Shopify POS Pricing 2025: The Complete Guide for Retailers

Quick answer: Shopify POS starts at $5/month with basic in-person features and goes up to $89/month if you want full retail tools (POS Pro). You’ll also need a Shopify plan, pay card processing fees (2.4%–5%), and buy hardware starting around $429.

If you’re running an ecommerce business and want to expand into in-person sales, Shopify POS is a natural fit. But the pricing model isn’t always clear, especially now that Shopify bundles some features by default and makes POS Pro an optional upgrade.

I’ve helped clients roll this out in retail stores, pop-ups, and hybrid setups. Here’s exactly what Shopify POS costs—and how to choose the right setup.

Shopify POS Pricing Plans (2025)

Shopify now gives you multiple ways to sell in person, whether you want to sell at events or open a retail location. Every paid Shopify plan includes basic in-person selling tools, but if you want the full retail experience, you’ll need to upgrade to POS Pro.

Here’s the current plan breakdown:

Plan	Monthly Price	POS Pro Included?	Use Case
Starter	$5/month	❌	Pop-ups, markets, social selling
Retail	$89/month	✅ (1 location)	Brick-and-mortar retail store
Basic	$39/month	❌ (Add $89/location)	Full ecommerce store + occasional in-person sales
Grow	$105/month	❌ (Add $89/location)	Stores with a small team
Advanced	$399/month	❌ (Add $89/location)	Scaling retail operations with more reporting needs

What’s Included by Default (All Plans):

• Accept payments in person
• Unified inventory tracking
• Unlimited registers
• Custom discounts
• Gift cards and split payments
• Digital or printed receipts
• Shopify Payments support
• Free Shopify POS app

You can run a basic in-person setup on any Shopify plan, but if you want deeper tools for staff, inventory, and reporting, you’ll need POS Pro—either included in the Retail plan or added for $89/month per location.

Shopify POS Pros and Cons

What Is POS Pro?

POS Pro is Shopify’s advanced subscription for running a serious retail operation. It builds on the default POS tools by adding real-time analytics, staff controls, inventory features, and omnichannel flexibility.

Here’s what you get with POS Pro:

Advanced Inventory Features:

• Inventory counts
• Barcode scanning for stock tracking
• Low stock alerts
• Purchase order creation
• Product transfers between locations
• Inventory reporting

Staff & Permissions:

• Unlimited POS staff accounts
• Staff sales tracking
• Permission controls
• Manager approval settings for discounts and edits

Omnichannel Tools:

• Buy online, pickup in-store (BOPIS)
• Save/retrieve carts across devices
• In-store returns for online orders
• Local delivery management
• Exchange and store credit tools

Customer Engagement:

• Customer profiles with purchase history
• Clienteling tools (notes, preferences)
• Loyalty insights

Verdict:

If you’re hiring staff, managing inventory across locations, or offering flexible fulfillment like BOPIS or returns—POS Pro is essential. Otherwise, you’ll constantly run into limitations.

Starter vs. Retail Plan: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing between the Starter and Retail plans really comes down to how serious you are about in-person sales—and how much you value tools like inventory tracking, staff management, and analytics.

Both plans let you take payments in person using Shopify’s POS app, but the Retail plan includes POS Pro, which unlocks the full retail feature set.

Starter – $5/month

The Starter plan is Shopify’s most affordable entry point for in-person selling. It’s ideal for sellers who need minimal tools and are just testing the waters.

Best for:

• Pop-up shops, craft fairs, markets
• Solo sellers or side hustles
• Taking payments without needing hardware beyond a phone or tablet
• Selling a few products without complex inventory

You can set up a POS Go or use your mobile device and still accept payments, apply basic discounts, and email receipts. It’s easy to use and quick to launch.

Limitations:

• You get only one POS login, so not suitable for teams
• No access to advanced inventory or analytics
• Lacks staff permissions, stock alerts, and in-store pickup or returns
• 5% transaction fees make it expensive for higher volume sellers

If you’re just selling occasionally and want a low-cost way to get started, Starter is enough. But the lack of POS Pro features means you’ll hit a wall quickly as your business grows.

Retail – $89/month

The Retail plan is designed specifically for physical retail operations. It includes POS Pro for one location, so you get full access to Shopify’s retail tools right out of the gate.

Best for:

• Permanent or semi-permanent retail locations
• Teams with multiple staff members
• Inventory management across multiple SKUs or locations
• Businesses offering returns, exchanges, and in-store pickup
• Brands that care about reporting, performance tracking, and daily sales metrics

You also get unlimited POS logins, so every team member can have their own account with assigned roles and permissions. It’s more secure, more scalable, and better suited for customer service.

Bonus: If you commit to annual billing, the Retail plan drops to $79/month—a great long-term deal for any established retail shop.

Downsides:

• Higher upfront cost, especially if you're not selling regularly
• Doesn't include a full ecommerce storefront—you’ll need an ecommerce plan if you want full online features

Verdict:

Starter is your go-to if you’re doing less than 10–15 transactions a week and want the simplest setup possible.

Retail is a better value for any business looking to scale in-store sales, manage stock properly, or hire staff.

If you're serious about in-person retail, Retail is worth the upgrade. You’ll save time, reduce manual work, and avoid outgrowing the Starter plan after just a few months.

Total Shopify POS Monthly Cost (Based on Plan + Version)

Shopify pricing can feel like stacking blocks—because it is. You pay for:

• Your ecommerce plan (Basic, Grow, Advanced, or Plus)
• Your POS version (Starter or Retail)
• POS Pro is charged per location
• Optional add-ons (extra staff, advanced apps)
• Transaction fees

Here’s a realistic monthly cost chart:

Shopify Plan	POS Version	Ecommerce Plan Cost	POS Pro Cost	Total Monthly
Basic ($39)	Lite	$39	$0	$39
Basic ($39)	Pro	$39	$89	$128
Shopify ($105)	Pro	$105	$89	$194
Advanced ($399)	Pro	$399	$89	$488
Shopify Plus ($2,300+)	Pro	Included in plan	Included	$2,000+

Annual Discount: Pay yearly for POS Pro and it's $79/month per location instead of $89.

Verdict: If you have one store and use Pro, budget at least $128/month. Multiple stores? Multiply the POS Pro cost per location.

Hardware Costs: What You Really Need (and What You Can Skip)

You don’t have to buy Shopify’s hardware—but let’s be honest, if you’re running a retail counter, you’ll need some gear. Shopify sells bundles and standalone devices.

Hardware	Price (USD)	Use Case
Shopify POS Go (with case)	$429	Best for mobile sellers—includes barcode scanner + card reader
iPad Stand	$149	For static checkout counters
Receipt Printer	$299	Needed for physical receipts
Barcode Scanner	$229	Speeds up checkout in larger inventories
Cash Drawer	$139	Still needed for cash-heavy businesses
Retail Kit (iPad stand + drawer)	$219	Pre-bundled deal

Good to know:

• Free hardware shipping + returns available in some regions
• You can use an iPad or iPhone with POS Lite to reduce upfront cost
• Shopify hardware is plug-and-play—makes setup easier

Verdict: Expect to spend $429 for mobile setups or $1,000+ for a full retail station. Bundle kits help lower costs if you’re buying multiple devices.

Shopify POS Transaction Fees (2025)

Every sale you process through Shopify POS comes with transaction fees. These vary based on:

• Your Shopify plan
• Whether the sale is online or in person
• Whether you use Shopify Payments or a third-party gateway

Here’s how the fees break down:

Plan	Online Sales	In-Person Sales	3rd-Party Processor Fee
Starter	5% + 30¢	5% + 0¢	5%
Retail	2.9% + 30¢	2.6% + 10¢	2%
Basic	2.9% + 30¢	2.6% + 10¢	2%
Grow	2.7% + 30¢	2.5% + 10¢	1%
Advanced	2.5% + 30¢	2.4% + 10¢	0.6%

Key Takeaways:

• Starter has the highest rates (fine for low volume, but costly at scale)
• Shopify Payments = best rates
• Using third-party processors (PayPal, Stripe, etc.) triggers extra fees

Verdict:
If you're processing more than a few hundred dollars per month, upgrade your plan and stick with Shopify Payments to protect your margins. plan, the lower your fees. Stick with Shopify Payments if you want to avoid those 0.5%–2% extra fees.

Shopify POS Go: The Best Value for Mobile Sellers

If you're just starting out and want to keep things portable, the Shopify POS Go device is your best bet.

At $429, it includes:

• Built-in barcode scanner
• Integrated card reader
• Pre-installed POS app
• Optional rugged case

You won’t need an iPad, card reader, or scanner separately—it’s a true all-in-one.

Verdict: For mobile sellers, Shopify POS Go is the most cost-effective and convenient setup. One device does it all.

Real Costs Clients Didn’t See Coming

After working with several brands on POS launches, I’ve noticed a few recurring surprises when it comes to cost.

What Usually Gets Missed:

• POS Pro is per location: That’s $89/month for each store if you're not on the Retail plan
• Tablets not included in hardware kits (iPads are BYOD)
• Accessories add up: paper rolls, mounts, ethernet cables
• App costs: Some POS features (like loyalty) require apps with monthly fees
• Annual pricing discounts: Retail plan drops to $79/month if billed yearly

Real-World Example:

A client with two store locations on the Grow plan ended up paying:

• $105/month for Grow
• $178/month for POS Pro (2 locations)
• $1,300 in hardware
• $29/month on staff scheduling app

They started thinking they'd spend $100/month—but ended up budgeting around $350/month all-in.

Verdict:

Plan for 10–25% more than Shopify’s pricing page suggests, especially once you factor in apps, hardware extras, and staff scaling.

Alternatives to Shopify POS (And When They Might Be Better)

Shopify POS is ideal if you already use Shopify. But if not, here’s when another tool might work better:

Square POS

• Free to start
• Transparent rates (2.6% + 10¢ per in-person sale)
• Strong for food trucks, cafes, and pop-ups
• Not as seamless for ecommerce-first brands

Clover POS

• Modular system (you pick the features)
• Starts at 2.3% + 10¢ per transaction
• Better for high-traffic brick-and-mortar stores

Lightspeed POS

• Best for large inventories, advanced reporting
• Starts at $69/month (billed annually)
• Loyalty and marketing features built-in

Verdict: If you’re not on Shopify—or you need restaurant/hospitality tools—Square or Lightspeed might fit better.

Shopify Ecommerce Plans + POS

You can also run POS from any Shopify ecommerce plan—but you'll need to add POS Pro manually if you want advanced features.

Ecommerce Plan	POS Included	POS Pro Add-on
Basic ($39)	POS Lite	+$89/month per location
Grow ($105)	POS Lite	+$89/month per location
Advanced ($399)	POS Lite	+$89/month per location

If you're running both a full ecommerce store and a retail store, this combo gives you total omnichannel power—but the pricing can stack quickly.

Final Verdict: What Shopify POS Really Costs (And What You Should Expect)

Shopify POS is flexible. You can start small with basic tools, or upgrade to run full retail locations.

But here’s the honest breakdown:

• Starter works if you’re just testing the waters
• Retail plan is best if you’re serious about in-store growth
• Already on Shopify ecommerce? You’ll need to add POS Pro for full features at $89/month per location
• Budget for hardware, apps, and payment fees—because they’re non-negotiable

Realistic Monthly Cost Ranges:

Multi-location brand: $300/month and up

Pop-up seller: ~$5–$40/month

Small retail shop: ~$128–$250/month