Shopify POS vs Lavu POS: Which One Should You Choose?

Shopify POS and Lavu POS are two leading point-of-sale systems — but which one actually fits your business?

I spent over 100 hours researching and testing both platforms across retail and restaurant settings to help you make the right decision.

If you're running an ecommerce store with physical sales, Shopify POS is the clear winner.

But if you're managing a restaurant, Lavu POS has key advantages that Shopify simply doesn’t offer.

Let’s break it all down so you can confidently pick the best tool for your business.

Quick Verdict: Shopify POS vs Lavu POS

POS System	Best For	Starting Price
Shopify POS	Retailers who sell online and in-store	$39/month (Shopify plan) + $0 for POS Lite
Lavu POS	Restaurants, cafes, and food trucks	$59/month per terminal

Shopify POS – Best overall for ecommerce retailers

Lavu POS – Best for full-service restaurants and food-focused businesses

In this comparison, I’ll go deeper into how these two systems stack up when it comes to pricing, features, hardware, payments, and support — so you can decide which platform actually suits your day-to-day operations.

Pricing: Shopify POS vs Lavu POS

When it comes to pricing, both systems offer flexible options, but the structure is different based on the type of business.

Shopify POS Pricing

Shopify’s pricing is tied to its ecommerce platform. To use the POS, you’ll need a Shopify plan:

Basic Shopify – $39/month
Shopify – $105/month
Advanced Shopify – $399/month

All of these include POS Lite (basic features for in-person selling).
If you want more advanced retail features like staff permissions and smart inventory tools, you’ll need:

Shopify POS Pro – $89/month per location (add-on)

There’s also a free trial and an introductory offer where your first three months cost just $1/month.

Lavu POS Pricing

Lavu offers standalone POS pricing for restaurants. While they don’t publicly list all pricing details, expect:

Core Plan – Starts at $59/month per terminal
Add-ons like loyalty, KDS, or delivery integrations may increase your monthly cost
Custom enterprise pricing for larger chains or multi-location setups

Lavu also provides a free trial, but its pricing is quote-based for most businesses.

The Winner: Shopify POS

If you're already using Shopify or plan to sell online, Shopify POS is a better value. The integration with your ecommerce backend saves hours of work, and you can upgrade only if you need advanced tools.

Lavu’s pricing is fair for restaurants but becomes complex with add-ons.

Best for Retail and Ecommerce: Shopify POS

If your business sells both online and in-store, Shopify POS is the superior choice.

With Shopify, everything works together — ecommerce, POS, inventory, customer data, and fulfillment. Here’s what I liked:

Centralized backend: One dashboard for all orders, whether they come from your website or your store.
Unified inventory: Products, stock levels, and SKUs sync in real time.
Cross-channel selling: Let customers buy online, return in-store, or pick up locally.

I was able to manage both digital and physical sales without toggling between platforms or exporting spreadsheets. Shopify’s entire system is built to support retail-first brands that also want physical selling power.

Lavu, on the other hand, does not support ecommerce out of the box. You’ll need to use third-party systems or rely on its food ordering integrations.

The Winner: Shopify POS

Shopify is built for ecommerce brands that want in-store flexibility. It’s far more complete for multichannel retail businesses.

Best for Restaurants: Lavu POS

If you run a restaurant, coffee shop, or food truck, Lavu POS is designed specifically for you. This is where it wins.

Here’s what I found when testing Lavu in a real kitchen environment:

Menu-level customization: Add modifiers, options, combo deals, and timed menus.
Table and order management: Move tickets between tables, split bills, or transfer to go.
Ingredient inventory tracking: Monitor usage, food cost percentages, and waste.
Kitchen display system (KDS): Send orders directly to the kitchen or prep station.

Shopify POS simply doesn’t offer these features. It’s built for selling products — not managing a busy kitchen.

The Winner: Lavu POS

For any food-focused business, Lavu has what you need: tipping, modifiers, kitchen workflows, and restaurant-specific analytics.

Inventory Management

Inventory features vary dramatically depending on your type of business.

Shopify POS Inventory

Shopify offers:

Product-level inventory
Multi-location tracking
Barcode scanner support
Real-time sync between your website and physical store

You can also set stock alerts, track inventory aging, and use apps to create bundles or manage suppliers. It’s all made for physical product sales.

Lavu POS Inventory

Lavu focuses on ingredient-level tracking:

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Create recipes with portion control
Track food usage and waste
Monitor low stock across ingredients
Automate reordering for vendors

This system is great for food cost management, but overkill for retailers selling physical goods.

The Winner: Tie

If you sell products, Shopify POS wins for retail inventory.
If you manage a kitchen, Lavu POS wins for food and ingredient control.

POS Hardware

Both systems support in-person selling hardware, but there are big differences in how they approach it.

Shopify POS Hardware

Shopify offers its own hardware bundles, optimized for retail:

Shopify POS Go (all-in-one handheld system)
Receipt printers, barcode scanners, cash drawers
Compatible with iPads and iPhones

You can purchase Shopify hardware directly from the Shopify website, and setup is simple — everything is plug-and-play.

Lavu POS Hardware

Lavu is designed for restaurant workflows, and it supports:

iPad terminals
Kitchen display systems (KDS)
Thermal printers for tickets and receipts
Cash drawers and third-party card readers

Setup takes more time, especially if you’re building multiple stations (bar, kitchen, host). But it’s customizable.

The Winner: Depends on Your Business

Shopify’s hardware is best for retail checkouts.
Lavu’s hardware is built for restaurant and kitchen stations.

Payment Processing

Both systems support multiple payment options, but there are differences in fees and flexibility.

Shopify POS Payments

Shopify offers:

Shopify Payments: No transaction fees, competitive processing rates
Third-party gateways: Like PayPal, but with added fees
Contactless and mobile support: Apple Pay, Google Pay

Rates start at 2.4% + $0.00 per transaction with higher-tier plans. Everything is managed within Shopify — no external merchant account required.

Lavu POS Payments

Lavu integrates with:

PayPal Zettle
Square
LavuPay (its own in-house processor)

You can choose your provider, but fees typically start at 2.5% + $0.10 per transaction. Setup depends on your processor.

The Winner: Shopify POS

Shopify makes payment setup easier and more integrated. If you’re using Shopify Payments, you’ll avoid extra transaction fees and get faster payouts.

App Store and Integrations

Apps are where you extend your system. Shopify dominates here.

Shopify App Store

Over 8,000+ apps available
Covers loyalty, CRM, email marketing, reviews, shipping, and more
Easy to browse and install from your admin dashboard

Shopify's ecosystem is massive, letting you build whatever retail flow you need.

Lavu App Integrations

Fewer apps (mostly food-service focused)
Supports third-party integrations like Chowly and DoorDash
Custom development possible, but not as plug-and-play

Lavu’s ecosystem is narrower, focused mostly on hospitality tools.

The Winner: Shopify POS

If you want the flexibility to customize your workflow with apps, Shopify is the clear winner.

Customer Support

Both offer 24/7 support, but Shopify’s documentation and community are stronger.

Shopify Support

24/7 live chat and help center
Shopify Community forum and guides
Priority support on higher-tier plans
Extensive third-party documentation and YouTube tutorials

Shopify’s support system is well-rounded and easy to access. Whether you need technical help or just quick setup guidance, it’s simple to find answers or connect with a real person fast.

Lavu Support

24/7 phone and live chat
Onboarding support available
Smaller knowledge base
Email response times can vary

While the resources are more limited compared to Shopify, the direct access to phone support can be a big help for restaurants that need quick resolutions during busy hours.

The Winner: Shopify POS

Shopify has a better support experience overall, especially if you're new to retail tech.

Final Verdict: Shopify POS vs Lavu POS

Criteria	Winner
Pricing	Shopify POS
Ecommerce Integration	Shopify POS
Restaurant Features	Lavu POS
Inventory Management	Tie
Hardware	Depends
Payment Processing	Shopify POS
App Store	Shopify POS
Customer Support	Shopify POS

Use Shopify POS if you’re a retailer who sells both online and in-store. It’s built for ecommerce, with unified inventory, smooth checkout, and a massive app ecosystem.

Use Lavu POS if you run a restaurant or food service business. It’s built for menus, modifiers, tipping, and kitchen workflows — things Shopify doesn’t offer.