What Retailers Need to Know About ShopKeep POS: Rates, Support & Limitations

We take our role in providing guidance and education regarding the card payment industry very seriously. At our own expense, we have vigorously defended our right to continue expose unethical and predatory practices in the industry, successfully defeating every attempt to silence us. However, fending off frivolous lawsuits is costly. To sustain these efforts, one of the ways we generate revenue is through affiliate partnerships with ethical providers. This means that some of our outgoing links connect business owners to trustworthy, low-cost payment processors, which is what most of our readers seek. We see this revenue channel as a win-win-win for everyone involved. Business owners find good processors, processors get good clients, and we are able to continue to provide a valuable service to the small business community. We also recommend and link to many services that do not compensate us. Our priority is to guide you to the best solutions for your needs, regardless of potential revenue. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us.

All mentions of rate and fee costs are estimations based on publicly available information and client feedback. Actual costs may vary based on a variety of factors unique to your business.

ShopKeep

Rating
D
2.8/5
full starfull starempty starempty starempty star

Pros and Cons of ShopKeep

Pros

Intuitive software use
Customizable receipts
Accepts all payment types
Offline payments available
Flexible hardware options

Cons

Hardware connectivity issues
No multi-location support
No API available
Higher plan costs
Limited free plan features

Overview

In this review of ShopKeep POS, a cloud-based system built for small retail and service businesses, we take an in depth look at its pricing, contract terms, and overall performance. We examine user experiences and employee feedback, highlighting common complaints, pros and cons, and how the system has evolved since its acquisition by Lightspeed. The review also covers ShopKeep’s marketing practices, customer support quality, and responses to legal challenges, including the Visa and MasterCard settlement. In addition, we evaluate its payment processing fees, rates, and features compared to industry standards. By the end, you’ll have a balanced understanding of ShopKeep’s strengths, weaknesses, and whether it’s the right POS solution for your business.

Powered By Lightspeed

In late 2020 the multichannel cloud commerce platform, Lightspeed, acquired ShopKeep for $440 million dollars. It appears that the ShopKeep name will continue to function as a distinct brand for the immediate future.

About ShopKeep

Screen Capture of ShopKeep Homepage
ShopKeep Homepage

Founded in 2008 in New York City, ShopKeep was a cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) platform designed for small and medium-sized businesses, particularly in retail, hospitality, and quick-service sectors. The system operated primarily on iPads, offering features such as sales processing, inventory management, employee tracking, and customer relationship tools. In November 2020, ShopKeep was acquired by Lightspeed Commerce for $440 million. Following the acquisition, ShopKeep was integrated into Lightspeed’s suite of POS solutions and is now known as Lightspeed Retail (S-Series). This integration expanded the platform’s capabilities, providing users with enhanced tools for e-commerce, analytics, and payment processing. Existing ShopKeep users continue to receive support under the Lightspeed brand.

Customer Reviews & Sentiment

Moderate Complaint Total

Currently, there are over 50 negative ShopKeep reviews across various consumer protection forums, although none of these complaints label the service as a scam or ripoff. On the iTunes App Store, the ShopKeep iPad app holds a 2.9 out of 5 star rating based on 81 ratings. The predominant issues reported include a lack of necessary features and software and hardware glitches. ShopKeep currently does not support functions such as multiple sales tax rates, online store integration, product exchanges, or detailed sales reports by item, which some merchants deem essential. Additionally, there are reports of malfunctioning hardware and unreliable software.

ShopKeep Customer Support Options

Recent complaints have surfaced regarding slow response times and inadequate resolutions through ShopKeep’s customer support channels. Although ShopKeep claims to offer 24/7/365 support, its support page predominantly highlights email support tickets, live chat, and live text message support, lacking a dedicated phone number. The inclusion of a dedicated support number could potentially elevate ShopKeep as a top-rated processor for customer service.

Industry Scores & User Ratings

Online Ratings Summary
PaymentPop1
BBB Rating1.26
TrustRadius Rating3.6
FeaturedCustomers Rating4.7
Our Rating2.8
Average Rating3.09

PaymentPop Rating for ShopKeep

Negative Feedback

Stay away from ShopKeep, they will hurt your business. ShopKeep employees provided misleading information; it took much longer to receive our device (which also keeps breaking). They took no accountability for their mistake and refused to offer a refund for the expedited shipping we paid for that was not expedited. Apparently 2-day shipping to them means a week. This is the 2nd time we’ve had to purchase a new device from them within 1 year of use. Terrible products, terrible service.

Positive Feedback

There are no positive reviews published about ShopKeep on the PaymentPop website.

ShopKeep BBB Rating

ShopKeep (as ShopKeep.com) is not BBB accredited and has an “A+” rating. The company has an average customer review rating of 1/5 stars based on 6 customer reviews. Additionally, there are 30 complaints closed in the last 3 years, with 3 complaints closed in the last 12 months. Common themes in the reviews and complaints include issues with product/service, billing and collection disputes, and challenges with customer support. Customers frequently express frustration over software glitches, unexpected fees, and difficulties in getting assistance or resolving issues.

Negative Feedback

Absolutely awful customer service who send you in circles. This has been the most stressful experience in my life. Constant problems with processing and inventory. DO NOT BUY this POS!!!Any system would be better then this.

Positive Feedback

There are no positive reviews published about ShopKeep.com Inc. on the BBB website.

TrustRadius Rating Analysis for ShopKeep

ShopKeep has a rating of 7.2 out of 10 on TrustRadius, based on 12 reviews. The reviews highlight various aspects of the product, including its ease of use, pricing, and features like inventory tracking, sales reports, and employee management. Common themes among the reviews include appreciation for its user-friendly interface and efficient customer service. However, some users have reported issues with hardware integration and limitations in financial reporting capabilities.

Negative Feedback

ShopKeep was our cloud-based POS system for a small brick/mortar retail store. We replaced it with a different cloud-based POS system. ShopKeep initially replaced a cash register to help manage inventory, track sales, COGS, margins, employee time. They are completely understaffed in the engineering/product development. They are a disaster in inventory control. Financial reporting is inadequate. ShopKeep is adequate for a small company on a limited budget that has no desire to grow past an embryo. As a business grows, Shopkeep becomes more of a deterrent as it is unable to accurately provide meaningful financial reports. – Review from Audeee Berg, LEED AP, President, June 12, 2018

I consulted with a local small business to qualify, commission, and install a new point-of-sale system for the company’s two retail locations. ShopKeep’s recommended iCMP credit card swiper has been a source of trouble. It regularly drops its Bluetooth connection to the register and needs to be ‘warm rebooted’ to be detected again by the register. This reboot takes about 20-30 seconds and this is a complete productivity killer when there is a line of customers at the register. It also causes loss of confidence in the system on the part of the cashiers. – Review from Mark Johnston, Principal, July 04, 2015

Positive Feedback

We use ShopKeep as our cafe’s point-of-sale to take and process customers’ food and drink orders. ShopKeep is very easy to use, so you can check out customers quickly keeping long lines from forming. Our staff particularly likes the search box for finding menu items quickly without having to scroll from page to page. ShopKeep has a built-in time clock, so that you can track the hours of your employees. This makes it easy to manage shifts and track payroll. This function also allows you to see who are the top performers on your team. – Review from Lance Ratze, Owner, May 02, 2017

ShopKeep POS really shines where there is the need for one system to support quick serve, restaurant, and retail operations. ShopKeep brings significant benefits to small businesses in the way of real-time sales reporting, extensive Back Office reporting, inventory and employee management, and ease of use. Employees – some of whom had never used an iPad – had no trouble learning register functionality and cashier operations. The register is very intuitive, well-labeled, and easy to use. – Review from Mark Johnston, Principal, July 04, 2015

Source: TrustRadius

FeaturedCustomers Testimonial Analysis for ShopKeep

On FeaturedCustomers, ShopKeep has received a range of testimonials from various customers. The site showcases a total of 94 results, with a reference rating of 4.7/5.0 based on 264 customer references. The testimonials reflect a generally positive view of ShopKeep’s services. Key themes include the ease of use of the ShopKeep system, its effectiveness in managing online marketing and customer engagement, and the cost savings achieved through the use of the technology. Customers like Thomas Adams, CEO, and Dave Kilroy, Owner, have praised ShopKeep for its role in supporting their business operations.

Negative Feedback

Negative reviews are behind a paywall on the FeaturedCustomers site.

Positive Feedback

We do a lot of online marketing these days. We run onepiece.com which is our main business, so for us to also get the customer’s email address in the store is super important and we can do that with ShopKeep. We can send newsletters and updates on the company from there if they wish. – Thomas Adams, Chief Executive Officer

In just 18 months, we’ve saved thousands of dollars by using this new technology. ShopKeep’s helped us keep up with our large increase in demand and it’s scalability and ease of use mean that it will be around for years to come. – Dave Kilroy, Owner

Source: FeaturedCustomers

Processing Rates & Fees

Three Plans to Choose From

ShopKeep has replaced its flat-rate pricing with a quote system, leading to potential variations in costs for merchants. Currently, ShopKeep offers three plans: the Basic Plan, Essential Plan, and Advanced Plan. The Basic Plan is priced at $69 per month for each register equipped with the POS solution. The Essential Plan costs $99 per month per register. The Advanced Plan, priced at $199 per month, provides merchants with software on an unlimited number of registers without any additional monthly fees.

Additional expenses for merchants may include early termination fees, PCI compliance fees, transaction fees, and monthly minimums enforced by their chosen credit card processors (or by ShopKeep Payments). Furthermore, merchants may incur hardware costs if they require compatible barcode scanners, cash drawers, receipt printers, card swipers, or iPad stands. Merchants are advised to consider opting for a transparently-priced low-cost merchant account to complement ShopKeep’s service.

Share Your Contracts

Despite ShopKeep’s shift away from transparent pricing, merchant reviews do not suggest that its rates are significantly higher than its initial $69 per month pricing. Specifics regarding its payment processing service are scarce, and it does not appear to be a major concern among most reviewers. If you have experience with the standard ShopKeep contract, please share it in the comment section below.

Lawsuits & Legal History

We have not found any outstanding class-action lawsuits or FTC complaints filed against ShopKeep. Merchants dissatisfied with the service who wish to pursue non-litigious action against the company should consider reporting their concerns to relevant supervisory organizations.

Employee Reviews & Sales Practices

Some Transparent Pricing

ShopKeep does not appear to utilize independently contracted sales agents to market its services. The company no longer advertises monthly per-register pricing for its iPad-based register, but rather relies on a quote system. ShopKeep does not actively advertise rates for its bundled credit card processing service (ShopKeep Payments), but its website has previously stated that all merchants will receive a customized interchange-plus rate. Merchants should also note that there are other costs like per-transaction fees and monthly fees that will be associated with accepting credit cards through the service. This will be the case whether a merchant uses the company’s own ShopKeep Payments service or an integrated third-party payment processor.

Recent Sales Complaints

Some recent ShopKeep complaints have stated that the company’s in-house sales team either failed to disclose the cost of one of the product’s add-on features or misrepresented how well-suited the product would be for the merchant’s business type. This does not seem to indicate a pattern of outright deception, but it does suggest that ShopKeep’s sales team may not describe their product as thoroughly as they should. Merchants should therefore be sure to ask very clear questions about the add-on features they will need and the charges they will see on their bill, and to resist any upsell attempts or rushed sales pitches. Additionally, if you suspect that ShopKeep’s sales team has added undisclosed fees to your contract, we recommend seeking a third-party statement audit to eliminate hidden charges.

ShopKeep Competitors

Compare ShopKeep to competitors that earned top marks.

Bottom Line

ShopKeep earns a reputation as a reliable point-of-sale (POS) solution tailored to small businesses. It provides an affordable option for merchants who prioritize simplicity and do not require advanced features like online store integration or multiple sales tax rates. Reviewers frequently praise ShopKeep’s customer service, indicating a commitment to responsive support that many small business owners value. However, its feature set might be limited for merchants with more specialized or complex POS requirements.

Given these considerations, merchants should thoroughly review the full suite of ShopKeep’s features and explore its capabilities through the free trial. While ShopKeep can effectively address the needs of many small businesses, those with unique or more robust requirements might need a more comprehensive solution. By researching ShopKeep’s complete feature list and comparing it with other POS systems, merchants can determine if its offerings align with their specific needs. For more details, prospective customers can visit ShopKeep’s website to better understand how this POS system might support their business goals.

Location & Ownership

ShopKeep is headquartered at 460 Park Avenue South, 7th Floor New York, New York 10016. Michael DeSimone is listed as the president and CEO of ShopKeep. Dax Dasilva is the current CEO and director of Lightspeed.

Read Actual User Reviews

All user reviews have been moved to our partner, PaymentPop.com