Skip to content
Start here
Browse by category
AI Assistants5Accounting Software3Agency & Funnel Software4B2B Sales Outreach5Business Backup3Business Email & Office3CRM Platforms7Cloud Storage4Customer Support3Design Tools3E-Signature3E-commerce Platforms3Email Marketing1Inventory Management3Knowledge Management3Marketing Automation11POS Systems3Paid Ads Management3Password Managers3Payment Processing3Payroll & HR3Project Management7SEO Software3Sales Intelligence3Scheduling Software3Social Media Management3Team Communication1Time Tracking3Video Conferencing5Website Builders3Workflow Automation3
All categories →
Not sure what you need? Start hereTell us the job and see the software it takes, with verified prices for your team.
Recently verified
Decision brief builderTurn your shortlist into a one-page case for sign-off: verified prices for your team size, requirements and sources.
Recently updated switching guides
All 264 migration guides →
What every guide covers
What transfers, and what doesn’tThe vendor’s own import path, step by step, plus the data you will rebuild by hand. Switching cost estimatorAn adjustable estimate of the hidden labor, cleanup and retraining cost, with its assumptions shown.
Open data
Open data hub: every dataset (JSON/CSV)JSON and CSV under CC BY 4.0. Every value carries its source page and verification date. How we verify pricingThe research method behind every figure on the site.
Pricing data
Software IndexEvery tool we track in one sortable table: entry price, free plan, AI pricing and source. AI Pricing DatabaseHow each vendor bills its AI features: bundled, add-on, metered or quote. Stack Cost CheckerPrice every tool you pay for at list price, saved in a link that re-prices later.Black Friday Software DealsVerified deals plus the discounts you can get today, checked on each vendor’s site.
Original research
The B2B SaaS Sticker Shock IndexCheapest published entry price in 18 categories, ranked.2026 SaaS Price IncreasesEvery list-price increase we could verify, with old price, new price and source.The AI TaxHow 19 AI features are actually billed: bundled, add-on or metered.The Real Cost of a 10-Person Startup StackThree software stacks priced at published entry prices.
Security & compliance
Security & compliance databaseSOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA BAAs, and the plan you need for SSO, SCIM and audit logs. How to read security claimsSOC 2 vs ISO 27001, the single sign-on tax, and what “Not published” means.
Where your team works
Offline access databaseWhich tools work without internet, in which app, and what syncs later. Remote vs office guideIP allowlisting, device controls, data residency and office hardware, tool by tool.
Side by side
Security in every comparisonEach head-to-head now compares compliance, sign-in, offline and remote controls. Download the dataJSON and CSV, CC BY 4.0. Every value carries the vendor URL and quote.
POS SYSTEMS · MIGRATION GUIDE

Switching from Square to Shopify POS

Shopify’s own Store Migration app imports products and customers from Square’s CSV exports, so this is one of the easier POS moves.

Jump to migration steps Read the full comparison
By Bill Belcamino · Last updated September 19, 2026 · Our methodologyResearched and fact-checked by the HelpCompare team
Switching from Square to Shopify POSVerified Sep 19, 2026
Bill Belcamino
Bottom line up frontby Bill Belcamino, founder of HelpCompare
Editorial assessment

Bottom line up front: How hard is it to move from Square to Shopify POS?

It's one of the easier POS moves, because Shopify's own Store Migration app (early access, desktop only) imports products and customers straight from Square's CSV exports.

The catch is that the app wants those files unedited, so any cleanup has to happen inside Square before you export. Merge duplicate customers, remove items you no longer sell and fill in missing SKUs there, because whatever goes in becomes your new system's starting data. Inventory by location, gift cards, loyalty and sales history stay behind, so download sales reports for your tax records and count stock per location. Square's timecards and scheduling have no listed match in Shopify POS, so line up another way to track hours before your next payroll. My advice: keep Square Free running until the first Shopify payouts land.

My read of the verified data on this page, checked against vendor sources on September 19, 2026. Disagree or spot an error? Tell Bill

Estimate · your inputs

Switching Cost & Friction Estimator

Most buyers only budget for the new subscription. This estimates the hidden labor, data-cleanup, and retraining cost of actually making the switch.

25,000
10

Estimate assumes: 1 hour of data-mapping/cleaning labor per 2,000 records, a blended $75/hr ops rate, tiered migration & cleaning tooling fees, and 4 hours of retraining per seat at a $45/hr fully-loaded rate.

Estimated Migration Time —
Data Friction Rating —
Total Hidden Switching Cost $0

    Why teams move from Square to Shopify POS

    One catalogue

    Online store, shops and inventory run from the same Shopify admin.

    Lower fixed fee

    Shopify charges 10¢ per in-person sale, against Square’s 15¢.

    First-party importer

    Shopify’s Store Migration app reads Square exports directly.

    How the migration actually works

    Decide which locations need POS Pro before you buy hardware.

    StepWhat you do
    1Export your Square catalogue and customersIn Square Dashboard, export the item library as Excel (.xlsx, recommended) or CSV from Items, then Item library, then Actions; export customers from Customers, then Directory, then Import/Export. Do not edit the files if you will use Shopify’s Store Migration app.
    2Choose a Shopify planBasic $29, Grow $79 or Advanced $299 a month on annual billing; add POS Pro at $89 a location where needed.
    3Import with Store MigrationUpload the Square exports in Shopify’s Store Migration app (early access, desktop); otherwise use product and customer CSV import.
    4Set inventory per locationThe app does not import inventory by location; count or import stock per location.
    5Set up staff and hardwareAdd staff PINs, pair the $49 reader, and set offline payment limits.
    6Run a parallel dayKeep Square Free active until the first Shopify payouts land.

    What this path doesn’t do for you:

    Inventory by location, gift cards, loyalty and sales history do not come across. Staff timecards and scheduling have no listed equivalent in Shopify POS.

    Pricing side by side

    PlanSquareShopify POS
    Monthly softwareFree $0; Plus $49; Premium $149 per locationShopify from $29 (annual); POS Pro +$89/location
    In-person rate2.6% + 15¢ (Free), 2.5% + 15¢ (Plus), 2.4% + 15¢ (Premium)2.6% + 10¢ (Basic), 2.5% + 10¢ (Grow), 2.4% + 10¢ (Advanced)
    Card reader$59$49
    ContractNo locked-in contractsMonthly or yearly billing
    Processor lock-inNot statedIntegrated payments need Shopify Payments

    US prices checked on each vendor’s own pricing pages on September 19, 2026. Clover.com prices may differ from bank and reseller offers. Card processing is charged on top of software fees.

    Feature parity check

    CapabilitySquareShopify POS
    Import from the other toolNo Shopify importerStore Migration app reads Square CSVs
    Online storeIncluded on FreeEvery plan
    Staff schedulingPlus and upNot listed
    In-person fixed fee15¢10¢
    Card reader$59$49

    Going the other direction, or want the full comparison first?

    Read the Square vs Shopify POS comparison Switching from Shopify POS to Square instead?
    Verified data

    Security & access: what changes when you switch

    Security, offline and access rules that differ between Square and Shopify POS. Rows where both tools are the same (2) are left out; the full side-by-side is on each tool’s page: Square, Shopify POS.

    What changesSquare (today)Shopify POS (after)
    SOC 2 reportNot publishedSOC 2 Type IIsource
    ISO/IEC 27001CertifiedsourceNot published
    Other certificationsPCI DSS Level 1sourcePCI DSS Level 1, SOC 3source
    GDPR data processing agreementNot publishedDPA offeredsource
    Single sign-on (SAML/OIDC)Not publishedYesShopify Plussource
    SCIM user provisioningNot publishedYesShopify Plussource
    Two-factor authenticationYessourceYesEnforcement: Shopify Plussource
    Admin audit logNot publishedYesShopify Plussource
    EncryptionCard-present payments encrypted end to end; no unencrypted payment data touches the devicesourceNot published
    Offline limitsUpload within 24 hours, no later than 72 hours; not supported on Square Reader 1st gen v1/v2, Kiosk, Tap to Pay, manually entered cards, gift cards, Afterpay, Cash App Pay, Invoices app or services mode.sourceOffline card payments need POS app 9.14.0+, a compatible Shopify reader, and are capped by a device daily limit and a per-transaction limit that apply to all locations; POS Terminal needs the local Wi-Fi network working.source
    Device & session controlsYesRemote device management: device profiles and codes, printer profiles, monitoring from off-site.sourceNot published
    Office & room hardwareSquare sells its own POS hardware: Reader for contactless and chip ($59), Terminal ($299), Handheld ($399), Stand ($149), Kiosk ($149) and Register ($899).sourceShopify POS runs on your iOS/Android phone or tablet with Shopify card readers (Tap & Chip Card Reader $49, POS Terminal $349, Verifone Victa Mobile $399) plus retail hardware such as barcode scanners, receipt printers and cash drawers.source
    Editorial assessment

    Before you cut over

    • Set up single sign-on in Shopify POS on Shopify Plus before you invite the team, so accounts are created through your identity provider rather than by hand.

    Checked September 19, 2026 against each vendor’s own trust center, help docs and app pages. Hover or tap “source” to see the exact wording we relied on. “Not published” means we could not find the vendor saying it on its own site; it doesn’t mean the feature is missing. Plan names are the lowest plan the vendor says includes the feature. Security · Offline · Remote vs office · Download the data

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can Shopify import my Square data?

    Yes. Shopify’s Store Migration app (early access, desktop only) imports products and customers from unedited Square CSV exports.

    Will stock levels per location import?

    No. The app does not import inventory by location; set stock per location after the import.

    Do I need POS Pro?

    Not for casual in-person selling, which every Shopify plan includes. POS Pro ($89 a location a month) adds staff roles, in-store inventory tools and returns at any location.

    Will my sales history move?

    Not as live records. Download sales reports from the old system for your accounting and tax records before you close the account; the imports cover items and customers.

    Canonical data for the tools on this page

    Every pricing fact, rating, AI billing model and switching guide we hold on each tool, on one page, with the date each figure was last verified.

    SquarePricing, free plan, AI cost & every comparison›Shopify POSPricing, free plan, AI cost & every comparison›
    Square vs Shopify POSHead-to-head comparisonSquare vs PayPalHead-to-head comparisonSquare vs StripeHead-to-head comparisonClover vs Shopify POSHead-to-head comparisonSquare vs CloverHead-to-head comparison
    Shopify POS to SquareSwitching guideClover to Shopify POSSwitching guideClover to SquareSwitching guidePayPal to SquareSwitching guideShopify POS to CloverSwitching guideSquare to CloverSwitching guide

    Sources

    Prices on this page were recorded from each vendor’s own pricing page on the date shown at the top of the page. Vendors change pricing often — check the live source before you buy.

    Every figure is also in our open dataset (JSON and CSV, CC BY 4.0), with its source page and verification date. See how we research pricing.

    Cite this page: HelpCompare, “Switching from Square to Shopify POS”, helpcompare.com/square-to-shopify-pos-migration/ (updated ).

    Source links on this site are checked every month; last check . How sources are checked.

    Start with the job

    Guides for the jobs this software does

    Plain-language guides: the steps, what to check before you buy, common mistakes, and every tool it takes with verified prices.

    Take card paymentsSell in person with a POSTrack inventoryAll 50 job guides
    Need sign-off?

    Turn this into a one-page decision brief

    Verified prices costed for your team size, a check against your must-have requirements, the questions to settle before you sign, and a source for every figure. Print it, or paste it into an email to whoever approves the spend.

    Build a decision brief

    From shortlist to switched

    Built for the leader who owns the selection, answers for the spend, drives the rollout, and lives with the results. HelpCompare covers the whole decision, not just the first step.

    01 · CompareWhich tool fits your team, side by side.133 comparisons 02 · Price & approveSourced, dated pricing and a one-page brief for sign-off.Decision brief 03 · SwitchWhat moves, what you rebuild, what it costs.264 guides 04 · ShareDownload and cite the data. CC BY 4.0.Open data
    Bill Belcamino, founder of HelpCompare
    About the author

    Bill Belcamino

    Founder and author, HelpCompare

    Engineer by training, operator by experience, marketer by choice. Bill spent eight and a half years as an engineer at HP, was COO of Auctiva (the number one third-party selling platform on eBay, past 200,000 users) and ran Google’s $70M/year search syndication partnership at Alot.com. Then he spent 13 years building his own web properties with his own money at stake. He has bought, trialled, integrated and cancelled more SaaS tools than he can count, and started HelpCompare because the real cost of switching tools is the part nobody covers.

    “I’ve sat on both sides of the table: the agency recommending the tool and the client paying for it.”

    Researched and fact-checked by the HelpCompare team. Pricing on this page was last verified on September 19, 2026. No paid sponsorships, no affiliate commissions.

    Read Bill’s story How we verify pricingSpot an error? Tell Bill