Shopify POS (Point of Sale) lets you sell in-person — at your retail store, pop-up shop, market, or any physical location — using the same inventory, customer data, and reporting as your online store. Everything syncs in real time: a sale in your store updates online inventory, and an online customer’s purchase history shows in your POS when they walk in. This guide covers Shopify POS setup, hardware, and how to run a seamless omnichannel business.
What Is Shopify POS?
Shopify POS is Shopify’s in-person selling solution — an iPad or iPhone app connected to card readers, receipt printers, barcode scanners, and cash drawers. When a customer makes an in-store purchase, the transaction goes through Shopify’s payment system, updates your inventory, creates an order in your Shopify admin, and can add or update customer profiles. Your physical and online store are truly one system.
Shopify POS Plans
Shopify POS Lite (Free with All Shopify Plans)
Included with every Shopify subscription. Supports basic in-person selling: accept payments, apply discounts, track inventory. Limited retail-specific features — no staff permissions management, no daily sales targets, no advanced reporting for physical locations. Suitable for pop-up shops, market stalls, and stores making a handful of in-person sales per week.
Shopify POS Pro ($89/month per location)
Full-featured retail POS: unlimited staff accounts per location with individual permissions, smart inventory management with low-stock alerts, in-store order fulfillment from your online inventory, product exchange (not just refund) capability, daily sales reports by location, customer loyalty integration, and hardware management. Required for serious retail operations with multiple staff members or high in-person transaction volume.
Shopify POS Hardware
Shopify Card Readers
- Shopify Tap & Chip Card Reader ($49): Accepts contactless (Apple Pay, Google Pay, NFC cards) and chip cards. Connects via Bluetooth to your iPhone or iPad. Most popular starting point.
- Shopify POS Terminal ($299): Countertop terminal with a separate customer-facing display. Accept all payment methods including PIN-authenticated chip cards. Professional retail appearance.
- Shopify POS Go ($429): All-in-one handheld device with built-in card reader, barcode scanner, and 5.5″ screen — no iPad required. Ideal for markets, pop-ups, and mobile retail.
Supporting Hardware
- Star Micronics Receipt Printer: Shopify-compatible thermal receipt printer. Connects via USB or Ethernet. Prints Shopify-formatted receipts automatically.
- Barcode Scanner: USB or Bluetooth scanner for scanning product barcodes during sales and inventory counts
- Cash Drawer: Connected to your receipt printer — opens automatically when cash transactions are completed
- iPad Stand: Shopify sells a dedicated iPad stand with built-in card reader dock for a professional counter setup
How to Set Up Shopify POS: Step by Step
Step 1: Install the Shopify POS App
Download the Shopify POS app from the Apple App Store (iOS only — Shopify POS requires iPhone or iPad). Sign in with your Shopify store credentials. Select your store location. The app syncs your entire product catalog, customer data, and inventory automatically.
Step 2: Set Up Your Location
In Shopify admin → Settings → Locations, add your physical store address. If you have multiple locations, add each separately — inventory is tracked per location. Assign your products and current inventory quantities to each location. Enable POS for your location in Settings → Point of Sale.
Step 3: Connect Your Card Reader
Open the Shopify POS app → Settings → Card reader. Follow the instructions to pair your Shopify card reader via Bluetooth. Test a payment using a real card in “test mode” (available in settings) to confirm the reader is working before your first real transaction.
Step 4: Configure Payment Options
In POS settings, enable your accepted payment methods: Shopify Payments (credit/debit cards), cash, gift cards, and any split payments. Set up your cash rounding settings for markets that round to the nearest 5¢ or 10¢. Enable tipping if applicable to your business type.
Step 5: Set Up Staff Accounts and Permissions
On POS Pro, go to Shopify admin → Point of Sale → Staff. Add staff members and assign PINs for POS login. Configure permissions: which staff can issue refunds, apply discounts, open the cash drawer, or access daily reports. Individual PIN-based accountability is essential for retail operations with multiple employees.
Step 6: Configure Receipt Options
Set up your receipt footer (business address, return policy, social media handles). Connect a receipt printer if needed. Enable email and SMS receipt options — customers can provide their email at checkout to receive a digital receipt, which also adds them to your customer database for future marketing.
Step 7: Sync and Test Your Inventory
Perform an inventory count for your physical location and enter quantities in Shopify admin → Inventory → by location. Test the full transaction flow: scan a product barcode, add it to cart, complete a card payment, confirm the inventory deducts correctly, and verify the order appears in your Shopify admin orders list.
Shopify POS Best Practices
- Collect customer emails at every transaction — even for cash customers. Every email captured is a future marketing opportunity
- Run end-of-day reports — close out your POS session daily to reconcile cash drawer with expected amounts
- Train staff on product lookup — POS can search products by name, barcode, or SKU; teach staff this skill for faster service
- Set low stock alerts — POS Pro shows when products are running low; set alert thresholds to trigger reorders before you sell out
- Use exchanges not just refunds — POS Pro supports exchanges (swap the returned item for a different size/color) rather than forcing refunds, which keeps revenue in-store
FAQ: Shopify POS
Is Shopify POS free?
Shopify POS Lite is included free with all Shopify subscription plans. POS Pro (with advanced retail features) costs $89/month per physical location in addition to your Shopify subscription. The card reader hardware is purchased separately — the Tap & Chip reader starts at $49.
What hardware do I need to use Shopify POS?
Minimum: an iPhone or iPad running the Shopify POS app and a Shopify Tap & Chip card reader ($49) for accepting credit card payments. For a full retail counter setup: iPad, iPad stand with card reader dock, receipt printer, cash drawer, and barcode scanner. For mobile selling (markets, pop-ups), the Shopify POS Go ($429) is the most convenient all-in-one option.
Can I use Shopify POS without the internet?
Shopify POS requires an internet connection for most functions — payment processing, inventory sync, and customer lookup all need connectivity. There is limited offline mode that caches recently viewed products, but card payments cannot be processed offline. Use a dedicated mobile hotspot or ensure reliable in-venue WiFi for any in-person selling location.
Does Shopify POS sync with my online store?
Yes, in real time. When you make a sale in-person, inventory deducts from the appropriate location immediately. Customer purchases in-store show in their profile in your admin. Shopify’s unified dashboard shows combined online and in-person revenue, orders, and analytics in one place.
Can I use Shopify POS for a market or pop-up shop?
Yes. The Shopify POS Go device is specifically designed for mobile selling — it includes its own barcode scanner, card reader, and screen without needing a separate iPad. For pop-ups that need a simpler setup, a smartphone + Tap & Chip reader is sufficient. Shopify POS Lite (included free) covers basic pop-up selling needs without POS Pro.
Final Thoughts
Shopify POS is the right solution for any store already on Shopify that wants to add in-person selling. The inventory sync eliminates the operational headache of managing separate systems for physical and online sales. Start with the Tap & Chip card reader ($49) and POS Lite (free) for your first pop-up or market test. Upgrade to POS Pro and dedicated hardware as in-person sales become a significant revenue channel that justifies the investment in permanent retail infrastructure.
