Shopify Lite Review: Is Shopify’s Minimalist Plan All You Need To Run A Business?

Pros

• No setup or application fees
• Suitable for low-volume businesses
• Solid feature set
• Predictable pricing
• Easy to scale
• Supports PayPal payments

Cons

• Account stability issues with Shopify Payments
• It does not include the full online store
• No longer available in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland

What Is Shopify Lite?

Shopify Lite, a low-cost Shopify subscription plan, provides merchants with tools to sell on multiple sales channels (e.g., Amazon and Facebook) and a mobile-friendly POS app chock-full of features. It does not include the Shopify web storefront — if you need a full eCommerce presence, read our complete Shopify review.

Shopify Lite delivers excellent value, which is why we give it 4.5 stars. You’ll get a comprehensive platform to manage your business (at least on the sales and inventory side), a solid POS app that walks the line between a full-fledged iPad system and mobile, and you get a wide array of free online sales tools, all for just $9/month. However, Shopify seems to be phasing out the Lite plan, so it may not be available for much longer in the countries where it is still available.

Shopify Lite Pricing

Shopify Lite’s pricing will depend on the country where the merchant purchases the product. It will include a relatively small monthly fee and a per-transaction Shopify Payments fee.

We generally prefer not to see monthly fees for mPOS offerings. In this case, we need to consider that Shopify started primarily as an eCommerce provider, and the POS is meant to be an add-on for Shopify merchants. With that in mind, charging a low monthly fee for the mPOS, buy buttons, invoicing, and a Facebook shop (among other sales channels) is a good deal.

Also, keep in mind that you don’t have to use Shopify Payments if you take payments with Shopify Lite. However, if you connect another gateway/payment processor, you’ll have to pay an additional per-transaction fee on top of the monthly fee and payment processing fees. This won’t be a good deal for most merchants, so you’ll probably want to use Shopify Payments if you’re going to use Shopify Lite.

Using Shopify Payments

Shopify has a native payment system built into its setup called Shopify Payments, a white-label version of Stripe. As a third-party processor, there’s some account instability. The same risk applies to Square, PayPal, and most other mPOS systems, and that risk is the potential for account holds or sudden terminations. It’s not something most merchants will encounter, but we recommend reading our post on how to avoid merchant account holds, freezes, and terminations.

You should also look over the list of prohibited businesses under Shopify Payments’ terms of service to make sure you’re in full compliance.

Using Shopify Balance

In addition, Shopify Lite users who set up Shopify Payments are eligible for Shopify Balance, the company’s neobanking and money management service. Shopify sellers get access to their funds on the next business day with digital and physical spending cards, ATM access, and money transfers. Shopify Balance also comes with other rewards, including cash back and discounts on Shopify Shipping.

Shopify Lite Features

You should consider what “Lite” means in the context of Shopify. The table below, which compares Shopify Lite with Shopify’s Basic plan, will give you a sense of what you are and aren’t missing out on if you choose Shopify Lite.

Shopify Lite VS Basic: Comparing Plans

The biggest difference between Shopify Lite vs. Shopify Basic is the access to Shopify’s website creator and hosting services. Essentially, Shopify Lite is a service for businesses that already have a website. There are a few other differences, such as whether you can access customer support over the phone. Otherwise, the services are similar, including credit card processing costs.

Customer Service & Support

Overall, Shopify has somewhat of a muddied reputation for customer service. Some merchants say it’s great; others complain about it.

I can confidently say that Shopify offers 24/7 support via email, live chat, and phone, which is tremendous. However, if you’re on the Lite plan, you’ll only be able to access email and live chat. Considering that 24/7 support in the mPOS field is exceedingly rare, as is a live chat, this is a step up from what you’ll get with most other providers.

Sales & Advertising Transparency

Shopify’s pricing and plans, generally speaking, are quite transparent. I can gripe a little bit about how “hidden” Shopify Lite is relative to the other plans, but you can still get the information you need without enduring a sales sermon.

It can also be a little unclear to know exactly what you are giving up by “removing the online store.”

Contract Length & Early Termination Fee

Shopify offers month-to-month agreements, and you can cancel at any time. If you opt to pay for an entire year’s subscription in advance, you’ll get a slight discount over a month-to-month agreement, but it won’t be as easy to recoup that if you leave before your pre-paid subscription ends, as Shopify does not offer refunds.

Shopify offers a 14-day free trial to try out its features. As long as you don’t select a plan, you don’t have to worry about being charged anything.

Shopify Lite Reviews

Negative Shopify Lite Reviews & Complaints

There are very few Shopify Lite-specific reviews out there, but on the whole, Shopify has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, with 363 complaints closed in the last three years. User reviews on BBB trend negative, however, with Shopify earning an average of 1.11 out of 5 stars (based on 88 reviews).

Here are some complaints that repeatedly arise:

• Trouble With Shopify Payments: Third-party processors can’t offer the same kind of account stability you get with a merchant account, unfortunately. That leads to merchants finding themselves unexpectedly unable to process through Shopify Payments. These difficulties happen for many reasons, including adding a prohibited product to your store, too many chargebacks, sudden large transactions, or a sudden and substantial uptick in sales, to name a few. While this is true, having a traditional merchant account doesn’t completely eliminate these risks.
• Complicated Features: A few complaints focus on the poor design of the store credit feature. Others mention that getting inventory set up or managing returns can be more complicated. These complaints are hardly in the majority opinion, but they are there nonetheless.
• Customer Support: These complaints don’t appear to be common, but we have noted them in our other reviews of Shopify products, too. While some merchants rave about customer support, others are less than enthused. Your experience may vary in this regard, but at least you know you can take to the other support channels (such as the forum or the self-help center).

Positive Shopify Lite Reviews & Testimonials

There isn’t much Shopify Lite-focused feedback out there, but there is a bit. Between those comments and the broader feedback on the POS app and online sales channels, here’s a quick rundown of what merchants seem to enjoy the most:

• Good POS App: Many business owners seem to like that Shopify offers a POS. Once they get over the initial excitement of an integrated POS app, merchants often say they like its functionality, even if it doesn’t offer all of the features they want.
• Integrated Dashboard & Tools: A big draw is being able to see and manage online and in-person sales in a single dashboard. The consolidated inventory management is also very much appreciated. Plus, all your payment information is available in Shopify, too.
• Invoicing Support: I see lots of comments from merchants who appreciate the ability to create invoices for custom and wholesale orders. They also say the invoicing feature is easy to use, which is always nice to see.
• Customer Support: A fair number of business owners sing the praises of Shopify’s agents, both for their helpfulness and quick responses. Yes, there are complaints, too, but definitely plenty of happy merchants.

The primary theme to take away here is convenience. Like Square, Shopify’s big draw is the all-in-one platform with a powerful dashboard that can manage your business’s different elements. Everything is condensed into the dashboard, and everything syncs and updates automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions About Shopify Lite

Final Verdict On The Shopify Lite Plan

Shopify Lite isn’t a perfect standalone mPOS solution, but it is an excellent one. It has everything you need and plenty of features that other entry-level mobile POS apps don’t offer, such as discounts and tipping. However, it may not be available for much longer — though Shopify will likely continue to support merchants who signed up with Shopify Lite even if the plan is discontinued for would-be new users.

If you plan to sell in-person and online but aren’t sure whether you want to build an entirely new web store, Shopify Lite is a great way to test the waters and see if you like it. You can set up a Facebook shop, sync Etsy or other sales channels, and easily add buy buttons to any existing site. Don’t forget about the mPOS app itself that enables you to sell at pop-up events, conventions, festivals, or wherever else you find yourself. When you’re ready to upgrade, the process will be relatively quick and painless, with great resources to help you along the way.

Shopify Lite gets an excellent 4.5 stars and our general recommendation. If you’re looking for an mPOS that can do more than just the basics, this plan should be on your shortlist. However, keep in mind that Shopify primarily targets online retail and service businesses. If Shopify doesn’t work for you, check out our article on Shopify alternatives for other options.

The Merchant Maverick Seal of Approval 🏆

Shopify Lite	Visit Site

After hours of in-depth research and evaluation, we can confidently recommend this brand to our readers. Get started today and see Shopify Lite for yourself.

The Merchant Maverick Seal of Approval 🏆

Shopify Lite	Visit Site

After hours of in-depth research and evaluation, we can confidently recommend this brand to our readers. Get started today and see Shopify Lite for yourself.

Sources