Shopify POS 2026: Pricing, Hardware, Setup & Complete Guide

Shopify POS (Point of Sale) is Shopify's retail selling application that turns any iPad, iPhone, or Android device into a fully functional checkout system for physical stores, pop-ups, and markets. It connects directly to your Shopify store and synchronizes inventory, customer profiles, and order data in real time.

Unlike standalone POS systems, Shopify POS is not a separate product. It is a sales channel within Shopify, which means your physical store and online store share the same product catalog, stock levels, customer records, and analytics dashboard. When a customer buys a product in your store, your online inventory updates immediately. When they return something they purchased online, your staff can process it at the register without switching systems.

Shopify POS comes in two tiers: POS Lite (included with every Shopify subscription) and POS Pro (an add-on for advanced retail operations). Both connect to Shopify's hardware ecosystem of card readers, terminals, receipt printers, barcode scanners, and cash drawers.

How It Works in Practice

The POS app runs on your iPad or mobile device and uses Shopify's Smart Grid interface to give staff quick access to products, discounts, and customer lookups. Staff scan items with a barcode scanner or tap products on screen, apply discounts or custom pricing, and process payment through a connected card reader. The transaction is recorded in Shopify instantly, and inventory adjusts across all locations automatically.

For brands with multiple retail locations, each store operates as a separate Shopify location with its own inventory counts, staff permissions, and reporting. But everything rolls up into one admin where you see the full picture.

Every Shopify plan includes POS Lite at no additional cost. POS Pro is the upgraded tier for brands running serious retail operations, with advanced inventory management, staff tracking, and omnichannel fulfillment features.

Pricing. POS Lite is included with all Shopify plans. POS Pro is $89/mo per location ($79/mo on annual billing, or €79/mo annual in the EU).

What both tiers do. In-store checkout, product management, basic stock counts, basic printed receipts, hardware warranty.

What POS Pro adds:

• Customer profiles. POS Lite offers basic profiles. POS Pro adds full purchase history and richer customer detail.
• Staff accounts. POS Lite supports a limited number of staff. POS Pro is unlimited with role-based permissions and individual performance tracking.
• Inventory management. POS Lite handles basic stock counts. POS Pro adds demand forecasting, low-stock alerts, inventory transfers between locations, and (new in Winter '26) Quick count to scan items directly into stock adjustments.
• Markets for retail (new in Winter '26). POS Pro lets you set unique pricing and product availability per retail location.
• Omnichannel selling. POS Pro unlocks buy online, pick up in store (BOPIS), ship from store, and cross-location exchanges.
• In-store returns for online orders. Available on POS Pro only.
• Receipts. POS Lite uses basic templates. POS Pro supports full customization through the Liquid editor.
• Reporting. POS Pro adds daily sales reports.
• Saved carts. POS Pro lets staff save and retrieve carts mid-session.
• Extended hardware warranty. Included with POS Pro.

Our recommendation: If you are running a permanent retail store with staff, you need POS Pro. The saved carts, staff permissions, and omnichannel features (especially BOPIS and ship-from-store) are essential for a professional retail operation. POS Lite works well for pop-up shops, markets, and brands testing physical retail before committing.

Shopify Plus merchants get POS Pro included at no additional charge for the first 20 retail locations. For brands operating more than 20 stores, the POS Pro fee is waived on additional locations as long as you use Shopify Payments to process at least one retail transaction per month at each location. In practice, that means POS Pro is effectively unlimited on Plus for any merchant using Shopify Payments. This is one of the most often-overlooked advantages of the Plus plan for brands with physical retail.

The total cost of running Shopify POS depends on three components: your Shopify subscription, the POS tier, and transaction processing fees. All pricing here is current as of April 2026; verify current rates on shopify.com/pos/pricing before budgeting.

Software Costs (US)

POS Lite is included with every Shopify plan. POS Pro adds $89/mo per location on Basic, Grow, and Advanced. Shopify Plus includes POS Pro for the first 20 locations and waives the fee above 20 when Shopify Payments is in use.

What that looks like in practice for a typical multi-location setup:

• Basic plan ($39/mo). Add POS Pro at $89/mo per location: $217/mo total for two stores, $484/mo for five.
• Grow plan ($79/mo). $257/mo total for two stores on Pro, $524/mo for five.
• Advanced plan ($299/mo). $477/mo for two stores on Pro, $744/mo for five.
• Plus plan (from $2,300/mo). POS Pro included for up to 20 retail locations (effectively unlimited above 20 with Shopify Payments). Total stays at $2,300/mo regardless of location count.

Annual billing reduces POS Pro to $79/mo per location and reduces Shopify plan pricing across the board (Basic to $29/mo, Grow to $79/mo, Advanced to $299/mo on annual).

In-Person Transaction Fees (Shopify Payments)

United States rates (in-person / online for comparison):

• Basic: 2.6% + $0.10 in-person (vs. 2.9% + $0.30 online)
• Grow: 2.5% + $0.10 in-person (vs. 2.7% + $0.30 online)
• Advanced: 2.4% + $0.10 in-person (vs. 2.5% + $0.30 online)
• Plus: custom, negotiable rates

European Union rates (Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain, etc.):

• Basic: 1.4% + €0.00 in-person (vs. ~1.6-1.9% + €0.25 online)
• Grow: 1.25% + €0.00 in-person (vs. ~1.5-1.7% + €0.25 online)
• Advanced: 1.1% + €0.00 in-person (vs. ~1.3-1.5% + €0.25 online)
• Plus: custom, negotiable rates

EU card-present fees are materially lower than US rates because of lower interchange caps on European card networks. In-person rates are always lower than online rates across every region because card-present transactions carry less fraud risk. If you use a third-party payment provider instead of Shopify Payments, additional transaction fees apply (0.6% on Advanced up to 2% on Basic).

Real-World Cost Example

A fashion brand with two retail locations on the Grow plan with POS Pro (EU pricing):

• Shopify Grow: €79/mo
• POS Pro (2 locations on annual): €158/mo
• Total software cost: €237/mo
• Processing on €50,000/mo in-store revenue: ~€625/mo (at 1.25% + €0.00)
  Compared to the same brand on a standalone POS platform plus a separate e-commerce solution.

Shopify sells its own line of POS hardware through the Shopify Hardware Store. You can also use compatible third-party devices, though Shopify's own hardware integrates most seamlessly with Shopify Payments.

Card Readers

There are two main card reader options:

• Tap & Chip Reader ($49). The entry-level option. Connects via Bluetooth to your iPad or phone and accepts contactless (NFC), chip, and swipe payments. Best for pop-ups, markets, and mobile selling.
• POS Terminal ($349). A countertop device with a built-in customer-facing display for order review and PIN entry. Best for permanent retail checkout counters.

Accessories

Beyond the card reader, a typical retail setup uses:

• Barcode scanners ($199-$289). Bluetooth and USB options. Your device's built-in camera can also serve as a basic scanner.
• Receipt printers ($249-$369). Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and wired models available.
• Cash drawers ($129-$139). Standard and compact sizes.
• Tablet stands ($149-$199). iPad mounts for counter checkout.

Recommended Setups by Use Case

Pop-up shop or market stall (minimum viable setup):

• iPad or iPhone (use your own)
• Tap & Chip Reader: $49
• Total hardware investment: $49

Single retail store (standard setup):

• iPad on tablet stand: ~$199
• POS Terminal: $349
• Barcode scanner: ~$249
• Receipt printer: ~$299
• Cash drawer: ~$129
• Total hardware investment: ~$1,225

Multi-location retail (per location):

• Same as single store setup, multiplied per location
• Strongly consider Shopify's new POS Hub (see Winter '26 section below) to eliminate Bluetooth pairing issues across multiple staffed registers

A Note on POS Go

Shopify previously sold the POS Go, a handheld all-in-one device with a built-in screen, barcode scanner, and receipt printer. This device has been discontinued and is no longer available for purchase. Existing units will be supported until September 2026 (verify current status on help.shopify.com before counting on it for a new deployment). If you are considering a handheld POS setup today, the Tap & Chip Reader paired with a smartphone is the recommended alternative.

Shopify's Winter '26 Edition delivered the largest POS release in years. If you are evaluating Shopify POS or planning a retail expansion this year, these are the updates that matter.

Hardware and connectivity

• POS Hub. A new connectivity appliance that replaces Bluetooth pairing for payment terminals, receipt printers, and scanners. It provides wired connections for multiple devices to a single iPad, built-in hardware monitoring, and automatic firmware updates across your POS stack. Pre-orders are open, with units shipping March 2026. For any staffed retail environment where Bluetooth drops during peak trading hours are a daily headache, this is the most practically impactful Winter '26 release.
• POS Hub-compatible barcode scanners. A new generation of scanners designed to work seamlessly with iPad and Android tablets through the Hub.

In-store selling

• Subscriptions on POS. Customers can now sign up for subscription products in-person at the register. Significant for beauty, personal care, and consumable-product brands that want to convert walk-in buyers into recurring revenue.
• Quick count (POS Pro). Staff scan items to directly adjust inventory on the POS device, no back-office app needed. Cuts end-of-day stock counts dramatically.
• Unified customization editor. Smart Grid, customer display, receipts, and lock screen are now edited from one place in the Shopify admin, not four separate interfaces.
• Transfer shipment receiving (POS Pro). Accept or reject inventory transfers directly at the register by scanning items in.

Delivery

• Same-day delivery with Uber Direct (Shopify Plus only, currently US, Canada, and France). Online customers can choose one-hour, same-day, or scheduled delivery fulfilled from your retail locations by store staff, with live tracking. Merchants choose whether to absorb delivery fees or pass them on. This turns every physical store into a local fulfillment hub without a separate logistics integration.

Payments and markets

• Markets for retail (POS Pro). Configure unique pricing, currency, and product availability per retail location. Critical for multi-country retail operations previously handled with spreadsheets and hope.
• QR code payments expansion. Customers can pay in-store via iDEAL (NL), Swish (SE), Twint (CH), MobilePay (DK/FI), and USDC (crypto) by scanning a QR code and completing checkout on their phone.
• Tap to Pay in new regions. iPhone and Android Tap to Pay via Shopify POS is now live in Luxembourg, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Ireland, Spain, France, Italy, and New Zealand (adding to existing support in the US, Canada, UK, Netherlands, and Australia).
• Cartes Bancaires on POS. French merchants can now accept CB-branded cards directly from Shopify POS.
• Offline payments for multi-entity merchants. Offline card transaction support now extends to merchants with multiple Shopify Payment entities.

Returns and exchanges

• Custom return and exchange receipts. Build branded return documentation using the Liquid editor with your return policy, logo, and contact info on every printed receipt.
• Improved return visibility. Track in-progress returns and cancel unfulfilled items without manual reconciliation.
• Refund method selection. A dedicated screen lets staff refund to original payment, gift card, or store credit without switching contexts.

Tax

• Shopify Tax for POS. POS now works with Shopify Tax in the US, UK, and EU for both carryout and ship-from-store flows, removing a long-standing gap for multi-country retailers.

The overall direction: Shopify is closing the gap between native retail and online fulfillment, and positioning Plus merchants to treat every physical location as a mini distribution center.

Choosing a POS system depends on where you are in your retail journey and how tightly you want physical and online selling integrated. Here is how the four major options stack up as of April 2026.

Shopify POS. Starts at $0/mo (POS Lite included with any Shopify plan). POS Pro is $89/mo per location. US in-person fees: 2.4-2.6% + $0.10. Native e-commerce on the same platform with real-time inventory sync. Up to 200 locations on Plus (higher on request). Cash and card both work offline (with setup). Supports Shopify hardware plus select third-party. B2B/wholesale and in-person subscriptions (Winter '26) supported. Month-to-month contracts. Best for brands selling both online and in physical stores.

Square: Starts at $0/mo (Free plan). Square Plus is $49/mo per location. US in-person fees: 2.4-2.6% + $0.15. E-commerce via Square Online (separate product). Unified inventory with Square Online. Unlimited locations. Cash-only offline mode. Square hardware only. No B2B, limited subscriptions. Month-to-month contracts. Best for small or new retail businesses.

Lightspeed: Starts at $89/mo. Lightspeed Core is $149/mo. US in-person fees: 2.6% + $0.10. Lightspeed eCom is a separate product. Yes to unified inventory. Locations vary by plan. Cash-only offline mode. Third-party hardware compatible. B2B supported, limited subscriptions. Annual commitment required. Best for established multi-location retailers, especially with deep inventory needs.

Clover: Starts at $14.95/mo. Advanced plans from $49.95/mo+. US in-person fees: 2.3-2.6% + $0.10. E-commerce integration is limited and third-party. Unified inventory is limited. Locations vary by plan. Cash-only offline. Clover hardware only. No B2B, no subscriptions. 36-month contracts are typical. Best for small businesses that want simplicity.

Where Shopify POS Wins

The decisive advantage of Shopify POS is that it is not a separate system. If you are already selling on Shopify (or plan to), your POS and e-commerce share one platform. Inventory updates are instant. Customer data is unified. Marketing, loyalty, and analytics work across channels without integration headaches.

For brands already on Shopify, adding POS is adding a sales channel. For brands using Square, Lightspeed, or Clover alongside a separate e-commerce platform, you are maintaining two systems with some level of sync between them. That sync is never perfect, and the gaps create operational friction: overselling, disconnected customer profiles, and reporting that requires manual reconciliation.

Shopify's B2B on Shopify capabilities also mean wholesale and retail can run on the same platform, relevant for brands selling both direct-to-consumer and to stockists.

Where Shopify POS Falls Short

Shopify POS requires a Shopify subscription. If you only sell in physical locations with no online store, Square's free plan is a lower barrier to entry. Lightspeed offers deeper inventory management features out of the box for complex retail operations with hundreds of thousands of SKUs. And Clover's app marketplace provides more niche, industry-specific extensions.

The hardware ecosystem is also more limited than competitors. Shopify's card readers and terminals work well, but the range is smaller than what Square or Clover offer, particularly for niche retail formats (quick-service restaurants, specialty retail with high-SKU velocity).

The Bottom Line

If you sell online and in physical stores, Shopify POS is the strongest choice because unified commerce is its core architecture, not a bolt-on. If you only sell in-person with no e-commerce ambitions, Square is the simplest starting point.

Most POS guides are written to sell the platform. This one is not. Across our client base, these are the situations where we advise merchants to pick something else or delay implementation.

• You have zero e-commerce presence and no plans to build one. The whole value of Shopify POS is unified commerce. If you are offline-only with no Shopify store, Square's free plan or Clover gives you lower overhead.
• Your primary retail format is quick-service food or restaurant. Shopify POS is built for retail, not hospitality. Toast, Square for Restaurants, or Lightspeed Restaurant handle tipping flows, table management, and kitchen display systems far better.
• You are locked into a non-Shopify e-commerce platform and not migrating. If Magento, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, or BigCommerce is your store and you have no plans to move, running Shopify POS alongside creates the exact dual-system problem it is supposed to solve.
• You only need a basic card reader for a one-off event. Square's free plan with a $10 reader is cheaper than setting up a Shopify plan for a single weekend market.

If any of those apply, save yourself the migration work and pick the better-fit tool. If they do not, keep reading.

Getting Shopify POS running is straightforward, but proper setup matters for smooth operations. Here is the process from start to finish.

Step 1: Ensure Your Shopify Plan Supports Your Needs

Every Shopify plan includes POS Lite. If you need POS Pro features (staff roles, BOPIS, advanced inventory), add POS Pro to the locations that require it. You can mix and match: some locations on Lite, others on Pro.

Step 2: Add POS as a Sales Channel

In your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Apps and sales channels and add the Point of Sale channel. This activates POS for your store and makes it available on your devices.

Step 3: Configure Your Locations

Each physical store needs to be set up as a location in Shopify. Go to Settings > Locations and add each retail location with its address. Assign inventory to each location so the POS knows what stock is available where.

Step 4: Set Up Shopify Payments for POS

If you are in a supported country, enable Shopify Payments for in-person transactions. This gives you the lowest processing rates and seamless integration with Shopify's hardware. Navigate to Settings > Payments and follow the setup for Shopify Payments.

Step 5: Order and Connect Hardware

Order your card reader or POS Terminal from the Shopify Hardware Store. When it arrives, pair it with your iPad or device via Bluetooth, or for multi-device setups connect it through the POS Hub for wired reliability. The POS app walks you through the pairing process.

Step 6: Download the Shopify POS App

Download Shopify POS from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android). Log in with your Shopify credentials, select your location, and the app will sync your product catalog, customer data, and settings automatically.

Step 7: Customize Your Smart Grid

The Smart Grid is the main interface your staff will use. Customize it with tiles for your most popular products, quick actions (like opening the cash drawer or applying discounts), and shortcuts. As of the Winter '26 Edition, Smart Grid, lock screen, receipts, and customer-facing display are all editable from one unified editor in the Shopify admin.

Step 8: Set Up Staff Accounts and Permissions (POS Pro)

Create individual POS PINs for each staff member. Assign roles that control what they can access: some staff might only process sales, while managers can issue refunds, apply discounts, and view reports. Staff performance tracking lets you see individual sales metrics.

Step 9: Configure Tax Settings

Shopify POS now works with Shopify Tax in the US, UK, and EU for both carry-out and ship-from-store orders. Ensure your tax settings are configured correctly for each location, especially if you operate across multiple countries or states.

Step 10: Run a Test Transaction

Before opening for business, run test transactions to verify everything works: the card reader connects, receipts print correctly, inventory updates, and the transaction appears in your Shopify admin.

Need help with a more complex POS implementation across multiple locations or countries? Our Shopify development team handles end-to-end setup, including custom integrations, staff training, and ongoing support.

Not every brand needs Shopify POS, and not every retail operation will benefit equally. Here is a decision framework based on the implementations we have done.

Shopify POS Is a Strong Fit If You:

• Already sell on Shopify and want to add physical retail. This is the primary use case. Adding POS is seamless because your catalog, inventory, and customers are already in Shopify.
• Run pop-up shops or attend markets. POS Lite with a $49 card reader is the lowest-friction way to accept payments at events while keeping everything connected to your main store.
• Want unified online and offline inventory. If overselling or inventory discrepancies between channels are a problem, Shopify POS eliminates them by design.
• Offer buy online, pick up in store (BOPIS). This requires POS Pro and is increasingly expected by customers, especially in fashion and lifestyle retail.
• Have multiple retail locations. Shopify Plus supports up to 200 locations by default, with infrastructure scaled for 1,000+ location enterprise deployments on request. Everything is managed through one admin with centralized inventory and location-level reporting.
• Sell both B2B and DTC. Retailers combining wholesale with direct consumer sales can manage both channels through Shopify.

Brands We Have Implemented POS For

At Ask Phill, we have set up Shopify POS for brands across fashion, lifestyle, and beauty:

• Pauw uses Shopify POS across their fashion retail locations, unifying their in-store and online presence on a single platform.
• Mr Marvis leverages POS for their physical menswear stores, keeping inventory tight across their growing retail footprint.
• Filling Pieces runs POS in their Amsterdam flagship, connecting their sneaker brand's retail experience directly to their Shopify backend.
• Pink Gellac uses POS for their beauty retail operations, synchronizing their nail product inventory across channels.
  
  The pattern across all these implementations: brands see the biggest return when they stop treating online and offline as separate businesses and start treating them as one unified commerce operation.

What you can accept through Shopify POS depends on your country, your hardware, and whether you use Shopify Payments or a third-party payment provider.

With Shopify Payments (Recommended)

Shopify Payments is available for in-person POS transactions in over 20 countries:

• North America: United States, Canada
• Europe: United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, France, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Italy, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Czech Republic
• Asia-Pacific: Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong SAR

When using Shopify Payments with a Shopify card reader, you can accept:

• Contactless/NFC: Apple Pay, Google Pay, and contactless cards
• Chip cards: EMV chip insertion
• Swipe: Magnetic stripe (where supported by hardware)
• Manual entry: Type in card numbers for phone orders
• Cash: Tracked through the POS app
• Gift cards: Shopify-issued physical and digital gift cards
• Split payments: Split a transaction across multiple payment methods
• Store credit: Applied from customer accounts

Regional Payment Methods (expanded in Winter '26)

Shopify has been aggressively expanding local payment support for POS:

• Netherlands: Maestro, V-Pay, iDEAL via QR code
• France: Cartes Bancaires (CB) branded cards (new in Winter '26)
• Sweden: Swish via QR code
• Switzerland: Twint via QR code (new in Winter '26)
• Denmark/Finland: MobilePay via QR code (new in Winter '26)
• Crypto: USDC via QR code (new in Winter '26)
• Tap to Pay on iPhone and Android (via Shopify POS): Available in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Australia, and New Zealand

With Third-Party Payment Providers

If you prefer not to use Shopify Payments, you can connect a third-party card reader and payment provider. The POS app still handles the cart, inventory, and receipt. The third-party reader handles the payment itself. Keep in mind that Shopify charges additional per-transaction fees (0.6% to 2% depending on your plan) when using external payment providers.

Internet connectivity is never 100% reliable, especially at pop-up events, markets, or retail locations in older buildings. Shopify POS includes offline capabilities to keep you selling when your connection drops.

What You Can Do Offline

• Accept cash payments. Cash transactions are recorded locally and synced when you reconnect.
• Accept card payments (with offline payments enabled). Shopify supports processing credit and debit card payments offline. You must activate it in your Shopify admin and configure two limits: a per-transaction maximum and a per-device total. Staff need the "Accept offline credit and debit payments" POS permission, and you must collect a phone number or email from each offline customer. Compatible readers include POS Go, POS Terminal, Tap & Chip, Chipper 2X BT, Wisepad 3, and the Chip & Swipe Reader. Reconnect within 24 hours to process queued transactions reliably. See the Shopify Help Center for current regional availability.
• Browse your product catalog. Previously downloaded product information remains available for searching and adding items to carts.
• Create new carts and process sales. Staff can continue building orders and completing transactions.
• Enable offline mode per device. Store managers can now toggle offline checkout on individual devices, useful for locations where connectivity is intermittent.
• Offline payments for multi-entity merchants. As of Winter '26, merchants with multiple Shopify Payments entities can use offline card payments too.

What You Cannot Do Offline

• Look up customers or apply loyalty rewards that require server-side data
• Process gift card payments (validation requires connectivity)
• Update inventory in real time across locations
• Apply discount codes that require server validation
• Access detailed reporting or analytics

How Sync Works

When your device reconnects to the internet, Shopify POS automatically uploads all offline transactions. Inventory levels update, sales appear in your Shopify admin, and everything reconciles. The risk during offline periods is overselling: if you sell the last unit of a product in-store while someone buys it online simultaneously, both orders will process. For most retailers, this is an edge case rather than a daily concern, but worth knowing.

Our Recommendation

Enable offline payments as a safety net, but invest in reliable connectivity for your retail locations. The new POS Hub (Winter '26) provides wired connections for payment terminals and printers, which reduces connectivity failures at the hardware layer and is a meaningful reliability upgrade for any staffed store.

1. How much does Shopify POS cost in 2026?

Shopify POS Lite is included free with every Shopify plan (starting at $39/month for Basic on monthly billing, or $29/month on annual billing). Shopify POS Pro costs $89 per month per location ($79/month on annual billing, or €79/month annual in the EU). Shopify Plus merchants get POS Pro included at no extra charge for the first 20 retail locations; for brands with more than 20 locations, the POS Pro fee is waived on additional locations as long as Shopify Payments is used at each store. Hardware is a separate one-time purchase, starting at $49 for a basic card reader.

2. What is the difference between Shopify POS Lite and POS Pro?

POS Lite covers basic checkout, product management, and payment processing. POS Pro adds unlimited staff accounts with performance tracking, advanced inventory management with demand forecasting, omnichannel features like buy online pick up in store (BOPIS), ship from store, cross-location returns, saved carts, custom receipt printing, daily sales reports, and (new in Winter '26) Quick count for direct-scan inventory adjustments and Markets for retail for per-location pricing. For permanent retail stores with staff, POS Pro is the recommended tier.

3. Does Shopify POS work offline?

Yes. Shopify POS can accept cash payments offline without any additional setup. As of 2026, offline card payments are also supported when activated in your Shopify admin, including for merchants with multiple Shopify Payment entities. Product information previously downloaded remains available, and all transactions sync automatically when you reconnect to the internet. Customer lookups, gift card payments, and real-time inventory updates require connectivity.

4. Can I use Shopify POS with multiple store locations?

Yes. Location limits vary by plan: Basic, Grow, and Advanced allow up to 10 locations each; Shopify Plus supports up to 200 locations by default, and Shopify can scale to 1,000+ locations for enterprise merchants on request. Each location has its own inventory counts, staff accounts, and reporting, while everything rolls up into one Shopify admin. Shopify Plus includes POS Pro at no extra charge for the first 20 retail locations, and waives the fee on additional locations when Shopify Payments is used. This makes Plus the most cost-efficient path for mid-sized and enterprise retail networks.

5. What hardware do I need for Shopify POS?

At minimum, you need a compatible device (iPad, iPhone, or Android phone/tablet) and a Shopify card reader ($49 for the Tap & Chip Reader). For a full retail setup, you will also want a POS Terminal ($349), barcode scanner ($199 to $289), receipt printer ($249 to $369), and cash drawer ($129 to $139). For multi-register environments, the new POS Hub (Winter '26) replaces Bluetooth pairing with wired connections. Your device's built-in camera can serve as a basic barcode scanner if you want to minimize hardware costs.

6. Is Shopify POS better than Square?

Shopify POS is the stronger choice for any brand that sells online and in physical stores, because it provides native unified commerce on a single platform. Square is better for businesses that only sell in person and want a free, simple POS with no monthly software fees. Where Shopify wins is the seamless connection between e-commerce and retail: shared inventory, shared customer data, and shared analytics without third-party integrations.

7. Can I accept payments in the Netherlands with Shopify POS?

Yes. Shopify Payments for POS is fully available in the Netherlands. You can accept Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, V-Pay, and contactless payments (including Apple Pay and Google Pay) through Shopify's card readers. iDEAL is supported via QR code for in-store payments, and Tap to Pay on both iPhone and Android is available. In-person card rates in the EU (1.1%-1.4% + €0.00) are materially lower than US rates.

8. Does Shopify POS integrate with my online store?

Shopify POS is not a separate integration. It is a built-in sales channel within Shopify. Your online store and POS share the same product catalog, inventory levels, customer database, and order management system. When a product sells in-store, your online inventory updates immediately. When a customer makes an in-store purchase, it appears on their online customer profile automatically.

9. Can I use Shopify POS for pop-up shops and events?

Absolutely. POS Lite with a Tap & Chip Reader ($49) is built for exactly this use case. You can sell at pop-up shops, markets, trade shows, and events using just your phone and a card reader. All sales sync to your Shopify store, inventory updates in real time, and you can email carts to customers who want to purchase later. Shopify also offers hardware rental options for temporary retail operations.

10. What transaction fees does Shopify charge for in-person payments?

With Shopify Payments in the US, in-person transaction fees range from 2.4% + $0.10 (Advanced plan) to 2.6% + $0.10 (Basic plan). In the EU, in-person fees are materially lower: 1.1% + €0.00 (Advanced) to 1.4% + €0.00 (Basic). These rates are lower than online transaction fees because card-present transactions carry less fraud risk. If you use a third-party payment provider instead of Shopify Payments, Shopify charges an additional fee of 0.6% to 2% per transaction on top of your provider's rates.

The POS system itself is a tool. What actually drives results is the strategy behind it: treating your physical stores and online store as one business with one inventory, one customer relationship, and one set of data.

Brands that run siloed systems (one platform for e-commerce, a different POS for retail, maybe a third tool for wholesale) spend enormous time and money keeping those systems in sync. Inventory discrepancies lead to overselling. Customer data lives in different places. Reporting requires manual work to get a full picture.

Shopify POS eliminates that operational overhead by design. That is not a small thing. It frees up time and resources to focus on what actually grows the business: better products, better customer experiences, and smarter use of the data that a unified system gives you.

If you are already on Shopify, adding POS is one of the simplest, highest-impact expansions available. If you are evaluating platforms and physical retail is part of your plan, the unified commerce architecture should weigh heavily in your decision.

Martijn Wijsmuller is Co-founder and Commercial Director at Ask Phill, a Shopify Platinum Partner based in Amsterdam. Ask Phill has delivered 200+ Shopify migrations and POS implementations across fashion, lifestyle, and beauty brands in Europe. Get in touch to discuss your retail setup.