What Is Shopify POS?
Shopify describes its POS system as giving retailers ‘the power to sell in person backed by the power to sell online, all by the world’s best commerce platform’.
It provides one back-office system to manage all your in-person and online sales, point-of-sale hardware to enable selling at stores or events, and works in tandem with the Shopify platform to sell online and across social media.
Shopify POS is ideal for retail businesses that want to combine the benefits of eCommerce with physical store sales. It helps you stay connected to customers wherever they shop.
What Is Lightspeed POS?
Lightspeed is an online platform and POS system. It describes itself as a ‘one-stop commerce platform that empowers merchants around the world to simplify, scale and provide exceptional customer experiences’.
It has specific versions for ‘restaurant’, ‘retail’ and ‘golf’. For the purposes of this article we’ll concentrate on the retail version.
Lightspeed POS vs Shopify: Key Differences
Shopify POS and Lightspeed are both popular point-of-sale systems, but they serve different types of businesses. Shopify POS is best for retailers who started online and want to expand into physical locations. It integrates with Shopify’s ecommerce platform, making it ideal for managing online and in-store sales in one place. It’s user-friendly and supports basic inventory and reporting features, with more advanced tools available on its Pro plan.
In contrast, Lightspeed is designed for brick-and-mortar businesses with complex inventory needs, such as multi-location retail stores and restaurants. It offers advanced inventory management, including vendor catalogues, purchase orders, and product variants. Lightspeed also provides industry-specific solutions, particularly for restaurants and hospitality, where Shopify POS lacks support.
While Shopify POS is easier to set up and more cost-effective for small to mid-sized businesses, Lightspeed is more customisable and better suited for businesses that need detailed reporting, staff management, and specialised workflows. Shopify relies on Shopify Payments for the best rates, while Lightspeed offers more payment processor flexibility. Overall, Shopify POS excels in simplicity and ecommerce integration, while Lightspeed is the stronger choice for complex, high-volume, or industry-specific retail operations.
Shopify POS vs Lightspeed: A Detailed Comparison
1. Pricing and Fees
| Shopify POS | Lightspeed POS | |
|---|---|---|
| Software Cost | - Starter Plan: $5/month (includes 1 POS Lite location) - Retail Plan: $89/month (includes POS Pro features) | Prices scale based on locations and number of required registers. The following is based on 1 location and 1 register. Basic Plan for independent retailers: £75/month. Core Plan for business growth: £149/month. Plus Plan for scaling established retail operations: £180/month |
| Transaction Fees | - Online Transactions: 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction; - In-Person Transactions: 2.6% + 10¢ per transaction; - Third-Party Payment Providers: Additional 2% fee | Fees vary by location but using the UK as an example, the monthly transaction fee starts at £75 for up to £15,000 transaction volume. This rises to £1,055 for £192,000 transaction volume. |
| Additional Fees | - POS Pro Add-On: $89/month per location for advanced features | In addition to the base plan cost, Lightspeed charges a fee per extra store location as well as per register. With Shopify, you can add an unlimited number of POS registers per store location at no extra cost. Shopify’s lowest plans include ecommerce, POS, payments, reporting, as well as the ability to integrate with accounting and loyalty programs. To get this same feature set on Lightspeed, you must be on more expensive plans. |
📌 Key Takeaway: Shopify has a more transparent and easy to understand pricing structure. At first the two look comparable but Shopify is more affordable, especially if your business has an ecom website, multiple locations and you need multiple registers.
2. Hardware and Compatibility
Shopify POS Hardware
| Hardware | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|
| POS Terminal Countertop Kit | A complete, wired solution ideal for countertop sales. This kit includes the POS Terminal but does not include a tablet. | $459 |
| Tap & Chip Card Reader | A versatile card reader designed for accepting tap and chip payments both at the counter and on the go. | $49 |
| Tap to Pay on iPhone | Enables merchants to accept contactless payments directly using a compatible iPhone, eliminating the need for additional hardware. | Free |
| Tap to Pay on Android | Allows merchants to accept contactless payments using a compatible Android device without additional hardware. | Free |
Lightspeed POS Hardware
| Hardware | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Star TSP100 USB/LAN | Lets you customise receipts to your own needs and branding | Price on request |
| TM-m30 | Printer | Price on request |
| Star mPOP | Bluetooth cash drawer and receipt printer | Price on request |
| Cash drawer | Can connect through compatible printers | Price on request |
| Dymo 550 | Label printers can be connected to your device by USB | Price on request |
| Socket mobile S700/S740 | Bluetooth scanner, certified by Apple and integrates with the iOS app | Price on request |
| Honeywell USB | Scanner that integrates with POS | Price on request |
| Stand | To mount your iPad | Price on request |
📌 Key Takeaway: Most of the additional equipment for Shopify is free, barring the main POS terminal, whereas the ‘price on request’ suggests that each piece of hardware for Lightspeed does have a cost attached. Both brands are compatible with Shopify, but the Shopify equipment may be easier to set up as it’s part of the same tech family.
3. Features and Functionality
| Feature | Shopify POS | Lightspeed POS |
|---|---|---|
| Inventory Management | Multi-channel syncing, low stock alerts | This is an area where Lightspeed outclasses Shopify POS, with product categorisation, smart pricing, waste tracking and warranty tracking. |
| Customer Profiles | Integrated CRM, order history | Can be created to store information, order history, email preferences and loyalty programme integration. |
| eCommerce Integration | Seamless Shopify store connection | Dedicated Shopify integration to manage locations and channels in real time. |
| Reporting & Analytics | Advanced reports in POS Pro | Real time insights into your sales, product, and team performance with customisable reports. |
| Multi-Location Support | Yes (with POS Pro) | Manage all locations from a unified retail POS. |
📌 Key Takeaway: Shopify POS provides easier management, syncing all your sales, inventory, and expenses.
Lightspeed is great for useful capabilities like payment reports and discounts. However, the platform is less intuitive to navigate than Shopify’s. Discounts and vouchers prove a bit of a sticking point - possible to do, but less easy than Shopify.
4. Ease of Use & Setup
| Shopify POS | Lightspeed POS | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Process | Requires Shopify account and store setup | 24/7 support is available for set up, but you’ll need to configure your business details, and then add your products or inventory. You'll also need to set up any hardware, such as printers, barcode scanners, and payment terminals, and connect them to your POS system. |
| User Interface | Customisable interface with apps | Fewer customisation options, interface could be streamlined. |
| Learning Curve | Slightly more complex due to integrations | Good when you’ve spent some time with it but not as quick to get to grips with as Shopify POS. |
| Employee Management | Advanced role permissions (POS Pro) | Allows businesses to manage employee access and permissions through user accounts and groups, ensuring employees only have access to the necessary functions within the system. This includes features like clocking in/out, taking orders, and managing certain administrative functions, depending on the employee's role. |
📌 Key Takeaway: Shopify’s POS is more user-friendly. Changes made in the backend are reflected in the associated hardware straightaway, and the interface matches the Shopify platform so has a familiarity for merchants on the platform.
Lightspeed is also intuitive and it is straightforward to undertake tasks like adding products or taking payment. It takes a bit longer to work out things like adding discounts and finding features, but it’s not a deal breaker.
5. Payment Processing & Payout Speed
| Shopify POS | Lightspeed POS | |
|---|---|---|
| Accepted Payments | Credit/Debit, Apple Pay, Google Pay, BNPL | All major credit and debit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay. |
| Payout Speed | 1-3 business days (Shopify Payments) | Money is normally deposited the next working day after a transaction. Caveats include delays caused by banking systems or risk monitoring. |
| Fraud & Dispute Tools | Chargeback management tools | Built-in fraud protection measures, including PCI compliance and end-to-end encryption, to safeguard against fraudulent transactions. |
📌 Key Takeaway: Both systems accept most forms of payment, pay out quickly and have robust fraud and dispute tools built in.
6. Scalability & Best for Different Businesses
| Business Type | Best Choice |
|---|---|
| Small Retail Stores | Lightspeed (affordable & has retail-specific functionality) |
| Online-First Brands | Shopify (seamless eCommerce integration) |
| Multi-Location Retail | Shopify POS Pro (advanced features) |
| Restaurants & Food Businesses | Lightspeed (dedicated restaurant POS) |
| High-Volume Sales | Both offer custom pricing |
📌 Key Takeaway: Shopify POS is generally better for growing businesses or those with a strong online presence, while Lightspeed POS is more suitable for restaurants, or businesses with complex inventory needs and multiple locations.
Shopify POS excels at seamless integration with online stores, offering a streamlined omnichannel experience. Lightspeed POS, on the other hand, provides more advanced inventory management, reporting, and industry-specific tools, especially for hospitality.
In summary, Shopify POS is ideal for businesses where online and in-store sales are closely linked and a simple, easy-to-use POS solution is preferred.
Lightspeed POS is more appropriate for businesses in industries like hospitality that benefit from its advanced features.
Can I Use Lightspeed POS with Shopify?
Yes, Lightspeed integrates with Shopify.
Lightspeed has a dedicated integration with Shopify that allows you to sync data between your in-store and online businesses, including product information, inventory levels, orders, and customer data.
This integration can be done through various methods, including the official Lightspeed integration, or via third-party apps like SKU IQ and Octopus Bridge.
1 - Official integration: Lightspeed offers a built-in Shopify integration that enables you to manage your entire business from one platform, bridging your in-store and online operations.
2 - Several third-party apps, like SKU IQ and Octopus Bridge, also facilitate integration between Lightspeed and Shopify, providing similar functionality.
Shopify POS vs Lightspeed POS: Which One Should You Choose?
If your goal is to scale your business online and in retail spaces, Shopify is the better choice.
Brands that migrated from Lightspeed to Shopify have said that one of the key things they value is no longer having to spend time maintaining and reconciling data between multiple systems. Shopify’s ecommerce platform and POS system are built on the same infrastructure, enabling you to manage your physical stores and ecommerce website from the same back office. Inventory, orders, customers, and reporting are centrally managed, and you don’t need APIs or integrations to keep both sales channels in sync.
Brands that moved on from Lightspeed have also spoken about having to tolerate clunky workflows and complicated workarounds to support established and emerging ways people shop, such as placing an order in store and having it shipped to their home address. Shopify builds ecommerce and POS features together so both sales channels work together to manage scenarios like this. This enables more cohesive shopping experiences for customers, and more straightforward workflows for staff.
💡 Pro Tip: Consider a trial of each POS system to see which works best for your business!
If your ecommerce business is considering moving to Shopify and you need advice or a discussion about how best to undertake a migration, feel free to drop us a line. We’re experts in replatforming businesses to Shopify painlessly and can ensure customer data, products, and SEO value are all moved across with the website itself.
