Best 5 Shopify POS Apps for Desktop: In-Depth Detailed Comparison

While Shopify offers a strong mobile POS app, some businesses prefer to use a Shopify POS apps for desktop for various reasons.

If you’re one of them, don’t miss this article. Here we’ll explore the top 5 apps that can integrate with Shopify and run on a desktops.

We also compare their pricing structures, main features, upsides, and any limitations to help you select the best app for your shop.

This article can satisfy you whether you prioritize cost-effectiveness, a user-friendly interface, or flexible payment options.

So, settle in, and get ready to discover the best Shopify POS app for desktop for your business!

Can You Use Shopify POS on Desktop?

Shopify POS is one of the most popular point-of-sale (POS) systems that help businesses accept payments, manage sales, and engage customers.

Shopify POS currently offers a mobile app only and doesn’t work on desktops. However, not all merchants prefer using tablets or smartphones to run Shopify POS.

Some have already installed desktops for back-office tasks and don’t want to buy extra hardware. Others may prefer larger screens at checkout to manage sales actions and view customer profiles.

Therefore, many businesses wonder how to use Shopify POS on desktops. This article will offer solutions in the next section.

Let’s continue.

How to Use Shopify POS on Desktops?

While Shopify POS lacks an official desktop version, you can still run it on your PC with either of the two methods:

• First, you can utilize a built-in POS system that syncs with Shopify and is compatible with your PC, for example, Magestore’s Shopify POS app for computers and tablets. Apps like this are specially built for Shopify, so you don’t need to pay any integration fee.
• Second, you can employ a standalone POS system, and then integrate it with an eCommerce platform, which in this case is Shopify. Standalone POS apps give you flexible choices of different platforms, but you may need to pay an extra fee for the connection.

5 Best Shopify POS Apps for PCs:

We’ve assessed some of the most popular Shopify POS desktop app solutions, and here are the top 5 Shopify POS Windows and Mac apps.

1. Shopify POS app by Magestore:

The Shopify POS app by Magestore comes with built-in Shopify compatibility, eliminating the need for manual app integration.

With progressive web app (PWA) technology, the Shopify POS app by Magestore requires no app download and can run on any device capable of running a browser.

Pricing:

• Provide a 30-day trial period
• Lite plan: $15/month for 1 location only
• Standard plan: $50/month per location

PC Versions:

• Any PCs, laptops, Macs, or Windows with a web browser in all versions.

Key Features:

• Manage staff roles, and add various denominations.
• Sync inventory and loyalty data across online and offline channels.
• Generate detailed reports about cash flow, sales, and payment methods during and after the session.
• Manage and process orders with barcodes from multiple customers simultaneously.
• Can adjust gift card values during checkout.
• Automatically generate receipts after every sale.
• Easy to process, allow refund orders, cancel orders, and reorder.
• Accept unlimited payment methods.
• Work well on desktops and tablets.
• Customizable and scalable for more complex business needs.
• Provide direct support from Magestore.

Upsides:

• More budget-friendly than some other POS apps
• Unlimited number of POS staff
• No integration fee
• No need to download the app

Limitations:

• The exchange order is not yet available, but is coming soon.

2. Lightspeed POS:

The Lightspeed POS is a standalone POS that empowers eCommerce, restaurants, and retail businesses.

Lightspeed Retail POS can run on both Windows and Mac OS systems, but it requires using Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox browsers to perform efficiently.

Besides, Lightspeed POS doesn’t provide a pre-built integration with other eCommerce platforms. To integrate Shopify with Lightspeed POS, you must use a third-party connection like HexaSync or SKUPlugs.

In other words, you will have to pay an additional fee for the connection, for instance, $59/month for SKUPlugs.

Pricing: 

• 14-day free trial
• Annual billing: starting at $89/month for basic features 
• Monthly billing: starting at $109/month for basic features 

PC Versions:

• Windows 8.1 or higher
• Mac OS X 10.15 or higher

Key Features:

• Accept popular payment methods.
• Manage your business anywhere you are.
• User-friendly interface, easy to manage sales, inventory, customers, and reports.
• Sell across multiple platforms: online, in-store, and mobile apps.

Limitations:

• Pricier than some options
• Extra cost for a third-party connection

3. Hike POS:

Hike POS is also a standalone POS that focuses on retail only. You can use Hike POS on any computer that has a web browser.

It is not built-in with Shopify, but as the Hike team develops and manages the integration themselves, you can enable Shopify POS for desktop integration without a connection app.

Pricing:

• 14-day free trial
• Annual billing: $99/month for plus features, including Shopify integration
• Monthly billing: $119/month for plus features, including Shopify integration

PC Versions:

• Any computer that has a web browser

Key Features:

• Work from anywhere with the cloud-based system.
• Maintain operations even without the internet.
• Accept multiple payment options.
• Sync inventory and orders with Shopify.
• Collect and streamline customer information for marketing purposes.
• Create real-time customer reports, product performance, and employee activity analytics.

Limitations:

• More pricey for the Shopify integration feature.
• Occasional glitches and performance issues.
• Certain tasks, like making purchase orders, might require more click actions than the ideal.

4. Erply POS:

Similar to Hike POS, Erply POS is a standalone POS offering the Shopify integration option. It supports a desktop app compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux.

Erply POS Integration is available on the Shopify app store for free, but some users say its inventory doesn’t sync.

Pricing:

• Provide a 60-day trial
• Annual billing: $69/month for Shopify integration, retail POS, and inventory features
• Monthly billing: $79/month for Shopify integration, retail POS, and inventory features

PC Versions:

• Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10
• Linux Ubuntu 18.xx, Ubuntu 20.xx
• Mac OS X Yosemite 10.10 or higher

Key Features:

• User-friendly experience.
• Keep track of employee time easily.
• Customize and manage layaway orders.
• Incentivize in-store pickup orders.
• Save a sale online for later purchase.
• Look up the inventory, search stock, and price quickly.

Limitations:

• More expensive than some other options
• Limited add-on features.
• Some advanced accounting features may incur extra fees.

5. GoFrugal POS:

GoFrugal POS is retail POS billing software. It offers a desktop app for Mac OS, Windows 7 SP1, and above.

However, if you have more than 5 clients, you should consider a desktop running on Mac OS, Windows 2008 R2 or higher for better performance.

GoFrugal POS provides open APIs, so you can integrate it with any eCommerce platform, including Shopify.

However, similar to Lightspeed POS, it requires a connection app. So the total cost will be higher.

Pricing:

• 60-day trial for GoFrugal POS
• Annual billing: $23/month for cloud POS + Accounting
• Monthly billing: $28/month for cloud POS + Accounting

PC Versions:

• Mac OS
• Windows 7 SP1 and above

Key Features:

• Control inventory, maximize sales, and minimize shortages.
• Create customer profiles, analyze purchase behaviors, and design effective promotions and loyalty rewards.
• Manage efficient retail billing operations.
• Combine and monitor sales, inventory, online payments, etc.

Limitations:

• Additional cost for a third-party connection app.
• A lot of complaints about poor chat support and customer service.
• The user interface needs improving.
• Complex accounting module.
• Customizations typically involve two-way costs for analyzing and developing the condition.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, while Shopify currently doesn’t offer a desktop POS app, you can use Shopify POS apps on a desktop by connecting one of the mentioned POS apps, which is compatible with Windows/Mac OS, to the Shopify platform.

Each app has different pros and cons, thus, you should consider your needs and compare these options before choosing the best fit for your business.