Shopify vs Square vs Lightspeed: Canada rates, Interac, hardware

This is a rates-and-hardware comparison for Canada, dated 29 August 2026. Every processing number below is taken from a public Canadian (or, for Lightspeed software, official public) pricing page. If a Canadian Interac rate was not on that page, it is marked unverified.

Narrative context — who each system is for — lives in best POS systems in Canada. Card acceptance without picking a POS yet: how to accept credit cards. If the other shortlist is Helcim rather than Shopify: Square vs Helcim for Canadian small businesses. Checked against public vendor and CRA pages, 29 August 2026.

Published Canada rates

Worked numbers (illustrative only)

On a $50 CAD in-person sale, using only the public rates above:

• Square Visa/MC/Amex at 2.5%: $1.25 fee, $48.75 before other costs.
• Square Interac at 0.75% + 7¢: $0.375 + $0.07 = $0.445, about $49.56 left. Square’s own fee page uses a similar $50 Interac example.
• Shopify Interac at 15¢: $49.85 left, plus you are already paying the Shopify plan.
• Shopify Basic in-person credit at 2.6%: $1.30 on $50.

Those examples ignore GST on the sale, tips, and refunds. They are arithmetic on published rates, not a promise of your effective rate.

Hardware notes

Square Reader was listed at $69 listed for Square Reader on the Canadian Reader page, with the same 2.5% / Interac 0.75% + 7¢ pair. Shopify requires supported, region-specific hardware for Shopify Payments in person (POS Terminal, WisePad 3, Tap & Chip — availability depends on country). Lightspeed is iPad-centric kits sold through their hardware catalogue.

Interac tap is the Canadian customer expectation. If a vendor only ships a US magstripe reader, it is the wrong box.

How to choose on rates alone

1. Estimate Interac share. In many Canadian counters it is most of the volume.
2. Add software. Shopify Basic at $49/month needs a lot of 15¢ Interac savings to beat Square’s $0 software if you do not need the online store.
3. If you already need Shopify for e-commerce, POS is an add-on decision (Lite vs Pro), not a new vendor.
4. If inventory is the product, get a Lightspeed CA quote instead of forcing Square Retail.