Shopify POS Review 2025: Complete Guide, Pricing & Expert Analysis
Our Verdict: Shopify POS is the best choice for retailers who sell both online and in-store. Its seamless integration with the Shopify eCommerce platform creates a unified selling experience that no competitor matches. If online sales are significant to your business, Shopify POS is the clear winner.
Shopify POS at a Glance
- Best For: Omnichannel retailers, DTC brands, fashion/lifestyle retail
- Price: $39 – $399+/month (Shopify plan required)
- Processing: 2.4% – 2.7% + $0.00-$0.30 (varies by plan)
- Contract: Monthly available, annual discounts
- Hardware: iPad, iPhone, Shopify-branded devices
What is Shopify POS?
Shopify POS is the retail point-of-sale extension of Shopify, the world leading eCommerce platform powering over 2 million online stores. Launched to help online sellers expand into physical retail, Shopify POS seamlessly connects your online and in-store operations.
Everything syncs in real-time: products, customers, orders, and inventory. The result is a true omnichannel experience where customers can buy online, pick up in store, or return items to any location.
Shopify POS Pricing in 2025
Shopify Plans (POS Included)
| Plan | Monthly | POS Included |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $39 | POS Lite (basic features) |
| Shopify | $105 | POS Pro (full features) |
| Advanced | $399 | POS Pro + advanced reports |
| Plus | $2,300 | Enterprise features |
POS Pro Add-On
If on Basic plan: +$89/month/location for POS Pro features
Payment Processing (Shopify Payments)
- Basic: 2.7% (in-person), 2.9% + $0.30 (online)
- Shopify: 2.5% (in-person), 2.6% + $0.30 (online)
- Advanced: 2.4% (in-person), 2.4% + $0.30 (online)
Hardware
- Shopify POS Go: $399 (all-in-one handheld)
- Card Reader: $49
- Retail Stand: $149
- Retail Kit bundles: $149 – $459
- Tap to Pay on iPhone: Free (no hardware needed)
Key Features
Omnichannel Selling
- Unified inventory: One stock count across all channels
- Buy online, pick up in store (BOPIS): Native support
- Ship from store: Fulfill online orders from retail location
- Local delivery: Same-day delivery for local customers
- Returns anywhere: Accept returns to any location
- Customer profiles: Single view across online and retail
Point of Sale
- Fast, intuitive checkout
- Custom smart grid layouts
- Product variants and options
- Discounts and automatic promotions
- Split payments and gift cards
- Offline mode for internet outages
Staff Management
- Unlimited staff accounts
- Role-based permissions
- Staff attribution for sales
- PINs for secure access
- Performance tracking
Customer Engagement
- Customer profiles with history
- Email capture at checkout
- Shopify Email integration
- Loyalty programs (via apps)
- Marketing automation
Inventory Management
- Real-time sync across channels
- Purchase orders
- Transfer between locations
- Demand forecasting
- Low stock alerts
- Inventory counts with barcode scanning
Reporting
- Unified sales reports (all channels)
- Staff performance
- Product analytics
- Customer insights
- Finance reports
- Custom dashboards (Advanced+)
Shopify App Ecosystem
Access 8,000+ apps to extend functionality:
- Loyalty and rewards programs
- Advanced marketing automation
- Accounting integrations
- Shipping and fulfillment
- Customer reviews
- Subscriptions and memberships
Pros and Cons
What We Like
- Best omnichannel: Unmatched online/offline integration
- Unified customer data: Single view across all channels
- BOPIS and ship-from-store: Native, seamless experience
- App ecosystem: Thousands of extensions available
- Design flexibility: Beautiful online store themes
- Marketing tools: Email, social, and advertising built-in
- POS Go: Excellent mobile hardware option
What Could Be Better
- Requires Shopify plan: Must pay for eCommerce even if retail-only
- Add-on costs: POS Pro adds $89/month on Basic
- Inventory depth: Not as advanced as Lightspeed for complex stock
- Not for restaurants: Retail-focused only
- Third-party payment fees: Extra 0.5-2% if not using Shopify Payments
Who Should Use Shopify POS?
Ideal For:
- Retailers with existing Shopify online stores
- Businesses where online equals or exceeds in-store sales
- Pop-up shops for online brands
- Fashion and lifestyle retailers
- Direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands
- Retailers offering BOPIS or local delivery
- Multi-location retail with eCommerce
Consider Alternatives If:
- You do not sell online (try Square for lower cost)
- You run a restaurant (try Toast)
- You need deep inventory features (try Lightspeed)
- Budget is extremely tight
Shopify POS vs Competitors
- Shopify POS vs Square – Omnichannel vs simplicity
- Square vs Shopify POS – Cost comparison
- Lightspeed vs Shopify – Inventory vs eCommerce
Customer Support
- Phone: 24/7 support
- Chat: 24/7 live chat
- Email: Support tickets
- Help Center: Extensive documentation
- Community: Active forums and events
- Shopify Plus: Dedicated success manager
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Shopify online store to use Shopify POS?
Yes, Shopify POS requires a Shopify plan. The Basic plan ($39/month) includes POS Lite features. For full POS Pro features on Basic, add $89/month per location.
Can I use Shopify POS for restaurants?
Shopify POS is designed for retail and is not suitable for restaurants. For food service, consider Toast or Square for Restaurants.
What is the difference between POS Lite and POS Pro?
POS Lite (included in all plans) covers basic checkout. POS Pro adds staff management, unlimited registers, inventory management, and advanced reporting.
Can I use my own payment processor?
Yes, but Shopify charges an additional transaction fee (0.5% – 2% depending on plan) when not using Shopify Payments. Most retailers use Shopify Payments to avoid this.
Does Shopify POS work offline?
Yes, Shopify POS can continue processing sales during internet outages. Transactions sync when connectivity returns.
Our Bottom Line
Shopify POS is the gold standard for omnichannel retail. If you sell online (or plan to), the unified experience across your website and store is unmatched. The Shopify ecosystem of apps and marketing tools adds tremendous value.
For retail-only businesses without eCommerce, Square offers simpler, more affordable options. But for true omnichannel retailers, Shopify POS is the clear winner.
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