A Square vs. Shopify comparison.
What’s the best all-in-one POS system for you?
Everything you need to run your business, anywhere, anytime.
Square POS has all the tools you need to reach your customers and grow your business, whether in person, online or both.
Four things you can depend on with Square.
Whether you need a point of sale for your retail store, quick-service restaurant, beauty salon, or on-the-go jobs, Square offers the reliability and ease of use every business needs.
Simple
Our interface is intuitive for you and your team to use. Access analytics and a variety of tools easily with a click of a button, and accept all payment types at checkout.
Customizable
Our POS system works seamlessly with our hardware and our rich ecosystem of products to help you manage your team, create custom loyalty programs, send invoices and emails, and more.
Reliable
Square POS and all our products are designed and tested to withstand the busiest checkouts. It’s built top to bottom by Square so it works just like it should.
Transparent
We hate hidden fees and contracts. That’s why we never charge you for our POS system. You only pay when you take payment at one clear rate of 2.6+ 10¢ for tap, dip or swipe.
Why people choose Square over Shopify.
When comparing Square vs. Shopify POS, many people are drawn to the affordability and reliability of Square’s hardware and software, and the seamless integrations to support all aspects of your business.
Flexibility
Whatever comes next, you can handle it with Square. Add card readers, locations, team members, and third-party apps (like QuickBooks), sync your online store, create email campaigns, set up delivery partners, and create custom POS solutions with Square APIs.
Affordability
Square POS software is free. You only pay transaction fees when you take a card payment. There are no monthly fees, sign-up fees, or PCI compliance fees.
Peace of mind
Square is the merchant of record, which means we take care of payment processing and PCI compliance for you. We also offer offline mode, so you can continue to take payments when your internet is temporarily unavailable.
Create your free account today.
Frequently Asked Questions
(by people thinking about switching from Shopify to Square POS)
Is it easy to switch and migrate from Shopify POS to Square POS?
Yes, you can download the free app, import CSV files with your items or customer information, and link to existing third-party software, like QuickBooks, quickly and easily. For larger sellers, we have services to help you transfer your Shopify data to Square.
Does Square integrate with Shopify?
There is not a Square Shopify integration, but it’s simple to switch from Shopify to Square for your in-person and eCommerce platform.
Is Square POS expensive?
The opposite—the Square POS app is free to use. Unlike Advanced Shopify ($299 a month) or Basic Shopify ($29 a month) that are on top of Shopify Payments fees, with Square you just pay processing fees at one rate of 2.6% + 10¢ for every tap, dip or swipe. No hidden fees or long-term contracts.
How do I get started?
You can go from downloading Square POS to making your first sale in minutes by signing up for your free account here. Our hardware works out of the box with no configuration required. You can create your own site with our website builder on Square Online or sync your existing eCommerce platform.
How do I contact someone for support?
Our Support Center can help with general questions, and once you have signed up for an account, you can contact our highly trained customer support team via phone or email.
Will my staff know how to use it easily?
Using the Square POS system is very intuitive. Most employers teach their new team members in a matter of minutes, not hours.
Does Square POS help me sell online and on social media?
You bet. Square POS lets you set up and sync your online store in no time at all. You can also sell gift cards online, and sell through social media with a couple of taps.
Does Square take care of inventory management?
Yes, sales from online and in person automatically update your inventory levels, and you automatically receive inventory alerts when you’re running low. It’s inventory management made easy. Learn more about our inventory management tools here.
Does Square have an App Marketplace?
Yes! Square’s app marketplace lets you find third-party apps that you may already use and depend on. From accounting apps and eCommerce solutions to inventory and employee management, Square works with apps that can help with whatever your business needs. Check it out here.
Can Square help me grow from a small business to a big business?
Absolutely. Square is much more than the little white magstripe reader and payment processing. We’ve been a champion for small business from the start, and with our suite of add-on features, you can pick and choose tools to suit the needs of your business. See how you can customize your POS system here. Beyond payment processing, you can manage teams, take payments in the field or at pop-ups on the mobile app, and sell online through Square Online. You can sell in person safely with curbside or delivery, and get paid with invoices or even over the phone, so you can manage your business with ease and reach your customers everywhere.
Run your business online.
Whether or not your business has a brick-and-mortar location, building a robust online presence can help you engage shoppers from a distance.
- Build your free website to take orders, sell goods, manage inventory, and book appointments—all synced through your POS system.
- Accept every kind of payment and track all your sales in one place—from your online store, invoices, payments over the phone, and in-person sales.
- Sell online—including through Instagram—and offer pickup and delivery options.
Our customers love us on
“Square Online is easy because it integrates with my Square POS system. We’re seeing orders in so many different ways - in store, pickup, delivery, shipping. Square helps us stay organized and ensures that we don’t oversell products.”
Alissa Anderson, San Francisco, CA
Pricing
Square Point of Sale software is free to use—there are no setup fees or monthly fees. Only pay when you take a payment.
Processing rate
2.6% + 10¢
Per tap, dip or swipe
Point of sale starting at
$0
with Tap to Pay on iPhone
Monthly fee
$0
No long-term commitments or contracts
Ask about a custom rate.
We can create custom pricing packages for some businesses that process more than $250K in card sales.
Get started free with Square Point of Sale.
Start selling in minutes
Sign up and start taking payments with Square in minutes. No bank visits or merchant accounts required.
Pay no extra fees
You only pay when you accept a card. That’s it. No setup fee, no monthly minimum fee, no compliance fee, no hardware rental fee.
Hardware for selling anywhere.
We design and build our hardware in-house, so it all works together seamlessly.
Take payments, print receipts and run your business with a powerful and portable payment terminal.
$299 or $27/mo over 12 months*
Square Reader for contactless and chip
Take contactless payments anywhere with a card reader that pairs directly with your device.
$59
Accept payments anywhere using this magnetic stripe reader for swiping credit cards anywhere on your smartphone or tablet
First reader free¹
Turn your iPad into a point of sale with integrated contactless and chip payments - no readers required.
$149 or $14/mo over 12 months*
Get an all-in-one POS register with a dedicated customer display that lets you start selling right out of the box.
$799 or $39/mo over 24 months*
Create your free account today.
Set up your POS system now and start selling in minutes.
¹Offer is limited to one redemption per Square account holder.
* All credit sale plans are issued by Square, Inc. Not available to merchants in AL, DE, MS, MO, NH, and TN. Purchase amounts must be from $49 to $10,000. APR is 15%. Available plan lengths vary from 3, 6, 12, and/or 24 months installments depending on purchase amount. Sales tax, where applicable, will be due at checkout. All plans subject to credit approval and other factors.