Shopify POS Review: Is it the Best Point of Sale System & Retail POS?

Are you looking for a reliable point-of-sale system? This is how it works. It's easy. Shopify POS Lite is the standard version of the solution that comes with all Shopify packages. Simply scroll through your Shopify product catalogue and select the product the customer wants to purchase, process their credit card, and provide them with a receipt. You can do it all with Shopify POS.

Needless to say, Shopify POS integrates almost every aspect of your online selling and in-person selling through its platform. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about the Shopify point-of-sale solution!

What's Shopify POS?

As you probably already know, Shopify is one of the most popular online selling platforms. In short, Shopify POS is an application that you can download on your iOS or Android devices.

You can use this app to create a shopping cart for each of your customers, accept payments and create recipients - all from your smartphone or iPad. The beauty of this application is that it syncs with your Shopify online store. Please note that if you want to start adding hardware to this system, you will need more expensive payment plans i.e. Shopify Plan or higher.

Shopify POS or Shopify POS Pro?

Shopify POS comes in two different options depending on what you need. There are no additional costs besides your Shopify package for Shopify POS as a standard package.

Shopify POS Lite features include:

• In addition to the electronic shopping cart
• Product QR codes
• Terminals for external cards
• Gift cards and discounts
• Instalment payments
• Separate tenders
• Custom payment types
• Support for popular payment methods
• Low rates on cards in person
• Shopify Hardware Integration
• Cash flow tools
• No hidden fees
• POS equipment
• POS software
• Connection screens
• Free shipping and return of POS tools
• Compatible accessories
• Individual check
• global search
• Mobile checkout
• Taxes
• Custom Discounts
• User receipts

The list of features is endless and this is one of the reasons why Shopify has such great user reviews. If you're after a more advanced experience, you can upgrade to Shopify POS Pro.

Shopify POS Pro features include:

• Pick up the purchase in the store
• Delivery Support
• Custom Receipts
• Save/get cart parameters
• Unlimited Personnel Support
• Stock Adjustments
• Purchase orders, stock count, stock tracking
• Sale Item Offers
• Detailed Inventory Reporting
• Cash tracking and sales reports
• Demand Forecast
• Low stock reports

And much more.

How Do I Get up and Running with Shopify POS?

First of all, you need to install the Shopify POS application. The app will then auto-populate with all the products you sell. You will be happy to hear; that there are no limits on the number of products you can create. For your convenience, Shopify POS works together with retail hardware including:

• Cash drawers,
• iPad stands,
• Receipt printers,
• Barcode Scanners

You get the idea! You can use Shopify POS while using multiple cash registers because you can install the app on many devices. However, if you cannot show off such gadgets, you can still handle sales without them. Though, if you're using Shopify POS for Android and not iOS, you'll need to use a Swipe card reader.

Shopify POS Review: What Payment Methods Can Customers Use?

If you use an iPad or iPhone, customers can use almost any payment method. Alternatively, if you are running your business from the UK or Ireland, you can accept contactless payments and credit cards with an EMV-compatible Tap, Chip and Swipe card reader. However, if you operate outside of these countries, you will need to pay for an external credit card terminal from a trusted payment processor. You can also offer your customers the option of split payment.

Shopify POS Pricing

Shopify POS offers a user-friendly checkout solution for Shopify users. The Shopify POS version included with all plans is the standard POS.

The Shopify Lite Plan

Shopify Lite will set you back $9 per month.

Unfortunately, this plan bundles its clients with the most expensive credit card rates. On the other hand, you can register an unlimited number of products and use as many devices as you like.

The Basic Shopify Plan

The Basic Shopify package is on the next level and costs $29/month. This package gives you all the same perks as the "Lite Plan" in addition to two employee accounts and the Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter sales channels.

The Shopify Plan

Shopify plan skyrockets in price; it will cost you a whopping $79 per month. You will also receive:

• Five staff accounts
• Professional reports
• Abandoned cart recovery

All in all, it's a pretty sweet deal!

The Advanced Shopify Plan

Advanced Shopify is the second most comprehensive of all payment methods. No wonder it boasts the best credit card rates of any of the payment plans listed:

• Personal sales: 2.4% + 0 cents
• Online Sales: 2.4% + 30 cents
• Additional commission for using an external payment gateway: 0.5%

In addition to everything in the Shopify plan, you'll also enjoy:

• 15 regular accounts
• Gift cards
• Advanced Report Builder
• Third-Party Estimated Shipping Rates

Needless to say, this is suitable for large enterprises!

The Shopify Plus Plan

Shopify Plus is the smartest payment plan, perfect for large businesses.

One of the biggest advantages of Shopify Plus is that it also comes with a more advanced Shopify POS version.

Shopify POS Pro Pricing

Although Shopify POS is bundled with all Shopify plans, there is a way to upgrade the features and functionality you get. To access the premium version of Shopify POS, you need to buy one of the Shopify packages and then pay an additional fee of $89 per month per space. Although the Pro version of Shopify POS is a little pricey, it has additional features that you simply cannot get in the basic service. If you already have Shopify Plus, you won't need to pay extra to access all of these features.

Things To Note…

The prices listed here do NOT include state sales tax, so you will need to account for this in your budget. Each plan has the option to add a "Retail Package" which costs an additional $49 per month and includes:

• Hardware Integrations
• Staff accounts
• Register shifts

If you don't have a Shopify account yet, you can take advantage of the 2-week free trial.

The Benefits of Shopify POS

In general, the benefits of Shopify POS are as follows:

• You can enjoy quality service with a reasonable pricing structure.
• The software design is user-friendly.
• Their customer support is unparalleled.
• Shopify is constantly updating its app to address any issues as quickly as possible.
• This software syncs with your Shopify online store instantly.
• Flexibility: Shopify POS offers you tons of flexibility.
• Free hardware: We love that Shopify point-of-sale users save much money on POS hardware when they choose the Shopify or Shopify Advanced plan.
• Use more than one payment method: Shopify POS allows customers to use more than one payment method in a single transaction.
• Gift cards. If you'd like to start selling gift cards to your customers, you can do so with little effort.
• You can process transactions offline: you can still make sales even without Internet access.
• Custom Payments: You can create personalized payment methods for the convenience of your customers.
• Discounts: When you use Shopify POS, you can offer shoppers special discounts and promotions on certain products.
• Applications: You will have access to over 2400 applications, so if you want to expand the functionality of your POS solution, you can do so for free.
• Customization Options: Shopify's point of sale software also allows you to personalize your existing emails, your invoices, and your online store URL.
• Daily Results: Shopify POS allows you to keep a close eye on your daily totals; this is important to control your profits.

Shopify POS is Incredibly Easy to Use

When it comes to design, Shopify POS is second to none. This makes this application a great solution for salespeople who don't have the time or experience to deal with complex systems. You can get started in just an hour!

Shopify POS Review: Reporting

Shopify POS gives users access to several analytics tools, including:

• Dashboard for tracking sales, orders, and traffic patterns.
• Product Reports: These let you know which products are your best sellers.
• The ability to filter your sales by employee, location, date, customers, and more.
• All of your reports can be exported and converted to spreadsheets.

Shopify POS Review: Integrations

There are so many integrations to choose from. Alternatively, if you're a programming genius, you can create your own apps using the Shopify API. However, while the number of integrations Shopify offers is impressive, some of these plugins cost money, so factor that into your budget.

Shopify POS Review: Customer Service

If you're stuck, don't panic - Shopify offers its users free 24/7 technical support. In general, their chat service usually responds quickly, and they usually provide helpful and friendly advice.

Shopify POS Review:? Store Management

You can manage your whole store from the back of your Shopify account. Also, with these same packages, you can keep track of all the adjustments made to your cash flow, in addition to any changes to your staff. You can also keep track of your order history.

Shopify POS Review: Manage Your Customers

When a new customer makes a purchase, the program automatically creates a new customer profile. It doesn't matter where your potential customers placed their order; your order history is tracked and synced with your Shopify store. If you need access to your customer's contact information or order history, you can download this data with just a few clicks. For example, you can send an email informing customers of any promotions you run.

Shopify on Mobile

If you are an entrepreneur on the road, then you will be pleased to know that you can do many things using Shopify POS from your mobile device. For example, you can access the Shopify toolbar in order to quickly and effectively process everything that requires your attention.

The Disadvantages of Shopify POS

Like any software, Shopify POS has a few downsides.

• According to users, some inventory features are missing - this may be because the software is still a little buggy.
• Their offline mode isn't as effective as their online settings.
• If you want to apply a store-wide discount to a group of products, the process is rather complex.
• As we said, you will have to pay an extra $49 per month for the "Retail Package".
• Last but not least, the analytics functionality could be improved.

Shopify POS: Hardware & Operating System Requirements

If you want to use Shopify POS, you will need the right hardware. If you want custom hardware designed specifically for brick-and-mortar stores, you'll have to upgrade to a Shopify "Shopify Plan" or higher.

Shopify's Point of Sale Solution: Card Readers

The card reader you choose depends largely on your location, the payment service provider you use, and the device you use to run the Shopify POS app. Shopify POS supports their card readers:

• Tap, Chip and Swipe Card Reader
• Terminal Moneris iPP320
• Tap and Chip Reader
• Chip and Swipe Reader
• Swipe Card Readers

All of the above integrate with Shopify POS. To use Shopify-supported card readers, you must meet the following requirements:

1. Your physical store must be located in the US, UK, Canada or Ireland.

2. You need to use either Shopify Payments or another third-party payment provider supported by Shopify POS.

Viable Shopify POS Alternatives

If you're looking for a few viable Shopify POS alternatives, check out the list below:

1. Square POS

Square focuses on simplicity.

2. Lightspeed POS

Lightspeed POS provides retailers with products and services that enable them to make decisions based on data.

3. iZettle

iZettle provides a POS solution that includes a cash register, inventory tracker, and analytics tools.

4. Bindo POS

If you are a local merchant, then Bindo POS is a great solution for you.

This POS system also helps to expand your online reach by providing an application to your customers. You should also note: Just like Shopify POS, Bindo POS also ensures that your in-store and online transactions are in sync in real-time.

5. Air POS

Air POS is a simple point-of-sale system.

Air POS works on iPad, Android, and Windows devices, so you'll be able to get this software to work with your hardware and credit card readers.

Who Should Use Shopify POS?

If you are a brick-and-mortar store and are already using Shopify for online sales, then you should definitely consider using Shopify POS. If you have experience with Shopify POS, please let us know in the comments.