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