COMPARISON
Shopify POS vs Square for retailers with a website and a register.
Shopify POS runs in-store sales from the same catalog, inventory and customers as your Shopify store. Square is a point-of-sale system that started in person and added online selling.
OUR VERDICT
Pick Shopify POS if your online store is a big part of the business and you want one inventory and customer record. Pick Square if you're in-person first — especially food, services or appointments — and online is secondary. Pricing changes often — check current pricing: Shopify POS pricing · Square pricing.
SIDE BY SIDE
Shopify POS vs Square, row by row.
Green marks the better option for most Shopify brands; amber means it depends on your store.
| Shopify POS | Square | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Online-first brands adding retailDepends | In-person-first businessesDepends |
| Online store | Your Shopify store, fully integratedBetter | Square Online, simpler |
| Inventory | One inventory across online and storesBetter | Strong in-person inventory |
| Software cost | POS Lite included; POS Pro per locationDepends | Free plan plus paid tiersDepends |
| Card processing | Shopify Payments; rates vary by plan | Square Payments; rates vary by plan |
| Restaurants & services | Retail-focused | Dedicated restaurant and appointment toolsBetter |
| Omnichannel | Buy online, pick up in store; returns anywhereBetter | Available, less integrated with Shopify stores |
| Customer profiles | Shared with online ordersBetter | Separate unless synced |
FREE STORE AUDIT
Plan your retail setup
We'll map locations, inventory and fulfilment before hardware arrives.
Get the audit →FAQ
Questions about Shopify POS vs Square
Still torn?
We’ll look at your store on a 30-minute call.
Book a callCan I use Shopify POS with a Square card reader?
No. Shopify POS uses Shopify's own hardware and payments.
Is Shopify POS free?
POS Lite comes with Shopify plans; POS Pro is a paid add-on per location for advanced retail features. Check Shopify's current pricing.
Can I move from Square to Shopify POS?
Yes. Products, customers and inventory can be imported; plan the switch for a quiet trading day.
You've reached the end, so now…
Tell us what you're selling.
Send us your store. Within one business day you get a short Loom from a senior: the three things we'd fix first, what it would cost, and whether we're the right team for it.
- No pitch deck, no discovery-call theatre
- You keep the audit whether or not you hire us
- Fixed-scope quotes, no hourly surprises
Prefer to talk? Book 20 minutes with Haniel or call +1 855-764-4977