- The three Shopify POS setups
- How a sale works on Shopify POS
- The catch: check your country first
- Shopify POS Pro is charged per location
- The POS Pro yearly offer and its conditions
- What hardware you need
- Shopify POS features small shops tend to use
- How to set up Shopify POS
- My verdict on Shopify POS
- Frequently asked questions
Shopify POS is Shopify's point of sale system: an app plus optional hardware for selling in person, connected to the same back office as your online store. Your inventory, orders, customers and staff all live in one place, whether you're selling at a countertop, a pop-up or a market stall.
If you already sell on Shopify, that one shared back office is the whole appeal: sell a candle at a craft fair and your online stock count drops at the same moment. What Shopify mentions further down its page, and what you should check before you buy anything, is that the best-integrated hardware and Shopify Payments are only available in select regions.
The three Shopify POS setups
| Setup | What you get | Shopify's suggested fit |
|---|---|---|
| Countertop | Software plus checkout hardware on the sales counter | Permanent brick-and-mortar stores |
| Mobile | Software and hardware in one handheld device, or a phone with Tap to Pay | Pop-ups, markets, trade shows |
| Multichannel | Store and online sales synced | Buy online and pick up in store, or buy in store and have it shipped |
Most small sellers start mobile and add a countertop setup when they open a permanent space. Because both run on the same back office, you're not switching systems when you grow, you're just adding a location.
How a sale works on Shopify POS
- Scan items to add them to the cart.
- POS calculates the total, including sales tax.
- Select Checkout and the integrated hardware takes payment by major credit and debit cards or digital wallets.
- POS sends a printed or emailed receipt.
- Your inventory and customer data update automatically.
The catch: check your country first
Shopify's POS page says you can use Shopify POS in nearly every country in the world. Then comes the important part: to get the full benefits, Shopify recommends using Shopify Payments and integrated Shopify POS hardware, and both are available only in select regions. In plain terms, the app may work where you are while the smooth, built-in card payments don't. Check both before you plan your shop, your market season or your hardware budget around them.
Shopify POS Pro is charged per location
The second thing that surprises people is how POS Pro is priced. As of October 2026, on Shopify's pricing page, POS Pro is listed at US$89 a month per location across the Basic, Grow and Advanced plans, and Plus includes 20 locations. The words that matter are per location: a shop and a market stall can mean paying for two. I'm not going to repeat Shopify's plan prices and card rates here, because the Shopify fees guide on this site covers every plan and extra charge.
The POS Pro yearly offer and its conditions
Shopify's POS page advertises a POS Pro yearly offer, as of October 2026, with conditions attached. It includes free POS hardware, free migration and setup support, and 25% off subscription costs. The hardware rebate needs US$10,000 of sales in Shopify Payments transactions within 90 days of subscribing, at a single location. The free device is a Verifone Victa Mobile, and it carries a US$10 activation fee per device, or the local equivalent. If you won't hit that sales figure in 90 days, plan as if the hardware isn't free.
When you're ready for more, the best Shopify loyalty apps is a sensible follow-up.
What hardware you need
- A smartphone with Tap to Pay for mobile selling, with no extra device.
- A complete POS device that holds software and payments in one unit.
- A full countertop setup with a card reader, barcode scanner, receipt printer and a POS Hub that connects your peripherals to a tablet.
Shopify defines a POS system as hardware, such as card readers, terminals, cash drawers, scanners and printers, plus the software that processes transactions and tracks stock and customers. Hardware costs vary by setup, so price your own list on Shopify's hardware page rather than trusting a figure from a blog.
A good companion to this page is Shopify vs WordPress.
Shopify POS features small shops tend to use
- Ship to a customer from any location that has the stock.
- Exchanges for items bought online, plus local delivery orders.
- QR codes on products, and abandoned cart emails for items a customer viewed in store.
- Staff permissions, with manager approval for actions like discounts.
- Saved carts that can be picked up on another device.
- Quick inventory counts with a barcode scanner, and transfers between locations.
- Reorder suggestions from Sidekick, Shopify's AI assistant.
Shopify also says its platform has 99.9% uptime and that Shopify Payments gives you access to the Shop network of 250M+ shoppers. Those are Shopify's own claims, but the stock sync is the feature that earns its keep day to day.
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To get your shop products into Google listings, see Google Merchant Center.
How to set up Shopify POS
- Check that Shopify Payments and Shopify POS hardware are available in your country.
- Add the POS app to your Shopify store and add each location.
- Choose your hardware: a phone with Tap to Pay, or a countertop kit.
- Decide whether each location needs POS Pro.
- Set staff permissions and the manager approval rules.
- Run a test sale, then do a quick stock count to make sure everything's synced.
If you also want to sell products from other brands online, look at Shopify Collective.
My verdict on Shopify POS
If you already sell online with Shopify and want in-person sales in the same system, it's a strong fit, and the shared stock count alone saves hours. Check your region first, count your locations before you add POS Pro, and read the offer conditions before you treat the hardware as free. If you only sell in a physical shop and don't need an online store, compare other systems first: my list of the best POS systems for small business is a good place to start.
Frequently asked questions
What is Shopify POS?
Shopify POS is Shopify's point of sale system for selling in person. It's an app plus optional hardware, connected to the same back office as your online store.
Can I use Shopify POS in any country?
Shopify says you can use Shopify POS in nearly every country, but Shopify Payments and integrated Shopify POS hardware, which it recommends for the full benefits, are available only in select regions.
How much is Shopify POS Pro?
As of October 2026, Shopify's pricing page lists POS Pro at US$89 a month per location on the Basic, Grow and Advanced plans. Plus includes 20 locations.
Can I use my phone as a Shopify POS?
Yes. Shopify lists a smartphone with Tap to Pay as a hardware option for mobile selling, alongside complete POS devices and full countertop setups.
Is the free Shopify POS hardware really free?
It comes with conditions. As of October 2026, the rebate needs US$10,000 of Shopify Payments sales within 90 days at a single location, and the device carries a US$10 activation fee.
