Shopify POS Lite vs Pro: A Head-to-Head Comparison

Choosing the right POS can make or break your small business. Shopify has two POS plans: Shopify POS Lite vs Pro. This easy to use point of sale solution simplifies many things in your store including inventory management, sales tracking and customer data management.

In this article, BSS Commerce Shopify will breakdown the differences between Shopify POS Lite vs Pro so you can make an informed decision. You will see the features in each version from basic sales processing to inventory management. This will help you choose the right Shopify POS for your current needs and future growth.

Overview of Shopify POS Lite vs Pro

Here’s an overview of Shopify POS Lite vs Pro, including its definition, use case, and benefits it offers for Shopify merchants.

What is Shopify POS Lite?

Shopify POS Lite is free with every Shopify plan and is designed for merchants of all sizes to set up and manage a physical store or sell in person on the go. It has the essentials: product and inventory management, payment processing and customer management. In short, Shopify POS Lite is a good starting point for businesses with basic retail needs and low in person transactions.

Best for:

• First time in-person sales.
• Solo retailers who only offer a few products in a physical location.
• Solo business owners with no on-site staff.

Shopify POS Lite is designed to:

• Easy and reliable checkout experiences to record in person sales.
• Intelligent defaults for quick and easy setup to get selling fast.
• Compliance with local sales tax.

What is Shopify POS Pro?

Shopify POS Pro is the advanced version of Shopify POS that has everything in Shopify POS Lite and more. It’s an omni channel selling solution, staff management, business insights and more. Merchants who upgrade to Shopify POS Pro will pay extra monthly fee to use the extra features.

Best for:

• Online businesses that sell in person as their main strategy.
• Businesses that do high volume sales through existing or pop up stores.
• Retailers with a team of staff who need more advanced features beyond basic sales functionality.

Shopify POS Pro is designed to:

• To give Shopify merchants extra value beyond the checkout.
• To build trust in inventory management through tracking and control.
• To let Shopify merchants choose and customize for themselves.
• Emphasize the advantages of multi-channel selling, enabling merchants to utilize various sales platforms for greater success.

Shopify POS Pro vs Lite: Pros and Cons

When deciding between Shopify POS Pro and Lite, it’s essential to weigh the pros and cons of each plan. The following comparison table outlines the pros and cons of Shopify POS Lite vs Pro:

Highlight Features of Shopify POS Lite vs Pro

To help you make an informed decision, let’s explore the key features offered by Shopify POS Lite vs Pro:

Features: Shopify POS Lite

• Integrated payment solutions are connected to Shopify Payments. With Shopify Payments you can start accepting all major payment methods as soon as you set up your Shopify store.
• In addition to payment processing there are non payment integrations for retail hardware such as cash drawers and receipt printers.
• You can customize a smart grid to access your most used products, discounts and features from your home screen.
• The system supports credit and debit cards as well as alternative methods like gift cards.
• You can also use discount codes, issue digital receipts and manage refund requests.
• No limits on products, collections or variants.
• Inventory management across multiple sales channels and locations.
• Customer loyalty programs with unique customer profiles.
• Track cash flow, sales, financial data and product usage and generate reports.
• Email and social media marketing integration.

Features: Shopify POS Pro

On the other hand, upgrade to Shopify POS Pro which is included in the Shopify Plus plan and you’ll get all the above plus:

• Customers can redeem automatic discounts when they hit a certain spend threshold.
• Customers can buy online and collect in-store or buy in-store and have products shipped to their home.
• Customizable printed receipts.
• Processing for exchanges.
• Unlimited staff members with customizable permissions and roles.
• Purchase orders, inventory counts, advanced inventory reporting and low stock alerts.
• Daily sales reports and cash tracking.

Key Differences Between Shopify POS Lite vs Pro

Shopify POS Lite vs Pro give small businesses an easy to use platform to manage their Shopify store and process offline payments. If you want to do omnichannel retailing with a physical store, Shopify is the way to go.

Compared to other point of sale systems like Lightspeed and Square, Shopify does well, with features like staff roles, iPhone app access and multiple inventory tracking. But upgrading to Pro adds in person sales support.

There are big differences between the Pro and Lite point of sale experience. For example the Pro version has automatic discounting features so you can set up promotions like buy one get one free and discounts based on spend thresholds. These features are not available in POS Lite. Also, Shopify POS Pro gives customers more buying options, buy online and have products shipped to them or buy online and pick up in store.

Beyond its integration with email marketing and social media tools, Shopify POS Pro also enhances customer relationship management. By collecting customer data, you can offer tailored product recommendations based on previous purchases.

Furthermore, a Shopify admin utilizing Shopify POS Pro can take advantage of advanced features related to staff roles and permissions, enabling you to optimize team performance and assign specific tasks effectively.

While Shopify POS Pro may be more advantageous for Apple users due to limited support for Android devices, it does offer additional insights into your business through demand forecasting tools.

Shopify POS Lite vs Pro: Full Comparison

Shopify POS Lite vs Pro: Pricing and Plans

The final fees associated with your Shopify POS are primarily influenced by 3 key factors:

• Software
• Hardware
• Payment processing

1. Shopify POS Fees – Software System

Shopify has 2 POS plans: Shopify POS Lite vs Pro. These plans differ in features and pricing so you can choose the one that fits your business and budget.

• Shopify POS Lite: This is included with all Shopify paid plans so you don’t pay extra to add a POS to your store (except for transaction fees per sale). Shopify POS Lite has the basics so it’s perfect for businesses with no specific requirements or custom orders.
• Shopify POS Pro: While Shopify POS Lite is fine for occasional in-person sales, Shopify POS Pro is for retail businesses that do face-to-face sales frequently. This plan has advanced features like expedited workflows for exchanges, discounts, local pickups, stock transfers and more. Plus, you get more control over staff permissions (up to 15) with unlimited POS PINs and custom roles.

For Shopify POS Pro, the price is $89 per month per location or $79 per month if billed annually. But if you’re a Shopify Plus user, you don’t pay extra as Shopify POS Pro is included in your Shopify Plus subscription.

2. Hardware Cost

In addition to the costs associated with the software system, it is important to take into account the hardware expenses required for Shopify POS. This includes devices such as iPads, card readers, barcode scanners, and receipt printers that are compatible with the system. Shopify provides a selection of recommended hardware options to fit various budgets and preferences.

The following outlines the price range for Shopify POS hardware:

• Countertop kit: $459 USD
• Barcode scanners: $199 USD to $289 USD
• Label printers: $299 USD to $499 USD
• Receipt printers: $299 USD to $369 USD
• Cash drawers: $139 USD to $159 USD
• POS Go: $299 USD
• Tap & Chip card reader: $49 USD
• Tap to Pay on iPhone: Free.

3. Shopify POS Transaction Fees

Shopify charges a transaction fee for every sale processed through its POS system. This fee differs depending on the chosen plan, with reduced transaction fees offered for premium plans. It is important to consider this expense when assessing the total costs associated with utilizing Shopify POS.

4. Additional Fees (If Applicable)

The size and complexity of your business may incur extra costs for certain features or requirements. These costs can be the number of POS terminals, number of retail locations, number of users on the system, and any additional apps or integrations within the Shopify POS framework. Make sure to review these extra costs before you decide.

Shopify POS Lite vs Pro: Customization

Shopify POS Lite: Shopify POS Lite lets merchants customize the smart grid of their POS system so they can organize categories in a way that’s efficient and easy to checkout. The design can be tweaked for tablets and smartphones so it’s consistent across all devices. Plus, Shopify merchants can customize their reports to get more detailed insights into their business. They can choose specific data fields like sales, inventory, customer info, or product performance and apply filters to focus on specific segments or timeframes.

Shopify POS Pro: Along with the Smart grid and custom reporting, Shopify POS Pro lets subscribers change printed receipt templates. This means merchants can make sure their printed receipts match their brand so their customers look professional. Shopify merchants can enhance the receipt template by incorporating their store’s logo, adjusting the color palette, and adding pertinent information such as contact details or social media links.

Shopify POS Lite vs Pro: Omnichannel Selling

Shopify POS Pro vs Lite give customers a great experience whether they’re in-store or online. By syncing product collections, customer profiles and inventory levels these systems keep everything in sync. Shopify POS has real time updates so any changes are immediate. This means merchants have the most up to date information including product availability to serve their customers.

Plus, Shopify POS Pro gives customers more options for an omnichannel experience including:

• Local Pickup: Customers can order online and pick up at a store near them.
• In-store Purchase with Direct Shipping: Merchants can sell in-store and ship from their stock.
• Online Purchase with In-store Exchange and Return: Customers who order online or at other locations can exchange or return at a store of their choice with inventory updating automatically.
• Local Delivery: Customers can order online and have it delivered from the store by the merchant.

Shopify POS Lite vs Pro: Staff Management

Shopify POS Lite: Shopify POS Lite offers essential features for managing staff. Under this plan, merchants are limited to a specific number of staff members, each assigned a unique pin for accessing the POS system. Shopify POS Lite serves as an efficient option for businesses with a small workforce and straightforward staff management needs.

Shopify POS Pro: Shopify POS Pro offers merchants enhanced control over their workforce through a variety of unique features:

• Unlimited POS staff: Add and manage staff members who have access to the POS system, with restricted admin access.
• Staff roles and permissions: Set up roles and permissions to suit your business needs. Staff will need to get approval from a manager to apply discounts or change taxes, for an extra layer of security and oversight.
• Attribute sales to staff: See how your staff are performing and calculate commissions or reward great work.

With Shopify POS Pro, merchants can optimize their operations, delegate tasks effectively, and allow their team members to drive the business’s success while maintaining security and administrative oversight.

Shopify POS Lite vs Pro: Customer Management

Shopify POS Lite and Shopify POS Pro help you build and maintain strong customer relationships.

These systems let you create full customer profiles so you can store and retrieve important info like contact details, purchase history, total spend and notes. With customer tags, shipping addresses, tax info and marketing preferences you can segment and target your communications.

Both POS options make it easy to reward customer loyalty. You can give exclusive events, discounts or content to your loyal customers whether they shop online or in store.

You can also collect customer emails at checkout so you can communicate with them via marketing emails and promotions. With customer data and preferences you can create targeted and personalized email campaigns that will resonate with your audience and drive sales.

Shopify POS Lite vs Pro: POS Hardware

Merchants using either Shopify POS Lite or Pro can access the Shopify Hardware Store, which offers a comprehensive range of hardware accessories essential for operating a physical retail location. This includes items such as barcode scanners, receipt printers, cash drawers, and Shopify card readers.

For merchants located in the US or Canada, there is an option to rent payment devices, iPads, or complete POS hardware bundles, with rental fees beginning at just 9 USD per day. All items available in the Shopify Hardware Store include:

• Free shipping and a 30 days return policy
• A 1-Year Warranty
• Subscribers of Shopify POS Pro benefit from an extended two-year warranty and have the opportunity to purchase Shopify POS Go, a versatile handheld device that is preinstalled and optimized for Shopify’s point of sale (POS) system.

Shopify POS Lite vs Pro: Which Options is Better?

Both Shopify POS’s have their benefits. The one that’s best for you depends on the level of functionality you need for in-store sales. The Shopify POS Lite version is good for businesses just starting out with omnichannel sales, it has a bunch of features to track sales and inventory.

But if you’re committed to offline sales and opening a permanent store rather than a pop up, you may find Shopify POS Pro is a better fit. The Shopify POS Pro version has more features to boost sales and better customer relationships and more staff management tools. Therefore, evaluate all associated costs for each package thoroughly before making a decision. The expenses for Shopify POS Pro can accumulate quickly, especially if you need to outfit multiple locations with their own hardware solutions.

In Conclusion

Shopify POS Pro offers a superior experience compared to POS Lite, thanks to its comprehensive suite of advanced features. Although Shopify POS Lite provides basic functionalities for in-person sales, BSS Commerce Shopify strongly advise upgrading to the POS Pro subscription to access vital features that are essential for your business’s success.

If you experience any challenges or have inquiries related to Shopify POS Lite vs Pro, please feel free to reach out to our BSS Commerce Shopify support team for prompt assistance. Alternatively, you can explore our Shopify Website Development Service to streamline the setup of your online store.