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Head to head

Shift4Shop vs Square Online

A side-by-side look at Shift4Shop and Square Online. On our scoring, Square Online comes out ahead — but the right pick depends on your priorities.

Platform
Shift4ShopAll-in-one
Square Online logoSquare OnlineAll-in-one
Scores
SellingScene score3.8/54.1/5
User rating3.74
Reviews5401,320
Pricing
Starting priceFreeFree
Pricing modelfree in the US with Shift4 Paymentsfree plan + processing fees
Transaction fees0% with Shift4 Payments2.9% + 30¢ online
Hosting & setup
Hosting typeFully hosted (SaaS)Fully hosted (SaaS)
Free trialFree with Shift4 PaymentsFree plan available
Staff accountsBy planRole-based
Product limitUnlimitedUnlimited
Payments & security
Payment gatewaysShift4 + 100+ gatewaysSquare (primary)
SSL includedYesYes
PCI compliantYesYes
Gift cardsYesYes
Catalog & content
Themes / templates100+ themesTemplate-based
App marketplaceApp store & integrationsSquare App Marketplace
Multi-currencyYesNo
Multi-languageYesNo
POS includedYesYes
Abandoned cart recoveryYesYes
Built-in blogYesNo
Tools & flexibility
Drag-and-drop editorYesYes
API accessYesYes
Mobile appNoYes
Support channels24/7 phone, chat, email (US)Phone & chat (business hours), email
ActionsRead reviewRead review

Why pick Shift4Shop?

Shift4Shop (formerly 3dcart) offers a deep, feature-rich platform that becomes free if you process payments through Shift4. That bargain comes with dated interfaces and a payment lock-in that does not suit everyone.

Best for: US sellers who will use Shift4 payment processing

Read the full Shift4Shop review

Why pick Square Online?

Square Online is the obvious add-on for businesses already running Square POS in the real world. The free plan is genuinely usable, though serious online-first brands will outgrow its lighter feature set.

Best for: Retail & restaurants already using Square

Read the full Square Online review