Full Comparison
Yakuma vs Shopify POS
Ecommerce-first retail POS as an extension of Shopify's online stack.
See the complete breakdown of how Yakuma compares to Shopify POS across every dimension that matters for your business.
Complete Feature Comparison
| Dimension | Shopify POS | Yakuma |
|---|---|---|
| Data ownership | Vendor-owned cloud. Your data lives in Shopify's ecosystem, subject to their terms. | Customer-owned infrastructure. Your data, your servers (on-premise, private cloud, or your cloud account). |
| Deployment model | Cloud-only. POS is an extension of Shopify's cloud platform with no on-premise option. | On-premise, private cloud, or customer cloud. You choose where your systems run. |
| Cloud provider choice | Vendor-imposed. You use Shopify's infrastructure with no alternatives. | AWS, Azure, GCP, or customer choice. Deploy on your preferred cloud provider. |
| Exit strategy | Limited / vendor-dependent. Leaving Shopify means rebuilding your entire retail stack. | Full data ownership and portability. Export everything, switch anytime, no data hostage. |
| IT governance | Not supported. Cannot comply with enterprise IT policies or data residency requirements. | Designed for enterprise IT policies. Full compliance with corporate security, data residency, and governance. |
| Architecture | Cloud-dependent. POS is an extension of Shopify's cloud platform. Requires internet for most operations. | Offline-first. Each store operates fully independently. Syncs when possible, never blocks when not. |
| Offline operation | Limited / degraded. Basic checkout may work but inventory, customer data, and reporting require cloud. | Fully operational. Complete POS functionality without internet. |
| Store autonomy | Low. Stores are extensions of the Shopify cloud ecosystem. | Full. Each store operates as independent unit, syncs centrally when connected. |
| Core strength | Ecommerce-first retail POS; POS is an extension of Shopify's online stack. | POS-first architecture that connects cleanly to any ecommerce or marketplace platform. |
| Retail focus | Excellent for DTC brands, pop-ups, and simple brick-and-mortar. | Designed for complex stores and supermarkets with high SKU counts and scenarios. |
| Franchise support | Retail focus. Not designed for franchise networks with multiple ownership structures. | Native franchise architecture (franchisor/franchisee separation, multi-owner networks). Read more → Franchise POS |
| Hotel & Airport Operations | Not supported. Cannot integrate with hotel PMS systems for room charging or airport authority systems for compliance reporting. | Native integration with hotel PMS (room posting, guest identification) and airport compliance (boarding pass handling, authority reporting, revenue sharing). Read more → Regulated Environments |
| Data ownership | Data lives inside the Shopify ecosystem. | Data resides in Yakuma + your chosen DB/BI layer, minimizing ecosystem lock-in. |
| Sector coverage | Retail only. | Unified platform for retail, hospitality, beauty, tickets, and more. |
| Native apps | Standard Shopify POS app. Custom native apps not available. | 100% custom native apps for iOS and Android built for your specific workflows and branding. |
| Smart-watch & Smart-TV apps | Not available. | Native apps for Apple Watch, WearOS, and Smart-TV displays for staff alerts and digital signage. |
| Source code protection | No source code access. Dependent on Shopify's platform and roadmap. | Full source code deposited with a public notary, protecting your technology investment. |
| ERP/CRM integration | Integrations primarily within Shopify ecosystem and approved partners. | 100% ERP/CRM agnostic: integrates with SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, Oracle, or any enterprise system. |
Why Choose Yakuma Over Shopify POS
Global by Design
Unlike Shopify POS, Yakuma was built from day one for multi-country operations with different taxes, currencies, languages, and fiscal requirements.
Deep Customization
Build your own workflows with scripting and configuration. Don't wait for vendor roadmaps to get the features your business needs.
No Vendor Lock-in
Choose your own hardware, payment providers, and integrations. Yakuma works with what you have, not what we sell.
Multi-Sector Platform
Retail, restaurants, salons, tickets, and more on a single platform. No need for separate systems for different business types.
Compare Yakuma with Other POS Solutions
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