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POS Systems

Square vs Shopify POS: Which POS System Fits Your Business in 2026?

Square starts free and prices by location. Shopify POS comes with every Shopify plan, from $29 a month, and adds POS Pro at $89 a location for full retail features. The right pick depends on whether online or in-store is the core of your business.

By Bill Belcamino · Last updated September 19, 2026 · Our methodologyResearched and fact-checked by the HelpCompare team
Square logoSquare Free $0/mo (2.6% + 15¢ in person); Plus $49/location/mo

Square

VS
Shopify POS logoIn-person selling included with Shopify from $29/mo (annual); POS Pro $89/location/mo

Shopify POS

Run the cost calculator Compare pricing tiers
Square vs Shopify POSVerified Sep 19, 2026
Bottom line Editorial assessment

Should I use Square or Shopify POS?

Choose Square if most sales happen at the counter and you want a $0 plan; choose Shopify POS if your online store is the core of the business and you want one catalogue and inventory across channels. In-person rates are similar; Shopify adds 10¢ per sale against Square’s 15¢.

Quick verdict: Square is the better fit when in-person selling leads: Square Free is $0 a month with a free online store, and Plus ($49 a location) adds staff management and lower rates. Shopify POS is the better fit when the online store leads: every Shopify plan (from $29 a month on annual billing) includes casual in-person selling, and POS Pro ($89 a location a month, billed yearly) adds staff roles, in-store inventory tools, exchanges at any location and omnichannel features. In-person rates are close: 2.6% down to 2.4% on both, with Shopify’s fixed fee at 10¢ against Square’s 15¢. Shopify’s reader is $49, Square’s $59.
Verified data

Square vs Shopify POS: quick facts

At a glanceSquareShopify POS
CategoryPOS Systems
Entry priceSquare Free $0/mo (2.6% + 15¢ in person); Plus $49/location/moIn-person selling included with Shopify from $29/mo (annual); POS Pro $89/location/mo
Free planYes — Square Free, $0/mo; you pay processing feesNo free plan; 3-day trial, then $1/mo for 3 months

Is Square cheaper than Shopify POS?

For a single shop that mostly sells in person, Square: $0 a month on Square Free against at least $29 a month for Shopify Basic (annual). With full retail features, Square Plus is $49 a location, and Shopify Basic plus POS Pro is $29 plus $89 a location, so $118 for one store. Shopify’s in-person fixed fee is 10¢ per sale against Square’s 15¢, which matters for many small tickets.

Verified data

Square vs Shopify POS at a glance

CategorySquareShopify POS
Monthly software feeFree $0; Plus $49; Premium $149 per locationShopify plan: Basic $29, Grow $79, Advanced $299 (annual); POS Pro +$89/location (annual)
In-person card rate2.6% + 15¢ (Free), 2.5% + 15¢ (Plus), 2.4% + 15¢ (Premium)2.6% + 10¢ (Basic), 2.5% + 10¢ (Grow), 2.4% + 10¢ (Advanced)
Online card rate3.3% + 30¢ (Free), 2.9% + 30¢ (Plus, Premium)2.9% + 30¢ (Basic), 2.7% (Grow), 2.5% (Advanced), 2.25% (Plus), all + 30¢
Keyed-in rate3.5% + 15¢Higher than in person; figure not published
Hardware (list)Reader $59; Stand $149; Terminal $299; Handheld $399; Register $899Tap & Chip reader $49; Tablet stand $149; POS Terminal $349; Verifone Victa Mobile $399
Online storeIncluded on Square FreeIncluded on every Shopify plan
Use another processor?Not statedOnline yes, with a 2% / 1% / 0.6% fee; in person only as an unintegrated custom payment
Offline card paymentsYes on supported hardware; upload within 24 hoursYes on supported Shopify readers, within daily and per-sale limits you set
Staff featuresTimecards and scheduling on PlusStaff PINs on all plans; roles and permissions with POS Pro
ContractNo locked-in contractsMonthly or yearly billing; annual POS Pro cannot be downgraded mid-cycle

Verified September 19, 2026Prices recorded from each vendor’s own pricing page. See sources

US prices from squareup.com/us/en/pricing and shopify.com/pos/pricing and shopify.com/pricing; all checked September 19, 2026.

Editorial assessment

How they actually differ

Square is a point of sale that also sells online. Shopify is an online store platform that also sells in person. Both work, but the one that matches where most of your revenue comes from will need fewer workarounds.

Pricing structure

Square charges per location: $0, $49 or $149 a month. Shopify charges per store for the Shopify plan ($29, $79 or $299 a month on annual billing; $39, $105 or $399 monthly) and adds POS Pro at $89 a month for each location that needs it. Shopify has retired the POS Lite name: casual in-person selling is now included with every paid plan.

Card rates and fees

In person, both run from 2.6% down to 2.4% as the plan rises; Square adds 15¢ a sale and Shopify 10¢. Online, Square charges 3.3% + 30¢ on Free and 2.9% + 30¢ on paid plans; Shopify runs from 2.9% + 30¢ on Basic to 2.25% + 30¢ on Plus. Shopify charges an extra 2%, 1% or 0.6% if you use a third-party payment provider online.

Moving between them

Shopify has a first-party Store Migration app (early access) that imports products and customers from Square’s CSV exports. Square has no Shopify importer, but its pricing page lists an ongoing Square–Shopify sync through Thrive Inventory.

Editorial assessment

Pros & cons

Square

Pros

  • $0 software plan with online store included
  • No locked-in contracts
  • Staff timecards and scheduling on Plus
  • Next-business-day payouts at no charge

Cons

  • 15¢ fixed fee per in-person sale
  • Online rate 3.3% + 30¢ on the free plan
  • Phone support on Free ends after 90 days
  • Weaker than Shopify for a large online catalogue

Shopify POS

Pros

  • POS included with every Shopify plan
  • One catalogue and inventory for online and in store
  • 10¢ fixed fee in person; $49 reader
  • Store Migration app imports Square data

Cons

  • No $0 plan
  • Full retail features need POS Pro at $89 a location
  • Keyed-in rate not published
  • Extra fee for third-party payment providers online
Verified data

Cost calculator: what does your team actually pay?

Square

 
$0/mo

Shopify POS

 
$0/mo
 

Software fees only, checked September 19, 2026. Card processing is charged on top as a percentage plus a fixed fee per sale (see the rates table above), and hardware is bought separately. Shopify prices are the annual-billing rates for the Shopify plan (per store) plus POS Pro per location; POS Pro’s monthly-billing price is not published. Square publishes monthly prices only.

Choose Square if…

Most of your sales happen at the counter, you want a $0 plan to start, or you need staff timecards and scheduling in the same tool.

Choose Shopify POS if…

Your online store is the core of the business and you want one catalogue, inventory and customer list across web and shop, or you are already on Shopify.

Total cost over time

Uses your selections above. Estimate excludes add-ons, overages, and negotiated discounts.

Ready to pick your POS?

If you already sell on Shopify, try its included in-person selling first. If you are counter-first, start on Square Free.

See Square pricing See Shopify POS pricing
Verified data

Shopify POS vs Square: security, offline & remote work

How Shopify POS and Square compare on compliance reports, sign-in controls, offline access and the setup details that matter for remote, hybrid and in-office teams. Every value links to the vendor page it came from.

What we checkedShopify POSSquare
Security & compliance
SOC 2 reportSOC 2 Type IIsourceNot published
ISO/IEC 27001Not publishedCertifiedsource
Other certificationsPCI DSS Level 1, SOC 3sourcePCI DSS Level 1source
HIPAA (BAA)Not publishedNot published
GDPR data processing agreementDPA offeredsourceNot published
Single sign-on (SAML/OIDC)YesShopify PlussourceNot published
SCIM user provisioningYesShopify PlussourceNot published
Two-factor authenticationYesEnforcement: Shopify PlussourceYessource
Admin audit logYesShopify PlussourceNot published
Data residency choicesNot publishedNot published
EncryptionNot publishedCard-present payments encrypted end to end; no unencrypted payment data touches the devicesource
Self-hosting optionNot publishedNot published
Offline access
Offline modePartialThe Shopify POS app can take cash and custom payments offline and, once activated, card payments on supported Shopify readers within merchant-set limits; orders and inventory sync with the Shopify admin after reconnecting.sourcePartialSquare POS apps on supported Square hardware can take cash and card payments offline; payments are stored in the app and process automatically on reconnection (ideally within 24 hours, expiring after 72 hours), while online orders, gift cards, Tap to Pay and manual card entry are unavailable offline.source
Desktop appsNot publishedNot published
Mobile appsiOS, AndroidsourceiOS, Androidsource
Offline limitsOffline 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.sourceUpload 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.source
Remote, hybrid & in-office
IP allowlistingNot publishedNot published
Device & session controlsNot publishedYesRemote device management: device profiles and codes, printer profiles, monitoring from off-site.source
Office & room hardwareShopify 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.sourceSquare sells its own POS hardware: Reader for contactless and chip ($59), Terminal ($299), Handheld ($399), Stand ($149), Kiosk ($149) and Register ($899).source
Editorial assessment

What this means for your team

  • Audit reports: Shopify POS states a SOC 2 report on its own site; we found no SOC 2 statement for Square. If your security team requires SOC 2, ask Square directly before shortlisting.
  • Single sign-on: Shopify POS includes it on Shopify Plus. Square doesn’t document single sign-on with your own identity provider. If your team signs in through Okta, Microsoft Entra ID or Google, price the plan that includes SSO, not the entry plan.
  • Working offline: Shopify POS and Square work offline only in part. Details are in the Offline mode row above.
  • In the office: Shopify POS: Shopify 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. Square: Square sells its own POS hardware: Reader for contactless and chip ($59), Terminal ($299), Handheld ($399), Stand ($149), Kiosk ($149) and Register ($899).

Shopify POS: worth knowing

  • OfficeWith the POS Terminal reader, offline payments still require the store's local Wi-Fi network to be working. source
  • OfflineOffline payment limits (device daily and per-transaction) are set once and apply to every store location. source
  • OfficeThird-party card terminals can be used alongside Shopify POS only as a custom payment method for tracking; Shopify does not process those funds. source
  • SecuritySAML SSO, SCIM provisioning, mandatory two-step authentication and the organization user activity log are Shopify Plus-only. source

Square: worth knowing

  • OfflineOffline payments not uploaded within 72 hours expire; Square recommends reconnecting within 24 hours. source
  • OfficeOffline payments will be enabled on all devices automatically unless the seller opts out (change rolled out March–April 2026). source
  • RemotePhone support is 6am–6pm PT on weekdays for Square Plus (first 90 days only on Square Free); only Square Premium includes 24/7 phone support. source
  • SecuritySquare is the merchant of record and maintains PCI certification, so sellers do not validate PCI compliance individually. source

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

Is Shopify POS free?

In-person selling is included with every paid Shopify plan (from $29 a month on annual billing). POS Pro, with staff roles, in-store inventory tools and returns at any location, costs $89 a location a month, billed yearly.

Is Square cheaper than Shopify POS?

For an in-person business, usually: Square Free is $0 a month. Square Plus is $49 a location; Shopify Basic plus POS Pro is $118 for one store on annual billing. Prices checked September 19, 2026.

What happened to Shopify POS Lite?

Shopify no longer uses the name. Casual in-person selling is included with every paid Shopify plan, and POS Pro is the paid upgrade.

Can I move from Square to Shopify?

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

Which has lower card fees?

In person, both charge 2.6% to 2.4% by plan; Square adds 15¢ per sale and Shopify 10¢. Online, Square is 2.9% + 30¢ on paid plans and Shopify 2.9% to 2.25% + 30¢.

Migration Guides

Already decided? Here’s how to actually switch.

Step-by-step migration guides covering what transfers automatically, what doesn’t, and how to handle the gap — in both directions.

Switching from Square to Shopify POS Switching from Shopify POS to Square
Editorial assessment

When to Buy — and When to Walk Away

Every “best POS system” listicle tells you why to buy. Here’s the other half: the specific conditions under which Square or Shopify POS is the wrong purchase for your team.

Square

Buy Square if:

  • You sell mostly in person
  • You want to start at $0 a month
  • You need staff scheduling and timecards

Do NOT buy Square if:

  • Your online catalogue is large and central
  • You want one inventory across web and shops
  • You sell many small tickets where 15¢ adds up

Shopify POS

Buy Shopify POS if:

  • You already run a Shopify store
  • You want one catalogue and customer list across channels
  • You want Shopify’s importer to bring Square data across

Do NOT buy Shopify POS if:

  • You need a $0 plan
  • Only in-person sales matter
  • You take many keyed-in payments (rate not published)

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›
Clover vs Shopify POSHead-to-head comparisonSquare vs CloverHead-to-head comparison

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.

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
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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.

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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.75 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.150 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

Bill has worked in software and digital marketing for more than 20 years. He spent nine years as an engineer at HP, served as COO scaling a platform past 200,000 users, and ran Google’s $70M/year search syndication partnership at Alot.com. 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.

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