Shopify vs Square: 2025 Comparison for Online & In-Person Selling

Starting a new business or trying to decide between Shopify vs Square for your sales needs?

If you're focused on online sales or plan to scale across multiple channels, Shopify is your ideal solution. Designed specifically for eCommerce, it offers advanced customization, product management, and tools for global sales. Plus, its POS system is a perfect fit for brands expanding from online to physical retail.

On the other hand, Square excels for local businesses needing an intuitive, affordable POS system. Whether you're running a café, salon, or local shop, Square makes selling in person simple. 

In this guide, we’ll break down the key differences between Shopify’s powerful eCommerce tools and Square’s seamless POS system to help you choose the best fit for your business.

Before diving in, if you want to explore more insights and the recent updates about eCommerce, visit our FoxEcom blog for more details.

Now, let’s find out which platform is right for you!

Shopify vs Square: Getting to Know Platform Overview

What’s Shopify? 

Shopify is a fully hosted eCommerce platform built specifically for creating and scaling online stores. It offers a wide range of features, including customizable themes, a powerful CMS, SEO tools, advanced inventory management, and an extensive app ecosystem. 

Shopify website

Over time, Shopify expanded into in-person retail by launching Shopify POS, a point-of-sale solution that syncs with the online store, allowing merchants to manage inventory, customers, and orders in one place. Shopify now supports omnichannel selling across web, mobile, social, and physical storefronts. 

👉There is so much more to Shopify than just an explanation. Learn more about this eCommerce giant through our Shopify review. The post is already live! 

What’s Square?

Square is one of Shopify competitors, starting out with point-of-sale hardware and software, focusing on small, local businesses that sell in person, like cafes, salons, and pop-up shops. As digital demand grew, Square launched Square Online, a basic online store builder that integrates with its POS system. While it’s great for brick-and-mortar stores looking to test ecommerce, it lacks the deep customization and scale that Shopify offers.

Square website

If you're new to both platforms, you might wonder:

• Does Square work with Shopify? 
• Or does Square integrate with Shopify? 
  

The answer: Not natively. If you want to use Shopify Square integration (Square for in-person sales and Shopify for your online store), you’ll need to rely on third-party tools like Zapier, MESA, or similar apps to bridge the gap.

Is Shopify Better Than Square Online Store? 9 Key Differences

1. Online store builder: Shopify offers a robust, flexible builder

Both Shopify and Square make it easy to build an online store with drag-and-drop editors, even if you have no technical experience. However, the main difference lies in how far you can go with customization and growth using Shopify.

Shopify offers far more flexibility and power for merchants who want to scale or fine-tune their store’s design and features.

Shopify’s online store builder gives you:

• A highly flexible drag-and-drop editor
  
• 10+ free themes and 240+ paid ones tailored for different industries
  
• Built-in AI tools to help generate content and design layouts
  
• 30+ customizable blocks like product sliders, reviews, FAQs, and more
  
• Easy integration with apps for upsells, cross-sells, subscriptions, and more
  

Shopify's powerful site editor

You can try any theme for free and only pay when you publish, making it accessible for testing and starting strong. 

💡 Free Shopify themes are great for getting started, but if you want full design control, faster performance, and features that truly drive sales, a paid theme is worth the investment. Our top picks? Sleek and Zest — both crafted for serious growth.

Sleek Theme – Clean aesthetic. Smart design. Serious results.

• Modern & immersive: Stylish layouts with image-text-video combos that create engaging shopping experiences.
  
• Speed meets style: Fast-loading pages with refined animations and built-in SEO optimizations.
  
• Next-level UX: Intuitive, elegant, and designed to elevate every touchpoint from homepage to checkout.
  

Try Sleek free

Sleek Shopify theme on Shopify

Zest Theme – Mobile-first. Conversion-focused. Growth-ready.

• Customizable & dynamic: Advanced layouts that adapt to your brand and scale with your business.
  
• Mobile-optimized: Sticky ATC, smart variant views, quick shop, and mega menus built for mobile browsing.
  
• Conversion tools built-in: Upsells, cross-sells, quick buy, and more to turn browsers into buyers.
  

Try Zest free

Zest Shopify theme

Meanwhile, Square’s store builder is simple and streamlined - great for small businesses that want a basic online presence. However, it lacks the depth and customization Shopify offers. Square only provides:

• 5 free themes and 30 premium themes are included in paid plans
  
• Fewer layout blocks and limited flexibility
  
• Basic features are more suited to smaller catalogs or local stores
• Square basic site editor
  

💡 My verdict for Square online store vs Shopify builder: Shopify 65 - Square 35

So, Shopify or Square for an online store builder? If you’re launching a full-featured online store or plan to scale, Shopify is the better long-term choice. Square is best for quick setups with minimal customization needs.

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Already have a theme, but need custom sales-driven landing pages, promotional sections, or layouts your theme doesn’t support?  Foxify Page Builder is your answer:

• 150+ ready-to-use templates
  
• 250+ prebuilt elements for any type of page
  
• Build from scratch or import Figma designs directly into Foxify
  
• Launch stunning, high-converting pages directly to Shopify in seconds
  
• No code. No limits. Just conversion.
  

👉 Install Foxify and try the Figma to Foxify plugin - free.

2. Pricing: Square is more budget-friendly (at first)

When comparing Shopify vs Square fees, Square is often more budget-friendly for small in-person businesses, but total cost of ownership includes subscriptions, transaction fees, app costs, and long-term growth support, not just monthly pricing.

Monthly subscription and transaction fee

Square Pricing breakdown

Square offers industry-specific pricing plans with different feature sets and processing fees:

🧁 Food & Beverage 

• Free: No monthly fee
  
• Plus: $69/location/month
  
• Premium: $165/location/month

Square pricing for Food & Beverage 

🛍 Retail 

• Free: Basic features with Square POS
  
• Plus: $89/location/month
  
• Custom Plan: Available for larger retailers

Square pricing for Retail

🌐 Online Selling (Square Online)

• Free
  
• Professional: $18/month
  
• Performance/Plus: $32/month
  
• Premium: $88/month

Square Online pricing

📌 Processing fees

Square acts as its own payment processor - no external options. Fees vary by transaction type (in-person, online, manual entry). Expect to pay 2.6%–3.5% + 15¢ to 30¢, depending on how customers pay. These fees add up quickly with volume, especially for online transactions.

Square processing fee

Shopify pricing breakdown

Shopify’s pricing is more standardized and transparent, with three main plans:

• Basic: $39/month
  
• Shopify: $105/month
  
• Advanced: $399/month
  
• Shopify Plus: $2300/month

Keep in mind that Shopify pricing tiers can vary based on your region. This means pricing tiers for US merchants are different from those for Asian merchants. 

Shopify pricing plan

Except for the Plus plan, Shopify offers a 3-day free trial + 3 months for $1/month on any standard plan - perfect if you need time to set up and get familiar with the platform. 

📌 Processing fees

• Use Shopify Payments and pay only 2.9% + 30¢ (Basic plan); rates improve on higher plans.
  
• If using a third-party processor, you’ll pay an extra 0.5%–2% per transaction, depending on your plan.
  

Learn more about Shopify Payment Methods now! 

Other fees to consider

Besides the standard subscription plans and payment processing fees, other hidden or additional costs can impact your total cost of ownership when choosing between Square vs Shopify fees. 

Category	Shopify	Square
App & integration costs	Large app store, but many essential features (e.g., upsells, reviews, analytics) require paid apps Apps typically cost $10–$100+/month each Costs grow as you scale or automate	Smaller app ecosystem Many industry features are included in paid plans Third-party integrations (e.g., WooCommerce, Wix) often require paid connectors like Zapier
Theme or website design	Free themes available- Premium themes cost $150–$400 (one-time) May need a designer/developer for brand customization	Free and premium templates are included in some plans Limited design flexibility May need help upgrading visuals or connecting other platforms
Development or technical support	Customization and performance tuning may require hiring help Shopify Experts cost $50–$150/hour, depending on the task	Less customization means fewer dev needs May still need help with platform integrations or advanced setups

My verdict for Shopify vs Square fees: Shopify 50 – Square 50

Square’s free plan is a great starting point for small, in-person businesses - simple, low-risk, and easy to set up. But if you're building a serious eCommerce brand, Shopify offers more long-term value with better design control, advanced apps, and powerful sales tools.

So, if we have to compare Shopify vs Square for small businesses, starting with Square can make sense if your needs are basic and in-person focused.

3. Ease of use: Both are easy to use, but not equally simple

At first glance, both Shopify and Square are easy to use - they offer intuitive dashboards, drag-and-drop builders, and clear onboarding. But when you dig deeper, their approaches to ease of use reflect different business priorities. Here’s how they truly compare:

Initial setup experience

Shopify:

Designed for eCommerce from the ground up, Shopify walks you through every essential setup step. The setup process includes:

• Choosing a theme
  
• Adding products and variants
  
• Setting up payments, shipping, and taxes
  
• Installing essential apps (e.g., for marketing, analytics, upsells)
  
• The dashboard is clean and modern, but it can feel overwhelming for first-time users due to the number of options available.
  

Square:

Square’s setup is quicker and more straightforward, especially if you already use Square POS.

• Perfect for users who want to get online in a few hours.
  
• Fewer steps and fewer settings to adjust.
  
• Best for businesses with a simple product catalog or an in-person selling focus.
  

Product management & daily operations

Shopify:

• Designed to manage large inventories efficiently.
  
• Easy bulk-edit options for product titles, descriptions, prices, and SEO.
  
• Built-in features like collections, tags, filtering, and inventory tracking.
  
• The order management dashboard is intuitive and connects well with fulfillment apps and shipping partners.
  

Square:

• Better for managing fewer products or syncing with Square POS inventory.
  
• Basic product organization tools - categories and modifiers available.
  
• Works well for restaurants, cafes, and small retailers with simple inventory needs.
  
• Online sales and in-person sales are unified within the same interface.
  

Support & learning curve

Shopify:

• 24/7 customer support via chat, email, and phone
  
• Massive help center, video tutorials, and active community forums
  
• Built-in AI assistant (Sidekick) helps answer questions and guide users through tasks, everything live.
  
• Slight learning curve for new users, but highly manageable with support resources
  

Square:

• Offers decent documentation and live support, but more limited than Shopify
  
• Community forum and help center available, but fewer advanced resources
  
• Easier to learn because of its simpler features, but less flexibility in the long run
  

My verdict for Square vs Shopify ease of use: A tie, Shopify 50 - Square 50

• Square wins on speed and simplicity. Its clean interface and minimal setup steps make it ideal for beginners or brick-and-mortar businesses that need to get online fast with minimal fuss.
  
• Shopify wins on guided flexibility. While setup may take a bit longer, the platform offers more tools, tutorials, and in-dashboard assistance to help users navigate its powerful features with confidence.
  

4. Sales channels: Shopify excels in multi-channel and global selling

Shopify vs Square for sales channels, Shopify takes the lead with its extensive multi-channel and global capabilities.

Shopify enables merchants to sell across a diverse range of channels, including social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest; online marketplaces such as Amazon, Walmart, and eBay (primarily through third-party apps); and even in-person via POS. Most of these integrations can be easily found on the Shopify App Store, giving merchants flexibility to scale and diversify their revenue streams.

Shopify sales channel apps 

Shopify also supports global selling, with built-in tools for international domains, currency conversion, and local payment methods, making it easier for businesses to reach customers across different regions.

In contrast, Square’s built-in sales channel tools are limited to Facebook, Instagram, and Google, with a few options for third-party app integrations on the Square App Marketplace. 

Square sales channel apps

Both platforms offer strong POS systems for in-person selling, which we’ll dive into shortly.

💡 My verdict for Shopify vs Square sales channels: Shopify 60 – Square 40

Shopify is built for omnichannel and international growth. Square works fine for local or social-first sellers, but the options for multichannel selling are not as diverse as Shopify.

5. Inventory & Shipping: Shopify leads with advanced inventory and fulfillment tools

Inventory management is crucial for maintaining stock accuracy, preventing overselling, and ensuring smooth operations across sales channels. 

Here’s how Shopify and Square compare in handling inventory.

Feature	Shopify	Square	Winner
Inventory tracking	Advanced multi-channel tracking: online store, POS, social media, marketplaces	Solid tracking synced between Square POS and online store	A tie
Inventory types & variants	Supports unlimited variants, options, and product types; flexible SKU management	Supports variants and modifiers, but is less flexible with large catalogs	Shopify — better for complex catalogs
Bulk editing & updates	Easy bulk editing, CSV imports/exports, barcode scanning, and real-time updates	Bulk editing is available but less intuitive; advanced barcode scanning	Shopify — more powerful tools
Low stock alerts & forecasting	Automated low stock alerts; integrates with forecasting and replenishment apps	Low stock alerts available + forecasting capabilities	A tie
Integration with 3rd-party apps	Huge ecosystem of apps for inventory optimization, forecasting, dropshipping, etc.	Limited compared to Shopify, but improving steadily	Shopify — far larger app ecosystem
Ease of use	Can be complex for beginners due to advanced features	Extremely user-friendly, great for smaller inventories	Square — better for beginners or small businesses

Now, let’s look at how Shopify and Square compare in terms of carrier options, shipping customization, fulfillment, and local delivery support.

Feature	Shopify	Square	Winner
Shipping carrier options	Supports major carriers globally (UPS, USPS, DHL, FedEx, Canada Post, etc.)	Supports USPS, UPS, and some regional carriers	Shopify — more carrier options
Shipping rate customization	Highly customizable: by weight, price, location, product type, and customer group	Supports flat rates and real-time shipping rates, but limited advanced rules	Shopify — more flexible and granular control
Label printing & fulfillment	Native label printing, batch fulfillment, automation workflows, and third-party fulfillment integration	Label printing included; fulfillment options improving, but less extensive	Shopify — more advanced fulfillment features
Local delivery & pickup	Supports local delivery, curbside pickup, and multiple fulfillment locations with detailed controls	Strong local delivery and pickup support, especially for restaurants and small retailers	Square — very strong for local delivery/pickup scenarios
Order tracking	Automatic tracking updates and customer notifications	Provides tracking info; fewer automated customer notifications	Shopify — more seamless tracking experience
Third-party shipping apps	Huge app ecosystem including ShipStation, Shippo, EasyShip, and more	Limited third-party integrations, but growing	Shopify — broader app support

💡My verdict for Shopify vs Square inventory & shipping: Shopify 60 - Square 40 

• Choose Shopify if you want robust, scalable, and highly customizable inventory and shipping solutions that can grow with your business globally.
  
• Choose Square if you want an intuitive, all-in-one POS and inventory system focused on local sales and simple shipping.
  

6. Payments: A tie

If you’re comparing Square vs Shopify for payment processing, it comes down to one thing: flexibility vs. simplicity. 

Shopify offers a robust and flexible payment infrastructure, ideal for online-first and international businesses. Its key features include:

• Shopify Payments: A built-in payment gateway with no additional transaction fees when used exclusively. It supports major credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and more.
  
• Third-party gateway support: Shopify integrates with 100+ payment providers globally (like PayPal, Authorize.net, Amazon Pay, and more), making it ideal for international merchants or those in countries where Shopify Payments isn't available.
  
• Shop Pay: A fast, one-click checkout experience that increases conversions, especially on mobile. It also supports Shop Pay Installments (BNPL), allowing customers to split purchases into interest-free payments.
  

👉 Read more: What is Shop Pay? How It Boosts Your Store Sales?

Square’s payment system is more streamlined - great for simplicity, but with less flexibility.

• Square Payments: The only option for payment processing (third-party gateways not supported), but it’s built-in and easy to set up. Supports all major credit cards, mobile wallets, and manual entry.
  
• Afterpay (BNPL): Square integrates with Afterpay, allowing customers to split purchases into installments.
  

💡 My verdict for Square vs Shopify payments: Shopify 50 - Square 50 

Shopify gives you greater flexibility, international reach, and an optimized online checkout experience, especially with Shop Pay. Square wins for simplicity and speed in in-person retail.

It’s a tie, but the better fit depends on where and how you sell.

7. App integration: Shopify wins with 13k+ apps

Square vs Shopify comparison for app integration is a clear win for Shopify.

Shopify boasts a powerful App Store with over 13,000 apps, covering nearly every need an eCommerce merchant might have. From page builders, email marketing, SEO, upselling, loyalty programs, to advanced tools for inventory management, product customization, subscriptions, and analytics - there’s an app for almost everything. 

Shopify’s App Store includes tools like SkuIQ and DPL Square Integration & Sync, which allow you to connect Square POS with your Shopify store. So, does Square integrate with Shopify? Yes, but not natively.

Shopify app store

However, it’s important to note: Installing too many third-party apps - especially poorly optimized ones - can slow down your store, which may negatively impact page speed, SEO performance, and the customer experience. It’s best to choose wisely and regularly audit your apps.

Square, by contrast, offers far fewer app integrations, and its marketplace mostly focuses on in-store tools like inventory, employee management, appointments, and POS enhancements. When it comes to online selling, Square’s app ecosystem is limited, both in quantity and variety, compared to Shopify.

Square app store

💡 My verdict for Shopify vs Square app integration: Shopify 80 – Square 20

Shopify offers unmatched flexibility with thousands of apps for growing and optimizing your online business. Square keeps it simple and works for in-person operations, but lacks the online-specific tools that Shopify brings to the table.

8. Scalability: Shopify scales better

Is Shopify or Square for long-term growth? Shopify is better equipped to scale, especially for online businesses.

Why scalability matters:

As your business expands, you’ll likely:

• Manage large product catalogs
  
• Handle traffic surges during seasonal campaigns (like Black Friday, holiday sales)
  
• Sell across borders, dealing with different currencies, languages, and tax systems
  

If your platform can't support these, you risk slow site performance, admin bottlenecks, and a poor customer experience, especially during high-stakes sales periods.

Shopify is built with this kind of growth in mind. It supports:

• Large product inventories with smart collection rules, inventory tracking, and bulk tools
  
• High-traffic resilience, backed by cloud infrastructure proven to handle flash sales for brands doing millions in minutes
  
• Global selling via Shopify Markets, multi-currency checkout, local domains, and region-specific pricing and shipping
  

Square, on the other hand, offers some scalability, but it’s largely centered on POS (point-of-sale). When it comes to online selling, Square lacks the same level of flexibility, international features, and ecosystem support. Product catalog management and international selling are far more limited.

💡 My verdict for Square vs Shopify scalability: Shopify 70 - Square 30.

If you're serious about growing your online store - expanding your product line, preparing for high-traffic seasons, or going global - Shopify is the better choice. Square can scale in-person sales effectively, but it isn't built for complex or high-growth ecommerce operations.

9. Community & Support: Shopify offers 24/7 support and an active partner ecosystem

Shopify pulls ahead when it comes to community and support, especially for merchants building a serious online business.

Shopify provides 24/7 support via live chat, email, and phone across all paid plans. Beyond that, it has an incredibly active ecosystem of experts, developers, and agencies who specialize in solving every type of store issue - from design tweaks to complex integrations.

You’ll also find a wealth of user-generated solutions in Shopify forums, Facebook groups, Reddit threads, and YouTube tutorials.

Shopify community

One standout feature is Shopify Sidekick, the built-in AI assistant designed to help merchants troubleshoot problems, get marketing suggestions, analyze performance, and even complete tasks like creating discount codes or writing product descriptions. It’s like having a mini support team available at any time.

Square, on the other hand, also offers customer support and documentation, but its community and partner ecosystem are far smaller and more focused on local businesses and POS-related solutions. If you’re looking for in-depth ecommerce guidance or technical support for online features, it may fall short.

Square community

💡 My verdict for Shopify vs Square community & support: Shopify 70 – Square 30

Shopify doesn’t just offer support - it surrounds you with a full ecosystem of experts, apps, and AI assistance like Sidekick. Square works well for local business needs, but lacks the depth and reach of Shopify’s support network.

If you’re curious about how Shopify compares to another platform like Shopware, check out our Shopware vs Shopify.

Square POS vs Shopify POS? Which One is Better?

1. Industry expertise: Square POS is more versatile across industries

When comparing Shopify POS vs Square, one key difference lies in industry specialization.
Square POS is designed to serve a wide range of industries, including:

• Retail
  
• Restaurants and bars
  
• Coffee shops and bakeries
  
• Beauty salons and spas
  
• Professional services (e.g., consultants, wellness)
  
• Event-based vendors (e.g., pop-up shops, markets)
  
• Fitness and yoga studios
  

Square's ecosystem is more tailored to in-person transactions, making it a flexible option for service businesses and food service establishments.

Shopify POS, on the other hand, is laser-focused on retail and product-based businesses:

• Fashion and apparel
  
• Home goods
  
• Electronics
  
• Health & beauty
  
• Pet supplies
  
• Any DTC business with online + physical stores
  

💡 My Verdict for Square vs Shopify POS of industry expertise: Square 65 - Shopify 35. 

Square POS is better suited for service-based and hospitality businesses, while Shopify POS is ideal for modern retailers looking to unify their online and offline stores.

2. eCommerce sync: Shopify syncs better

Shopify: Built for Unified Commerce

Shopify was originally designed as an eCommerce platform, and its POS system is an extension of that foundation. As a result, it provides a deeply integrated experience between your online store and physical sales.

Shopify commerce operating system

Strengths:

• Real-time inventory sync between online and offline channels
  
• Unified customer profiles, shopping history, and order tracking across touchpoints
  
• Built-in tools for BOPIS (Buy Online, Pick Up In Store), local delivery, and curbside pickup
  
• Centralized dashboard for managing products, promotions, and sales analytics
  
• Seamless checkout and refund experience across online and in-store
  

Limitations:

• Shopify POS works best when you're fully within the Shopify ecosystem; integrations with external platforms may require apps or third-party services.
  

Square: POS-First with solid online sync

Square started as a POS platform and later added eCommerce functionality. While Square Online is easy to use and tightly linked to Square POS, it’s not as flexible or robust as dedicated eCommerce platforms.

Square excels with POS

Strengths:

• Automatic sync between Square POS and Square Online Store for products, prices, and inventory
  
• Simple tools to manage online menus, service booking, or item availability for pickup/delivery
  
• Centralized reporting for both in-person and online sales
  
• Free plan available for building a basic online presence
  

Limitations:

• Square Online has fewer customization and merchandising options than Shopify
  
• Limited integrations with third-party eCommerce platforms (e.g., connecting to
• WooCommerce or Wix may require middleware like Zapier)
  
• Not ideal for managing large catalogs, international stores, or complex fulfillment workflows
  

Ideal for: Businesses that are in-person first (like cafes, salons, or service providers) and need a basic online presence that syncs with their existing POS operations.

💡 My Verdict for Square vs Shopify POS of ecommerce sync: Square 40- Shopify 60. 

Shopify POS offers deeper eCommerce sync with real-time inventory, unified customer data, and seamless omnichannel tools, while Square POS provides basic sync suited for small, in-person-first businesses needing a simple online extension.

3. Hardware diversity: Square’s hardware tops Shopify 

Here is the breakdown of available Square POS hardware, plus it price and key features. 

Square POS hardware

Device	Price	Key features	Best for
Square Register	$799 or $39/month for 24 months	All-in-one POS with dual displays (merchant and customer), built-in card reader, no external tablet required	Retailers seeking a comprehensive countertop solution.
Square Terminal	$299 or $27/month for 12 months	Portable device with built-in receipt printer, accepts chip, swipe, and contactless payments.	Businesses needing a compact, all-in-one POS for countertop or mobile use.
Square Stand (2nd Gen)	$149 or $14/month for 12 months	Transforms an iPad into a POS system, including a USB hub for accessories.	Businesses already using iPads and seeking a versatile countertop setup.
Square Handheld	$399 or $37/month for 12 months	Portable device with built-in barcode scanner and camera, accepts chip and contactless payments	Retailers and restaurants requiring mobile POS capabilities.
Square Reader for Contactless & Chip	$59	Compact reader connects via Bluetooth to accept chip and contactless payments	Mobile businesses or those needing a simple, portable payment solution.
Square Kiosk	$149 or $14/month for 12 months	iPad-based self-service kiosk, customizable mounting options, requires Square Kiosk app subscription.	Quick-service restaurants and self-service retail environments.

More on Shopify vs Square POS, the table below is the breakdown of available Shopify hardware, plus its price and key features: 

Shopify POS Hardware

Device	Price	Key features	Best for
POS Terminal Countertop Kit	$459	Complete wired solution with POS Terminal Ideal for countertop setups Tablet not included	Retailers seeking a comprehensive countertop POS setup
Tap & Chip Card Reader	$49	Versatile card reader for tap and chip payments Portable for counter or on-the-go use	Businesses needing a flexible, portable payment solution
Tap to Pay on iPhone	Free	Accept contactless payments using just an iPhone No additional hardware required	Mobile businesses or those starting out with minimal hardware investment
Tap to Pay on Android	Free	Accept contactless payments with a compatible Android device No additional hardware required	Android users seeking a hardware-free payment solution
POS Terminal	$349	Newest countertop payment device Full-featured customer display Accepts various payment methods	Retailers looking for a modern, integrated countertop payment solution

💡 My Verdict for Square vs Shopify POS of hardware: Square 65 - Shopify 35. 

Square POS offers a wider, more specialized range of hardware for various business types and budgets, while Shopify POS provides a simpler selection, more reliant on external devices like tablets or phones.

4. Pricing and transaction fees: A tie

When comparing Shopify vs Square fees, it’s important to look beyond the base subscription cost. To get a full picture of what you’ll actually pay, you need to factor in three key components:

1. Subscription fees
   
2. POS hardware costs (I already mentioned above, so I skip this part)
   
3. Transaction fees (especially for in-person sales)
   

Let’s break it down:

Subscription fees

Shopify: 

• POS Lite: $5/month 
• POS Pro: $89/ location/month

Square: 

• Free
• Plus: From $69 to $89/ location/ month
• Premium: From $165/ location/ month
• Custom: Varies (Quote-based)

In-person transaction fees

Both Shopify and Square charge fees per transaction when accepting in-person payments.

• Shopify: From 2.6% + $0.10 (Fees apply only if using Shopify Payments; otherwise, additional 0.5%–2% fee for third-party gateways)
• Square: 2.6% + 15¢ (Flat fee for tap, dip, or swipe using Square hardware)

My Verdict for Shopify POS vs Square for total fee: Shopify 45 - Square 55.

• Square POS stands out with its free plan, no requirement for a separate online store subscription, and flat, predictable transaction fees - making it more affordable and straightforward for small or in-person-first businesses.
  
• Shopify POS requires an active Shopify online store subscription (starting at $39/month) just to function, and combined with POS Pro ($89/location/month), the total monthly cost adds up quickly, though transaction fees decrease on higher plans.

Square vs Shopify Frequently Asked Questions

• Is Square compatible with Shopify?
  

Yes, but with limitations.

There is no native integration between Square and Shopify because they are direct competitors. However, you can connect them using third-party apps such as:

• SkuIQ
  
• DPL Square Integration & Sync
  

These apps help sync inventory, products, and customer data between Square POS and your Shopify store. For example, if you sell an item in-store via Square, the inventory can automatically update on Shopify.

• Do I need Square if I have Shopify?
  

No, you don’t. Shopify is a complete commerce platform that includes a built-in POS system for in-person selling. If you're already using Shopify, there's no need to add Square - Shopify POS allows you to unify your sales, customer data, and inventory across online and physical stores in one dashboard.

• Is Square Online better than Shopify?
  

In most cases, no. From a commerce perspective, Shopify is purpose-built for eCommerce, offering a robust online store builder, better customization, and tools for scaling your business across channels. Square Online is a basic extension of Square POS, best for small, local businesses wanting a quick online presence without complex needs. It’s simple but limited in design flexibility and features.

Summary: Shopify vs Square

Shopify or Square are both excellent platforms, but they serve different types of businesses. Shopify is better if you want to grow your online store and sell across many channels. Square is great for small businesses that mainly sell in person and just need a simple online setup.