Shopify POS is Shopify's point-of-sale system that unifies your online and in-store sales: same catalog, same inventory, same customer file, from a single dashboard. In 2026, it's no longer a troubleshooting option for selling at a pop-up market; it has become a robust and comprehensive POS solution capable of equipping a real physical store. This is precisely what makes this year the right time to get started.
This article is for two types of profiles: brands already on Shopify that want to open a physical point of sale, and those that want to migrate from another POS system to finally unite web and store. Here's everything you need to know, including pricing and hardware available in France.
Table of Contents
What exactly is Shopify POS?
Shopify POS (Point of Sale) is a checkout application that transforms an iPhone or iPad into a payment terminal. Connected to a card reader, it allows you to process payments in-store, at a market, in a pop-up, or in a showroom, exactly as your website processes online payments. The difference with a traditional POS system comes down to one word: unification. Inventory sold in-store is decremented in real-time on the website, a web order can be picked up or exchanged in-store, and every customer is recognized regardless of the channel.
Shopify POS is available in two versions. POS Lite is included at no extra cost in all Shopify plans and covers the essentials: payment processing, product management, card payments, receipts, and discounts. POS Pro is the advanced version, designed for permanent physical stores, with detailed inventory management, sales associate permissions, and full omnichannel capabilities. We detail the choice below.
Why 2026 is the right time
For a long time, Shopify POS was primarily useful for occasional sales. This is no longer the case. The solution has made significant strides in robustness and functionality, to the point of competing with specialized POS software, while maintaining its decisive advantage: native integration of web and store.
We see this directly with our clients. Two brands we work with, Le Minor and Panier des Sens, have migrated their retail operations to Shopify POS and are very satisfied. When such demanding brands switch their point of sale to the solution, it's a sign that the tool has reached maturity.
The 2026 editions have further strengthened the entire system. Among the notable new features: the POS Hub, a wired connection that replaces Bluetooth pairing to improve the reliability of terminals, printers, and scanners; subscription management directly from the POS; same-day delivery via Uber Direct; Markets for Retail to apply prices per point of sale; POS v11 with persistent cart and multi-entity selling; Cash Control on iPad for audit and till reconciliation; and integration of returns and exchanges into the main cart flow. In other words, yesterday's blind spots have been addressed.
POS Lite or POS Pro: Which to choose
The best approach is to start with your needs. POS Lite is sufficient for occasional sales: pop-ups, markets, trade shows, temporary stores. As soon as you manage a permanent physical store with multiple sales associates and serious inventory to track, POS Pro becomes essential.
| Feature | POS Lite | POS Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Payment processing, card payments, receipts, discounts | Yes | Yes |
| Unified inventory with online store | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced inventory management by location | No | Yes |
| Roles and permissions by sales associate (unlimited) | No | Yes |
| In-store returns, exchanges, and click and collect | No | Yes |
| Ship from store, saved carts | No | Yes |
| Custom receipts and daily reports | No | Yes |
| Prices per point of sale (Markets for Retail) | No | Yes |
In short: if you're testing retail, POS Lite gets you started at zero cost. If you're opening a real store, POS Pro is the standard, and its omnichannel and team management features quickly pay for themselves.
Shopify POS pricing in France
The total cost consists of three elements: your Shopify plan, the optional POS Pro subscription per point of sale, and payment processing fees.
| Item | Price in France (2026) |
|---|---|
| POS Lite | Included in all Shopify plans, at no extra cost |
| Shopify plan (online) | From 39 to 399 euros per month depending on the plan |
| POS Pro | 89 euros per month per point of sale, or 79 euros per month for annual billing |
| Payment processing fees | Vary by plan, reduced with Shopify Payments |
An important point regarding fees: orders processed in-store via Shopify POS are not subject to the platform transaction fees that apply when you use a third-party online payment provider. And in-person card commission rates via Shopify Payments are lower than online rates, as the risk is lower for in-person payments. As a benchmark, online, Shopify Payments starts at approximately 1.5 percent plus 0.25 euros per transaction on the entry-level plan and goes down to around 1.1 percent plus 0.25 euros on the higher plan. Always check the up-to-date details on the official page at the time of your decision, as these rates evolve.
Hardware available in France
Shopify sells its own hardware in France via the Shopify Hardware Store, which avoids having to search for compatible terminals elsewhere. You can start with a simple reader, or equip a complete counter.
| Hardware | Indicative price in France | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Tap and Chip Reader | 49 euros | Contactless and chip card, ideal for pop-ups and markets |
| WisePad 3 Wireless Reader | Depending on configuration | Contactless, chip, and PIN, integrated customer display |
| Complete counter kit | From 459 euros | Terminal, tablet stand, docking station, power supply |
| Cash drawer | 129 to 139 euros | Cash payments |
| Barcode scanner | 199 to 289 euros | Product scanning and inventory |
| Complete workstation | 500 to 1,000 euros | Store with drawer, receipt printer, and scanner |
New for 2026 to be aware of before purchasing: the POS Hub now replaces Bluetooth pairing with wired connections on a single iPad, with hardware monitoring and automatic updates. This is a real answer to the micro-Bluetooth interruptions that annoyed checkout teams.
Already on Shopify: launching your point of sale
If your store is already running on Shopify, opening a physical point of sale is remarkably simple. You don't have to recreate a catalog, re-import a customer file, or connect a second tool. You activate the POS application, choose Lite or Pro, order the appropriate reader, and process payments. Your inventory automatically synchronizes between the web and the store, eliminating duplicate entries and ghost inventory.
This is precisely the advantage brands seek when opening a first store or a corner: to capitalize on everything that already exists online. If you are preparing for this transition to retail as part of a broader development, our guide to launching your Shopify store lays the groundwork, and the pricing mechanism per market builds on the logic of Shopify Markets, now adapted for retail.
Migrating from another POS system
The other scenario is a brand that already has a POS system, often specialized software disconnected from the website, and finally wants to unite the two worlds. The promise is strong: by switching to Shopify POS, the store and the web share the same inventory, the same customer history, and the same sales data, which changes the game for management and customer loyalty.
Migrating a POS system requires a methodical approach, like any migration. You need to properly retrieve the catalog, sales history, and customer records, map payment methods and hardware, and then test in real conditions before launch day. This is exactly the rigor we apply to projects, and which we describe in our Shopify migration guide. The ultimate benefit is the same as what we observe across the entire platform, documented in our agency review of Shopify: a unified, reliable, and easy-to-operate tool for daily use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shopify POS free?
POS Lite is included at no extra cost in all Shopify plans and is sufficient for occasional sales. POS Pro, designed for permanent physical stores, costs 89 euros per month per point of sale, or 79 euros per month for annual billing.
Do I need an online Shopify store to use Shopify POS?
Yes, Shopify POS works with a Shopify account, which includes your online store. That's the whole point: the store and the web share the same catalog, inventory, and customer file, without duplicate entry.
What hardware do I need to get started in France?
At a minimum, a card reader, starting from 49 euros for the Tap and Chip reader, available on the Shopify Hardware Store in France. For a permanent store, expect a counter kit starting from 459 euros, and 500 to 1,000 euros for a complete workstation with cash drawer, printer, and scanner.
Can I migrate my current POS system to Shopify POS?
Yes. You need to retrieve the catalog, sales history, and customer records, configure hardware and payments, and then test before launch. A well-prepared migration finally unites your online and in-store sales in one tool.
Is Shopify POS suitable for a real store, not just a pop-up?
Yes, and that's the big change for 2026. With POS Pro and new features like the POS Hub, Markets for Retail, or Cash Control, the solution now equips demanding permanent physical stores, like those of the brands we work with.
What are the in-store transaction fees?
Orders processed via Shopify POS are not subject to the platform transaction fees applied to third-party online providers, and in-person card rates via Shopify Payments are lower than online rates. The details depend on your plan; check the official page at the time of your choice.
