Shopify POS vs Square: Best Retail Solution for 2025

A Point of Sale (POS) system is a hardware and software mechanism that helps businesses accept client payments and make in-person sales. It allows businesses to track sales, record transactions, and manage inventory at points where clients buy goods and services.

A modern POS helps your business by streamlining sales and payments. Cloud-based POS system offers hardware and software and allows you to:

• Accept Payments
• Track Sales
• Synchronize your online store and in-store transactions.

Shopify POS vs Square are the popular and best POS systems for businesses. However, which is the best retail solution for 2025? Let's dig in!

In this blog, we'll find out.

• Quick Overview of Shopify POS vs Square.
• Why Should You Consider Shopify POS vs Square?
• Comparison of Shopify POS vs Square.
• Final Review - Shopify POS vs Square.
• Professional Suggestion: Which one is Right For Retail?

Quick Overview: Shopify POS vs Square

Shopify POS

Shopify is a popular eCommerce platform and it is a great option for both eCommerce businesses and brick-and-mortar stores.

If you have an eCommerce business, you are aware of the Shopify platform. This platform enables small to medium and large-sized businesses to create and manage online stores. Shopify's drag-and-drop interface enables Shopify merchants to design their professional stores efficiently. This platform also offers useful tools and features such as:

• Insightful dashboard
• Theme customization
• App integrations
• Payment gateways
• Multi-channel selling
• Analytics and management
• Customer support

Shopify not only operates in the e-commerce space, but it also has a POS system called Shopify POS. Shopify POS hardware and software allow you to accept payments online and in person using Shopify Payments. It also offers you seamless checkout options and other features.

Shopify POS is ideal for larger retailers, online merchants, and social media sales. It allows you the standout features such as:

• Strong POS system with superb eCommerce features.
• Great for international sales.
• 8000+ integrations.
• 24/7 customer services.
• No fixed fee for POS transactions.

Square

Square POS system is a better option for small-sized businesses, restaurants, and other retail stores interested in selling online. Square offers you the Square Online option to sell online and easily add online orders to your website. This feature automatically synchronizes the orders and inventory with your POS and keeps everything updated.

Square has an integrated payment processing method called Square Payments. Like Shopify, Square also has seamless payment acceptance and customization options. However, this platform has limited features for international reach because it is specifically designed for new and small retailers.

Square offers 24/7 customer support services from Monday to Friday during business hours. In addition, this platform provides the number where you can call them. Furthermore, you can use the callback option if you can't wait in line.

Why Should You Consider Shopify POS Over Square?

Shopify POS vs Square? Which is best for retail stores in 2025? Let's find the answer.

Shopify and Square both offer the best POS system and great options for seamless payment acceptance. Both platforms offer features to synchronize the online and offline inventory and 24/7 customer support. But why should you consider Shopify POS over Square?

Let's be real! No doubt, Square offers few features the same as Shopify. However, if you want online merchants, social media sales, and more integration features then here we are.

Shopify offers a strong POS system and allows seamless integrations with Shopify online stores. It gives advanced omnichannel features and customization options with apps and extensions. Shopify POS provides custom staff roles and permission features while in Square you access these features when you subscribe for Advanced Access.

What Does Shopify POS Do Better: Comparison of Shopify POS vs Square

Shopify and Square both POS giants offer the almost same features for online and in-person sales. However, there are so many things that are different. Also, if you are looking for the best POS in 2025, then Shopify POS is the go-to choice for you. Here is the comparison of Shopify POS vs Square:

Shopify POS is the Perfect Solution for Large Businesses

In the POS system, Shopify POS vs Square has its unique strengths. Let's break down the Shopify POS vs Square for the large businesses.

For large businesses or businesses that want scalable options in POS, Shopify POS is the best option for them. Shopify POS offers all the important features required to manage the pop-up shop or physical store alongside your Shopify online store. It gives more scalability options as compared to Square.

In contrast, Square has a great POS system. However, it does not offer long-term contracts which makes it the best choice for small businesses. Furthermore, it has limited options for scalability and lacks extensive features required for larger retail operations.

Shopify Offer Better Hardware and Customization

Hardware choice for Shopify POS vs Square is essential because it decides how smoothly your business runs. Shopify POS provides a wide range of hardware options and allows you to make sales easy anywhere. The hardware allows you to accept popular payments and long-term customer relationships. Here we include the Shopify POS hardware with prices:

• Tap to Pay: Shopify POS accepts contactless payments quickly and securely with Android and iPhone freely.
• Tap and Chip Card Reader: $49 for tap and chip card reader.
• Shopify POS Terminal Dock: $89 for Shopify POS Terminal DOS. Combine your POS Terminal Reader with POS Terminal Dock.
• Shopify POS Go Dock: $139 for combining your POS Go with POS Go Dock to create a POS Terminal dedicated countertop payment solution with a full-featured customer display.
• Shopify POS Terminal: Pair Shopify POS Terminal with your tablet for seamless in-store checkouts for $349.
• POS Terminal Countertop Kit: Get a complete wired solution with POS Terminal for $459. A perfect selling solution at the counter — Tablet isn't included.

Square is popular for small businesses and does not offer long-term customer relationships. However, it offers affordable hardware prices — suited for small-scale stores. Here are the Square hardware prices:

• Square Magstripe-Only Card Reader: Square's first card reader is free. However, you will pay $10 for every additional reader.
• Square Reader for Contactless and Chip: A seamless way to accept multiple cards, Apple Pay, and chip cards on the go at your counter in just $59. Comes with longer battery life, enhanced connectivity, and security. You can also buy this with the Shop Now, Pay Over Time payment option for $21/month with financing.
• Square Stand (2nd Generation, USB-C): This easy-to-use iPad POS with seamless integrated payments costs just $149. Monthly financing is available. The iPad is required but not included.
• Square Terminal: Get an all-in-one credit card terminal for payments, orders, and receipts for $299.
• Square Register: Square offers a complete POS solution with two user-friendly displays, pre-made payments, and seamless software for just $799 — Monthly finance is also available.

Square offers great options and cost-effective solutions for small businesses. However, its customization is limited compared to Shopify's. Additionally, Shopify hardware is ideal for established retailers or those who want advanced POS capabilities and seamless checkouts.

Shopify Provides Great eCommerce Features

Shopify offers excellent eCommerce features. It is a great option for businesses who want eCommerce features with POS functionalities. Shopify provides features:

• Easy setup for custom websites
• Custom domain
• Website Hosting
• Third-party integrations
• Order management
• Excellent shopping cart apps

Shopify gives the best options to all-sized businesses to create and customize online stores.

Conversely, Square also provides eCommerce solutions with payment processing and POS functionalities. If offers the following features to online stores:

• Website Hosting
• Integrations and inventory management
• Order management
• Reporting dashboard with insights.

Square provides all eCommerce features via Square Online. It has less potential to provide the same level of integrations and scalability as Shopify.

Shopify Offers Great Integration Options

Shopify POS vs Square, who has the power of integrations? Both platforms provide seamless integration options.

Shopify POS integrations allow you to connect third-party apps. There are 8000+ apps in the Shopify app store you can integrate according to your business needs. Shopify has 102 apps that are specially designed for POS. In addition, Shopify POS also supports 100+ payment gateways for seamless transactions.

In contrast, Square allows 300+ app integrations which cover almost all small business features. Square supports Square's in-house payment gateway for transactions.

Shopify has Seamless Inventory Management Features

In the game of inventory management, Shopify always wins due to its impressive features. It allows features such as tracking multi-channel stock levels, print barcodes, and more. It also provides features of multi-location inventory management using Shopify Standard or Advanced plan.

Square also provides inventory management solutions but most of its features rely on third-party inventory services.

Shopify has Better Marketing Tools

Shopify offers various marketing tools to engage customers such as:

• Social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok.
• Shopify marketplace connects apps to sell on Amazon, ETSY, or other marketplaces.

Not only this, Shopify gives you robust email marketing features. Shopify email marketing is an effective plan for promoting products, services, and brands. Email marketing is a powerful way to increase sales and customer relationships. It is a conversion-rich and low-cost way to market online stores.

Conversely, Square also offers marketing tools like customer insights and sign-ups for your mailing list. However, for most advanced features, you need a subscription to Square Marketing — starting from $15 per month with up to 500 customer contracts.

Shopify has Great Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Shopify is popular for its great CRM features that make it seamless for customer engagement and management. You can build customer profiles for emailing receipts and also create an email list for marketing. Creating customer profiles also provides benefits like categorizing customers' locations, shopping habits, and demographics. In addition, Shopify gives you free and paid loyalty programs such as:

• Offer rewards
• Personalized bonuses
• Coupons and discounts

Square supports a loyalty program starting from $45 per month/location. Customers who are saved in Squares profile automatically earn rewards and discounts. The square standard system permits you to provide distal gift cards without paying the additional cost. Also, you can track and store your customer balance and other details using this system.

Shopify's Pricing Structure is for Large-Scale Businesses

Shopify POS vs Square, both have the same transaction fee at the basic subscription plan. However, Square offers a free plan but Shopify does not.

In terms of pricing structure Square is very affordable as compared to Shopify. But, we note that Shopify POS has advanced capabilities and is designed for large businesses. It also provides more scalability options and international sales tools for POS. However, Square lacks advanced customizations and internationalization tools. Also, this medium is best for small retailers.

Considering all the features and functionality of Shopify POS, the conclusion for pricing is that it is designed for large businesses or stores who want scalability.

Shopify has Better Customer Support

Almost every business needs customer support on various issues. That's why it's important to choose the platform which offers the best customer support. Shopify is one of the popular eCommerce platforms that gives you 24/7 customer support via live chat and emails. Not only this, Shopify offers its customer support services on weekends as well. Furthermore, they offer Shopify Academy to help you to polish your skills.

Square also provides the best customer support to its clients. The plus point of Square customer support is, it provides the number where you can call them. Furthermore, you can use the callback option if you can't wait in line. However, Square customer support service is not better as compared to Shopify. No doubt, it offers 24/7 customer service but they only provide this service on business days. On the other end Shopify customer service on business days + weekends.

Here the image shows a Shopify POS vs Square comparison.

Final Review - Shopify POS vs Square: Right Solution For Retailers?

Shopify POS vs Square? The choice depends on your business needs. Both platforms have different features and budgets.

Shopify is an ideal choice for all businesses as it provides an all-in-one hosted solution and scalability features. Additionally, it provides a strong POS system for large retailers and eCommerce businesses. This platform offers:

• Advanced capabilities
• Superb eCommerce features
• Strong POS system
• Advanced sales and marketing features
• Fast speed and high-performance
• Enhanced security and integrations.
• 24/7 Customer support.
• Internationalization tools for scalability and best future-proof choice for growing businesses.

Square is a popular choice for small retailers and new merchants. It offers the following features:

• Affordable and provides a free magstripe card reader.
• Specialized POS apps for retail and restaurants.
• Allow to sell online without paying a monthly fee.
• Great offline capabilities in the POS system.

Professional Suggestion: Which one is Right For Retail?

Shopify POS vs Square, both platforms offer the best POS system for your business in different industries. Both platforms have unique features and functionalities and allow built-in and third-party integration options. After exploring the in-depth article about Shopify POS vs Square, you will have a clear idea of which is the right choice for your business. eCommerce Dev Biz professional suggestion is:

Square is an easy-to-use and popular choice for small businesses and new retailers as it offers its best features to these businesses. Not only this, Square offers affordable solutions for these businesses. This platform has specialized POS apps for retail, restaurants, and appointment scheduling. Square doesn't charge a monthly fee and provides a free magstripe card reader. So, if you are a newbie in the retail store world, Square is the best option for you. Square offers 24/7 customer support on business days and you have to wait for business days if you face any issues on weekends.

In comparison, Select Shopify POS, if you have a handsome budget to start eCommerce and brick-and-mortar stores. Shopify POS system is suitable for large businesses, online merchants, and social media sales. This is an ideal choice for businesses that want scalability in online and offline stores. Shopify offers you a pre-made hosting solution for online stores, which means this platform handles everything for you. Additionally, Shopify POS provides advanced customization and international sales options. Furthermore, this platform has brilliant inventory management, security, and customer support.