Shopify vs Square
Shopify is an ecommerce platform with in-person selling; Square is a payment and point-of-sale system with an online site builder. This comparison uses each provider's published pricing, checked on 2026-10-15, and marks where Shopify does not publish card rates.
Quick verdict
Choose Shopify if…
- Your online store is the center of the business: Shopify lists themes, unlimited products, unlimited web hosting, a custom domain and a free SSL certificate.
- You want a team plan with more staff accounts: Grow lists up to 5 and Advanced up to 15.
- You want 24/7 live chat support listed on the plan features.
Choose Square if…
- Most of your sales are in person and you want published in-person card rates and a $0 plan.
- You want to know your card rates before you sign up: Square lists them, and Shopify Payments rates were not published on the page we read.
- You want a point-of-sale app included on the free plan rather than a paid add-on.
Side by side, from published data
| Feature | Shopify | Square |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan (monthly billing) | $25/mo | $0/mo |
| In-person card rate | Check current pricing on Shopify's site | 2.6% + $0.15 (Free) |
| Online card rate | Check current pricing on Shopify's site | 3.3% + $0.30 (Free) |
| Fee when using another payment provider | 2% (Basic) | No such platform fee listed |
| Retail POS add-on | $89 per month per location | POS app listed on the Free plan |
| Contracts | Monthly or yearly subscription; a promotional trial is listed | "No hidden fees or locked-in contracts. Cancel or switch anytime." |
| Overall score | 6.9/10 | 10/10 |
Limitations to know about
Shopify: limitations
- Retail-grade POS features need the POS Pro add-on at $89/mo per location, and Shopify Payments card rates are not published on the page we read. Source
Square: limitations
- Lower in-person rates require a paid plan, and add-ons such as the KDS app ($30/mo per device on Plus) cost extra per device. Source
Scores from our methodology
Scores come from a public checklist applied equally to both providers. They measure what each publishes, not product quality, and a high score does not mean it fits your business. Read the methodology.
Shopify
Score breakdown: Overall score 6.9/10
| Category | Weight | Score | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing transparency | 30% | 5/10 | 2 of 4 checks |
| Total cost for a typical small business | 25% | 9/10 | $25 → 9 |
| Features | 20% | 8.3/10 | 5 of 6 checks |
| Contract and fee fairness | 15% | 3.3/10 | 1 of 3 checks |
| Support and reputation signals | 10% | 10/10 | 2 of 2 checks |
Cost input: Lowest recurring monthly price shown for an entry system on the provider's pricing page (software plan or subscription bundle; one-time hardware purchases and processing fees excluded): $25
Square
Score breakdown: Overall score 10/10
| Category | Weight | Score | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing transparency | 30% | 10/10 | 4 of 4 checks |
| Total cost for a typical small business | 25% | 10/10 | $0 → 10 |
| Features | 20% | 10/10 | 6 of 6 checks |
| Contract and fee fairness | 15% | 10/10 | 3 of 3 checks |
| Support and reputation signals | 10% | 10/10 | 2 of 2 checks |
Cost input: Lowest recurring monthly price shown for an entry system on the provider's pricing page (software plan or subscription bundle; one-time hardware purchases and processing fees excluded): $0
The checklist behind the scores
- Software or plan prices are published
- Card processing rates are published
- Hardware prices are published
- Amounts for extra fees (add-ons, inactivity, instant payout) are published
- Inventory management
- Online ordering or an online store
- Staff, scheduling or labor tools
- Reporting or analytics
- Offline mode
- Integrated card payments
- No long-term contract is stated
- A free plan, free trial or $0 starting price exists
- Hardware can be bought outright or subscribed to
- 24/7 support is stated
- A phone number is published on the page
Cost: Lowest recurring monthly price shown for an entry system on the provider's pricing page (software plan or subscription bundle; one-time hardware purchases and processing fees excluded). Each $25 subtracts one point from 10 (floor 0).
Where to go next
Frequently asked questions
Is Shopify or Square better for a small online store?
Shopify is built around the online store and lists hosting, a domain and themes; Square lists an online site builder and lower-friction in-person selling. Compare the limitations below.
Can I use Square with Shopify?
We have not verified an integration, so we do not state one. Check each provider's documentation.
What are Shopify's card rates?
We could not read Shopify Payments rates from its pricing page, so we do not state them. If you use another payment provider, Shopify charges a third-party fee shown in the table.
Which is cheaper to start?
Square's Free plan is listed at $0 per location per month; Shopify's entry plan is a paid monthly plan, with a trial promotion listed. Compare total costs for your sales mix.
How current is this comparison?
We read both pricing pages on 2026-10-15; Shopify's yearly prices on that page differed from the day before, so confirm on its site.
Related tools and guides
Sources
- Shopify: pricing (checked 2026-10-15)
- Square: pricing (checked 2026-10-15)
Last updated: · Prices verified: