What Is Shopify POS and How Does It Work? A Complete Guide

Selling in person doesn’t have to mean managing separate systems for inventory, orders, and customer data. Shopify POS bridges the gap between online and offline selling, allowing retailers to manage everything from one platform. Whether you run a brick-and-mortar store, sell at pop-ups, or want to connect in-store sales with your Shopify online store, Shopify POS offers a flexible and scalable solution.

In this guide, we’ll break down what Shopify POS is, how it works, its key features, pricing, and whether it’s the right fit for your business.

What Is Shopify POS?

Shopify POS (Point of Sale) is Shopify’s solution for in-person transactions, enabling you to handle sales and process payments directly with customers via the Shopify POS app on iOS or Android devices, such as in physical stores, at fairs, or temporary setups.

Shopify POS can operate independently, but it’s optimized to integrate with your Shopify online store, allowing you to monitor and oversee all sales activities from a single dashboard.

Keyways through Shopify POS Connects Online and Offline Sales:

Centralized monitoring in your Shopify admin: Shopify POS links with your Shopify admin to monitor orders and stock levels across physical stores, your e-commerce site, and other sales platforms.

Streamlined sales processes: Shopify POS merges in-store and online transactions to ensure stock remains consistent across all selling points, and supports options like local delivery, shipping to customers, in-store collection, and emailing carts for later online purchases.

Shopify POS Vs. Traditional POS Systems

The main difference is integration with your e-commerce platform:

Shopify POS (Integrated Commerce Approach):

Shopify POS syncs with your Shopify store to track online, mobile, and in-store orders together.

It’s built to unify inventory and sell across your website, social media, and physical checkout, reducing gaps between sales channels.

Traditional POS Systems (Separate Systems):

Traditional POS systems typically focus only on in-person transactions and often require separate tools or manual reconciliation to align sales, inventory, and customer data with an online store.

How Does Shopify POS Work?

Shopify POS lets you create a cart, apply adjustments (such as discounts or fees), take payment in person, and then sync the order, inventory, and customer data back to Shopify.

1) Ring up the sale in the Shopify POS app

In the Shopify POS app, you build a cart for the customer and make adjustments as needed.

Common actions include:

Applying discounts

Cart discounts: Tap Apply discount, choose Percentage, Amount, or Code, complete the fields, and tap Save.

Line-item discounts: Tap the product name, select Apply custom discount, choose Amount or Percentage (%), and tap Save.

Adding or removing custom fees (if enabled)

Tap the Custom fee tile, review the amount, and tap Save.

To remove it, tap the Remove fee tile.

2) Take payment in person

Shopify POS processes in-person payments using supported payment hardware and methods, such as credit cards, debit cards, and digital wallets.

When payment is completed:

Inventory levels update automatically

Customer profiles are created or updated

3) Shopify syncs the sale to your store records

Once the sale is completed, Shopify POS syncs the order to your Shopify admin so orders and inventory remain aligned across retail locations, your online store, and other sales channels.

4) What happens if you are offline

If the Shopify POS app temporarily loses internet access:

1) Orders can still be accepted, but won’t sync to the Shopify admin while offline

2) Once the connection is restored, orders automatically sync and appear in the Orders section

3) If syncing doesn’t happen automatically, you can force a sync by going to Orders in the POS app and pulling down to refresh.

What are the Key Features of Shopify POS?

Shopify POS is built to help you sell in person, run day-to-day retail operations, and keep your in-store activity connected to your Shopify store and Shopify admin.

1) In‑person selling + fast checkout

From the POS app, you can:

Create a cart for each customer

Modify the cart (add/remove products, apply a discount)

Accept payments using a range of payment methods

2) Omnichannel selling (online + in-store workflows)

Shopify POS includes features designed to connect retail and ecommerce workflows, including:

1) Pickup in store (manage/fulfill in-store pickup orders in POS)

2) Buy in store and ship (sell in store and ship to customers; taxes and shipping rates calculated at checkout)

3) Buy online, exchange/return in store (accept exchanges/returns across locations; inventory updates instantly)

4) Local delivery (manage/fulfill local delivery orders from POS) (Pro)

5) Send cart to buy online (email customers the items they didn’t buy in store)

6) Manage orders in POS (view orders in one place in POS for tracking/processing/fulfillment)

3) Inventory tracking across locations and channels

1) Shopify POS syncs with your Shopify admin to track orders and inventory across retail locations, your online store, and other sales channels.

2) Inventory tracking assigns products to sales channels and locations, and inventory counts automatically update when an order is fulfilled from that source.

3) Advanced inventory management features include purchase orders, transfers, low stock reports, inventory counts (with barcode scanner), and detailed inventory reports.

4) Staff management & store controls

Shopify POS includes staff tools such as:

1) Staff POS PINs (unique PINs for staff to log in)

2) Unlimited POS staff, roles, and permissions, and manager approvals (for actions like applying discounts or editing taxes)

3) Sales commissions (attribute sales to staff)

5) Order management in POS

1) Manage orders in POS so staff can track, process, and fulfill orders

2) Returns and exchanges, plus (Pro)Cancel and void orders

3) Draft orders (create and save carts that can be retrieved and completed later)

6) Retail hardware support (optional, but common)

You can connect Shopify POS to additional retail hardware (for example, barcode scanners and cash drawers) to create a full retail store experience.

7) Receipt customization (optional)

You can customize printed receipts (for example, include customer name, staff at register, add a custom QR code, or change barcode format) from the POS app via Settings > Customize printed receipts.

If you’re planning to use Shopify POS and want it configured properly from day one, talk to our Shopify experts today.

What are the Benefits of Using Shopify POS?

Shopify POS is built to help you run retail day-to-day, while also connecting in-person selling to the rest of your Shopify business (online store and sales channels).

1) Unified commerce (connects in-store + online)

Shopify POS is designed to unify in-store and online sales, so you are not running separate systems for each channel.

That unification helps you:

1) Bridge gaps between your website, social media, and POS system

2) Sync inventory everywhere you sell

3) Offer flexible shopping options such as local delivery, ship to customer, in-store pickup, and email carts (so customers can complete a purchase later online)

2) Faster, simpler daily operations

A POS system’s biggest operational benefit is that it simplifies daily business tasks, including:

1) Checking out customers

2) Performing inventory counts

With Shopify POS, you are tracking payments, inventory, and customers with every sale, which reduces the amount of time you’d otherwise spend reconciling data at the end of the day.

3) Built-in data capture per transaction (inventory + customer records)

Using integrated hardware and software at checkout, you can accept common payment types like:

1) Credit cards

2) Debit cards

3) Digital wallets

When payment is taken:

1) Inventory levels are automatically updated

2) Customer data is created and saved

4) Retail selling flexibility (sell almost anywhere)

Shopify POS is available on iOS or Android, and you can use it to sell in many retail settings (for example, brick-and-mortar stores, markets, and pop-up shops). You can create a cart for each customer, adjust it (like applying discounts), and accept payment.

5) Centralized order + inventory tracking through Shopify

Shopify POS syncs with your Shopify admin to track orders and inventory across:

1) Your retail locations

2) Your online store

3) Other active sales channels

6) Optional “full retail counter” experience with hardware

If you want a more complete in-store setup, you can connect Shopify POS to additional retail hardware, such as:

1) Barcode scanners

2) Cash drawers

Shopify POS Plans and Pricing

Deciding between Shopify and other POS systems? Read our Lightspeed vs Shopify comparison to help you choose confidently.

Who Should Use Shopify POS?

Shopify POS is for anyone who needs to sell in person and wants those sales connected to the rest of their Shopify business.

1) Merchants who sell in person (any retail setting)

You should use Shopify POS if you sell face-to-face in places like:

1) Brick-and-mortar stores

2) Markets

3) Pop-up shops

It’s a POS system available on iOS or Android, designed for in-person checkout and retail workflows.

2) Merchants who want one system for online + in-store sales

Shopify POS is a fit if you want your in-person sales to connect back to Shopify, so you can track everything together.

You can:

1) Run Shopify POS on its own, or

2) Sync it with an online Shopify store to track online, mobile, and in-store orders in one place

Shopify POS also syncs with your Shopify admin to track orders and inventory across retail locations, your online store, and other sales channels.

3) Retail businesses of any size (from a single counter to multi-location)

Shopify POS is used by:

1) Single-location retailers who want a straightforward, user-friendly in-store checkout

2) Growing and high-volume retailers who want a single platform for in-store and online selling, and who may be managing many locations (including up to 1,000 retail locations in some setups)

4) Teams that need mobility and a “store-floor” workflow

If you want associates to help customers away from the counter, Shopify POS can support a mobile, cloud-based retail approach, accessing stock and customer data and taking payments from the store floor.

What are the Common Shopify POS Hardware and Requirements?

To use Shopify POS, you need a compatible mobile device (iOS/Android or POS Go) and, optionally, supported retail hardware (card reader, receipt printer, etc.) depending on your setup.

1) Device requirements (Shopify POS app compatibility)

Shopify POS is available only on iOS and Android devices. It’s not available for laptop/desktop computers or Amazon Fire tablets.

2) Supported device minimums include:

1) iPad: Generation 5+ on iPadOS 15.1+

2) iPad Air: Generation 2+ on iPadOS 15.1+

3) iPad mini: Generation 4+ on iPadOS 15.1+

4) iPad Pro: all models on iPadOS 15.1+

5) iPhone: iPhone 7+ on iOS 15.1+

6) Android: phone/tablet on Android 10.0+ with Google Play Services and Google Mobile Services activated

7) POS Go: must be running the latest Shopify-provided software updates

3) Common Shopify POS hardware (what you can add)

Shopify supports a range of POS hardware categories, including:

1) Card readers

2) Device stands

3) Barcode scanners

4) Cash drawers

5) Receipt printers

6) Barcode/label printers

7) POS accessories

8) Shopify POS Hub

9) mPOP

4) Hardware-specific requirements (example):

Some devices (like a Socket Mobile 1D barcode scanner) require:

1) You are using Shopify POS

2) A compatible device running iOS 15+ (iPhone/iPad) or Android 10+

5) How to choose/buy compatible hardware?

1) Shopify provides a catalog of supported model numbers across regions (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific).

2) If your country has a Shopify hardware store, you can buy supported hardware there; otherwise, you can use the supported model list and purchase from a verified third-party retailer.

What are the Pros and Cons of Shopify POS?

Pros

1) Unified in-store + online selling: Shopify POS can help you run in-store and online selling on a single platform and support omnichannel selling with one system (no integrations required).

2) Mobile + flexible checkout: It is a mobile, cloud-based POS, so staff can access stock and customer data and take payments from the store floor.

3) Hardware + software designed to work together: Shopify POS software and hardware are intended to work together for smoother checkouts, faster payments, and improved operations.

4) Inventory benefits: Shopify’s POS inventory system is positioned around real-time visibility into stock levels across channels/warehouses/retail locations, with less manual work counting and reconciling inventory.

5) Offline selling support: If you temporarily lose internet, Shopify POS can still make sales and accept payments. Offline payments are saved on the POS and sync to your Shopify admin after reconnecting; accepted payments can then be processed automatically.

Cons

1) Device limitations: Shopify POS is available only on iOS and Android. It is not available on laptop/desktop computers or Amazon Fire tablets.

2) Offline syncing gap: When Shopify POS is offline, orders aren’t synced with your Shopify admin until you reconnect to the internet.

3) Offline order risk if you log out or power off: If you make sales offline, Shopify warns not to sign out of Shopify POS or turn off the device, because it might cause loss of offline orders. If you get logged out while offline, you may need to log back in and reconnect your card reader to collect payments accepted offline.

Is Shopify POS Worth It or Not?

When is Shopify POS likely worth it?

1) You want omnichannel workflows: Shopify POS supports features like pickup in store, buy in store and ship, buy online and return/exchange in store, local delivery, and send cart to buy online.

2) You need stronger inventory tools: Shopify POS includes inventory tracking (with automatic updates when orders are fulfilled from a source) and can support more advanced inventory workflows (like inventory counts with a barcode scanner, transfers, purchase orders, and inventory reporting.

3) You have staff and want controls: Shopify POS includes staff features such as POS staff PINs, and can support roles/permissions, manager approvals, and sales commissions.

4) You need a connected checkout experience: Shopify POS includes checkout tools like returns and exchanges, cancel/void orders, and draft orders.

When it might not be worth it (or needs extra planning)

1) Your devices aren’t compatible: Shopify POS is available only on iOS and Android, not on laptops/desktops or Amazon Fire tablets.

2) You depend on real-time admin syncing while offline: if Shopify POS is offline, orders aren’t synced with your Shopify admin until the device reconnects.

Conclusion

Shopify POS is more than just a checkout tool; it’s a complete in-person selling system designed to work seamlessly with your Shopify store. By connecting inventory, orders, payments, and customer data across online and offline channels, Shopify POS helps retailers simplify daily operations and deliver a consistent shopping experience. Whether you’re a small seller using POS Lite or a growing retailer upgrading to POS Pro, Shopify POS offers the flexibility and tools needed to sell confidently anywhere.