The contemporary marketplace is shifting to a digital landscape, and with this transformation comes the need for secure and reliable payment processing solutions. Elavon vs Clover are two prominent players in this sphere, providing businesses with the tools to accept and process electronic payments seamlessly.
In this article, we will deep dive into both Elavon and Clover’s offerings, dissect their features, costs, and customer support to aid your decision-making process.
Elavon vs Clover
| Elavon | Clover | |
|---|---|---|
| Features | ||
| Payment Options | Credit and debit card, mobile payments, online payments | Credit and debit card, contactless payments, digital wallets |
| Compatibility | Wide range of shopping carts and e-commerce platforms | Designed primarily for small to medium businesses |
| POS Systems | Available | Specialised and advanced POS systems |
| Security | Fraud monitoring and encryption | Standard encryption |
| Fees | ||
| Pricing Model | Quote-based | Transparent pricing with monthly plans |
| Setup Fee | Depends on the business (may be waived for some businesses) | None for most plans |
| Transaction Fee | Custom, based on factors like business size and industry | Varies by plan, starts from 2.3% + 10p per transaction |
| Monthly Fee | Custom, based on individual business requirements | Varies by plan, starts from £0 for basic plan |
| Hardware Cost | Varies by requirements | Prices available on website |
| Support | ||
| Availability | 24/7 phone and email support | 24/7 phone support, along with email and live chat |
| User Reviews | Mixed; some users report slow response times | Mixed; some users report slow response times |
Please note that this table summarises the primary features, fees, and customer support of each provider. It’s recommended to reach out to Elavon and Clover directly for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
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Understanding the basics – Payment processing
Before we delve into the specifics of Elavon vs Clover, it is important to understand what a payment processor does. At its core, a payment processor is a company that manages transactions between the debit and credit card company of a buyer and the bank of a seller. This technology is paramount in ensuring that your customers can pay you swiftly and securely.
A look at Elavon
Elavon is a well-established player in the payment processing industry, serving over 1 million customers globally. It offers a comprehensive range of products, including merchant accounts, mobile payment solutions such as card machines, online payment gateways, and physical point of sale (POS) systems.
Features
Elavon stands out for its range of solutions, including its mobile payment processing and online gateways. They are compatible with a wide variety of shopping carts and e-commerce platforms, allowing businesses to offer a seamless checkout experience. Elavon also provides robust security measures, including fraud monitoring and encryption.
Costs
In terms of pricing, Elavon operates on a quote-based system, meaning it tailors its fees to your business needs. The actual rates depend on various factors, including your business size, industry, and average transaction volume. It’s worth noting that some users have reported high fees and surprise charges, so it’s crucial to clarify the costs upfront.
Customer support
Elavon offers 24/7 customer support via phone and email, along with an extensive online resource centre. This ensures that assistance is always on hand should you encounter any issues. However, user reviews have noted that Elavon’s customer service can sometimes be slow to respond and solve problems.
Introducing Clover
Clover, a product of Fiserv, is another heavy-hitter in the payment processing industry. While also providing payment processing services, Clover’s main focus is on its suite of hardware and software solutions, offering sleek and modern POS systems.
Features
Clover’s POS systems offer comprehensive solutions for businesses. They integrate with various apps that manage everything from inventory to customer loyalty programs. Their hardware is designed to offer a seamless payment experience, including traditional card payments, contactless payments, and digital wallets.
The software suite that accompanies Clover’s POS is its biggest selling point. The interface is intuitive and user-friendly, with a plethora of apps available for businesses to customise their POS system. It is noteworthy that Clover is primarily designed for small to medium businesses, lacking the infrastructure to handle high volume transactions that large businesses may require.
Costs
Clover operates with a more transparent pricing model than Elavon. They offer several pricing plans, each with different monthly fees, transaction rates, and access to specific features. Hardware costs are also transparent, with prices readily available on their website.
Customer support
Clover provides 24/7 phone support, along with email and live chat. Its customer service reputation is mixed, with some users reporting swift and helpful assistance, and others experiencing slower response times.
Elavon vs Clover – Making the choice
Choosing between Elavon vs Clover depends primarily on your business’s specific needs.
Elavon’s strengths lie in its compatibility and range of solutions, making it a good fit for larger businesses and those operating heavily in the online sphere. Its custom pricing can also be beneficial if your company has unique payment processing needs.
On the other hand, Clover offers an all-in-one payment processing solution, with a focus on POS systems. Its software suite is particularly robust and user-friendly, providing tools to streamline operations. If you’re a small to medium business, particularly with a physical store, Clover’s hardware and software solutions may be an excellent fit.
In conclusion, when deciding between Elavon and Clover, consider your business size, whether you primarily operate online or in-store, your desired level of POS system customisation, and your budget. As with any business decision, it’s crucial to do your due diligence, understanding all costs involved, and examining customer reviews before committing to a payment processing provider.
FAQ
Elavon is primarily known for its range of payment processing solutions including merchant accounts and online gateways, while Clover is known for its advanced point of sale (POS) systems.
Yes, both Elavon and Clover offer online payment processing solutions, but Elavon has a broader range of compatibility with various e-commerce platforms.
Elavon operates on a quote-based system, customising its fees according to your business, whereas Clover provides transparent pricing with several monthly plans.
While Elavon provides POS systems, Clover has a more advanced range with integrated software, including inventory management and customer loyalty apps.
Yes, both Elavon and Clover are compatible with mobile payments.
Yes, both Elavon and Clover have robust security measures in place. Elavon offers fraud monitoring and encryption, while Clover provides standard encryption.
Both Elavon and Clover offer 24/7 customer support. Elavon provides support via phone and email, whereas Clover offers support via phone, email, and live chat.
Elavon is better equipped to handle high-volume transactions due to its wide range of solutions. Clover, on the other hand, is primarily designed for small to medium businesses.
Yes, both Elavon and Clover offer customisable payment solutions. Elavon tailors its solutions according to your business needs, while Clover offers a range of apps to customise its POS system.
Both Elavon and Clover have user-friendly interfaces, but Clover’s software suite for its POS systems is often cited as particularly easy to use.
Clover is generally more suitable for small to medium businesses due to its comprehensive, user-friendly POS systems and transparent pricing.
Elavon’s transaction fees depend on various factors such as business size and industry, whereas Clover’s transaction fees vary by plan, starting from 2.3% + 10p per transaction.
Elavon’s setup fee depends on the business and may be waived for some businesses. Clover does not charge a setup fee for most of its plans.
Elavon and Clover both offer a range of payment options, including credit and debit cards and mobile payments. However, Clover also supports contactless payments and digital wallets.
Elavon does not offer a loyalty program itself, but it can integrate with various third-party solutions. Clover, on the other hand, has apps that manage customer loyalty programs as part of its POS system.
Elavon’s hardware costs vary according to business requirements, while Clover has transparent hardware costs listed on their website.
Yes, you can switch from Elavon to Clover or vice versa, but it’s advisable to consider the costs, potential downtime, and technical support during the transition process.
Both Elavon and Clover offer a range of plans, some of which may include long-term contracts. It’s important to review the terms and conditions before signing up.
Customer reviews for both Elavon and Clover are mixed. Some users have reported slow response times for customer support with both providers.
Elavon may be a better fit for online businesses due to its wide compatibility with various shopping carts and e-commerce platforms.