Meta Shops vs Square Online
A side-by-side look at Meta Shops and Square Online. On our scoring, Square Online comes out ahead — but the right pick depends on your priorities.
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| SellingScene score | 3.6/5 | 4.1/5 |
| User rating | 3.7 | 4 |
| Reviews | 2,050 | 1,320 |
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Pricing model | free to set up + selling fees | free plan + processing fees |
| Transaction fees | 5% per shipment (or $0.40 for orders ≤ $8) | 2.9% + 30¢ online |
| Hosting & setup | ||
| Hosting type | Social commerce | Fully hosted (SaaS) |
| Free trial | Free to set up | Free plan available |
| Staff accounts | Business Manager roles | Role-based |
| Product limit | Catalog-based | Unlimited |
| Payments & security | ||
| Payment gateways | Meta Checkout / partner platforms | Square (primary) |
| SSL included | Yes | Yes |
| PCI compliant | Yes | Yes |
| Gift cards | No | Yes |
| Catalog & content | ||
| Themes / templates | Limited storefront styling | Template-based |
| App marketplace | Commerce platform integrations | Square App Marketplace |
| Multi-currency | Yes | No |
| Multi-language | Yes | No |
| POS included | No | Yes |
| Abandoned cart recovery | No | Yes |
| Built-in blog | No | No |
| Tools & flexibility | ||
| Drag-and-drop editor | No | Yes |
| API access | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
| Support channels | Help center, limited support | Phone & chat (business hours), email |
| Actions | Read review | Read review |
Why pick Meta Shops?
Meta Shops lets brands turn an existing Facebook and Instagram following into a tappable storefront with minimal setup. It works best as a sales channel alongside a real store, and checkout features vary a lot by region.
Best for: Brands with an active Facebook or Instagram audience
Read the full Meta Shops reviewWhy pick Square Online?
Square Online is the obvious add-on for businesses already running Square POS in the real world. The free plan is genuinely usable, though serious online-first brands will outgrow its lighter feature set.
Best for: Retail & restaurants already using Square
Read the full Square Online review