Quick answer
- Square Online: best for cafés, restaurants and local shops already on Square. Free to start.
- Shopify: best when online sales, brand and shipping nationwide matter.
- Retailers selling both online and in-store: Shopify with POS is the stronger all-in-one.
Shopify vs Square Online compared
| Shopify | Square Online | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $29/mo (Basic, yearly) | Free plan |
| Online store features | Advanced | Basic to moderate |
| POS | Shopify POS (Lite free, Pro paid) | Square POS (strong for food & service) |
| Pickup & local delivery | ✓ | ✓ (strong) |
| Restaurant ordering | Via apps | Native |
| Shipping nationwide & international | Excellent | Basic |
| App ecosystem | Very large | Limited |
Which should you choose?
- Restaurant, café, bakery: Square Online. See best platform to sell food online.
- Boutique or retail shop that also ships: Shopify + Shopify POS.
- Market and pop-up sellers building a brand: Shopify.
See Shopify POS (opens in a new tab)
Our verdict
Square Online is a great free tool for local, in-person-first businesses. If you want your online store to become a serious channel, Shopify is the platform to grow on.
Try Shopify free (opens in a new tab)Frequently asked questions
Is Square Online really free?
Square Online has a free plan; you pay card processing on each sale. Paid plans add a custom domain, removal of Square branding and more features.
Can Shopify replace Square POS?
For retail, yes. Shopify POS handles in-person sales with shared inventory. Restaurants with table service often prefer dedicated hospitality POS systems.