Shopify vs Lightspeed: Which is The Higher Ecommerce and POS Supplier?

Are you an ecommerce retailer proprietor trying to swap issues up? Or are you contemplating launching an e-store? If the answer is a powerful, “sure,” you’re in the appropriate place. 

The precise retailer constructing answer is crucial for securing your first few gross sales, holding clients retained and completely satisfied, and having fun with a wholesome backside line. So, should you’re new to the ecommerce recreation, you’ll understand how daunting selecting the correct retailer builder is. 

That’s why we’re going to simplify issues for you by evaluating two of the preferred on-line store builders available on the market: Lightspeed and Shopify.

There’s quite a bit to cowl, so seize a espresso and let’s get going.

Lightspeed vs Shopify: Who’s Lightspeed?

Utilized by big-named manufacturers like Goop, Sony, and Nobu, Lightspeed is a cloud-based all-in-one POS answer for retail companies, golf, and restaurant shops. Additionally they present custom-made ecommerce options (learn our Lightspeed Ecommerce overview). 

They’ve been round for about 15 years and provide loads of options for on-line retailers, resembling stock administration, analytics, cost processing, and buy order administration instruments. 

Lightspeed retail (and its different branches) empowers customers to handle each their on-line and in-store operations and use POS {hardware} (receipt printers, barcode scanners) to deal with in-store funds. 

Lightspeed vs Shopify: Who’s Shopify?

Shopify is just about an ecommerce family title and desires little introduction. In any case, 1,000,000 folks use it all over the world to run their ecommerce shops. 

Prospects get all the pieces they should run, handle, and develop their on-line retailer underneath one roof, together with analytics. There are 150+ templates so that you can select from, their all-important POS (level of sale) app, and a well-populated app retailer. There’s additionally a useful on-line neighborhood and loads of help for anybody who comes unstuck. 

Lightspeed vs Shopify: Execs and Cons

Right here’s our tackle Lightspeed and Shopify’s execs and cons with the intention to examine the 2 at a look. 

Lightspeed’s Execs ????

• It helps each in-store and on-line gross sales.
• You get entry to sturdy stock administration instruments.
• There is a beneficiant free trial on provide.
• Lightspeed supplies enterprise options explicitly catered to retail, eating places, and golf programs, with tailor-made analytics.
• Lightspeed comes with its personal loyalty program options.

Lightspeed’s Cons ????

• It is on the dear aspect.
• There are fewer integrations than Shopify has to supply
• Lightspeed’s neighborhood isn’t as lively as Shopify’s

Shopify’s Execs ????

• It boasts award-winning buyer help.
• There are 150+ templates to select from. All of that are modern-looking and well-designed in order that even absolute novices can use them.
• It’s simple emigrate to a better plan as your small business wants develop.
• When it comes to ease of use, Shopify is nothing in need of intuitive.
• You get a free SSL certificates.
• It has a handy cellular app.
• Integrates with POS programs 
• Shopify integrates with tons of third-party companies and plugins.
• There is a free trial obtainable.

Shopify’s Cons ????

• A few of Shopify’s extra refined templates are costly to purchase
• There’s no free choice apart from the free trial
• Shopify’s design choices in comparison with options like WordPress are comparatively restricted

Lightspeed vs Shopify: Their Options

Each ecommerce options boast an entire host of options, so let’s check out the principle ones. 

We’ll begin with Lightspeed’s core performance:

Lightspeed’s Options

Lightspeed divides its options into three classes: retail, restaurant, and golf. We’re zoning-in on its retail components, that are divided into the next eight classes, every of which has its personal set of sub-features. We gained’t go into all of them right here, however simply provide you with an outline:

• Stock: Lightspeed makes stock administration less complicated. You possibly can order inventory out of your POS’s comfort. Plus, it is easy so as to add variants to your product listings and create buy orders.
• Reporting and analytics: This consists of data in your worker’s efficiency, fashionable inventory objects, and different real-time information.
• Mobility and cloud: This consists of cellular stock performance, personalised branding, and quick worker coaching. 
• Multi-store: You are supplied with a centralized place for monitoring purchases and buyer information, creating reward playing cards, and monitoring your stock.
• Built-in funds: These embody cellular funds, refunds, compliance, and versatile funds, whether or not clients are in-store or on-line. 
• Buyer administration: You get entry to buyer gross sales historical past, CRM instruments, and automatic reductions for normal clients. 
• Onboarding and help: You take pleasure in entry to 24/7 help through reside chat. There are additionally webinars obtainable. 
• Omnichannel: You profit from ready-to-go templates that can assist you design your on-line retailer. Plus, you may promote on Fb and centralize buyer information from all of your gross sales channels. 
• Advertising: Promote merchandise instantly through social media platforms like Fb and tag them on Instagram. Lightspeed additionally comes with built-in running a blog options and means that you can optimize your web site for search engine marketing.

Shopify’s Options

Shopify divides its options barely otherwise into storefront options and POS options. We’re overlaying POS additional down on this overview, so we’re simply its storefront options right here. Shopify’s performance is cut up into 9 classes, every with its personal set of sub-categories. Once more, we do not have time to discover all these options in-depth, however listed below are the highlights:

Storefront: This consists of 70+ professionally designed themes, a web-based web site builder, and your personal area title. 

Purchasing cart: Your Shopify retailer can settle for all main bank cards and integrates with lots of of cost gateways (together with PayPal). You additionally get a free SSL certificates and the power to set versatile delivery charges. 

Retailer administration: You possibly can combine with dropshipping add-ons, set buyer profiles and segments based on buyer preferences and looking historical past, course of refunds, and automate stock updates. 

Advertising & search engine marketing: This consists of search engine marketing optimization, the power to promote on Fb, and you may ship focused reductions to loyal clients. Shopify additionally means that you can arrange a weblog.

Merchandise: This covers stock administration, product group, and the very fact you may create limitless product listings and promote digital merchandise. 

Website hosting: You get limitless bandwidth, automated updates to Shopify’s software program, and Degree 1 PCI compliant safety

Analytics: This consists of Google analytics, product reviews, and entry to gross sales and buyer information through one centralized dashboard

Cellular app: With only a click on, you may fulfill orders, handle your stock out of your cellular’s comfort, and entry Shopify’s cellular dashboard. The Shopify app is offered for each Android and iOS (iPhone) customers.

24/7 help: This consists of entry to a web based Assist Heart, movies, webinars, and Shopify’s buyer help group. 

Lightspeed vs Shopify: Retailer Customization

Your retailer is an extension of your model, so that you’ll need it to mirror your model’s aesthetics. As such, you may need to understand how customizable Shopify and Lightspeed’s shops are and the design options they provide. Let’s have a look…

Lightspeed

As we have already hinted at, Lightspeed focuses extra on its POS programs, so it is unsurprising there is not a lot speak about its on-line retailer builder on its web site. That stated, there are 51 themes to select from, a few of that are free. Nevertheless, its paid-for templates will set you again round $26.50 a month. The theme you plump for is properly price contemplating as a result of its premium choices current an ongoing expense that wants factoring into your price range.

Lightspeed’s themes are organized by presets, resembling default, restaurant, or gold. You possibly can additional slim down your selection by filtering for must-have options. Your web site’s performance hinges in your chosen theme; you may’t add extra options to your template additional down the street.

For instance, solely particular themes include testimonial blocks or present a second product picture while you hover it. In your web site to boast these sorts of options, make sure the template you decide facilitates them from the get-go.

All in all, the design of Lightspeed’s themes is slick, trendy, and there is a first rate array to select from. Nevertheless, customization is minimal, so that you’ll want to consider your selection of them very fastidiously.

Shopify

Shopify additionally supplies a number of customizable themes tailor-made to satisfy the wants of assorted industries. Nevertheless, the dangerous information is that solely 9 of those are free. That stated, every theme comes with at the very least two or three variants to offer you some extra choices, they usually’re all extremely professional-looking.

Should you discover the array of free themes too restrictive, there are a further 64 premium templates obtainable (for a most one-off cost of $180). You can even purchase themes from third-party suppliers, so your selection is significantly prolonged

Or, if in case you have an actual imaginative and prescient of what you need your on-line retailer to appear like and the coding smarts to deliver it to life, you may develop your personal theme. Shopify’s code is simple to entry, and there are many on-line help supplies that can assist you with this.

Briefly, Shopify affords much more in the best way of design customization than Lightspeed however not as a lot as opponents like Squarespace. Shopify usually empowers you to customise all of the fundamentals to make sure model consistency and professionalism.

Advertisment ⓘ

Lightspeed vs Shopify: Integrations

Whether or not you need to lengthen your on-line retailer’s performance or combine your retailer builder together with your current tech stack, listed below are the native integrations these platforms have to supply…

Lightspeed

Lightspeed integrates with 45 apps throughout a wide range of classes, together with analytics instruments like Retail Toolkit and RetailNext and customer support apps like ServiceReign.

You can even combine with loads of loyalty reward applications, ecommerce instruments, and accounting software program. That stated, moreover Mailchimp, Lightspeed doesn’t associate with many fashionable third-party advertising apps. Their focus right here is on retail, with apps for worker scheduling, leases, and superior stock administration.

Shopify

Compared, Shopify integrates with near-on each sort of instrument you might need. Its app market is in depth as a result of most respected SaaS need to have the ability to combine with Shopify. They’re one of many greatest on-line retailer platforms available on the market, and as such, partnering with them is a shrewd enterprise resolution.

In whole, there are an astounding + 4,100 apps that combine with Shopify throughout classes, together with accounting, customer support, branding, pop-ups, further themes, advertising automation, stock planners, types, on-site notifications, and rather more.

Lightspeed vs Shopify: Pricing

Earlier than we dive into the nitty-gritty of this part, it is price factoring in not solely how a lot you need to spend in your ecommerce platform now but additionally how a lot you are keen to pay sooner or later. Remember to bear that in thoughts as we discover how a lot Lightspeed and Shopify will set you again: 

Let’s begin with Lightspeed’s pricing plans first:

Lightspeed divides its worth plans into three classes: Retail, Golf, and Eating places. Right here we give attention to the retail applications, of which there are 5. 

The costs under are based mostly on annual billing and are calculated on a per-store foundation:

• Primary: $69/mo – This features a free terminal and retail POS
• Starter: $99/mo- This has all of the Primary plan options plus ecommerce retailer performance
• Normal: $119/mo – This consists of all the pieces within the Starter plan plus accounting options
• Superior: $169/mo- This consists of all the pieces within the Normal bundle plus buyer loyalty options resembling reductions
• Professional: $229/mo – This consists of all the pieces within the Superior plan plus analytics.

There’s additionally an Enterprise plan geared toward bigger companies. Nevertheless, you may have to contact Lightspeed’s gross sales group instantly as they will quote you on a bespoke plan that fits your wants. 

Lightspeed additionally affords potential clients a free 14-day trial, with limitless entry to all options and no bank card wanted.

Now onto Shopify’s pricing plans:

Shopify has 4 worth plans: Shopify Lite, Primary Shopify, Shopify, and Superior Shopify:

Shopify Lite: For $9/mo, you may add a web based retailer to an current web site. You can even embed a purchase button onto your web site, Fb, or Messenger accounts. 

Nevertheless, if you wish to construct an entire ecommerce retailer, you may want one of many following packages:

Primary Shopify: At $29 a month, you may checklist and promote limitless merchandise. You will additionally get entry to Shopify’s on-line retailer builder, buyer reductions and coupons, Shopify apps, advertising instruments, delivery choices, and you may hook up with 4 bodily retailer areas.

Shopify: For $79/mo, you get all the pieces within the Primary plan and decreased transaction charges {and professional} reviews. Plus, you may create and promote reward playing cards, entry as much as 72% delivery reductions, and join with as much as 5 bodily areas.  

Superior Shopify: For $299/mo, you get all the pieces listed above. Plus, a a lot decrease transaction payment of 0.5%, and you may create as much as 15 employees accounts. You additionally get a sophisticated report builder, as much as 74% delivery reductions, and you may join with as much as eight bodily areas.

Lightspeed vs Shopify: Their Level of Sale Options

As promised, we’re exploring the POS choices Lightspeed and Shopify have to supply. Each suppliers have their very own POS programs and {hardware}, so let’s examine…

Lightspeed’s POS

According to what we’ve already mentioned, Lightspeed affords POS options for retail and restaurant companies. Essentially the most interesting aspect of Lightspeed’s POS is that it could tailor its system to go well with particular enterprise varieties. This implies you may count on a extra bespoke technical setup. 

Lightspeed focuses closely on its Level of Sale options and boasts a strong and sturdy product. So, let’s contact on a few of the key options this POS setup has to supply:

• You possibly can take contactless credit score, debit, and reward card funds.
• You possibly can defend your small business from fraud and error with Lightspeed’s absolutely built-in system.
• You possibly can ship paperless receipts straight to your buyer’s electronic mail addresses.
• You possibly can defend your information with PCI compliant cost processing.
• You possibly can handle your ecommerce stock from the identical software program used to gas your level of sale system.
• You possibly can rapidly switch merchandise between areas.
• You possibly can generate multi-store reviews.
• You possibly can arrange centralized buying and grasp orders.

{Hardware} and Costs

Lightspeed has all of the POS {hardware} you have to run your small business. The pricing, nevertheless, is tough to find out. Should you’re curious in regards to the product’s prices under, you’ll have to move over to their web site to request a quote. This will appear tiresome, however it additionally means you’ll get an opportunity to speak by means of your necessities and tailor-made wants, so it is swings and roundabouts.

iPad {hardware} package: This comes with a LAN receipt printer, a money drawer, a Bluetooth scanner, the Lightspeed iPad stand, and receipt paper. 

Desktop {hardware} package: This package features a USB receipt printer, money drawer, and a USB scanner. Because the title suggests, it isn’t as cellular because the iPad {hardware} package and must be linked as much as an iMac.

You can even buy particular person {hardware} resembling Bluetooth and USB barcode scanners, Zebra label printers, and/or money drawers.

Shopify POS

In contrast to Lightspeed, Shopify is in the beginning an ecommerce platform. However that doesn’t imply its POS system and {hardware} don’t pack a punch. Shopify’s POS means that you can unify in-store and on-line gross sales. 

Like Lightspeed, the Shopify POS Lite app is included in each pricing plan. This comes with a variety of nifty options that can assist you handle each your on-line and offline promoting efforts. To unlock its true potential, nevertheless, you’ll must improve to Shopify POS Professional.

Shopify POS Options

With its POS system design, Shopify has endeavored to create one seamless on-line and offline expertise. Prospects can browse in-store and purchase on-line with electronic mail carts that remind them of their favourite in-store merchandise. Additionally they have the selection of shopping for on-line and picking-up in-store, shopping for in-store, or having the merchandise shipped to their door. Shopify’s POS system effectively manages all this.

Shopify additionally affords cellular card readers that transfer with you, so you may take funds on the go or wherever in-store. You can even set customized employees permissions by means of a single again workplace and entry unified reporting, superior stock options, like producing buy orders and transferring inventory based mostly on stock forecasts.

Here is what you may count on from the Lite model of Shopify’s POS app:

• In-person bank card charges ranging from 1.5%
• Cellular POS and {hardware} equipment
• Order and product administration
• Buyer profiles

Whereas the Professional model unlocks:

• Limitless retailer employees accounts
• Sensible stock administration
• Employees roles and permissions
• In-store analytics
• Omnichannel promoting options
• Limitless registers
• A two-year guarantee on Shopify POS {hardware}

{Hardware} and Pricing

Shopify POS Lite is included together with your Shopify plan, however many brick and mortar shops may select to improve. The Professional model is included with Shopify Plus plans. In any other case, it prices a further $89 a month per location on prime of your Shopify plan. 

Shopify’s POS {hardware} choices embody:

iPad stands: These work with the POS app with the intention to entry all the pieces you want, whether or not you are on the go or on the til. (Costs begin from $149)

The complete retail package: This can be a full retail setup, together with a barcode scanner, receipt printer, and money drawer. It comes with all the pieces you require to simply accept money or card funds and hold your cash safe (priced $879).

Faucet, Chip, and Swipe Reader: With this accent, you may settle for funds (Costs begin from $49, permitting faucet and chip card studying).

Lightspeed vs Shopify: Which is Finest?

Now that we’ve familiarized ourselves with each Lightspeed and Shopify, it’s time to decide. Which on-line retailer builder is healthier suited to you and affords the very best worth for cash?

Finally, it is simpler for us to suggest Shopify as an all-round answer. Shopify is likely one of the main ecommerce platforms and affords all the pieces you have to construct a feature-rich and profitable on-line retailer. This doesn’t come at the price of POS both. Shopify’s options for bodily shops are in depth, and it is {hardware}, sturdy.

Then again, Lightspeed is a reliable supplier that, though a worthy contender, simply can’t provide fairly as a lot as Shopify. Their pricing is extra elusive, as you may’t be solely positive what every plan unlocks. Whereas they don’t cost any further for his or her full POS app, their applications appear dearer for what they provide. That is very true should you’re trying primarily for a web based retailer builder. 

In case your focus is on making a thriving ecommerce enterprise, stick to Shopify. However contemplate Lightspeed should you’re a brick and mortar enterprise increasing into on-line gross sales and may gain advantage from Lightspeed’s extra tailor-made options for retail shops, eating places, or {golfing} enterprises.

Don’t fear should you’re not sure – each Lightspeed and Shopify include a free 14-day trial. Why not give them a whirl to see what fits you greatest?

Have you ever tried both of those ecommerce platforms earlier than? Or are you contemplating a competitor like WooCommerce? Both approach, tell us within the feedback under.