What Is a Shopify Virtual POS and How Does It Work?
A Shopify virtual POS is an integration method that connects a bank's payment infrastructure to a Shopify store so customers can pay by credit or debit card. As the online counterpart of a physical POS terminal, a virtual POS processes payments through the bank; on Shopify, however, a bank's virtual POS can only be connected through an approved Shopify payment app (PayTR, Craftgate, etc.).
In Turkey, a virtual POS is integrated with Shopify using the API credentials you receive from the bank the business has signed an agreement with. In some cases, this setup offers a lower commission rate than payment service providers; however, the integration process is more complex and each bank has different technical requirements.
To compare all Shopify payment options in Turkey: Adding Shopify Payment Methods: A Guide for Turkey
Virtual POS or iyzico/PayTR: Which Is the Right Choice?
There is no clear-cut answer to this question; the decision depends on your transaction volume, your relationships with banks and your technical capacity.
At Nodus Works, we have observed that for stores with fewer than 100 orders a month, the commission advantage of a virtual POS rarely makes up for the complexity of the integration. For stores with 300+ orders a month and a high average order value, however, a virtual POS offers a significant cost advantage.
Rule of Thumb: If your monthly transaction volume is below 50,000 TL, start with iyzico or PayTR. If you regularly turn over more than 50,000 TL, open talks with a bank about a virtual POS; at this level, banks offer better rates.
We cover the full steps for setting up iyzico in our Shopify iyzico integration guide, and a comparison of all local and international payment methods in our guide to Shopify payment collection methods.
Turkish Banks Compatible with Shopify
Turkish banks offering a virtual POS that can be integrated with Shopify, and their general commission ranges:
Important Note: Shopify does not support virtual POS integration directly. Most Turkish banks are not on Shopify's list of ready-made integrations. To connect a bank's virtual POS to Shopify, you therefore need to set up the integration through PayTR or a similar payment gateway.
Shopify Virtual POS Setup: Two Different Methods
Method 1: Through PayTR Virtual POS (Recommended)
In addition to its own infrastructure, PayTR acts as a payment gateway that connects bank virtual POS terminals to Shopify. With this method, you sign an agreement with PayTR, and PayTR sets up the connection with the bank for you. PayTR handles the technical integration; you don't apply to the bank separately, and your transactions are charged the PayTR commission rather than the bank rates above.
Steps:
- Apply to PayTR and request the virtual POS service
- Choose from the banks PayTR works with
- Install PayTR's Shopify App Store integration
- Enter the API credentials in Shopify Admin
The advantage of this method is that it removes the technical complexity of a bank integration. For details: How to Connect PayTR to Shopify
Method 2: Direct Bank Integration (Technical)
A direct bank integration is carried out using Shopify's payment gateway API. Because only approved Payments Partners can build payment apps on Shopify, this route depends on the bank having a Shopify-approved app, or on a custom payment extension built with Shopify's approval for an eligible Shopify Plus store.
Steps:
- Apply to the bank for a virtual POS
- Once the bank approves, get the API documentation and test credentials
- If the bank or payment institution has a Shopify-approved app, install it; a store-specific payment extension can only be built for eligible Shopify Plus stores and with Shopify's approval
- Test in a sandbox environment
- Go live
This method can give you a lower commission rate, but it involves development costs and ongoing maintenance.
Applying for a Bank Virtual POS: Required Documents
Banks usually ask for the following documents when you apply for a virtual POS:
- Tax certificate
- Trade Registry Gazette
- Signature circular
- Company bank account (preferably at the bank you are applying to)
- Website address and a statement of business activity
- ID document of the authorized person
The application review process varies from bank to bank; it usually takes 5-15 business days. Some banks may expect your store to have been active for a certain period or to meet a minimum turnover requirement.
Tip: Having a business account at the bank you apply to speeds up approval considerably. Applying through a bank where you are already a customer also gives you an edge in rate negotiations.
Installment Setup: What to Watch Out for with a Virtual POS
With a bank virtual POS, installments can only be offered to cardholders of the bank you have an agreement with. To offer installments on cards from other banks, you need additional bank agreements.
iyzico and PayTR have the advantage here; a single integration gives you access to the installment infrastructure of multiple banks. To achieve similar coverage with a virtual POS, you need to sign separate agreements with multiple banks.
Shopify Installment Limitation: Shopify's standard checkout page does not automatically display specific installment options. To present installment options to customers at checkout, the payment provider needs to support them and, if necessary, you may need to customize checkout with Shopify Plus.
Shopify Virtual POS Integration Checklist
Once setup is complete, go through the following checklist:
- Have successful payments been taken with at least 3 different test cards in the sandbox environment?
- Does the 3D Secure flow work correctly?
- Has a failed payment scenario been tested?
- Are orders created automatically in Shopify?
- Are webhook notifications delivered correctly?
- Were the API keys changed when going live?
- Has the Shopify transaction fee been taken into account?
Using a Virtual POS Alongside iyzico/PayTR
Some stores want to use both a bank virtual POS and iyzico or PayTR at the same time. Shopify does not support this directly; only one payment provider can be active at a time.
If you want to offer different payment methods for different markets or customer segments, you can use the HidePay app.
Legal Compliance: Virtual POS, BDDK and TCMB
The virtual POS infrastructure you use must be licensed: banks operate under a license from BDDK (Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency), while payment institutions such as PayTR and iyzico operate under a license from TCMB (the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey). Connecting an unlicensed third-party payment infrastructure to your store can lead to legal sanctions.
For the other legal requirements your Shopify store needs to meet: Shopify Turkey Guide
FAQ: Shopify Virtual POS
How do you integrate a virtual POS with Shopify? Because Shopify does not support direct bank virtual POS integration, the integration is usually done through a payment gateway such as PayTR. The bank virtual POS connection is set up through PayTR, the API credentials are entered in Shopify Admin, and the system goes live after testing.
Which is cheaper, a virtual POS or iyzico? In terms of commission, a bank virtual POS is usually in the 1.75%-2.30% range, while iyzico's official single-payment rate for corporate sellers in 2026 is 4.29% + 0.25 TL. However, the virtual POS application and integration process is longer and more complex. For low-volume stores the difference stays small; for high-volume stores a virtual POS offers a clear cost advantage.
Which banks offer a virtual POS for Shopify? Garanti BBVA, İş Bankası, Yapı Kredi, Akbank, Halkbank and Vakıfbank offer virtual POS services. However, these banks do not integrate with Shopify directly; the connection needs to be set up through a payment gateway such as PayTR.
How long does a virtual POS application take? A bank virtual POS application is usually concluded within 5-15 business days. If you already have a business account at the bank, the process can be shorter.
Can a virtual POS accept international cards? Yes, international Visa and Mastercard cards are accepted through a virtual POS. However, the payment is processed in TRY.
Can you set up a virtual POS without Shopify Plus? Yes. A virtual POS integration can be set up through PayTR on all Shopify plans. Shopify Plus only offers an advantage if you want to customize the checkout page.
How do you set up a Shopify virtual POS? To set up a virtual POS on Shopify, a payment gateway such as PayTR is usually used. With this method, you don't apply to the bank separately: you apply to PayTR, set up the Shopify integration through PayTR and add the API credentials in Shopify Admin; transactions are charged the PayTR commission, not the bank rate. After testing, the system goes live.
What is the best virtual POS for Shopify in Turkey? Garanti BBVA and İş Bankası virtual POS terminals are widely used options. However, instead of a virtual POS, providers such as iyzico or PayTR that make integration easy are a more practical starting point for small and mid-sized stores.
What is the difference between a Shopify virtual POS and iyzico? A virtual POS is a payment infrastructure obtained directly from a bank and usually offers a lower commission; however, its integration is complex. iyzico is a third-party provider listed on the Shopify App Store and is much easier to set up. For stores with a high transaction volume, a virtual POS is more cost-effective.
Conclusion
When you choose the right bank and integration method, a Shopify virtual POS setup can meaningfully reduce your payment costs. However, the integration is a longer and more technical process than with iyzico or PayTR.
Deciding which payment method suits your store best means weighing your revenue goals and technical capacity together. As part of our Shopify integration services, we help you choose and set up your payment infrastructure. To compare all Shopify payment options in Turkey, take a look at our Shopify Payment Methods guide. Payment integration is part of a whole that should be planned together with other operational categories such as shipping and accounting; we cover all integration categories in our Shopify Integrations guide.
