Shopify POS vs Square POS: Complete Comparison 2026

An in-depth comparison of features, pricing, and user experience to help you make the right choice.

Shopify POS

8.0(14,200 reviews)

Shopify's in-store POS that unifies online and physical retail. Included with Shopify plans; Pro upgrade at $89/mo per location.

8.6(48,500 reviews)

Free POS system with flat-rate processing at 2.6% + 10 cents. Works on iPad and Android with optional hardware from $49.

Aspect	Shopify POS	Square POS
Best For	Shopify merchants expanding from online-only to physical retail locations	Small businesses and solopreneurs who want a free POS with zero monthly commitment
Pricing Model	Subscription	Freemium
Starting Price	$39/mo	Free
Deployment	cloud	cloud
Platforms	WEB, IOS, ANDROID	WEB, IOS, ANDROID
Rating	8.0/10	8.6/10

Seamless omnichannel sync between online and physical store for inventory, customers, and orders
POS Lite is included free with any Shopify plan — no additional software cost to start selling in-person
Access to 8,000+ Shopify apps that extend POS functionality with loyalty, marketing, and more
Buy-online-pickup-in-store (BOPIS) and ship-from-store workflows are best in class
Works on existing iPhones and iPads so you can start with hardware you already own

Not competitive as a standalone POS — the value is only realized if you also run a Shopify online store
Restaurant features are completely absent — this is a retail-only POS system
Requires a Shopify subscription ($39-399/month) even if your online store is secondary to physical retail
Inventory management on POS Lite lacks depth — no purchase orders, vendor management, or aging reports
In-store analytics and staff performance tracking require the $89/month POS Pro upgrade per location

Genuinely free plan with no monthly fees — you only pay per-transaction processing costs
Hardware is affordable starting at $49, and you can use your own iPad or Android tablet
The ecosystem (Payroll, Banking, Online, Loyalty) connects everything under one roof
Setup takes under 15 minutes with no technical knowledge required
Next-day deposits are included free on all plans, same-day available for a small fee

Processing rates are non-negotiable — 2.6% gets expensive at high transaction volumes
Customer support has declined and relies heavily on chatbots for free plan users
Reporting lacks depth compared to Lightspeed or Toast for detailed business analytics
The free online store template looks basic without heavy customization work
Account stability issues — some sellers report sudden holds or terminations without clear explanation

Product	Pricing Model	Starting Price
Shopify POS	subscription	$39/mo
Square POS	freemium	Free0

Choose Shopify POS if...

Shopify merchants expanding from online-only to physical retail locations

Choose Square POS if...

Small businesses and solopreneurs who want a free POS with zero monthly commitment

Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.