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.

Lightspeed Retail vs Shopify

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The complete POS comparison:
Lightspeed vs Shopify

With top-rated inventory management, free 24/7 support and effortless eCommerce, it's easy to see why retailers like you choose 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
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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	•

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.

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.

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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

Lightspeed vs Shopify: Get the top-rated POS system

The complete POS comparison:
Lightspeed vs Shopify

Why ex-Shopify retailers are falling in love with Lightspeed

Our POS comes with full inventory management

We give you full control of your purchasing

Process special orders / layaways for free

The important features are built in

All the support, all the time

Frequently Asked Questions

The complete POS comparison: Lightspeed vs Shopify

Our POS comes with full inventory management

We give you full control of your purchasing

Process special orders / layaways for free

The important features are built in

All the support, all the time

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Lightspeed better than Shopify?

Does Lightspeed integrate with Shopify?

What is the difference between Shopify and Lightspeed for inventory management?

The complete POS comparison:
Lightspeed vs Shopify