Shopify POS vs Square
An honest side-by-side comparison of two of our top pos systems picks — pricing, strengths, weaknesses, and who each one is really for.
Shopify POS
Ranked #4 of 15 in this directory
Unified commerce for online and in-store selling
Square
Ranked #1 of 15 in this directory
The all-in-one POS for every business size
Our pick: Square. Our editors rank Square higher overall in POS Systems — but Shopify POS can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case below. How we review
Compare the details
| Shopify POS | Square | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Paid | Freemium |
| Starting price | See website | See website |
| Category | Retail | Mobile |
| Editorial rank | #4 of 15 | #1 of 15 |
Strengths
Shopify POS
- ✓Best-in-class omnichannel experience with seamless online-offline sync
- ✓Huge ecosystem of Shopify apps and themes
- ✓Intuitive interface that requires minimal staff training
- ✓Powerful inventory management across multiple locations
- ✓Built-in buy online, pick up in store (BOPIS) workflows
Square
- ✓Free POS software with no monthly subscription for the basic plan
- ✓Flat-rate transparent payment processing with no hidden fees
- ✓Extensive ecosystem of add-ons including payroll, loyalty, and marketing
- ✓Easy setup with plug-and-play hardware options
- ✓Excellent mobile app for selling anywhere
Watch out for
Shopify POS
- !Requires an active Shopify subscription in addition to POS costs
- !POS Pro upgrade is an additional monthly fee per location
- !Hardware options are limited compared to dedicated POS providers
- !Best value comes only when paired with Shopify ecommerce
Square
- !Processing fees can add up for high-volume businesses
- !Limited customization compared to enterprise-grade solutions
- !Account stability issues reported by some high-risk industries
- !Customer support can be slow for free-tier users
Best use cases
Shopify POS
- →DTC brands expanding from online-only to physical retail
- →Multi-location retailers syncing inventory across stores and web
- →Pop-up shops needing quick deployment with full ecommerce integration
Square
- →Small retail shops needing an affordable all-in-one POS system
- →Food trucks and market vendors processing mobile payments
- →Service businesses managing appointments and payments in one place
About each tool
Shopify POS
Shopify POS seamlessly bridges ecommerce and physical retail by synchronizing inventory, customer data, and orders across all channels. It leverages the broader Shopify ecosystem so merchants can manage everything from a single admin. The POS Pro tier unlocks advanced features like staff permissions, in-store analytics, and local pickup workflows.
Square
Square offers a comprehensive POS ecosystem that combines hardware, software, and payment processing into a single platform. It supports in-person and online sales with real-time inventory syncing, employee management, and detailed analytics. The free tier makes it accessible to startups and small businesses, while advanced features scale for larger operations.
Still deciding? Browse all 15 options with honest pros, cons, and pricing.
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