A complete comparison of Shopify POS hardwares
Shopify POS is a point-of-sale system that Shopify offers for retailers. Shopify is not only offering digital commerce services but also services for physical touchpoints. In other words, with Shopify POS, your business can integrate offline and online data into one place. As the fact that Shopify launched a new mobile POS hardware called Shopify...
Last updated: 22 Nov 2022
CONTENTS
Shopify POS is a point-of-sale system that Shopify offers for retailers.
Shopify is not only offering digital commerce services but also services for physical touchpoints. In other words, with Shopify POS, your business can integrate offline and online data into one place.
As the fact that Shopify launched a new mobile POS hardware called Shopify POS GO in Sep 2022 shows, Shopify is paying more and more attention to POS systems. They have several options to start Shopify POS for your business.
Which hardware should I choose for Shopify POS?
When you consider starting Shopify POS, you will face these questions since they are offering three options now. So, in this blog, we will overview each characteristic and conclude which hardware you should choose for your business.
What is Shopify POS?
Shopify POS is a point-of-sale application that enables you to sell your products anywhere such as brick-and-mortar stores and pop-up shops.
The strength of this POS application is the data that is collected in person can sync with online Shopify store data. You can manage all relevant data across brick-and-mortar stores and online stores in one place.
Moreover, you can efficiently manage your inventories that are sold online and offline simultaneously. This is very useful for shop owners who have several brick-and-mortar shops.
Find more details from Shopify Point of Sales Overview
What kind of hardware is Shopify offering?
You need to choose hardware to access Shopify POS and Shopify gave us basically 3 options: POS Go, Card Readers and Tap to Pay on iPhone. We overview each characteristic, and pros and cons. (In this post, we don’t discuss Tap to Pay on iPhone since it’s only available in the United States.)
POS Go
POS Go Mobile Device | Built by Shopify
Shopify POS Go is an all-in-one POS device that Shopify launched in September 2022. This is the latest device from all three options.
You can make payments on Shopify POS with only this device. Since this device is all-in-one, you can receive any payments and close the This device also has a barcode scanner so you can check the inventory by scanning a barcode.
This device also has a card reader in it so your customers can use a credit card for payment.
Shopify POS Go Features
- Accepts tap, chip, and swipe payments
- Integrated 1D/2D barcode scanner
- Long battery life
- High-performance processor
- 5.5″ HD display, using Gorilla Glass 5
- Wifi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac @ 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz
- Boots to Shopify
Price: $399
Card Reader
Chipper 2X BT Reader
This card reader is an EMV-compliant card reader that accepts tap, chip, and swipe payments with the Shopify POS app. (What is EMV compliance?)
You need to connect this device to your mobile devices with Bluetooth.
- Accepts tap, chip, and swipe payments
- Shopify POS protects card data per PCI DSS requirements
- EMV certified to keep both you and your customers safe
- Connects wirelessly to your tablet or mobile phone using Bluetooth
- Designed to be comfortable to hold and take with you wherever you’re selling
Price: $49
Shopify Tap & Chip Card Reader
This device is an EMV-compliant card reader. With the Shopify POS app, you can accept contactless and chip card payments using Shopify’s Tap & Chip Reader.
This device is only available in supported countries.
You can also purchase Shopify Dock for Tap & Chip Reader.
- Accepts chip and contactless payments
- Shopify POS protects card data per PCI DSS requirements
- EMV certified to keep both you and your customers safe
- Connects wirelessly to your tablet or mobile phone using Bluetooth
- Designed to be comfortable to hold and take with you wherever you’re selling
Price: $49
Which hardware is the best option for you?
If you are thinking about starting Shopify POS for an event, brick-and-mortar shop, market, etc… You might think about which hardware you should buy to use the Shopify POS system. Let’s compare these three devices!
| POS Go | Chipper 2X BT Reader | Shopify Tap & Chip Card Reader | |
| Payment | Tap, chip, swipe | Tap, chip, swipe | Chip and contactless |
| EMV | Certified | Certified | Certified |
| Device | Not necessary | Necessary | Necessary |
| Barcode | ⃝ | ╳ | ╳ |
| Price | $399 | $49 | $49 |
There is a big price difference between POS Go and other card readers. So firstly we need to think about which we should purchase, an all-in-one device or just a card reader.
If you are going to sell your product irregularly or one time only at a market, event, or pop-up store, you should purchase a card reader. You can download the Shopify POS system to your mobile phone or tablet so all you need to pay are the device cost and Shopify POS subscription cost.
On the other hand, if you run brick-and-mortar stores, POS Go is recommended. The biggest advantage of POS Go is you can make payments only with this device. You do not need to prepare other devices. Furthermore, a barcode scanner is installed so shop clerks can check the inventory easily. Therefore, for shop clerks, POS Go is the easiest way to close sales. In short, POS Go is the best option if you are hiring someone to checkout in brick-and-mortar stores.
Conclusion
Three hardwares for Shopify POS were compared in this post. Of course, the best option depends on the individual situations, but we hope this blog helps your decision-making for starting Shopify POS.
Connecting eCommerce and brick-and-mortar stores is the first step to adopt a omnichannel strategy. We can help your company take the next step by embracing an omnichannel approach.
As a Shopify Plus agency, we regularly help retailers pick the right hardware and connect it to a unified online store.
If you are interested, CONTACT US.
POPULAIR ARTICLES
GET IN TOUCH
To speak with us, call (+31) 613 326 179, send us an email, or reach out to us by chat or What’s App.
(+31) 613 326 179 
INFO@FLATLINEAGENCY.COM THINKING
How to calculate the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for your eCommerce store
Running a successful eCommerce business requires more than just a great product and marketing strategy. Understanding the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is crucial for making informed decisions about your platform, tools, and long-term scalability. Whether you’re on Shopify, Magento, or another platform, calculating your TCO can help you uncover hidden costs and optimize your...
Traffic up, revenue flat: how to find where your store actually leaks conversion
When traffic is up and revenue is flat, the money is leaking somewhere between the click and the payment, and the usual reflex, blame the ads and buy more traffic, sends good money after a leak it cannot reach. Revenue is traffic multiplied by conversion rate multiplied by average order value, so if traffic rose...
Shopify Specialist, Creative Studio or Full-Service Commerce Agency: Which Model Fits Your Team?
The Shopify specialist vs full-service ecommerce agency decision is not a contest between depth and breadth. It is a question of dependencies. Choose a specialist when the assignment is narrow and your team can coordinate the surrounding work. Choose a creative studio for brand-led experience. Choose full-service when several commerce workstreams must move as one....
The Shopify Agency Shortlist Scorecard: Compare Technical Fit, Delivery Risk and Growth Support
A polished pitch can make Shopify agencies sound equally capable while concealing different teams, assumptions, and operating models. A Shopify agency shortlist scorecard turns that ambiguity into a 100-point comparison of technical fit, delivery risk, and growth support. It combines weighted criteria with pass/fail gates so presentation quality cannot compensate for a capability gap. Copy...
Project Handover or Long-Term Partner? Choosing a Shopify Post-Launch Model Before You Sign
Choose a Shopify agency post-launch support model by assigning each operational workstream to the team with the right capability, capacity, and accountability. A complete handover works for capable internal teams. A retained partner suits continuing specialist demand. A hybrid model divides ownership. Define that model before signing, not in the final week before launch. The...
12 Questions to Ask a Shopify Agency Before You Approve Discovery
The most useful questions to ask a Shopify agency test whether discovery will produce a decision, not merely start a relationship. Before approval, confirm the business outcome, unknowns, participants, deliverables, ownership, price, and exit options. A credible discovery proposal should show how each unresolved question becomes evidence your team can act on. Discovery is often...
How to Read a Shopify Agency Case Study: Evidence, Gaps and Questions to Ask
How to evaluate Shopify agency case study? A Shopify agency case study should help you judge whether an agency can handle a project like yours. Evaluate it through six signals: project comparability, agency attribution, measurement context, independent verification, delivery insight, and recency. A polished result matters less than a clear evidence chain connecting the starting...
How to Compare Shopify Agency Proposals Without Letting Price Decide Everything
To compare Shopify agency proposals fairly, normalize each response into the same scope, ownership, risk, and commercial structure before comparing totals. Mark every requirement as included, excluded, optional, assumed, or unclear. Then score delivery confidence and fit alongside total commercial exposure. Price matters, but only after you know what each price buys. Three proposals can...
What ‘Enterprise-Ready’ Actually Means in a Shopify Agency
The most important enterprise Shopify agency requirements concern control, not prestige. An enterprise-ready partner can change a revenue-critical commerce operation without losing control of dependencies. The test is whether it can govern architecture, data, decisions, releases, operational continuity, and post-launch ownership across multiple teams and connected systems. Enterprise language is easy to borrow. Shopify Plus...
Best Shopify Agency in the Netherlands? A Decision Framework for Finding the Right Fit
Search for the best Shopify agency in the Netherlands and you will find rankings, partner tiers, portfolios, and polished claims. The right agency is the one whose verified experience, delivery model, technical scope, and post-launch ownership match your project. That answer changes with your platform, integrations, markets, team, and commercial model. Once three proposals land...
A redesign that survives three years: designing for scalability, not a relaunch
A redesign for scalability is one built to absorb the changes you cannot yet name: the campaign, the page type, the section that does not exist on the day the redesign ships. Most redesigns are treated as a relaunch, a finished event to be celebrated and then left alone, which is exactly why they start...