Shopify POS vs PayPal Zettle
PayPal Zettle comes out ahead of Shopify POS on 5 of the 8 things that decide this, going by what each company publishes and what independent review sites report. The one that matters for you may be one the leader loses.
The verdict
PayPal Zettle takes it, 5–3 on rounds.
On the published figures and the independent review sites, PayPal Zettle takes 5 of 8 rounds. Treat that as a starting point and check the current figures on both pages, because prices and plans move.
Choose Shopify POS if…
- • You want Shopify POS's edge on who picks up when the till is down and what an independent review scored it
Choose PayPal Zettle if…
- • You want PayPal Zettle's edge on trying it before you pay and what it costs to get a card reader
Round by round
- Round 1Trying it before you payPayPal Zettle winsShopify POS5/10
3-day free trial
a three-day trial, then discounted months
- 3-day free trial, against Free plan
Source: shopify.com ↗
PayPal Zettle wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 2Who picks up when the till is downShopify POS winsPayPal Zettle5/10
9:00 am - 5:00 pm on weekdays (no timezone)
Zettle help center contact page (PayPal brand); PayPal US/USD pages state no Zettle support hours at all
- phone and chat 6am to 6pm PT daily, against 24/7 customer support
Source: zettle.com ↗
Shopify POS wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 3What an independent review scored itShopify POS winsPayPal Zettle5/10
7.5 out of 10
POSUSA expert score, 2026 review
- 7.5 out of 10, against 9 out of 10
Source: posusa.com ↗
Shopify POS wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 4What it costs to get a card readerPayPal Zettle wins
PayPal Zettle wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 5What the software costsPayPal Zettle winsShopify POS5/10
Basic $39/mo
Basic, billed monthly (Pay monthly)
- Basic $39/mo, against No monthly fee
Source: shopify.com ↗
PayPal Zettle8/10No monthly fee
PayPal Point of Sale (formerly Zettle), no monthly fee
Source: paypal.com ↗
PayPal Zettle wins this round on what the published sources say.
- Round 6What each card sale costsPayPal Zettle winsShopify POS5/10
2.6% + 10¢ in person
Basic, billed monthly (Pay monthly)
- 2.6% + 10¢ in person, against 2.29% + 9¢ card-present
Source: shopify.com ↗
PayPal Zettle8/102.29% + 9¢ card-present
PayPal Point of Sale (formerly Zettle), no monthly fee
Source: paypal.com ↗
PayPal Zettle wins this round on what the published sources say.
- Round 7Selling when the internet dropsShopify POS winsPayPal Zettle5/10
Only via third-party SDK apps
PayPal Point of Sale (formerly Zettle), no monthly fee
- Only via third-party SDK apps, against Offline card payments
Source: paypal.com ↗
Shopify POS wins this round on what the published sources say.
- Round 8Tracking stock on the starter planPayPal Zettle winsShopify POS5/10
Inventory needs POS Pro (+$89/mo)
Basic, billed monthly (Pay monthly)
- Inventory needs POS Pro (+$89/mo), against Inventory tracking included
Source: shopify.com ↗
PayPal Zettle8/10Inventory tracking included
PayPal Point of Sale (formerly Zettle), no monthly fee
Source: paypal.com ↗
PayPal Zettle wins this round on what the published sources say.
Side by side
- every day, phone and online chat
- 3-day free trial, against Free plan
- 1.3 out of 5, against 3.7 out of 5
- Basic $39/mo, against $0/mo (Square Free)
- Inventory needs POS Pro (+$89/mo), against Inventory tracking in Free plan
- 1.4 out of 5, against 3.7 out of 5
- Only via third-party SDK apps, against Offline payments on every plan
- phone and chat 6am to 6pm PT daily, against 24/7 support
- 1.4 out of 5, against 2.7 out of 5