Shopify POS vs Square:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Square had more branded searches than Shopify POS among POS systems in Australia. Square had about 5,400 branded searches, while Shopify POS had 1,300. Square made up 54.4% of all POS system searches we track, and Shopify POS accounted for 13.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about POS systems, Square appeared in all five answers and Shopify POS in three. Square was mentioned before Shopify POS in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Square, about 4 searches for every 1 for Shopify POS
Who does AI mention more?
Square, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Square, named ahead of Shopify POS in every answer
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Top POS systems in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Square appeared in all five answers. Shopify POS was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Square was listed before Shopify POS in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Square1st
Zeller2nd
Lightspeed3rd
Shopify POS4th
Idealpos5th
Abacus6th
SwiftPOS–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Square5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Lightspeed5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Zeller5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Shopify POS3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Idealpos1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Abacus1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- SwiftPOS0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about POS systems
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best POS system for a small business in Australia?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which POS system is best for a cafe or restaurant?”
Asked ChatGPT
“How do I choose a point of sale system for a retail shop?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“pos system”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best pos system for cafe”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in Australia on October 23, 2026.
Is Shopify POS or Square more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Shopify POS and Square by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven POS systems we track, month by month, from searches in Australia.
Share of searches by month for Square, Shopify POS. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Square | Shopify POS | Lightspeed | SwiftPOS | Idealpos | Zeller | Abacus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 49.9% | 14.7% | 11.3% | 10% | 6.7% | 1.9% | 5.4% |
| Nov 2025 | 50.7% | 15% | 11.5% | 10.1% | 5.5% | 1.6% | 5.5% |
| Dec 2025 | 45.6% | 13.8% | 13.8% | 11.3% | 7.5% | 1.7% | 6.1% |
| Jan 2026 | 45.6% | 16.5% | 12.7% | 11.1% | 7.5% | 1.8% | 4.9% |
| Feb 2026 | 44.6% | 16.1% | 12.4% | 12.4% | 7.3% | 1.4% | 5.9% |
| Mar 2026 | 46.1% | 16.8% | 13.6% | 10.5% | 6.2% | 1.8% | 5% |
| Apr 2026 | 50.5% | 14.9% | 11.5% | 10.1% | 5.5% | 2% | 5.5% |
| May 2026 | 52.3% | 15.5% | 9.7% | 9.7% | 5.7% | 1.4% | 5.7% |
| Jun 2026 | 58.2% | 14.1% | 8.8% | 7.8% | 4.2% | 3.4% | 3.4% |
| Jul 2026 | 60.2% | 11.9% | 9.1% | 8% | 4.4% | 2.9% | 3.6% |
| Aug 2026 | 57% | 10.6% | 10.6% | 9.3% | 5.1% | 3.4% | 4.1% |
| Sep 2026 | 54.4% | 13.1% | 10.1% | 8.9% | 4.8% | 4.8% | 3.9% |
How has the Shopify POS and Square comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Square was ahead of Shopify POS in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Shopify POS’s share of searches among POS systems in Australia moved from 14.7% to 13.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 1.3K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Square’s share of searches among POS systems in Australia moved from 49.9% to 54.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 4.4K to 5.4K.
How did search popularity change for Australia POS systems in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Shopify POS overtook Lightspeed to rank 2nd among POS systems in Australia, with 13.1% of the searches.
In September 2026, Square lost share of searches among POS systems in Australia, from 57% to 54.4%.
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Shopify POS’s and Square’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Shopify POS
1 branded search term
- shopify pos
Square
2 branded search terms
- square point of sale
- square pos
Other head-to-heads among POS systems
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