Shopify POS vs Square for Retail
Side-by-side from the Top 11 ranking of Shopify POS vs Lightspeed Retail vs Square for Retail: 11 Best POS Systems for Retail 2026. Last verified June 17, 2026.
The short answer
Shopify POS ranks higher on Top 11 (#1 vs #3) for Retail store owners choosing a point-of-sale system. The top choice for unified online and in-store sales, especially for existing Shopify users.
At a glance
| Shopify POS | Square for Retail | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #1 / Shopify POS vs Lightspeed Retail vs Square for Retail: 11 Best POS Systems for Retail 2026 | #3 / Shopify POS vs Lightspeed Retail vs Square for Retail: 11 Best POS Systems for Retail 2026 |
| Score (out of 9.4) | 9.2 | 8.8 |
| Best for | Best for omnichannel retail | Best for small businesses |
| Pricing | $$ ($39 to $399/mo) | $ ($0 to $60/mo) |
| HQ | Ottawa, Canada | San Francisco, USA |
| Founded | 2006 | 2009 |
Shopify POS
The top choice for unified online and in-store sales, especially for existing Shopify users.
www.shopify.com/posSquare for Retail
The top choice for new retailers due to its powerful free plan and simple setup.
squareup.com/us/en/point-of-sale/retailMethodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.