Hi all, I am transitioning my POS and online to Shopify from Square.
I have been trying to get someone at Shopify to talk to me for three months, but have had no response. I just want to double check I am buying the kit that’s best for me. The site is really very vague. I would have bought it all weeks ago if I felt confident.
I am confused that one on the ipad stands only takes older ipads which are no longer made. However it is the stand I prefer. I dont want to buy something that will be obsolete soon.
I want an Ipad mini facing the customer, rather than faffing about with swivelling the screen. I can see comments online that you can do this, but nothing on the shopify site. Is swivelling the screen a problem / slow down check out?
Does anyone have the ipad mini separately facing the customer?
I really need thi off my ‘to do’ list . Ive been working on it for too long.
Thinking it through before switching from Square to Shopify is a smart choice. Two things I want to make clear here:
1. Shopify officially only guarantees support for their approved hardware list. If you want zero headaches and full support, you’re expected to stick to that.
2. Many merchants successfully use third-party stands or screens (since those are often just holders or displays), but things like card readers and printers usually need to be Shopify-approved for reliable function.
So:
Payments and printing: Follow Shopify’s approved hardware list
Stands and screens: Safe to mix and match
However, make sure not to buy swivel or enclosure stands designed for older iPads. If you buy those without checking, you could end up with hardware that doesn’t fit modern models. Merchants often avoid this by buying universal or third-party stands.
I liked your idea of using a dedicated iPad mini facing the customer to avoid extra taps, awkward angles, and wear on the main stand. It will definitely make the checkout process faster and smoother.
For your situation, consider Shopify POS Go to simplify things. It’s an all-in-one handheld device that works as a POS terminal, barcode scanner, and card reader.
You’re right, Shopify’s hardware pages are pretty light on the details about stands—especially what works with which iPad. It leaves a lot of us guessing!
For a store like yours, you can go for the Shopify POS Terminal Countertop Kit. It creates a really clean, professional setup and has its own screen for customers, so you don’t need a swivel stand. Plus, the card reader for tap, chip, and swipe is built right in.
Shopify staff note: The POS experiences store owners have shared here are the best place to start if you’re weighing Shopify and Squarespace. When you want a structured comparison of features and setup, our Shopify vs Squarespace comparison can help fill in the gaps.