A Square vs. Shopify comparison
What’s the best all-in-one POS software for you?
How Square compares to Shopify*
4.6/5
Square’s Trustpilot score
1.6/5
Shopify’s Trustpilot score
Cost comparison
| Square | Shopify | |
| In-person processing fee and monthly fees |
• 1.6% per tap or insert • Zero monthly fees |
• 1.5% (min. $399/month) • 1.7% (min. $105/month) • 1.9% (min. $39/month) |
| No chargeback fees | Yes |
Yes, $25 |
| No additional fees for American Express or JCB |
Yes |
Yes |
| No hardware rental fees | Yes |
Yes |
| Get paid on the weekend | Yes |
No |
| Instant transfer - access funds in minutes (for a fee) |
Yes |
No |
In-person payments
| Square | Shopify | |
| Free POS App with no monthly fees | No monthly fees when you take payments with Square | No |
| All-in-one POS system with customer display and built-in software |
Square Register - $1,099 | No |
| Portable EFTPOS machine with built-in receipt printer & pre-installed POS software |
Square Terminal - $329 | No |
| Countertop iPad POS stand with built-in card reader |
Square Stand - $149 | No |
| Tap-and-go card reader | Square Reader - $65 | WisePad3 Reader - $69 |
| Afterpay acceptance in person | Yes |
No |
| Physical gift cards | Yes |
Yes |
| Free shipping on all hardware and interest-free instalments available** |
Yes |
No |
| Compatible with hundreds of third-party accessories such as printers and cash drawers |
Yes |
Limited compatibility |
|
Offline payments (Process card payments without internet access) |
Yes |
No |
Online and remote payments
| Square | Shopify | |
| Free online store | Yes |
No |
| Website templates | Yes |
Yes |
| Online ordering for Restaurants |
Yes |
Yes |
| Photo Studio app for item library and online store |
Yes |
No |
| Payment links | Yes |
Yes |
| Invoicing software | Yes |
No |
| Virtual Terminal to take payments over the phone or on your computer |
Yes |
No |
| Afterpay acceptance online | Yes |
No |
| e-Gift Cards | Yes |
Yes |
Solutions designed for you
| Square | Shopify | |
| Retail POS System | Yes |
No |
| Restaurant POS System | Yes |
No |
| POS System for Appointments-based businesses |
Yes |
No |
| Self-ordering kiosk | Yes |
No |
| Kitchen Display System | Yes |
No |
| Loyalty program software | Yes |
No |
| Email marketing software | Yes |
Yes |
| Team management | Yes |
Yes |
| Online staff rostering | Yes |
No |
| Inventory management | Yes |
Yes |
*Competitive data on this page was collected as of 15 July 2022 and is based on information found on shopify.com.au. This information is subject to change or update without notice. Square does not make any representations as to the completeness or accuracy of the information on this page.
1.6% card present rate applies for Square Sellers who sign up on or after 30 May 2024. The rate of 1.9% will apply for Square Sellers who signed up prior to this date when using Square Reader, Square Stand or Tap to Pay, as listed in the Square Fee Schedule.
Cut wait times with Square Kiosk
Reduce queues and order errors with Square Kiosk, your go-to self-ordering solution for Aussie hospitality businesses. Keep your sales up and operations smooth when things get busy, letting your team focus on other value-add tasks, while handling more orders even if you are short-staffed.
- Cut wait times and make service faster
- Minimise order errors
- Free up staff for other value-add tasks
Everything you need to run your business, anywhere, anytime.
Square has all the tools you need to reach your customers and grow your business, whether in person, online or both.
Set up a free online store that seamlessly syncs with your in-person sales, items and customer management.
Send an unlimited number of invoices, estimates or recurring invoices to request payments for goods & services.
Square Point of Sale is simple to set up, easy to use and has no monthly costs, you only pay processing fees.
Simplify your day with our web-based appointment scheduling software and app.
Streamline your operations with Square for Retail’s advanced Inventory & vendor management, reports, purchase orders, barcode label printing, and more.
Our restaurant POS system is built for speed. From menu management to coursing, every tool helps your team move faster.
Get your money deposited in your bank account as fast as the next day or instantly for a fee.
“We love that our POS system links directly to our Square Online website. If we sell a product in-store, or at a market, the stock count will update online, which is really important when you have multiple places that you are selling product.”
Michael Harms, Owner Barrowby Green - Woori Yallock, VIC
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.
Get started with Square today.
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 card payment and track all your sales in one place – from your online store, invoices, payments over the phone, Afterpay and in-person sales.
- Sell online – including through Instagram – and offer pickup, shipping and delivery options.
Hardware for selling anywhere.
The fastest and most secure way to pay. Accept chip and PIN cards, contactless payments, Apple Pay and Google Pay. An easy solution for your on-the-go business.
The all-in-one portable EFTPOS machine that lets you accept all kinds of payments easily and print (or email) receipts – the perfect solution for tableside services.
The fully integrated touchscreen point-of-sale that lets you start selling right out of the box. Manage card and contactless payments, online sales and more, all from one POS register.
Turn your iPad into a powerful point of sale with payments built in.
Get started free
Start selling in minutes
Sign up and start taking payments with Square in minutes.
Pay no extra fees for Square Point of Sale
Take card payments with Square and you won’t need to pay anything for Square Point of Sale. No setup fee, no monthly minimum fee, no compliance fee, no hardware rental fee.
Set up your POS system now and start selling in minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
(by people thinking about switching from Shopify to Square)
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.
There is not a Square Shopify integration, but it’s simple to switch from Shopify to Square for your in-person and ecommerce platform.
The opposite: the Square POS app is free when you take card payments with Square. 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. No hidden fees or long-term contracts.
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.
Our Support Centre 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.
Using the Square POS system is very intuitive. Most employers teach their new team members in a matter of minutes, not hours.
Yes. 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.
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.
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. Learn more about our App Marketplace here.
Absolutely. Square is much more than the little white card 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. 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 via pickup 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.
** All payment plans are issued by Square AU Pty. Ltd. All plans are interest-free. First payment will be due at checkout. Available plan lengths vary from 3, 6, and/or 12 instalments based on purchase amount. All plans subject to credit approval.