Shopify offers two versions of its Point of Sale (POS) system: Shopify POS Lite and Shopify POS Pro. Both are designed to streamline your in-person selling experience, but they differ significantly in features and pricing.

If you’re not sure whether to stick with Shopify POS Lite or upgrade to POS Pro, this detailed comparison will break down the key differences between them with the most updated information in 2025 to help you choose the best fit for your business.

Let’s get started!

Shopify POS Lite vs. Pro: At A Glance

Shopify POS Lite Overview

Shopify POS Lite is the free version that comes with every Shopify plan. It is designed to help Shopify merchants of any size quickly set up and run a physical store or sell in-person on the go. 

Shopify POS Lite provides the essential tools for managing your in-person sales, including:

• Accept Payments: Process credit card transactions, track cash payments, and issue refunds.
• Connect a Card Reader: Use a supported card reader to accept payments securely.
• Issue Receipts: Generate and print receipts or send them digitally to customers.
• Manage Orders: Create orders, add discounts, and track order fulfillment.
• Basic Inventory Management: Track inventory levels and receive low stock alerts.
• Customer Profiles: Create basic customer profiles with contact information and purchase history.

It’s a great starting point for:

• Small businesses and entrepreneurs just starting with in-person sales.
• Occasional in-person selling, such as pop-up shops or events.
• Businesses with limited budgets and basic POS requirements.
• Merchants expand their business to include brick-and-mortar stores alongside their online presence.

Shopify POS Pro Overview

Shopify POS Pro is a paid upgrade of the free Shopify POS Lite. It has all the features of Lite plus extra perks to handle high-volume sales and the demands of a busy retail operation, including:

• Advanced Inventory Management: Track inventory across multiple locations, manage stock transfers, and conduct stocktakes.
• Omnichannel Selling: Integrate your online and offline sales channels, offering features like buy online, pick up in-store (BOPIS).
• Detailed Reporting: Generate in-depth reports on sales, inventory, and employee performance.
• Staff Permissions and Roles: Assign specific roles and permissions to your staff members for better control and security.
• Customizable Checkout: Tailor your checkout experience with custom fields and options.
• Marketing and Customer Engagement: Access tools to create customer groups, run loyalty programs, and send targeted email campaigns.

Shopify POS Pro is a worthwhile investment  for:

• Growing businesses with a strong focus on in-person sales.
• Brick-and-mortar stores with multiple locations, a wide range of products, and many footprints
• Businesses needing advanced inventory management and reporting capabilities.
• Companies prioritizing customer engagement and loyalty programs.
• Merchants having multiple staff members.

Pros and Cons of Shopify POS Lite and Shopify POS Pro

	Shopify POS Lite	Shopify POS Pro
Pros	Easy and quick setup Seamless integration with the Shopify online store Cost-effectiveness Essential features to make transactions in-person	A comprehensive set of advanced features Extensive reporting and analytics tools Customization options for receipts Ability to seamlessly sell omnichannel Smart inventory management Unlimited store staff Efficient staff management
Cons	Basic features and reports Limited feature set compared to Shopify POS Pro	Additional cost for businesses with multiple locations Extra time and effort to fully use the advanced features

Shopify POS Lite vs Pro: Key Difference

While both Shopify POS Lite and Pro streamline in-person selling, their key differences lie in features, functionality, and pricing.

For instance, POS Pro allows for automatic discounts and promotions, like “buy one get one free” or discounts based on spending thresholds, which are not available in POS Lite. Additionally, POS Pro offers more buying options for customers, such as online purchases with shipping or in-store pickup.

In short, Shopify POS Lite is your starter kit, while Shopify POS Pro is your comprehensive retail management solution.

In the next section, we’ll explore the differences further by examining the pricing and key features of each plan.

Shopify POS Lite vs Pro: Pricing And Free Trial

When calculating the final cost of using Shopify POS, three main factors come into play: software fees, hardware costs, and payment processing fees.

Let’s break down the software fees first:

Software fees

Shopify POS Lite

Shopify POS Lite comes FREE with every Shopify plan, with monthly subscription fees ranging from 5 USD to 399 USD. This makes Shopify POS Lite an attractive and cost-effective option for businesses wanting to test the platform or sell in person.

If you want to sell to a specific country, it is recommended that you locate your Shopify store there. However, make sure you check Shopify pricing for that country first.

Start Shopify POS

Shopify offers a 3-day free trial for every plan. During this trial period, store owners can download the Shopify POS App and fully experience the features and functionalities of POS Lite to test if it fits their needs. After the free trial ends, they can take advantage of the 1 USD for the first month deal to continue exploring and familiarize themselves with the Shopify platform and its POS system at a reduced price before making a long-term commitment.

Shopify POS Pro

As an upgraded version, Shopify POS Pro is available for an extra monthly fee of 89 USD per location. For merchants who opt for annual billing, the price is reduced to 79 USD per month per location. You also have a 3-day free trial to see if it’s worth the investment.

It’s important to highlight that Shopify Plus, with monthly subscription fees starting at 2,000 USD, automatically includes Shopify POS Pro at no additional cost.

Payments Processing Fees

Merchants using Shopify POS Lite and Pro can access Shopify Payments with the advantage of no transaction fees.

With the Shopify Tap & Chip Card Reader, merchants can easily accept payments from various payment service providers such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Apple Pay, and Google Pay with low rates for all credit cards based on your Shopify plan, specifically as follows:

• Advanced: 2.4% + 0¢ USD
• Standard: 2.5% + 0¢ USD
• Basic: 2.6% + 0¢ USD

POS Hardware

Merchants using Shopify POS Lite or Pro have access to the Shopify Hardware Store, where they can find any hardware accessories they need to run a physical store, from barcode scanners, receipt printers, cash drawers, and Shopify card readers.

Let’s take a look at the price range for Shopify POS hardware:

• Shopify POS Terminal: $349
• Card Readers: From $49 to $89
• Receipt Printers: From $259 to $369.
• Cash Drawers: From $129 to $139.
• Barcode Scanners: From $199 and $289.
• Retail Kits: Shopify offers retail kits that bundle various hardware components. Depending on the specific items included, these kits are usually priced between $459 and $999.

All products from the Shopify Hardware Store come with:

• Free shipping and 30 Day Return Policy
• 1-year warranty. Shopify POS Pro subscribers will enjoy an extended 2-year warranty

If merchants are based in the US or Canada, they can rent a payment device, an iPad, or an entire POS hardware bundle with fees starting as low as 9 USD a day.

Shopify POS Lite vs Pro Key Features: What Do They Offer?

Seamless Omnichannel Selling

Shopify POS Lite and Pro shared features

Both Shopify POS Lite and Shopify POS Pro provide a seamless shopping experience for customers, whether in-store or online, by syncing all information from product collections and customer profiles to inventory counts, enabling businesses to have consistent and unified operations.

The Shopify POS system automatically updates in real-time when a change is made. This ensures that merchants have the most accurate and up-to-date information available, including product availability, enabling them to efficiently serve their customers.

Shopify POS Pro’s advanced functionality

Shopify POS Pro takes a step further to offer more options for customers, enhancing their omnichannel experience, such as:

• Local Pickup: Customers can place orders online and then select their most convenient physical store location to pick up the orders.
• Buy in-store, ship to customers: Merchants can make sales in-store and ship directly to customers from where they have the available inventory.
• Buy online, exchange, and return in-store: Customers who make purchases online or in another location can exchange or return items at a physical store location of their choice. Inventory will automatically update.
• Local delivery: Customers can buy products online and have merchants deliver them directly from the offline store.

Efficient Inventory Management

Shopify POS Lite and Pro shared features

With Shopify POS Lite and Pro, merchants can easily track inventory and assign products to different sales channels and locations. The inventory count is automatically updated when an order is fulfilled from a specific source, ensuring accurate stock management.

Shopify POS Pro’s advanced functionality

Shopify POS Pro features an advanced inventory management app called Stocky, which serves as a valuable business partner or consultant, aiding merchants in effectively managing inventory across multiple locations. Here’s what merchants can benefit from it:

• Transfer inventory between locations: Depending on stock demand, merchants can request to transfer stock from other areas with updated information about what items have been received and are being sent out, allowing for streamlined inventory management across the entire retail network.
• Demand forecasting: Shopify POS Pro provides merchants with purchase order suggestions based on recent product performance, seasonality, sales trends, and historical patterns. This proactive approach assists merchants in maintaining optimal stock levels to meet customer demand, minimize stockouts, and maximize sales opportunities.
• Low stock reports: merchants can benefit from low stock reports that provide timely warnings when inventory levels run low. It allows them to take prompt action, such as placing reorder requests or adjusting inventory levels, to prevent stockouts and ensure a smooth and uninterrupted sales process.
• Inventory analysis and Sale items suggestion: The stock performance grading system comprehensively evaluates each product’s performance. Merchants gain valuable insights into which items are worth reordering and which are not performing as expected, allowing them to make informed decisions and take proactive steps.

Customization

Shopify POS Lite

With Shopify POS Lite, merchants can tailor their POS system’s smart grid, arranging categories to maximize efficiency and streamline the checkout process. The layout can be optimized for devices like tablets or smartphones, ensuring a seamless and user-friendly interface across various platforms.

Additionally, merchants have the ability to customize reports to gain deeper insights into their business performance. They can select the desired data fields, such as sales, inventory, customer information, or product performance, and apply filters to focus on specific segments or periods. 

Shopify POS Pro 

In addition to the Smart grid and customizable reports, Shopify POS Pro allows subscribers to customize printed receipt templates. This feature enables merchants to align their printed receipts with their brand identity, creating a consistent and professional image for their customers.

Merchants can personalize the receipt template by adding their store’s logo, customizing the color scheme, and including relevant information such as the store’s contact details or social media.

Staff Management

Shopify POS Lite

Shopify POS Lite provides basic functionality for staff management. With this plan, merchants can only have a certain number of staff members, each with a unique pin to log in to the POS system. Generally, Shopify POS Lite provides a streamlined solution for businesses with a small team and simple staff management requirements. 

Shopify POS Pro

Shopify POS Pro gives merchants more control over staffing with a range of exclusive features:

• Unlimited POS staff: Merchants can easily add and manage staff members with access to the POS system without granting them full admin access.
• Staff roles and permissions: Store owners define specific roles and set permissions for each staff based on their unique requirements and operational structure. Staff members will need manager approval for actions such as applying discounts or editing taxes, providing an extra layer of control and security.
• Attribute sales to staff: Merchants can track staff members’ performance. This information can be used to calculate commissions or provide recognition and rewards for exceptional performance.

With Shopify POS Pro, merchants can effectively streamline their operations, delegate responsibilities, and empower their team members to contribute to the business’s success without compromising security or administrative control.

Reports And Analytics

Shopify POS Lite and Pro shared features

Both Shopify POS Lite and Shopify POS Pro offer comprehensive reports and analytics, allowing merchants to gain valuable insights into their business performance, both online and in-store, all in one place. Merchants using both POS plans can get access to:

• Sales reports: detailed information on sales performance, including revenue, units sold, and average order value. These reports enable merchants to track sales trends, identify top-selling products, and make data-driven decisions to optimize their sales strategies.
• Finance reports: information including sales, returns, taxes, payments, and more. Merchants can track their financial performance, monitor expenses, and ensure accurate financial record-keeping.
• Inventory reports: visibility into the stock levels and product availability. These reports help optimize inventory management, minimize stockouts, and ensure efficient order fulfillment.

Shopify POS Pro’s advanced functionality

Sales, products, and staff performance reports are generated daily from the Shopify POS Pro system, providing a comprehensive overview of the business’s daily sales.

This allows Shopify merchants to track their sales trends, identify peak sales periods, and make data-driven decisions to optimize their business operations and profits.

Mobile POS

Both Shopify POS Lite and Shopify POS Pro offer the convenience of mobile checkout, allowing merchants to complete transactions anywhere within their store or even outside of it. 

With the flexibility of using a smartphone or tablet as a mobile POS system, merchants can bring the checkout process directly to their customers or even set up a self-checkout, enabling quick and convenient transactions, reducing wait times, and enhancing customer satisfaction.

With the rise of mobile wallets, contactless payment methods, and tap-to-pay credit cards, the 2 Shopify POS systems support contactless payments. Whether in a bustling retail environment or at an off-site event, merchants can effortlessly process payments and finalize sales on the spot, maximizing sales opportunities and meeting the needs of their customers.

Customer Management

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

With the ability to create detailed customer profiles, merchants can easily store and access important information such as contact details, purchase history, lifetime spending, and specific notes. Customers’ tags, shipping addresses, taxes, and marketing preferences allow for better segmentation and personalized communication.

Rewarding customer loyalty is made simple with both POS plans. Merchants can offer exclusive events, discounts, or unique content to their loyal customers, whether they shop online or in-store. 

Moreover, merchants can ask for customer emails at checkout and stay in touch through marketing emails and promotions. By leveraging customer data and preferences, merchants can create targeted and personalized email campaigns to engage with their customer base and drive sales.

Shopify POS Lite vs Pro: Final Thoughts

Shopify POS Pro surpasses POS Lite with its extensive range of advanced features. While Shopify POS Lite offers fundamental features for in-person selling, we highly recommend upgrading to the POS Pro subscription to unlock essential features that are crucial for your business.

FAQs

Can I Use Shopify POS Lite In One Location And POS Pro In Another Location?

Yes. For each of your locations, you choose the POS subscription plan that is appropriate. You can change the POS subscription plan for a location at any time in the Shopify admin.

Can I Use Shopify POS Without A Shopify Store?

Yes. You can use Shopify POS without building an online store. However, you still need to subscribe to a Shopify plan. If you only want to sell in-person with Shopify POS, we recommend subscribing to the Starter plan for 5 USD/month to save money.

Can You Use Shopify POS Without A Card Reader?

Yes. You can leverage the “Tap to Pay on iPhone” features or purchase Shopify POS Go (for Shopify POS Pro subscribers), which has a built-in barcode scanner and card reader, to take payments without needing any additional hardware.