Shopify questionAnswer4 min read
Do I Need a Physical Shop to Use Shopify POS?
No. Shopify POS works at markets, pop-ups and events as well as in shops. Here is what the free tier covers, when POS Pro is worth paying for, and what you need to start.
Key takeaways
- Shopify POS is the point-of-sale app that lets you take in-person payments on the same store, products and stock as your online shop.
- You don't need a shop. Shopify says POS works in brick and mortar stores, markets and pop-up shops.
- The free tier, long known as POS Lite, is included with every paid plan. POS Pro costs $89 a month per location and is built for permanent retail sites.
- In supported countries you can take card payments on a phone with Tap to Pay, so a market stall can start without a card reader.
- Who it is for
- Online sellers who sell in person
- Time needed
- 4 minutes to read
- What you need
- A paid Shopify plan
No, you don't need a physical shop to use Shopify POS. Shopify POS is a free app for iOS and Android that turns a phone or tablet into a till connected to your Shopify store, and Shopify lists markets and pop-up shops as places to use it. The free tier included with every plan covers most sellers who only sell in person now and then.
I set up Shopify stores for brands that sell online first and at fairs, markets and events on the side. The details below were checked on Shopify's pricing page and Help Center on 7 November 2026.
What Shopify POS is
Shopify POS is the in-person side of the same Shopify account. Products, prices, customers, discounts and stock all live in one admin, so a sale at a market stall reduces the same inventory your website uses, and the order appears in your Orders list next to your online sales. You download the Shopify POS app, sign in and start ringing up products.
That shared stock is the main reason to use POS over a separate card reader app. If you sell a one-off piece at a weekend fair, it disappears from your website straight away, and you never sell the same item twice.
The free tier vs POS Pro
Shopify's pricing page now describes the free tier as casual in-person selling and says it is "included in every plan". POS Pro is a paid add-on per location, and Shopify describes it as designed for businesses selling from a permanent retail location.
| Feature | Free tier | POS Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Included | $89 a month per location |
| In-person payments | Yes | Yes |
| Staff access | Limited | Retail roles and permissions |
| Exchanges | – | Yes |
| Ship-to-home sales | – | Yes |
| Daily sales reports | – | Yes |
| Hardware warranty | 1 year | 2 years |
For a stall, a pop-up or the odd event, the free tier is enough. POS Pro starts to pay for itself when you have staff on a till every day, need exchanges and stock counts, or want to sell items in person and ship them from the warehouse.
How sellers without a shop use it
- Markets and craft fairs: sell from your phone, take cards, and keep stock in sync with your website.
- Pop-up shops: run a temporary space for a week or a season without a second system.
- Events and trade shows: sell stock and capture customer emails for later marketing.
- Home studios and showrooms: take payment from local customers who collect in person.
Shopify ties each POS sale to a location, so you add one under Settings > Locations. It can be the place you keep your stock. Plans from Basic to Advanced allow up to 10 active locations, and Plus allows 200.
What you need to start
Shopify POS at a glance
- Free tier$0Included with every paid Shopify plan.
- POS Pro$89A month, per location.
- Locations10Active locations on Basic, Grow and Advanced.
- Tap to PayiPhone XS+Needs Shopify Payments in a supported country.
- A Shopify plan. The free POS tier comes with every paid plan, so the Basic plan is enough to start.
- Shopify Payments. Shopify's integrated payment hardware and Tap to Pay both need it, and they are offered in certain countries only.
- A phone or tablet. Install the Shopify POS app from the App Store or Google Play.
- A card reader, if needed. With Tap to Pay on iPhone you can accept contactless cards on the phone itself. A reader helps when you expect chip cards or a queue.
By country
- US: Tap to Pay on iPhone works for US stores (excluding Puerto Rico), and Shopify's integrated card hardware is available.
- UK: Tap to Pay and Shopify hardware are both supported. Many market shoppers pay contactless, so a phone often covers small stalls.
- EU and the Netherlands: Tap to Pay on iPhone is listed for the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Ireland, Spain and several other countries. Your store currency must match your location's local currency.
- Australia: Tap to Pay and integrated hardware are supported, and if you're registered for GST, it applies to market sales just as it does online.
What to do next
- Add a location for your stock and install the POS app. Run a test sale before your first market.
- Get your stock counts right. My guide to managing inventory on Shopify shows how to keep online and in-person stock accurate.
- Offer collection too. Local customers who find you at a market often want to order online and pick up. See how to set up click and collect.
- Compare systems if you open a shop. If you plan a full retail space, my Shopify vs Lightspeed comparison covers the retail side. I can also set the whole thing up as part of a store build, which starts from $300.
Free tools
Check your own store
Free, no sign-up. Each one runs a part of this guide for you.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shopify POS free?
The Shopify POS app is free to download, and its basic in-person selling features are included with every paid Shopify plan. POS Pro is an optional add-on at $89 a month per location, as listed on Shopify's pricing page on 7 November 2026.
What is Shopify POS Lite?
POS Lite is the long-standing name for the free tier of Shopify POS. Shopify's pricing page now calls it casual in-person selling. It covers in-person payments, simple customer profiles and limited staff access, which suits markets and pop-ups.
Can I use Shopify POS at a farmers market?
Yes. Shopify says POS works at markets and pop-up shops. You sell from a phone or tablet, take card payments with a reader or Tap to Pay where supported, and stock updates on your website at the same time.
Do I need a card reader for Shopify POS?
Not always. In supported countries, Tap to Pay on iPhone lets you accept contactless payments on an iPhone XS or newer with Shopify Payments. A card reader is still useful for chip cards and busy stalls.
When should I upgrade to POS Pro?
Upgrade when you run a permanent shop with staff, need exchanges, ship-to-home sales or daily sales reports, or want retail staff permissions. For occasional events, the free tier usually does the job.
Do I need a Shopify plan to use POS?
Yes. Shopify POS runs on a Shopify subscription, and the basic POS features come with every paid plan. The US Basic plan is $25 a month, or $19 a month billed yearly.
Sources
- Shopify POS pricing, Shopify
- Identifying your POS needs, Shopify Help Center
- Shopify POS, Shopify Help Center
- Tap to Pay on iPhone, Shopify Help Center
- Setting up locations, Shopify Help Center
Related services and work
I'm a Shopify developer and CRO specialist. I have built and improved Shopify stores since 2018, completed more than 1,000 projects, and hold a 4.96 average rating across 719 client reviews.
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