An honest side-by-side of the most popular POS systems for independent coffee shops. We compared fees, features, hardware costs, and loyalty capabilities so you don't have to.
| Feature | joe Best for Indie | Square | Toast | Clover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing & Fees | ||||
| Monthly Fee Base subscription |
$0 No monthly fee |
$0–$60/mo Free tier available |
$69–$165/mo Required subscription |
$0–$84.95/mo Depends on plan |
| Processing Rate In-person transactions |
2.6% + $0.10 Flat, no surprises |
2.6% + $0.10 Same as joe |
2.49% + $0.15 Lower % but higher flat |
2.3%–2.6% Varies by plan |
| Hardware Cost Basic terminal setup |
Works on existing hardware iPad or Square terminal |
$49–$799 Terminal or register |
$627–$1,024 Toast-specific hardware |
$499–$1,649 Clover-specific hardware |
| Loyalty & Marketing | ||||
| Built-in Loyalty No 3rd party needed |
✓ Native, 5% cap model |
△ Square Loyalty add-on ($45/mo) |
△ Toast Loyalty add-on ($25/mo) |
△ Clover Rewards ($14.95/mo) |
| Customer App Dedicated consumer app |
✓ joe app, iOS + Android |
✗ No dedicated app |
△ Toast TakeOut app |
✗ No dedicated app |
| Public Discovery Listing Get found by new customers |
✓ 64,000 shop directory |
✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Coffee-Specific Features | ||||
| Menu Modifiers Size, milk, syrup, etc. |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile Ordering Order ahead via app |
✓ Included |
△ Square Online add-on |
✓ Included in higher plans |
△ Online ordering add-on |
| Community / Owner Network Connect with other indie owners |
✓ 665+ shop community |
✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Support & Contract | ||||
| Contract Required | No contract | No contract | 2-year contract | 3-year lease |
| Customer Support | Email + Chat | Phone + Chat | 24/7 Phone | Phone + Chat |
joe is the only platform designed from the ground up for indie coffee — with no monthly fees, a built-in loyalty program, a public discovery listing, and a community of 665+ shop owners.
See How joe Works →Pricing data current as of February 2026. Competitor pricing may change — always verify with the provider directly.