NOVA & Shopify Comparison
Compare two leading retail POS solutions and discover the difference between managing an ecommerce-first business and running a retail-first operation built for specialty retailers.
Both are excellent.
Here’s who each one is for.
The right choice depends on where your business is today – and where you want it to be tomorrow.
Shopify is the better fit if…
- Your online store is the center of your business.
- Omnichannel commerce is your highest priority.
- You sell across ecommerce, marketplaces, and social channels.
- You're already invested in the Shopify ecosystem.
- Your retail store supports your online business.
NOVA is the better fit if…
- Your physical store is the center of your business.
- You want advanced retail management built into one platform.
- Inventory, reporting, employees, and CRM are critical to daily operations.
- You want a live retail expert included with every plan.
- You're a specialty retailer focused on in-store success.
Two powerful platforms.
Built for different business models.
Ecommerce first
Store first
Online store at the center of the business
Retail operations at the center of the business
Unified inventory across online and in-store channels
Advanced inventory built for specialty retail, including purchasing, transfers, and operational controls
Commerce and sales performance insights
Operational, inventory, and financial reporting
Platform guidance and self-service resources backed by Shopify support
Guided onboarding, personalized training, and support from retail-trained experts.
Omnichannel selling built around ecommerce
Purpose-built retail workflows and day-to-day business management
Expand ecommerce and sales channels
Built-in capabilities designed to scale from one store to many
Compare what's included.
Compare more than the monthly price.
SHOPIFY
Ecommerce-first plan. POS Lite is included; the full retail feature set (POS Pro) is a $89/mo per-location add-on.
Or $29/mo billed annually. Card-processing rates vary by plan and payment method.
Lower online card rates than Basic. POS Pro (full retail features) still adds $89/mo per location.
Or $79/mo billed annually. Card-processing rates vary by plan and payment method.
Advanced reporting and Shopify’s lowest online rates. POS Pro adds $89/mo per location.
Or $299/mo billed annually. Card-processing rates vary by plan and payment method.
NOVA — one price. all features included.
Why does NOVA Integrated cost less? Through our partnership with Propelr, we’re able to pass along $40/month in software savings to retailers who choose our integrated payment solution.
Same complete platform, every feature on — you pair it with the merchant partner of your choice.
All features included — no paywalls
Unlimited employees & customers
Live retail experts, whenever you need us
Choose integrated payments or keep your preferred processor
Cancel anytime — no questions asked
10-day free trial · no credit card
Shopify plan pricing per shopify.com/pricing; POS Pro add-on ($89/mo per location) per shopify.com/pos/pricing — verified July 25, 2026. Shopify’s in-person card-processing rate is not published as a single figure and varies by plan. NOVA plan facts from novapointofsale.com/pricing.
Your POS should power more
than checkout
Choosing a POS isn’t just about accepting payments — it’s about choosing the platform you’ll rely on to run your business every day.
NOVA
BUILT TO RUN & GROW
NOVA helps retailers operate more efficiently and grow with confidence by bringing POS, operations, customers, employees, reporting, and payments together in one connected platform.
Increase Sales & Profitability
Drive profitable growth with customer insights, performance-based commissions, flexible pricing controls, product incentives, and integrated payments.
Backed by Retail Experts
Get onboarding, training, and responsive support from a team who understands both retail and software to keep your business growing.
Grow with Visibility
Monitor sales, inventory, employees, and performance with real-time dashboards, alerts, mobile access, and multi-location visibility.
Empower Your Team
Track performance, automate commissions, manage payroll, assign permissions, and motivate smarter selling with customizable incentives.
Know Every Customer
Connect purchase history, Smart CRM, loyalty, targeted marketing, and appointments to create more personalized customer experiences.
Make Better Decisions
Access real-time KPIs, profitability reports, inventory analytics, purchasing insights, and operational reporting.
Why retailers choose NOVA over Shopify
NOVA is built to help specialty retailers manage the daily operations of a successful retail business from one connected platform.
Retail Operations First
- Advanced inventory management
- Flexible pricing & commission strategies
- Selling tools that help increase revenue and profitability
Connected Retail Management
- Inventory & purchasing
- CRM & customer loyalty
- Employee management
- Appointments & scheduling
- Reporting & analytics
Flexibility & Control
- Open API integrations
- Flexible hardware options
- Integrated payments
- Configurable workflows
Operational Clarity
- Live dashboards & KPIs
- Mobile back-office access
- Multi-location visibility
- Operational reporting
Personalized Support
- Dedicated onboarding
- Personalized training
- Live, responsive support
Easy Migration
- Guided implementation
- Data migration
- Minimal downtime
Thinking of Switching
Switching to NOVA is easier than you may think. Our team guides you through implementation, carefully migrates your data, and helps you go live with minimal disruption to your business.
Guided Implementation
A NOVA retail expert plans the move with you.
Data Migration
Catalog, customers, and history mapped item by item.
Minimal Downtime
Go live without closing the doors.
10 days free · no credit card required
Thinking of Switching
See what NOVA can do for your business with a FREE 10-day trial—no credit card required and cancel anytime. Have questions? Talk with a retail specialist who understands specialty retail and can help you determine whether NOVA is the right fit for your business.
Guided Implementation
Data Migration
Minimal Downtime
10 days free · no credit card required
Questions retailers ask
Can I migrate from Shopify to NOVA?
Your switch is guided end to end — guided implementation, data migration, and minimal downtime, with a NOVA retail expert working the move with you. Exactly what transfers depends on your catalog and setup. We map it together, item by item, before you commit to anything.
Can I try NOVA before deciding anything?
Yes. Try NOVA 10 days free, no credit card, cancel anytime, no questions asked.
Do I have to use a specific payment processor?
No. Choose the payment option that works best for your business. With NOVA Basic, you can keep your preferred payment processor. Or choose NOVA Integrated to combine your POS and payments in one solution while saving $40/month on your software subscription.
What will Shopify cost as my store grows?
Shopify uses a tiered pricing model that starts at $39/month for a single user. As your business grows, higher-tier plans increase to $105/month and $399/month, adding more staff accounts and advanced capabilities along the way.
What about AI?
AI has incredible potential, but it starts with clean, connected data. NOVA brings your inventory, customers, employees, reporting, and payments together in one platform, creating the foundation for meaningful AI-powered insights as our AI capabilities continue to evolve.
Inventory
Employees
Customers
Reporting
Payments
Live expert support
Shopify delivers online. NOVA runs retail.
Shopify POS is an excellent choice for businesses that lead with ecommerce and want to unify online and in-store selling.
NOVA is designed for specialty retailers who want a retail-first platform that brings together inventory, customers, employees, reporting, and integrated payments in one connected solution – helping simplify daily operations and support long-term growth.
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