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Shopify is well established as one of thebest ecommerce platformsthanks to its all-in-one comprehensive digital commerce tool kit.
Although both platforms target the ecommerce market, they cater to very different groups of online merchants.
Shopify feels like the more comprehensive approach for businesses that primarily focus on online sales.
Shopify is a comprehensive ecommerce platform designed for online-first businesses, offering extensive customization and scalability options.
Square is an integrated commerce platform that seamlessly bridges physical and digital sales channels.
Shopify is better equipped for pure ecommerce, offering one of thebest website buildersfor online shops.
But, Square shines at unifying physical and digital sales, even if it misses out on dropshipping support.
That said, both platforms offer inventory management and point-of-sale integrations.
Setup is simple and requires minimal input - enter business details, pick features, and upload a logo.
you’re able to only access human support advisors for complex issues after interacting with the AI assistant.
However, the system is available 24/7, which can be useful for merchants in different time zones.
Square has a traditionalist multi-channel support approach but with caveats.
Support is offered via email and live chat, and the staff monitors all questions during business hours.
On one hand, Square provides direct human interaction, but its hours are limited.
On the other hand, Shopify is available at all times with an AI-first approach.
Square’s infrastructure is located in highly-secure facilities monitored by dedicated security staff 24/7 with full PCI-DSS compliance.
Square’s custom algorithms automatically identify and freeze suspicious activity, growing in effectiveness as its user base expands.
But, a strong technical team is required on the merchant side to set up a secure solution.
Both platforms take security seriously, but in different ways.
Shopify gives you customizable security options with more advanced features.
Square has a more streamlined, automated security system.
10 new generative AI features have been added to automate operations and bring velocity to workflows.
Both platforms are investing massively in AI and automation, but they approach extras differently.
Although the two solutions offer full-stack hardware services, their core audiences are different.
Shopify positions its hardware around integrated retail operations with large upfront costs into the hardware.
Square includes more flexible options to lower the entry point with financing alternatives to enable smaller operations.