Compare · Shops, online stores and POS
SME AI Office vs Shopify
Shopify is a global online store platform with thousands of apps; SME AI Office is a Singapore website, shop, POS and back office in one, with a free plan.
Prices checked 30 September 2026
The short answer
Choose Shopify if you want a large choice of store themes and thousands of apps, card checkout through Shopify Payments, and a platform built for many locations and selling overseas. Basic is S$19 a month billed yearly, or S$19 month to month.
Choose SME AI Office if you run one shop in Singapore and want the website, POS, stock and accounting in one place, with a free PayNow QR on every order. It is free, with a small 0.5% fee only on card and automatic PayNow payments, against S$348 a year for Shopify Basic billed yearly.
Side by side
| SME AI Office | Shopify | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free. A small 0.5% platform fee, only on card and automatic PayNow paymentsYour own PayNow QR and cash: no fee | Basic S$29 a month billed yearly (S$39 monthly); Grow S$99, Advanced S$399 billed yearlySGD prices on shopify.com/sg |
| Free plan | Yes, for good. Website, shop, POS and stock, no card, no cap on sales; a small smeaio.com mark | No free plan; free trial, 3 days, then $1 a month for the first 3 months |
| PayNow | Free PayNow QR for the exact amount on every order, straight to your bank, on every plan | Not in Shopify Payments' Singapore list: cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Shop Pay, GrabPay (early access) |
| Card payments | Through your own Stripe account: Stripe's fee plus 0.5% on Free, 0% on Pro 365 | Shopify Payments 3.2% + S$0.50 online on Basic; third-party providers add a 2% fee on Basic |
| POS at the counter | POS included free in the browser: barcode scanner, cash, PayNow QR, card on your own terminal | Shopify POS, in person from 3% + S$0.50 on Basic; POS Pro S$129 a month per location |
| Staff accounts | Team logins on Pro 365, no per-user fee | None on Basic; up to 5 on Grow, up to 15 on Advanced |
| Apps and themes | Four website looks (Sky, Linen, Ink, Pop); no app store | Thousands of apps and a theme store |
Only on SME AI Office
- Free planYes, for good. Website, shop, POS and stock, no card, no cap on sales; a small smeaio.com mark
- Staff accountsTeam logins on Pro 365, no per-user fee
Which one fits
SME AI Office fits when
- You run one shop in Singapore and want the POS, stock, website and accounting in one system.
- You want customers to pay by a free PayNow QR, straight to your bank.
- You want to start at S$0, with no monthly fee and no cap on sales.
Shopify fits when
- You want a large choice of themes and thousands of apps to add to your store.
- You sell overseas or run several locations and want a platform built for that.
- You want card checkout with Apple Pay, Google Pay and Shop Pay through Shopify Payments.
Free. A small 0.5% platform fee, only on card and automatic PayNow payments.
Questions
Is SME AI Office cheaper than Shopify in Singapore?
For one shop, yes. SME AI Office is free with the website, online shop, POS and stock, and no cap on sales; a small 0.5% fee applies only to card and automatic PayNow payments, and your own PayNow QR costs nothing. Shopify Basic is S$19 a month billed yearly (S$148 a year) or S$19 month to month, before card fees.
Does Shopify support PayNow in Singapore?
PayNow is not among the payment methods Shopify Payments lists for Singapore, which are cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Shop Pay and GrabPay in early access. On Basic, Shopify adds a 2% fee when a third-party payment provider is used. SME AI Office puts a free PayNow QR for the exact amount on every order.
What is a Singapore alternative to Shopify for a small shop?
SME AI Office is built in Singapore for a shop that sells at a counter and online. One product list feeds the POS and the website, stock comes off both, and every sale goes into the profit and loss by itself. It is free to start; Pro 365 adds the GST return, staff payroll and the AI assistant.
Does SME AI Office have a POS like Shopify POS?
Yes. SME AI Office POS runs in the browser on a laptop or tablet, works with a USB or Bluetooth barcode scanner, and takes cash, a PayNow QR, card on your own terminal or bank transfer. It is on the Free plan. Shopify's POS Pro is S$129 a month per location.
Can I move from Shopify to SME AI Office?
Yes. Send us the link to your Shopify store, or a product spreadsheet exported from it. We copy your products, prices and photos across and set up your website free, on any plan, and your Shopify store stays open until you are happy. WhatsApp us on +65 9613 7676 and we help you move it over.
What does Shopify do that SME AI Office does not?
Shopify has thousands of apps, a theme store, Shopify Payments checkout with Apple Pay and Shop Pay, and plans for many locations. SME AI Office has no app store, no courier integration and no Shopee or Lazada sync, and Pro 365 covers one shop; two or more shops are Done for you.
Shopify facts are from shopify.com/sg/pricing, shopify.com/sg/pos/pricing, Shopify Help: payment methods in Singapore, checked on 30 September 2026. Prices are as shown there, including any shown only as “$” with no currency. Shopify is a trademark of Shopify Inc.. SME AI Office is not connected with Shopify.