Free POS system and payments platform designed for in-person retail, restaurants, and small businesses.
Solo entrepreneurs, restaurants, food trucks, pop-up shops, and small retail stores focused on in-person sales
Comprehensive SaaS ecommerce platform for building online stores
Ecommerce-first businesses, growing retailers needing omnichannel selling, brands requiring advanced marketing automation and global scalability
Square excels as a free, in-person POS system ideal for small businesses and restaurants, while Shopify is the comprehensive ecommerce platform built for online selling with omnichannel capabilities. Square's strength lies in point-of-sale simplicity, whereas Shopify dominates in online store features, marketing tools, and scalability.
Choose Square if you run a small in-person business, restaurant, or food service with minimal online sales and want free or low-cost POS capabilities. Choose Shopify if you're building an ecommerce business or need seamless omnichannel selling with advanced marketing and inventory tools. For growing retail businesses balancing both channels, Shopify POS offers superior integration despite higher base costs.
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Choose Square if
Solo entrepreneurs, restaurants, food trucks, pop-up shops, and small retail stores focused on in-person sales
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| Metric | Square | Shopify | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customer Satisfaction Rating(out of 5) | 4.4/5 | — | — |
| Free Plan Cost(USD/month) | $0 | $5 (Starter plan minimum) | -100% |
| Mid-Tier Plan Cost(USD/month) | $49 (Plus plan) | $105 (Shopify Plan) |
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Choose Shopify if
Ecommerce-first businesses, growing retailers needing omnichannel selling, brands requiring advanced marketing automation and global scalability
| -53% |
| Supported Sales Channels(count) | 4 (in-person, online, invoices, social) | 10+ (online store, POS, social, marketplace, B2B, wholesale) | -60% |
| App Ecosystem Size(count) | ~300 apps | 9,000+ apps | -97% |
| Maximum Plan Cost(USD/month) | $299 (Premium plan) | $2,300+ (Shopify Plus enterprise) | -87% |
| New Features (Feb-Mar 2026)(features) | 34 new features and improvements | Ongoing regular updates | — |
| Active Stores | 4.6 Million+ | 4.6 Million+ | — |
| Global Market Share(%) | 27% | 27% | — |
| Platform Transaction Fees(%) | 2.0% (third-party gateways) / 0% (Shopify Payments) | 2.0% (third-party gateways) / 0% (Shopify Payments) | — |
| Available Apps/Plugins(count) | 13,000+ | 13,000+ | — |
| Average Conversion Rate (Desktop)(%) | 1.4% | 1.4% | — |
| Average Conversion Rate (Mobile)(%) | 1.2% | 1.2% | — |
| Starting Monthly Price(USD) | $39 | $39 | — |
| Top Tier Plan Price(USD/month) | $399 | $399 | — |
| Design Templates Available(count) | 100+ | 100+ | — |
| App Integrations(count) | 8,000+ | 8,000+ | — |
| Annual Cost (Base Plan)(USD/year) | $468 | $468 | — |
| Starting Monthly Cost(USD) | $39/month | $39/month | — |
| Product Variation Limit(variations per SKU) | 2,000+ | 2,000+ | — |
| Transaction Processing Fee(percent) | 0% (on Shopify Payments) | 0% (on Shopify Payments) | — |
| Available Templates(count) | ~300 (optimized for sales) | ~300 (optimized for sales) | — |
| Recommended Maximum Annual Revenue(USD) | Unlimited | Unlimited | — |
| Transaction Fee Rate(%) | 3.89% | 3.89% | — |
| Monthly Costs at 100 Sales ($50/item)(USD) | $214 | $214 | — |
| Base Monthly Subscription (Starter Plan)(USD) | $29 | $29 | — |
| Sales Breakeven Point(USD/month) | $1,350 | $1,350 | — |
| Available App Integrations(apps) | 8,000+ | 8,000+ | — |
| Commission Fee (Per Transaction)(%) | 2.9% + $0.30 | 2.9% + $0.30 | — |
| Built-in Customer Base(millions) | Zero (must generate own traffic) | Zero (must generate own traffic) | — |
| Average Time to First Sale(days) | 30-90 days (with marketing) | 30-90 days (with marketing) | — |
| Brand Customization Level(scale 1-10) | Complete (10/10) | Complete (10/10) | — |
| Customer Data Access(percentage) | 100% direct access to customer emails and data | 100% direct access to customer emails and data | — |
| Payment Methods Supported(count) | 100+ | 100+ | — |
| Setup Time to Live Store(days) | 7-14 days | 7-14 days | — |
| Available Apps & Integrations(count) | 6,000+ apps | 6,000+ apps | — |
| Checkout Conversion Rate(%) | 3.2-3.5% | 3.2-3.5% | — |
| Platform Uptime SLA(%) | 99.99% | 99.99% | — |
| Payment Processing Fee(percent) | $0.30 | $0.30 | — |
| Monthly Base Cost(USD) | $29-$399 | $29-$399 | — |
| Store Design Flexibility(scale 1-10) | Extensive (9/10) | Extensive (9/10) | — |
| Transaction Fee Percentage(%) | 2.9% | 2.9% | — |
| Available Apps/Extensions(count) | 10,000+ | 10,000+ | — |
| Developer Cost (Hourly)(USD/hour) | $100-150 (optional) | $100-150 (optional) | — |
| Market Share | ~30% of all online stores | ~30% of all online stores | — |
| Transaction Fees(%) | 1.5-2% per transaction | 1.5-2% per transaction | — |
| Starting Price(USD/month) | $5 (Starter Plan) | $5 (Starter Plan) | — |
| Monthly Base Cost (Starter Plan)(USD) | $5-39 (all-inclusive) | $5-39 (all-inclusive) | — |
| Initial Setup Time(minutes) | Hours to 1 day | Hours to 1 day | — |
| Enterprise Plan Cost(USD/month) | $2,300+ (Shopify Plus) | $2,300+ (Shopify Plus) | — |
| Third-Party App Integrations(count) | 6000+ | 6000+ | — |
| Free Physical Items Limit(items/month) | None (paid plans only) | None (paid plans only) | — |
| Payment Gateway Options(count) | 100+ | 100+ | — |
All figures sourced from publicly available data. Last updated May 2026.
Square
In-person POS and small retail
Shopify
Ecommerce and omnichannel selling
Square
Yes, fully functional free POS🏆
Shopify
Starter plan at $5/month minimum
Square
Free or $49/month (Plus plan)
Shopify
$5/month (Starter) or $39/month (Basic)🏆
Square
Basic ecommerce features
Shopify
Advanced marketing, automation, and SEO tools🏆
Square
3.3% + $0.30 (free tier)
Shopify
2.7% + 30¢ (Shopify Payments)🏆
Square
Standard tools in paid plans
Shopify
Advanced inventory across all channels🏆
Square
Built-in table management and kitchen display🏆
Shopify
Limited, requires apps
Square
Basic online and offline sync
Shopify
Unified customers, orders, and inventory🏆
Square offers a completely free POS with no monthly subscription fees, though you pay 3.3% + $0.30 per card transaction (2026 rates). Shopify's cheapest plan starts at $5/month (Starter), plus 2.7% + 30¢ per transaction with Shopify Payments. For pure zero-upfront cost, Square wins.
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| Attribute | Shopify | |
|---|---|---|
| Online Transaction Fee(%+$) | 2.9% + $0.30 | — |
| In-Person Card Payment Fee(%+$) | 2.6% + $0.10 | — |
| Free Plan Cost(USD/month) | $0 | $5 (Starter plan minimum) |
| Mid-Tier Plan Cost(USD/month) | $49 (Plus plan) | $105 (Shopify Plan) |
| Maximum Plan Cost(USD/month) | $299 (Premium plan) | $2,300+ (Shopify Plus enterprise) |
Show 15 more attributesPlatform Transaction Fees(%) 2.0% (third-party gateways) / 0% (Shopify Payments) — Starting Monthly Price(USD) $39 — Top Tier Plan Price(USD/month) $399 — Annual Cost (Base Plan)(USD/year) $468 — Starting Monthly Cost(USD) $39/month — Transaction Processing Fee(percent) 0% (on Shopify Payments) — Transaction Fee Rate(%) 3.89% — Monthly Costs at 100 Sales ($50/item)(USD) $214 — Base Monthly Subscription (Starter Plan)(USD) $29 — Listing Renewal Fee(USD per listing) Included in subscription — Transaction Fee Percentage(%) 2.9% — Transaction Fees(%) 1.5-2% per transaction — Starting Price(USD/month) $5 (Starter Plan) — Monthly Base Cost (Starter Plan)(USD) $5-39 (all-inclusive) — Enterprise Plan Cost(USD/month) $2,300+ (Shopify Plus) — | ||
| Customer Satisfaction Rating(out of 5) | 4.4/5 | — |
| Global Currency Support(currencies) | Not specified | — |
| API Customization Level | Limited Custom Integration | — |
| POS Hardware Included | Full hardware suite included | — |
| Supported Sales Channels(count) | 4 (in-person, online, invoices, social) | 10+ (online store, POS, social, marketplace, B2B, wholesale) |
| Inventory Locations Support(locations) | Multiple with basic sync | Unlimited with advanced sync |
Show 6 more attributesDesign Templates Available(count) 100+ — Enterprise Plan Available(yes/no) Yes ($2,300+/month) — Product Variant Limit(variants) Unlimited — Available App Integrations(apps) 8,000+ — Built-in Features Included(Features) Hosting, SSL, domain, support included — Multi-Store Support(capability) Separate subscriptions required — | ||
| Bitcoin Processing Fees(%) | 0% through 2026 | — |
| Setup Complexity | Simple (plug-and-play) | — |
| Transaction Fee (Standard)(percentage + fixed) | 3.3% + $0.30 | 2.7% + $0.30 |
| Payment Methods Supported(count) | 100+ | — |
| App Ecosystem Size(count) | ~300 apps | 9,000+ apps |
| New Features (Feb-Mar 2026)(features) | 34 new features and improvements | Ongoing regular updates |
| AI/Automation Optimization | Native AI-driven commerce agents built-in | — |
| Active Stores | 4.6 Million+ | — |
| Market Share | ~30% of all online stores | — |
| Global Market Share(%) | 27% | — |
| Available Apps/Plugins(count) | 13,000+ | — |
| Available Apps & Integrations(count) | 6,000+ apps | — |
| Average Conversion Rate (Desktop)(%) | 1.4% | — |
| Average Conversion Rate (Mobile)(%) | 1.2% | — |
| Checkout Conversion Rate(%) | 3.2-3.5% | — |
| Mobile Responsiveness | Mobile-optimized by default | — |
| Hosting Model | Fully Managed SaaS | — |
| Data Portability | Limited export; difficult migration | — |
| App Integrations(count) | 8,000+ | — |
| Available Apps/Extensions(count) | 10,000+ | — |
| Payment Gateway Options(count) | 100+ | — |
| Support Channels(channels) | Phone, Email & Chat | — |
| Product Variation Limit(variations per SKU) | 2,000+ | — |
| Multi-Currency Support(currencies) | 200+ | — |
| Design Customization Entry Point(coding knowledge required) | Advanced (Liquid code access) | — |
| Implementation Complexity | Low; point-and-click setup | — |
| Available Templates(count) | ~300 (optimized for sales) | — |
| Recommended Maximum Annual Revenue(USD) | Unlimited | — |
| Product Listing Limits(count) | Unlimited products | — |
| Sales Breakeven Point(USD/month) | $1,350 | — |
| Monthly Active Buyers (Marketplace Access)(millions) | Self-driven traffic | — |
| Commission Fee (Per Transaction)(%) | 2.9% + $0.30 | — |
| Monthly Base Cost(USD) | $29-$399 | — |
| Built-in Customer Base(millions) | Zero (must generate own traffic) | — |
| Average Time to First Sale(days) | 30-90 days (with marketing) | — |
| Brand Customization Level(scale 1-10) | Complete (10/10) | — |
| Customer Data Access(percentage) | 100% direct access to customer emails and data | — |
| Setup Time to Live Store(days) | 7-14 days | — |
| Platform Uptime SLA(%) | 99.99% | — |
| Built-in Enterprise Features | Moderate; app-dependent for advanced needs | — |
| API Control & Headless Capability | Good GraphQL API; limited headless options | — |
| Store Design Flexibility(scale 1-10) | Extensive (9/10) | — |
| Ideal Business Size(GMV) | $0-20M GMV (optimal fit) | — |
| Payment Processing Fee(percent) | $0.30 | — |
| Annual Marketplace Visitors(billions) | Self-generated | — |
| Suitable Product Categories(primary focus) | All product types | — |
| Developer Cost (Hourly)(USD/hour) | $100-150 (optional) | — |
| Initial Setup Time(minutes) | Hours to 1 day | — |
| Third-Party App Integrations(count) | 6000+ | — |
| Setup Time(days) | 30-60 minutes | — |
| Free Physical Items Limit(items/month) | None (paid plans only) | — |
Side-by-side comparison of numeric attributes