Summary:  POS Roundup compares our POS offerings to one another, suggests best fits by vertical and reasons why, unique features, key takeaways, and characteristics that help predict best outcomes for each brand.





  POS ROUND-UP:  

             Clover, Square, OrderCounter, Union, & Korona

                       Verticals and merchant characteristics to help predict best-fit POS outcomes


POS Comparison Table


Key Takeaways

  • Clover POS stands out for small to mid-sized retailers, QSRs, and mixed retail/restaurant brands needing modern, easy-to-navigate hardware, basic inventory and reporting, basic gift card & loyalty features, and an all-in-one system that integrates seamlessly with e-commerce, and mobile/online ordering.

  • Square POS offers three feature rich plans that require few extra apps.  Square excels at serving multi-prong sellers that don't neatly fit into one specific vertical.  It's slightly more complex than Clover but those settings accommodate greater customization of UI, online ordering, invoicing, and scheduling.

  • OrderCounter POS is well-suited for full-service/table-service/counter-service/drive-through restaurants and bars looking for workflow customizations, multi-locations, and hybrid cloud/on-premise reliability.

  • Union POS remains the top choice for busy bars, nightclubs, and event venues that require rapid guest-led ordering, strong mobile/table-side workflows, and hospitality-focused loyalty/engagement tools.

  • Korona POS is ideal for inventory-intensive, compliance-driven retailers, liquor stores, and ticketing/event venues due to its robust inventory, vendor, and age-verification.  Highly customizable screen layouts.



Characteristics that help predict best POS outcomes



Best-fit Characteristics for:

Clover POS

  • Retail or quick-service restaurant focus: Best for small–mid-sized retailers and QSRs that want reliable, purpose-built hardware and straightforward workflows.

  • Merchants valuing aesthetics and ease of setup: Modern matching white hardware for teams that want fewer configuration choices; Clover emphasizes a controlled, streamlined merchant experience..

  • Merchants valuing an integrated, branded ecosystem: Strong where merchants want bundled Clover hardware, Clover-managed service plans, and a curated app marketplace.

  • Multi-channel with curated integrations: Supports in-person and online ordering with inventory syncing via first- and third‑party apps, but many features rely on Marketplace apps or integrations.

  • Support for fee reduction plans:  supports both Surcharge and Cash Discounting strategies.




Best-fit Characteristics for:

Square POS

  • SMBs that need modest customization: Ideal when merchants want branding and UI options — on-screen layouts, button sizing, detailed modifier behavior, and per-unit pricing — even if setup takes longer.

  • Flexible operations that can pivot to mobile first: Excellent for pop-ups, multi-location shops, and businesses that need portable hardware plus cloud-based device management

  • Merchants who desire more online-store customization: Square Online provides multiple ordering templates & styles, online/onsite menu visibility to tailor order flows without third-party tools.

  • Inventory options and tax precision: Sellers needing fixed, variable and per-unit costs, added or inclusive taxes, and variant/modifier management including pre-selected modifier ingredients.

  • Superior Loyalty and Marketing:  Plus and Premium plans include granular loyalty and purchased item customer segmentation to generate meaningful targeted outreach and offers based on actual purchases.

  • Transparent, flat-rate pricing preference: Attracts merchants who prefer clear, pay-as-you-go processing and built-in services (online ordering, appointments, invoicing) without bundling.



Best-fit Characteristics for:

OrderCounter POS

  • Table-service, traditional restaurants, light retail: OrderCounter is ideal for restaurants that prefer the reliability and capabilities of a traditional hospitality POS but want cloud-based flexibility for back-office operations.  Basic retail can also be accommodated but item variants and eCommerce is not supported.

  • Merchants with complex or legacy workflow requirements: OrderCounter is well-suited for businesses seeking detailed, highly customizable features for managing intricate restaurant or bar operations.  For example, modifier groups can show which ingredients are included, tap to remove, No, 2x and subs.

  • Those seeking hybrid cloud/on-premise solutions: Merchants worried about internet downtime or data loss may prefer OrderCounter's blend of in-store server reliability and cloud functions, compared with Clover’s mainly cloud-first model.

  • Businesses prioritizing traditional POS familiarity: If the staff is accustomed to legacy POS systems, OrderCounter can provide a comfortable transition with robust support for conventional ordering flows.

  • Support for Dual-Pricing, Cash Discounting



Best-fit Characteristics for:

Union POS

  • Bars, nightclubs, and event venues: Union POS is purpose-built for environments with high guest turnover, requiring rapid ordering/payment and guest-led features like QR-based ordering.

  • Mobile, table-side, and contactless ordering: Union dominates where staff efficiency, mobile payments, and customer self-service are central, especially for venues that use iPhones as handhelds and need real-time analytics.

  • Seamless guest engagement and loyalty: Robust modules for tracked loyalty, digital ordering, and post-event marketing give Union a hospitality edge.

  • Offline reliability: Union’s strong continuity features ensure order and payment workflows continue uninterrupted during network outages, critical during peak bar/nightclub hours.

  • Built for speed and fast-turn settings: Offers optimized payment flows and modular controls, compliant surcharge and cash discounting, ideal for fast cash-outs and dynamic guest experiences.



Best-fit Characteristics for:

Korona POS

  • Retail and Inventory-Heavy Businesses: Korona POS excels in real-time inventory management, robust sales reports, loss/theft controls, and complex vendor/re-ordering workflows—making it ideal for liquor stores, c-stores, vape shops, and other inventory-focused retail.  Highly customizable screen layouts.

  • High-Risk, Regulated, or Age-Restricted Retail: Industry-specific tools like built-in ID scanning and robust age verification support—key for liquor, vape, or ticketing venues.

  • Multi-Store and Franchise Management: Strong back-office features for chains or franchises, including consolidated reporting and scalable configuration for multi-location operations.

  • Ticketing, Amusement, and Events: Korona uniquely caters to museums, amusement parks, and other general admission ticketing/event-focused businesses—areas where most other POS options lack out-of-the-box solutions and the facilities feature gift, snack, and QSR services within.