Lightspeed vs Shopify
Lightspeed is built by retailers for retailers—deep inventory, purchase orders, vendor management, serialized tracking. Shopify is built for online selling that happens to have great POS. If your store has complex inventory, Lightspeed. If online is your growth engine, Shopify.
Our Verdict
Lightspeed for inventory-complex retail (bike shops, boutiques with lots of variants, sporting goods). Shopify for online-first brands with retail locations. Neither is wrong—they're built for different businesses.
Best for:
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Lightspeed | Shopify POS | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inventory depth | Excellent (matrices, serials) | Good | Lightspeed |
| E-commerce | Good (add-on) | Best-in-class | Shopify POS |
| Starting price | $89/mo | $89/mo (Basic + POS Pro) | Tie |
| Purchase orders | Built-in | Via apps | Lightspeed |
| Vendor management | Excellent | Basic | Lightspeed |
| App ecosystem | Good | Massive | Shopify POS |
| Multi-location | Excellent | Excellent | Tie |
| B2B/Wholesale | Built-in | Shopify Plus or apps | Lightspeed |
Lightspeed
Pros
- ✓Deepest inventory management
- ✓Built-in purchase orders
- ✓Vendor/supplier management
- ✓B2B capabilities
Cons
- ✗E-commerce is add-on
- ✗Smaller app ecosystem
- ✗Interface less modern
- ✗Higher learning curve
Shopify POS
Pros
- ✓E-commerce leader
- ✓Massive app ecosystem
- ✓Modern interface
- ✓Great for DTC
Cons
- ✗Inventory less sophisticated
- ✗PO needs apps
- ✗B2B requires Plus or workarounds
In-Depth Analysis
Inventory Reality Check
Sell bikes with 5 sizes and 8 colors? Lightspeed handles that matrix natively. Track serial numbers for warranty? Built-in. Create purchase orders when stock is low? Automatic. Shopify can do these things with apps, but Lightspeed's native approach is cleaner for inventory-heavy retail.
The E-commerce Gap
Shopify runs 10% of all e-commerce. That ecosystem—themes, apps, integrations, marketing tools—is unmatched. Lightspeed eCom exists but it's playing catch-up. If online is your growth channel, Shopify's momentum and tooling matter.
Who Each Built For
Lightspeed grew up serving bike shops, golf stores, and specialty retail where inventory complexity is the norm. Shopify grew up serving online entrepreneurs who later added retail. That DNA shows in every feature decision. Match the tool to your origin story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Lightspeed POS with Shopify e-commerce?
Not easily. They're competing platforms. You'd need middleware to sync, and it's fragile. Better to pick one ecosystem. If you need both strengths, Shopify + inventory apps may be the compromise.
Which has better reporting?
Both have strong reporting. Lightspeed's retail reports (sell-through, inventory turns) are more sophisticated. Shopify's omnichannel reports (customer journey, marketing attribution) are better. Match to what you need to measure.