virtual-terminal transactions. Its tools include point of sale, online checkout, payment links, recurring payments, invoicing, a customer vault, and an inventory catalog. In-person payments support major payment types such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. Eligible merchants can also accept ACH through invoicing, recurring payments, payment requests, and the Virtual Terminal. Helcim lists integrations with QuickBooks Online, Xero, and WooCommerce, as well as its API and HelcimPay.js for custom integrations and website payments. The Card Vault tokenizes stored payment details for future or recurring payments, while Helcim says it protects cardholder data with AES-256 encryption and TLS 1.2 or higher in transit. It identifies itself as a PCI Level 1 Service Provider. The POS app is available for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, with listed device requirements. The processing plan costs nothing, with no account monthly fees; transaction rates vary by volume and payment method.