POS Review: ConnectPOS Vs. Shopify POS

ConnectPOS and Shopify POS are the two powerful leading cloud-based POS systems in the market. 

Both of them are very dedicated to creating a seamless customer experience but there are huge differences that strongly separate the two systems apart. Let’s find out which is the better one for your long-term retail development.

Overview

ConnectPOS 

ConnectPOS is the leading cloud POS software for omnichannel retail stores. Established in 2006 with various outstanding features, ConnectPOS has been trusted by thousands of retailers in all e-Commerce platforms such as: 

• Magento
• Shopify 
• BigCommerce 
• WooCommerce 

Besides focusing on the F&B industry like other POS systems in the market nowadays, ConnectPOS is also suitable for supporting businesses filed worldwide such as Toys, Fashions, Nutrition & Supplements, etc.  

Furthermore, they have offered different pricing plans to support many types of customers, from small retailers, entrepreneurs to enterprise businesses.

Shopify POS

Shopify POS is a product from Shopify, one of the leading e-commerce platforms supporting online retail businesses in the meantime. 

For any Shopify’s users, it has already integrated Shopify POS in your store with these features Order & Inventory management, Customer data, etc. 

Shopify POS also provides a Pro version which gives retailers more advanced features in their store.

Compatibility

ConnectPOS and Shopify POS are compatible with all PC (Windows & macOS) and mobile (iOS & Android) devices. 

If you are looking for a POS system that helps customers interact with the POS machine to create a seamless experience, ConnectPOS will be the solution. 

Customer Screen features of ConnectPOS allow retailers to do that, which is not supported by the Shopify POS in the free version. 

In this case, one-point lead for ConnectPOS.

Pricing Plan 

ConnectPOS

Starting with $49 per month or $39 per month if pay annually, the pricing plans are suitable for any kind of business with a lot of spotlight features: 

• Real-Time Synchronization
• Multiple Payments Method Support 
• Instantly Stock Update

Not only the outstanding features provided, but ConnectPOS also always offers a free 14-days free trial for any new retailers to prove their quality. 

Shopify POS

There are two types of plans in Shopify POS, come along with: 

• Shopify POS Lite – free version 
• Shopify POS Pro – $89 per month

For any retailers using the Shopify platform, they have already integrated the POS system into your store, but the features are limited and basic such as Order & Inventory management, Customer Information, etc. 

If you are extending your retailer’s business and looking for advanced features to control and manage everything, you will have to pay $89 per month to upgrade your Shopify POS plan. 

Pricing Comparison 

Compared with ConnectPOS, Shopify POS is a little bit expensive when you want to widen up the business. 

With ConnectPOS, you can start with the lowest prices and still gain outstanding features for your stores. You will save more money if you pay annually, which does not happen when every month you have to pay $89 for Shopify POS Pro, with no discount. 

For the POS system that supports your retailer store, ConnectPOS is the more reasonable option in pricing. 

Features

Data Synchronization 

ConnectPOS 

It provides amazing features that automatically synchronize business data between inventory and POS systems in real-time, even when the internet connection is broken.

The business data included: 

• Sale 
• Inventory
• Product 
• Customers

This ability enables retail stores to ensure that every transaction in stores can run smoothly without the internet.

Shopify POS

Similar to ConnectPOS, Shopify POS is also supported to automatically synchronize business data between Inventory System and POS. However, Shopify POS still does not support working in Offline Mode.

Retailers can manually sync data when the internet is lost. This is quite risky when done manually as it can lead to omission or misrepresentation of data between the store and the POS system.

Inventory & Staff Management

ConnectPOS

Besides the real-time synchronization that has been noted above, ConnectPOS still affords multi-stores & warehouses which allows retailers to check and transfer the stock of each store directly in the POS system. 

The multi-stores & warehouses also grant retailers to choose multiple warehouses in one bill. 

Additionally, ConnectPOS also supports Shift Management. With this feature, retailers can easily manage store operators with transparent information like Total Cash Adjustment In & Out, Employee Shift, etc. 

To help retailers manage inventory better, ConnectPOS has created a specific app – Multi-Source Inventory. With this add-on, retailers can easily:

• Manage multiple warehouses right within one app
• Compatible with POS systems, such as ConnectPOS
• Auto-generate purchase orders when reaching a threshold
• Keep track of every warehouse
• Auto-forecast next shipments

Furthermore, retailers can assign stock counting directly on the system with the Stocktake features. The counting will be automatically and accurately conducted and import data into your system. 

You can closely monitor stock status in every store and warehouse location at every period of time. 

Shopify POS

In the free version of Shopify POS, there are not many features provided as ConnectPOS, but there are still some basic, include:

• In-store Availability
• Product detail QR Codes

If you want to have advanced inventory management, you have to upgrade to the Pro version and integrate the Stocky App in your store. The Shopify POS Pro version will help you to unlock all of the features in that app.

Payment Solution Provider

Payment method is a key factor in every retail process. Especially, since there are now many suitable payment methods in the market, customers will expect more options when shopping in your stores.

ConnectPOS

ConnectPOS enables stores to manage and provide their customers with multiple payment methods from cash to card. 

In addition, retailers can connect directly their POS system with the majority of highly secured and popular payment gateways such as PayPal or Tyro without any transaction fees required. 

Shopify POS

Shopify POS is integrated with Shopify Payments – another factor of Shopify eCommerce suite. Besides, retailers can also connect their Shopify POS with other third-party payment gateways. 

Notably, Shopify charges a certain fee for each transaction, usually ranging from 2.4% and 2.7% of your total bill. 

In the mission to create a comfortable payment process for customers, these POS systems are equal. But in terms of retailers, ConnectPOS will be the more appropriate solution when it comes to free charges with international payment providers.

Integration

ConnectPOS is the leading cloud POS software for omnichannel retail stores thereby, they can easily integrate with any e-commerce platform nowadays. When you want to migrate from an eCommerce platform to another, ConnectPOS still works smoothly on that platform. Moreover, retailers can straightforwardly build customer relationships with the help of these built-in integrations such as loyalty, gift cards, etc.

Check out other integration in ConnectPOS now!

On the other hand, Shopify POS only supports Shopify’s users and it is not working or integrating with any other platforms. In order to build customer loyalty or expand the power of the omnichannel experience, retailers have to install other third parties which may cause unexpected fees for the budget for the business.

Final Thought

Both ConnectPOS and Shopify POS have their own excellent features as well as certain drawbacks. The reason is that each of them is developed separately to fulfill the needs of particular groups of retailers. 

In the long term of scaling up the business, ConnectPOS will be the more suitable solution to provide advanced features at a reasonable price to retailers.

If you want to know more about ConnectPOS, feel free to contact us!