Shopify POS vs Revel Systems: Complete Comparison 2026
An in-depth comparison of features, pricing, and user experience to help you make the right choice.
Shopify POS
8.0(14,200 reviews)
Shopify's in-store POS that unifies online and physical retail. Included with Shopify plans; Pro upgrade at $89/mo per location.
Revel Systems
iPad-based enterprise POS for high-volume restaurants and retail chains. Custom pricing from ~$99/mo per terminal.
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | Shopify POS | Revel Systems |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Shopify merchants expanding from online-only to physical retail locations | Multi-location restaurant groups with 5-200 locations needing centralized management |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Contact Sales |
| Starting Price | $39/mo | $99/mo |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud, hybrid |
| Platforms | WEB, IOS, ANDROID | WEB, IOS |
| Rating | 8.0/10 | 7.5/10 |
Pros & Cons
Shopify POS
Pros
- Seamless omnichannel sync between online and physical store for inventory, customers, and orders
- POS Lite is included free with any Shopify plan — no additional software cost to start selling in-person
- Access to 8,000+ Shopify apps that extend POS functionality with loyalty, marketing, and more
- Buy-online-pickup-in-store (BOPIS) and ship-from-store workflows are best in class
- Works on existing iPhones and iPads so you can start with hardware you already own
Cons
- Not competitive as a standalone POS — the value is only realized if you also run a Shopify online store
- Restaurant features are completely absent — this is a retail-only POS system
- Requires a Shopify subscription ($39-399/month) even if your online store is secondary to physical retail
- Inventory management on POS Lite lacks depth — no purchase orders, vendor management, or aging reports
- In-store analytics and staff performance tracking require the $89/month POS Pro upgrade per location
Revel Systems
Pros
- Enterprise-grade features on familiar iPad hardware — multi-location, open API, custom integrations
- Open API is one of the most flexible at this price point for connecting to existing business systems
- Strong multi-location management with centralized menus, reporting, and operations consistency
- Handles high-volume operations (stadiums, university dining, franchise chains) reliably
- iPad-based means lower hardware costs than proprietary terminal systems like Toast
Cons
- Mandatory 3-year minimum contract is a major commitment with expensive early termination fees
- Pricing is opaque — no published rates, and quotes vary significantly by deal size
- Implementation takes 2-4 weeks minimum and requires dedicated internal resources
- Overkill for single-location businesses — you pay for enterprise features you may never use
- Customer support experiences are mixed, with some users reporting slow response times for non-critical issues
Pricing Comparison
| Product | Pricing Model | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify POS | subscription | $39/mo |
| Revel Systems | contact sales | $99/mo |
Our Verdict
Choose Shopify POS if...
Shopify merchants expanding from online-only to physical retail locations
Choose Revel Systems if...
Multi-location restaurant groups with 5-200 locations needing centralized management
Still Not Sure?
Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.