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POS Buyer's Guide
Clover vs. SkyTab vs. MaterialRetail — Which POS Is Right for Your Business?
A side-by-side comparison of the three POS systems PaySmart Technologies installs most often — with hardware, pricing, contract terms, and a clear recommendation for every business type.
Talk to a POS SpecialistClover
SkyTab
Material
The Three Systems at a Glance
Each platform is built for a different kind of business. Here is the short version, then we'll go deep on each one.
Clover
The most versatile POS in America
Clover is the gold standard for businesses that want a flexible, app-driven POS that scales from a single counter to multi-location enterprise. It supports quick-service restaurants, full-service dining, retail, salons, and professional services on the same hardware family. Its app marketplace (similar to an iPhone App Store) lets you bolt on payroll, scheduling, accounting, online ordering, gift cards, and dozens of industry-specific tools.
Best for: Mixed-use businesses, retail with food service, salons, multi-location operations
Pricing: $14.95–$94.85/mo
Contract: Month-to-month via PaySmart
SkyTab
Restaurant-grade POS, backed by Shift4
SkyTab is built exclusively for restaurants. Backed by Shift4 (a 25-year-old payments company processing $260B+ annually), SkyTab includes commission-free online ordering, mobile and tableside ordering, QR code order-and-pay, reservations, kitchen display systems, and a marketing suite — all at one of the lowest monthly costs in the industry. Hardware comes with a lifetime warranty.
Best for: Full-service restaurants, quick-service, bars, nightclubs, pizzerias, coffee shops, multi-location restaurant groups
Pricing: Starting at $29.99/mo
Contract: Month-to-month via PaySmart
MaterialRetail
Cloud retail platform, all-in-one
MaterialRetail is a cloud-native retail POS that bundles point-of-sale, multi-location inventory, e-commerce, CRM, loyalty, employee management, and reporting into a single $99/month subscription. It is designed for boutiques, apparel, footwear, jewelry, electronics, gift shops, and other specialty retailers that want one platform instead of stitching together six tools.
Best for: Boutiques, apparel, footwear, electronics, jewelry, gift shops, multi-location specialty retail
Pricing: $99/mo all-in
Contract: Month-to-month via PaySmart
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Clover | SkyTab | MaterialRetail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Industry Fit | Mixed retail / QSR / services | Restaurants only | Specialty retail |
| Software Pricing (monthly) | $14.95–$94.85 | Starting $29.99 | $99 all-in |
| Hardware Cost | $499–$1,799 | Free placement available | Free placement available |
| Contract Length | Month-to-month | Month-to-month | Month-to-month |
| Online Ordering | Add-on app | Built-in, commission-free | Built-in e-commerce |
| Inventory Management | Basic (paid upgrades) | Restaurant menu only | Advanced multi-location |
| Loyalty & Marketing | Add-on | Built-in | Built-in |
| Multi-Location Support | Yes (paid) | Yes | Yes (included) |
| Hardware Warranty | 1 year | Lifetime | 1 year |
| Kitchen Display System | Yes | Yes | No |
| QR Order & Pay | Add-on | Built-in | No |
| App Marketplace | Largest in industry | Curated integrations | Limited |
PaySmart's Recommendations by Business Type
Full-service restaurant
→ SkyTab
Tableside ordering, KDS, reservations, and online ordering all included.
Quick-service / fast-casual
→ SkyTab or Clover Mini
SkyTab for commission-free online ordering; Clover Mini for app flexibility.
Bar or nightclub
→ SkyTab
Pre-authorization, fast tab management, and tip workflows.
Coffee shop or bakery
→ SkyTab
Low monthly cost, customer-facing display, loyalty built in.
Boutique / apparel / footwear
→ MaterialRetail
Variant inventory, e-commerce sync, customer profiles in one platform.
General retail or convenience
→ Clover Station Duo
Largest app marketplace, scanner-friendly, scales with the business.
Salon, spa, or service business
→ Clover
Booking apps, employee management, invoicing all available.
Multi-location retail group
→ MaterialRetail
Cloud-native dashboard handles inventory and reporting across all stores.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Not Sure Which POS Is Right?
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