Lightspeed vs Shopify: Which e-Commerce platform do you choose?

Are you hesitating between Lightspeed and Shopify as an e-commerce platform? We understand that this choice can be tricky. Both platforms offer powerful tools and features, but which one is best for your specific needs? In this blog, we dive deeper into the differences between Lightspeed and Shopify so you can make an informed choice.

What is Lightspeed? 

Lightspeed is an all-in-one commerce platform that supports both brick-and-mortar and online stores. It offers a versatile solution for business owners by integrating e-commerce, POS (point of sale), inventory management and customer relationship management. The platform is designed to optimize your business processes and create a smooth experience for both business owners and customers.

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Advantages of Lightspeed 

1. Usability: Despite its many features, Lightspeed is generally user-friendly and intuitive, allowing you to get up and running with the platform quickly without extensive training.
2. Reliability and stability.: Powerful servers and a solid infrastructure are deployed by Lightspeed to ensure that the platform is reliable. As a result, your webshop has as little downtime as possible.
3. Omnichannel support: Are you an omnichannel retailer? Then you've come to the right place with Lightspeed, as the platform supports both physical and online stores. That way, you can offer your customers a consistent experience no matter how they store.

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Disadvantages of Lightspeed 

1. Cost: If you are a startup with a small business, the cost of Lightspeed and additional add-ons may put you off. Consider, for example, the relatively high monthly subscription and apps for conversion optimization. However, this is offset by significant growth potential, which can make the investment worthwhile.
2. Limited customer service: Although Lightspeed offers support to users, there are sometimes complaints about the responsiveness and quality of customer service, especially during peak hours or for urgent issues. This can mean that you are not always helped as quickly as you would like.

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What is Shopify?

Shopify is a leading e-commerce platform that helps you set up, manage and grow your online store. The platform offers a user-friendly interface, extensive customization options and a wide range of tools to support your business, regardless of size or industry.

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Benefits of Shopify

1. Accessibility: One of the biggest advantages of Shopify is the speed and simplicity with which you can set up an online store. With the click of a button, you can launch your online store and start selling.
2. Scalability: Shopify is designed to grow with your business. Are you just starting out and only have a few products? Or is your business already standing like a house? Shopify can handle all shapes and sizes and will support your growth without sacrificing performance.
3. Customer Service: The platform is known for its customer-friendliness, where they are there for you 24/7. Should problems arise and you find yourself at a loss for words, Shopify will quickly come to your aid at all times.

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Disadvantages of Shopify

1. Cost: The cost of Shopify could be a drawback if you have a small business or startup. In fact, initial subscription costs can quickly add up due to the need for paid apps, premium themes and additional transaction fees. As a result, you may end up spending more than you initially thought. However, these costs do add to the stability of the platform.
2. Limited blog feature: You want to be found in the search engines, don't you? Writing blogs is an essential part of your SEO strategy. And this very component is considered underpowered by some Shopify users. This is mainly because the blog feature is built in, making it unsuitable for further SEO optimizations. By the way, this does not mean that Shopify is not SEO suitable. On the contrary, with its fast website load time and optimization for mobile devices, Shopify is definitely a good choice for online findability.

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What are the costs associated with Shopify and Lightspeed?

Observant readers may have noticed that with both Lightspeed and Shopify, cost is seen as a disadvantage. However, both platforms have a different cost structure. You should therefore ask yourself which of the two is most advantageous for your business. Roughly speaking, you can divide these costs into two categories:

1. Subscription fees: Lightspeed and Shopify are both SaaS solutions, meaning there is a monthly fee. This starts at Lightspeed from €49 and at Shopify from €28.
2. Transaction fees: These are the fees where you remit a portion of your sales to the platform. Lightspeed has chosen not to use this. Shopify, on the other hand, does have these fees. They range from 0.2% to 2% depending on the package you choose. 

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Want a more detailed overview of the cost of both platforms? Then read our blog 'What is the cost difference between Lightspeed and Shopify?'.

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Conclusion

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How to proceed? You now know that the choice between Lightspeed and Shopify depends on your specific business needs. We recommend the following: 

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• Choose Lightspeed if you run a business with both physical and online stores and need advanced POS and inventory management features. Lightspeed is ideal for you if you are looking for an all-in-one solution to streamline your business processes.
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• Choose Shopify if you are looking for an easy-to-use and flexible e-commerce platform with a wide range of themes, integrations and scaling options. Shopify is suitable for businesses of all sizes and offers comprehensive support to grow your online store.