Shopify vs Square Online

Shopify9.3Visit Square Online8.8Visit

Higher score Shopify #1 in Small Business eCommerce Software 9.3/10 3-day trial Free trial✓ 1 of 3 features Visit Shopify

vs

Square Online #4 in Small Business eCommerce Software 8.8/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Square Online

• Shopify fits best

  Small businesses wanting an all-round commerce platform

• Square Online fits best

  Small sellers who want a free start and Square POS

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Side by side

Feature	Shopify 9.3/10 Visit ↗	Square Online 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.3	8.8
Ranking	#1 in Small Business eCommerce Software	#4 in Small Business eCommerce Software
Best for	Small businesses wanting an all-round commerce platform	Small sellers who want a free start and Square POS
Pricing model	Paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	$29/mo	—
Free plan	—	✓ (best)
Free trial	3 days	30 days
Free trial length	3 days · no card needed	30 days
Deployment	Cloud, Browser extension	Cloud
Platforms	Web	Web
Support	Live chat, Community, Docs · 24/7	Live chat, Email, Phone
Integrations	4 integrations	7 integrations
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Shopify 1/3 · Square Online 0/3
Built-in POS	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Abandoned cart recovery	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Marketplace selling	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Product limit	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Staff accounts	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Store deployment	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Combines storefront, checkout, inventory, POS, and omnichannel selling Unlimited products with 10 inventory locations on core plans App Store, marketplace, social, API, and digital-product support	Free plan includes a store and website builder with no monthly subscription cost Syncs product catalog and inventory with Square Point of Sale Supports shipping, local delivery, pickup, subscriptions, and bundles
Cons	No free plan; the current trial lasts 3 days Transaction fees vary by country, provider, and plan Advanced and Plus tiers require substantial monthly spending	Processing fees apply when taking payments on Square Free Paid plan pricing is not specified for Square Plus or Square Premium Its listed integrations center on Square, Google, and Meta services
Our verdict	Shopify is a hosted commerce platform for entrepreneurs, retailers, small teams, and larger brands. It brings together an online store builder, checkout and payment processing, product and inventory management, fulfillment and shipping… Read the review →	Square Online combines a website builder with e-commerce tools for businesses that want to list products, take online payments, and connect online sales with Square Point of Sale. It suits small sellers looking for a… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Shopify — where it wins

  • Combines storefront, checkout, inventory, POS, and omnichannel selling
  • Unlimited products with 10 inventory locations on core plans
  • App Store, marketplace, social, API, and digital-product support

  Where it doesn't

  • No free plan; the current trial lasts 3 days
  • Transaction fees vary by country, provider, and plan
  • Advanced and Plus tiers require substantial monthly spending

• Square Online — where it wins

  • Free plan includes a store and website builder with no monthly subscription cost
  • Syncs product catalog and inventory with Square Point of Sale
  • Supports shipping, local delivery, pickup, subscriptions, and bundles

  Where it doesn't

  • Processing fees apply when taking payments on Square Free
  • Paid plan pricing is not specified for Square Plus or Square Premium
  • Its listed integrations center on Square, Google, and Meta services

• Shopify9.3/10 · 3-day trial

  A broad hosted commerce suite for small businesses selling across channels.

  Visit ShopifyFull verdict →
• Square Online8.8/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

  A free way to sell online with inventory tied to Square POS.

  Visit Square OnlineFull verdict →