Lightspeed vs Shopify: Get the top-rated POS system
Break up with your Shopify POS and get to know Lightspeed.
| Main features | Shopify POS | |
|---|---|---|
|
Complete inventory system
Sell serialized inventory, create assemblies out of your products and easily organize items with multiple variations using matrices. Run your inventory with one centralized database for your store and online shop.
|
• |
• |
|
Contactless, mobile payments
Offer your customers a way to pay contactlessly, anywhere in store or for curbside pickup.
|
• |
• |
|
Item import tool
Turn your iOS or Android device into a powerful inventory management tool with our Scanner app. Scanner lets you count products, track inventory and fulfill orders easily.
|
• |
• |
|
Complete omnichannel solution on one platform
Built-in item importing tool is included with the system, allowing you to import and update items in bulk.
|
• |
• |
|
Custom reorder points
Manage your eCom and physical stores from the same system for increased efficiency and customer experience consistency.
|
• |
|
|
Purchase order management
Never run out of stock. Set your desired reorder points for all your products and see when it's time to restock without needing an extra app.
|
• |
• |
|
Complete multi-store management
Order from any vendor and centralize purchasing with built-in purchase orders.
|
• |
• |
|
Special orders and layaways
Reporting, gift cards, customer profiles and inventory management across all locations, from a single cloud-based platform on all plans.
|
• |
|
|
Customer relationship management
Place special orders from the sales screen for products you don't have in stock or set items aside as a layaway order for your customers. Both features included in the POS for free.
|
• |
• |
|
Integrated omnichannel Loyalty program
From our most basic plan to most advanced, get the tools to track relevant information about your customers to personalize your service.
|
• |
|
|
Complete built-in interactive reporting
Integrate with an omnichannel loyalty platform with built-in email marketing, a rewards program and a customer insight dashboard.
|
• |
• |
|
Cloud-based across all devices
Run comprehensive reports to track your sales, employees and overall performance over the last week, month, year or more.
|
• |
• |
|
Native inventory scanning app
Run your retail operation from your mobile device and access all your sales and customer data remotely.
|
• |
|
|
Track service and work orders
Create work orders, track repair status, accept deposits and create quotes for customers without paying extra for the tools.
|
• |
|
|
Extensive network of integrations
Build the perfect POS solution for your business with a huge selection of plug-and-play integrations built in-house or by our trusted partners.
|
• |
• |
|
Integrated B2B catalogs
24/7 phone, email and chat support included with every purchase.
|
• |
|
|
1:1 onboarding and 24/7 support
The POS has been used and trusted by retailers globally for over 10 years, and is backed by experienced local retail experts who understand your reality.
|
• |
|
|
Local multi-lingual support teams around the world
Take the POS for a free spin before you commit.
|
• |
|
|
Direct connection to NuORDER by Lightspeed
The NuORDER marketplace allows you to connect and order thousands of products from popular fashion, sporting and gift brands directly from your POS.
|
• |
|
|
Free trial accounts
Access thousands of products automatically synced with your POS and add key product information with Lightspeed's B2B Catalog.
|
• |
• |
| Complete inventory system | |
|---|---|
|
• |
|
| Shopify POS |
• |
| Contactless, mobile payments | |
|---|---|
|
• |
|
| Shopify POS |
• |
| Item import tool | |
|---|---|
|
• |
|
| Shopify POS |
• |
| Complete omnichannel solution on one platform | |
|---|---|
|
• |
|
| Shopify POS |
• |
| Custom reorder points | |
|---|---|
|
• |
|
| Shopify POS |
|
| Purchase order management | |
|---|---|
|
• |
|
| Shopify POS |
• |
| Complete multi-store management | |
|---|---|
|
• |
|
| Shopify POS |
• |
| Special orders and layaways | |
|---|---|
|
• |
|
| Shopify POS |
|
| Customer relationship management | |
|---|---|
|
• |
|
| Shopify POS |
• |
| Integrated omnichannel Loyalty program | |
|---|---|
|
• |
|
| Shopify POS |
|
| Complete built-in interactive reporting | |
|---|---|
|
• |
|
| Shopify POS |
• |
| Cloud-based across all devices | |
|---|---|
|
• |
|
| Shopify POS |
• |
| Native inventory scanning app | |
|---|---|
|
• |
|
| Shopify POS |
|
| Track service and work orders | |
|---|---|
|
• |
|
| Shopify POS |
|
| Extensive network of integrations | |
|---|---|
|
• |
|
| Shopify POS |
• |
| Integrated B2B catalogs | |
|---|---|
|
• |
|
| Shopify POS |
|
| 1:1 onboarding and 24/7 support | |
|---|---|
|
• |
|
| Shopify POS |
|
| Local multi-lingual support teams around the world | |
|---|---|
|
• |
|
| Shopify POS |
|
| Direct connection to NuORDER by Lightspeed | |
|---|---|
|
• |
|
| Shopify POS |
|
| Free trial accounts | |
|---|---|
|
• |
|
| Shopify POS |
• |
Without Lightspeed, I couldn’t track anything. I wouldn’t know what I was making. When other companies ask for anything, we can actually pull reports and send them - this makes us look a lot more professional than just writing stuff up on Excel. When you do things for accounts and dealers, speed really shines. It’s just a lot more professional. I don't have to call the CPA and have her write a letter head. I can just do it myself from Lightspeed.
Logan Elliott, Bros Bike Shop
Why is Lightspeed better than Shopify?
Lightspeed Retail was designed to meet the complex needs of small and medium-sized retailers. Lightspeed offers enterprise-level technology without the enterprise-level learning curve. Shopify is missing key features SMBs need to run their business efficiently, including inventory management tools, complex sales workflows, varied item types and more.
Many Shopify customers require 3rd party apps for their day-to-day worklows. Shopify POS lacks the ability to manage work orders or vendor returns. And the POS can only be used on iOS devices, so you don’t have the choice between using an iPad or a computer.
Lightspeed offers comprehensive inventory management, work orders, vendor returns, layaways, varied item types, special orders and more. Lightspeed Retail can be accessed through our app or through a browser, so you get to choose how you want to run your software. Plus, we offer free onboarding, so when it's time for setup, you'll have the support you need to get up and running fast.
Does Lightspeed integrate with Shopify?
You can integrate Lightspeed with eCommerce platforms such as Shopify through use of integration partners such as Accumula.
However, we strongly recommend using Lightspeed eCom with Lightspeed Retail for the most seamless omnichannel experience. Lightspeed eCom was designed to integrate with Lightspeed Retail, no 3rd party connector apps needed. You’ll benefit from automatically syncing inventory management, omnichannel built-in reports and more. Lightspeed Loyalty’s omnichannel features were designed with Retail and eCom working together in mind.
What is the difference between Shopify and Lightspeed for inventory management?
Simply put, a comprehensive inventory management system is built into Lightspeed. With Shopify, it’s not. Even their Pro POS is missing key inventory management features.
With Lightspeed, you can view the average cost of inventory items. You can manage serialized inventory, sell boxed inventory and manage and sell assembly items (such as gift baskets). You can handle vendor returns and work orders. Shopify’s POS is missing those features. And you need to upgrade to Shopify Pro for easy exchanges, purchase orders, inventory counts and item transfers between locations. Lightspeed Retail supports those features on all plans.