Clover vs Square vs Stripe on Getting Paid
How fast each one says your card money reaches the bank, what faster access costs, and what each page leaves out.
A card sale is not money in the bank yet. First the processor has to move it there, and each one sets its own pace. Here is what each one says on its own pricing page, laid out side by side. Weigh them against your own sales.
How each processor moves money from a sale to your bank
Every processor splits this into two questions. How fast does the money arrive on the normal schedule, and what does it cost to skip ahead? Clover's and Stripe's pages price faster payouts as a share of the amount moved. The three pages below answer those questions differently, and one of them stays quiet on the first part.
What Clover's page says about Rapid Deposit and standard deposits
Clover's pricing page says Rapid Deposit gets funds within minutes of a credit card sale for a 1.75% fee. That is the fast lane, priced as a share of what you move. On the standard schedule, Clover's page does not state an arrival time for regular deposits. If you need to know when free deposits land, that is a question to ask Clover before you sign.
What Square's page says about next-business-day and instant transfers
Square's pricing page says you can transfer funds to an external bank account the next business day for free or instantly for a fee. The free option has a clear timeline. The paid one does not name its price on the page, so ask what the instant fee is before you count on it.
The same page adds two catches. Instant Payouts services require a Square Checking account, so the fast lane is closed unless you bank with Square. And if an order is not paid out instantly, it will be available according to your regular deposit schedule. Square's pricing page also says payout limits, including limits on payout amounts, may apply.
What Stripe's page says about payout schedules and Instant Payouts
Stripe's pricing page says payouts on its standard schedule are free. You can choose to receive transfers on a rolling basis, weekly, or monthly.
For speed, Stripe's pricing page says Instant Payouts cost 1.5% of Instant Payouts volume with a minimum fee of 50¢. The minimum matters on small moves. Pulling $25 early costs the same 50¢, which is a bigger share of a small amount than of a large one.
Stripe's page also says you can see upcoming payouts, expected deposit dates, and payout history in the Dashboard. In select regions, you can get paid out in your preferred currencies.
Where the three overlap and where they differ
All three pages offer a paid way to get money faster. Clover's and Stripe's pages price it as a share of the amount moved. None of them charges for the standard schedule, where the pages state one.
They differ on the details. Stripe names its fee and its minimum. Clover names its fee. Square names neither on the page quoted here, and it gates instant transfers behind a Square Checking account. Stripe is the only one of the three that lists schedule choices on the page. Clover is the only one that leaves the standard arrival time unstated.
What to check on each processor's page before you sign up
Published prices and timelines change, so confirm each one on the processor's own page on the day you sign. Look for three things. The fee for faster access, and whether it has a minimum. Any account requirement, such as Square Checking for Square's instant option. Any payout limits that could cap how much you can move at once.
Then run the numbers on your own sales. If you want a deeper look at fast payout fees, see Paying to Be Paid Tonight. If you are still weighing the cut each processor takes on the sale itself, start with A Forty Dollar Sale at the Counter.