Introduction
Clover is a known point of sale and payment solution but many UK restaurants and cafes are looking for something else as their business gets bigger and they need more things. Clover is flexible. Has good hardware but it can be hard to understand how much it costs and you might have to pay extra for more features.
For restaurants and cafes that want to know what they are paying for or need features that are just for them they need to look at other options.
Why Look for Alternatives to Clover POS?
Clover is a solid choice for payments and smaller setups, offering ease of use and reliable transaction handling. However, when looking deeper into Clover POS pricing UK, businesses often find that costs can increase as they grow, especially with additional features and add-ons. It may also lack advanced capabilities such as delivery management or multi-location control.
For many UK hospitality businesses, this creates a need for a more integrated solution—something that combines point of sale, payments, ordering, and customer engagement into one platform, rather than relying on multiple systems. This is particularly important when evaluating Clover POS for restaurants and cafés, where operational efficiency and scalability are key.
In this context, Grafterr provides a more comprehensive approach. It brings together POS, payments, online ordering, and customer interaction tools into one integrated system, making it easier to manage operations from a single place without hidden complexity.
With features designed for scalability, Grafterr supports multi-location management, delivery workflows, and modern ordering methods like QR and self-service kiosks. This allows businesses to streamline operations, reduce costs, and deliver a more consistent customer experience as they grow.
1. Grafterr
- Grafterr is a kind of platform that is just for hospitality and combines point of sale payments ordering and delivery all in one place.
- It has everything you need like point of sale ordering with QR codes ordering online managing deliveries and a way to pay called Grafterr Pay so you do not need different tools.
- It also has things to help you talk to customers like loyalty programs, marketing and managing tables which helps you sell more and make customers happy.
Pricing
- It starts at 55 pounds per month which’s a standard plan with 2 point of sale licenses and unlimited orders so you can predict how much you will pay.
- The pro plan is 75 pounds per month. Has more features like reserving tables, loyalty and marketing tools, which is good value compared to using many different systems.
Why it is an alternative
Grafterr has clear and affordable prices, which is different from Clovers custom prices and it has all the features you need for hospitality from the start.
2. Square
- Square is a point of sale system known for its simplicity and ease of use, making it accessible for businesses of all sizes. It combines POS software with integrated payment processing, allowing businesses to accept card, mobile, and online payments without relying on multiple providers.
- In addition to payments, Square offers a range of built-in tools such as invoicing, online store setup, and detailed reporting. These features help businesses manage daily operations, track performance, and maintain better visibility over sales and customer activity, all from a single platform.
- It also supports features like inventory management, customer profiles, and basic staff management, making it a well-rounded solution for handling core business functions efficiently.
Why it is an alternative
Square provides clear and straightforward pricing, along with a free POS plan that makes it easy for businesses to get started without a large upfront investment. Its user-friendly interface and all-in-one approach allow businesses to quickly set up, operate, and scale their operations with minimal complexity.
3. SumUp
- SumUp is an affordable option for small cafes and takeaway businesses.
- It is a simple and affordable POS and payment solution designed mainly for small businesses and independent merchants. It focuses on making card payments easy, with portable card readers and a straightforward app that lets businesses accept payments anywhere.
- Along with payments, SumUp also offers basic tools like invoicing, sales tracking, and simple reporting, helping businesses manage their day-to-day transactions without complexity.
Why it is an alternative
SumUp is a good option for businesses looking for a low-cost, easy-to-use payment solution. With transparent pricing and no complicated setup, it’s ideal for those who want a quick and reliable way to start accepting payments without investing in a full-scale POS system.
4. Stripe
- Stripe is a platform for businesses that need custom payment solutions.
- It is a powerful payment platform designed for businesses that operate both online and offline. It allows businesses to accept payments on websites, in mobile apps, and in person, with support for cards, digital wallets, and international transactions.
- It also offers advanced tools like subscription billing, invoicing, and detailed reporting, making it a strong choice for businesses that need flexible and scalable payment solutions.
- It also has tools and integrations so you can build your own ordering, checkout and payment experiences.
Why it is an alternative
Stripe is a good option for businesses looking for a flexible and developer-friendly payment system. Its ability to handle online payments, subscriptions, and global transactions makes it ideal for businesses that want more control and customization in how they manage payments.
5. PayPal Zettle
- PayPal Zettle is a point of sale and payment solution from a well known brand.
- It enables you to take card and contactless payments quickly using card readers and a user friendly point of sale app.
- It also integrates with PayPal so you can get your money easily and manage your finances simply.
Why it is an alternative
PayPal Zettle is a good option for businesses looking for a quick and reliable payment solution with minimal setup. Its connection with PayPal also makes it convenient for managing both in-person and online payments in one place.
6. Lightspeed Restaurant
- Lightspeed is a premium point of sale system designed for hospitality businesses.
- It has tools like menu management, floor planning, inventory tracking and detailed analytics for better control.
- It also has ordering, delivery integrations and multi location management which supports growing restaurant businesses.
Why it is an alternative
Lightspeed is a strong alternative for businesses that need more advanced control over operations, especially when it comes to inventory management and detailed reporting. It’s well-suited for restaurants and cafés that are growing and need a system that can handle more complex workflows.
Its ability to manage both front-of-house and back-of-house operations in one platform makes it a practical choice for businesses looking to streamline their processes while maintaining visibility across different areas of the business.
7. Toast
- Toast is a point of sale platform designed for restaurants.
- It has handheld ordering devices and kitchen display systems that improve service speed and reduce errors in environments.
- It also supports ordering, delivery integrations and staff management tools which helps streamline restaurant workflows.
Why it is an alternative
Toast is a strong alternative for restaurants and cafés that want a system built specifically for hospitality. It offers features tailored to food service operations, including order management, menu customisation, and tools to handle both dine-in and online orders.
Its all-in-one approach helps businesses manage payments, front-of-house, and kitchen workflows within a single platform. This makes it a practical choice for operators looking to streamline daily operations and improve overall efficiency.
Conclusion
Clover has a mix of point of sale and payment tools. Custom pricing, add-ons, and general design may not be right for every hospitality business in the UK.
If you just need payments, options like SumUp or PayPal Zettle are good choices. For scalability and customisation, Stripe and Lightspeed have advanced features. However, for businesses that want to simplify things with one platform, Grafterr is a modern and hospitality focused solution. It combines point of sale, payments, QR ordering, delivery, and customer engagement all, in one system.
