Shopify vs Square
Compared across 4 shared tasks, including run an online store and retail point of sale.
Short verdict
It’s a tie: across the 4 use cases where both appear, each ranks higher in 2. Average rank: Shopify 2.8, Square 2.0. Pick by the specific task below.
Computed from our published rubric rankings, not paid placement.
Prices from vendor pages; Unverified and Contact sales are shown as-is.
Side by side
| Attribute | Shopify | Square |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Basic $29/mo billed yearly ($39 monthly) pricing source · checked 2026-10-14 | Free plan; Square Plus $49/mo per location pricing source · checked 2026-10-14 |
| Free tier | no (3-day trial) | yes |
| Pricing model | From $29 | Free tier |
| What it is | E-commerce with Shopify Magic | POS and payments for small business |
| Use cases ranked in | 14 | 14 |
| Shared use cases won | 2 of 4 | 2 of 4 |
| Where it ranks (rank of 5) |
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Head to head on shared use cases
| Shared use case | Shopify | Square | Higher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Run an online store | #1 | #2 | Shopify |
| Retail point of sale | #3 | #1 | Square |
| Run a restaurant | #4 | #1 | Square |
| Inventory management | #3 | #4 | Shopify |
Best for
Best for: Shopify
- Run an online store (#1 vs #2)
- Inventory management (#3 vs #4)
- Sell subscriptions on Shopify (#2; the other isn’t ranked here)
- Collect product reviews and UGC (#4; the other isn’t ranked here)
Best for: Square
- Retail point of sale (#1 vs #3)
- Run a restaurant (#1 vs #4)
- Hotel guest management (#2; the other isn’t ranked here)
- Salon and spa booking (#2; the other isn’t ranked here)
FAQ
Is Shopify or Square better?
Neither: across the 4 use cases where both are ranked, each places higher in 2. Best pick depends on the task; see the shared use cases table.
Is Shopify or Square cheaper?
Shopify: paid from Basic $29/mo billed yearly ($39 monthly) (free tier: no (3-day trial); checked 2026-10-14). Square: paid from Free plan; Square Plus $49/mo per location (free tier: yes; checked 2026-10-14). Prices come from each vendor's own pricing page.
Do Shopify and Square have free plans?
Shopify: no (3-day trial). Square: yes. As listed on vendor pricing pages, last checked 2026-10-14.
Which tasks do both Shopify and Square cover?
Both are ranked for: Run an online store; Retail point of sale; Run a restaurant; Inventory management.