Credit Card Processing Solutions
Top Companies in 2025
Clover vs Dharma Merchant Services
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- Seamless integrations
- Comprehensive reporting
- Real-time tracking
- Enhanced inventory tracking
- Live chat support
- Tailored interface
- Efficient booking system
- Automated recurring payments
- Cost-effective surcharging
- Various payment methods
- Gift card & loyalty programs
- Flexible, non-permanent cancelation options
- 24/7 support
- Mobile apps for transactions and insights
- Many payment methods are accepted
- Streamlined, reliable transactions
- Pricing transparency
- Restricted ecosystem
- Pricey services
- Hardware acquisition costs
- Confusing costs & fees
- Complex chargeback & dispute handling policies
- Pricey hardware
- System integration issues
- Cancelation fees imposed
Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, Clover Credit Card Processing, a Fiserv subsidiary, is a cloud-based payment processor catering to small and medium-sized businesses. Renowned for its innovative features, including enhanced inventory tracking, seamless integrations, and multicurrency support, Clover simplifies payment processing and business operations. It has become a top choice in the modern business landscape due to its comprehensive approach and adaptability to diverse industry needs. Customer experiences vary, with positive reviews emphasizing efficiency and security measures, while some note concerns about communication and billing issues. Clover's commitment to PCI compliance is evident through adherence to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). This underscores their dedication to secure payment transactions, employing cutting-edge technologies like 2-factor authentication and end-to-end encryption. Despite some user-specific challenges, the company's reliable technology and Fiserv backing position Clover as a trusted partner for businesses seeking integrated payment processing solutions.
Dharma Merchant Services is a credit card processing company founded in 2007 and based in San Francisco, California. They offer their solutions to various industries, including retail, service, nonprofit, and e-commerce. They provide complete merchant services for online businesses, offering next-day funding and month-to-month agreements without annual contracts or early termination fees. Dharma supports sustainable businesses that follow environmentally friendly initiatives, such as using green energy and recycling products. They also work with women and minority-owned businesses to help build a strong community. They enjoy an excellent reputation among their customers, and have an A+ rating on the BBB.
- Transaction Speed : Undisclosed
- Customer Experience : Excellent
- Money-Back Guarantee : "True"
- Gift Cards : Available
- Real-Time Reports : Available
- Transparent Pricing : True
- Pricing Model : Subscription
- Trustpilot Score : 3.9 out of 5
- BBB Rating : A+
- Transaction Speed : Two days
- Customer Experience : Excellent
- Gift Cards : Undisclosed
- Real-Time Reports : Available
- Transparent Pricing : Available
- Pricing Model : Interchange plus
- Trustpilot Score : 4.7 out of 5
- BBB Rating : A+
- Proprietary POS systems
- Mobile operations management
- Global payment acceptance
- Clover App Market
- Environmentally and socially active solutions
- Transparent costs and fees
- Discounted costs for nonprofits
- Billing & Invoicing
- Electronic Receipts
- Free Hardware
- Mobile Card Reader
- Multiple Payment Gateways
- Recurring Payments & Billing
- Reporting & Analytics
- Virtual Terminal
- Billing & Invoicing
- Electronic Receipts
- Free Hardware
- Mobile Card Reader
- Multiple Payment Gateways
- Recurring Payments & Billing
- Reporting & Analytics
- Virtual Terminal
- EMV Compliant
- Payment Fraud Protection
- PCI Compliance
- EMV Compliant
- Payment Fraud Protection
- PCI Compliance
- Annual Subscription
- Free Trial
- Freemium
- Monthly Subscription
- One-Time License
- Annual Subscription—Undisclosed
- Free Trial
- Freemium—Undisclosed
- Monthly Subscription
- One-Time License
- Processing Services
- Accounting Software
- POS
- Productivity Software
- Processing Services
- Accounting Software
- POS
- Productivity Software
- ACH Processing
- Cash Transactions
- Credit Card Terminals
- Electronic Signature
- In-Person Payments
- Mobile Payments
- NFC Payments
- Online Payment Procesing
- ACH Processing
- Cash Transactions
- Credit Card Terminals
- Electronic Signature
- In-Person Payments
- Mobile Payments
- NFC Payments
- Online Payment Procesing
- Demos
- FAQs
- Help Guides
- Live Chat
- Mobile Application
- Phone
- Tickets
- Demos
- FAQs
- Help Guides
- Live Chat
- Mobile Application
- Phone
- Tickets
Clover vs. Dharma Merchant Services
Clover and Dharma Merchant Services are prominent merchant service providers catering to businesses of varying sizes and industries. Both offer robust tools to simplify transactions, enhance customer experiences, and provide businesses with insightful growth tools.
Despite these shared objectives, their approaches differ significantly. This comparison will explore their value-added benefits, ease of use, security, pricing, and plans.
Value-added benefits
Both Clover and Dharma offer comprehensive solutions to support business growth. Clover’s standout features include automated recurring payments, loyalty programs, and real-time tracking. At the same time, Dharma provides e-commerce solutions and online invoicing software. Each company supports multiple payment methods, ensuring businesses can cater to diverse customer preferences.
Where they differ lies in their specialties. Clover is known for their proprietary POS systems, such as the Clover Flex and Mini, which are tailored to various business needs. On the other hand, Dharma appeals to nonprofits and green businesses with lower fees and eco-friendly initiatives. Dharma also excels in educational resources, guiding users in understanding payment processing.
Usability
Both platforms are recognized for their intuitive interfaces and ease of use. Clover provides a customizable dashboard that supports seamless integrations with third-party tools like accounting and marketing software. Dharma's MX Merchant app offers similar functionality, allowing businesses to manage payments, view transaction history, and access reports from a single login.
However, Clover offers a more extensive POS ecosystem with their proprietary hardware, which is highly adaptable to industry-specific needs. Dharma simplifies operations by integrating with widely used gateways like Authorize.Net but may encounter occasional system glitches.
Level of data security
Clover and Dharma prioritize data security, adhering to PCI compliance standards and employing advanced encryption to protect sensitive customer information.
Clover goes further with proactive fraud protection, regular security audits, and robust incident response plans. Dharma emphasizes data breach coverage of up to $100,000 and partners with trusted security firms like Trustwave and PCI Protection.
Pricing
Both providers offer flexible pricing models, but their structures differ significantly. Clover uses a subscription-based model with monthly fees starting at $14.95, plus transaction fees of 2.6% + $0.10 for swiped cards and 3.5% + $0.10 for keyed-in payments. Their pricing includes hardware and software bundles, which can increase overall costs.
Dharma employs an interchange-plus model with a $15 monthly fee and $12 for nonprofits. They also charge interchange, assessment fees, and margin fees for Visa and Mastercard.
Final thoughts
Clover and Dharma Merchant Services share strengths in payment processing, ease of use, and security. Clover’s versatility and proprietary POS systems make them ideal for businesses seeking an integrated, high-tech solution. Dharma stands out with their eco-friendly focus and nonprofit-friendly pricing, making them a great fit for socially conscious businesses.
Choosing between the two depends on your priorities—whether you value Clover's hardware integration and features or Dharma’s simplified, transparent, and sustainable approach. Both options deliver exceptional support for businesses seeking reliable merchant services.
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