Lightspeed vs Shopify: Get the top-rated POS system
Break up with your Shopify POS and get to know Lightspeed.
Main features
Complete inventory system
Contactless, mobile payments
Item import tool
Complete omnichannel solution on one platform
Custom reorder points
Purchase order management
Complete multi-store management
Special orders and layaways
Customer relationship management
Integrated omnichannel Loyalty program
Complete built-in interactive reporting
Cloud-based across all devices
Track service and work orders
Extensive network of integrations
1:1 onboarding and 24/7 support
Local multi-lingual support teams around the world
Free trial accounts
Why ex-Shopify retailers are falling in love with Lightspeed
Our POS comes with full inventory management
Lightspeed offers a complete inventory management system. Create bundles, POs, serialized items and products with multiple variations.
We give you full control of your purchasing
With Lightspeed, you can create purchase orders and instantly send them to the vendor with a single click.
Process special orders / layaways for free
Shopify forces you to purchase add-ons to do this. Lightspeed lets you order products that aren’t in stock and put them on hold for customers, all for free.
We don't take a cut of your sales
Shopify charges a separate transaction fee if you don't use Shopify Payments, so the more you sell, the more you pay. Lightspeed won't charge an extra per transaction fee, no matter what payment provider you choose.
The important features are built in
Unlike Shopify, Lightspeed’s plans have key features you need built into the system at no additional cost.
All the support, all the time
You shouldn't have to pay for support. With Lightspeed, you get free 24/7 phone, email and chat support built-in.
“Logan Elliott, Bros Bike ShopWithout 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.
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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.