Shopify POS vs ShopKeep: 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.
ShopKeep
Simple iPad POS for small retail and quick-service restaurants, now part of Lightspeed. Free plan available with payment processing.
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | Shopify POS | ShopKeep |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Shopify merchants expanding from online-only to physical retail locations | Existing ShopKeep users who are happy with the current system and plan to migrate when required |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Freemium |
| Starting Price | $39/mo | Free |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud |
| Platforms | WEB, IOS, ANDROID | IOS |
| Rating | 8.0/10 | 7.2/10 |
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
ShopKeep
Pros
- Simple and intuitive iPad POS that retail and food service staff can learn in under an hour
- Free basic plan with payment processing means zero upfront software cost for small businesses
- BackOffice mobile dashboard lets owners monitor sales and inventory remotely from their phone
- Proven reliability — the core system has been stable for years without major outages
- Part of the Lightspeed family provides a migration path to more advanced features when needed
Cons
- Product is in maintenance mode with no significant new features since the Lightspeed acquisition
- Migration to Lightspeed is inevitable — investing in ShopKeep as a new user makes little strategic sense
- Integration ecosystem is stagnating with fewer new app partnerships being added
- Limited to iPad — no Android, no web-based register option for flexibility
- Pricing and future roadmap are unclear, creating uncertainty for long-term planning
Pricing Comparison
| Product | Pricing Model | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify POS | subscription | $39/mo |
| ShopKeep | freemium | Free0 |
Our Verdict
Choose Shopify POS if...
Shopify merchants expanding from online-only to physical retail locations
Choose ShopKeep if...
Existing ShopKeep users who are happy with the current system and plan to migrate when required
Still Not Sure?
Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.