Shopify vs Square Online
A side-by-side look at Shopify and Square Online. On our scoring, Shopify comes out ahead — but the right pick depends on your priorities.
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| SellingScene score | 4.7/5 | 4.1/5 |
| User rating | 4.7 | 4 |
| Reviews | 5,421 | 1,320 |
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | $39/mo | Free |
| Pricing model | per month, billed monthly | free plan + processing fees |
| Transaction fees | 2.9% + 30¢ (0% with Shopify Payments) | 2.9% + 30¢ online |
| Hosting & setup | ||
| Hosting type | Fully hosted (SaaS) | Fully hosted (SaaS) |
| Free trial | 3 days + $1/mo for 3 months | Free plan available |
| Staff accounts | 2–15 by plan | Role-based |
| Product limit | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Payments & security | ||
| Payment gateways | 100+ gateways + Shopify Payments | Square (primary) |
| SSL included | Yes | Yes |
| PCI compliant | Yes | Yes |
| Gift cards | Yes | Yes |
| Catalog & content | ||
| Themes / templates | 12 free, 100+ paid | Template-based |
| App marketplace | 8,000+ apps | Square App Marketplace |
| Multi-currency | Yes | No |
| Multi-language | Yes | No |
| POS included | Yes | Yes |
| Abandoned cart recovery | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in blog | Yes | No |
| Tools & flexibility | ||
| Drag-and-drop editor | Yes | Yes |
| API access | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
| Support channels | 24/7 live chat, phone callback, email | Phone & chat (business hours), email |
| Actions | Read review | Read review |
Why pick Shopify?
Shopify remains the platform to beat. Its polished admin, best-in-class checkout, and enormous app ecosystem make it the safest choice for most merchants — provided you are comfortable using Shopify Payments to avoid extra transaction fees.
Best for: Growing brands that want everything in one place
Read the full Shopify 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