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Databases · head to head

DuckDB vs Shopkeep

DuckDB logo

DuckDB

Databases

Fast in-process analytical database

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Shopkeep logo

Shopkeep

E-Commerce

Cloud-based POS for small businesses

From
$89/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only DuckDB has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: DuckDB client-server setup remains in beta and not recommended for production distributed scenarios; Shopkeep all plans require 24/7 phone and chat support; no tiered support options
  • They diverge on capability: DuckDB covers In-process Execution, Shopkeep covers Point of sale.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which DuckDB and Shopkeep actually diverge.

Attributes where DuckDB and Shopkeep differ
AttributeDuckDBShopkeep
Starting priceFree$89/month
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, macOS, Windows, WebAssemblyiPad, Web
CategoryDatabasesE-Commerce
Founded20192008

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in DuckDB

  • In-process Execution
  • Columnar Storage
  • Vectorized Execution
  • Rich SQL Support
  • Parquet Support
  • CSV/JSON Import
  • Zero Dependencies
  • Python

Only in Shopkeep

  • Point of sale
  • Payment processing
  • Inventory management
  • Customer profiles
  • Sales analytics
  • Employee management
  • Mobile POS
  • Reporting

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

DuckDB

  • Analytics and data warehousingnot Shopkeep
  • OLAP queries and data explorationnot Shopkeep
  • Data science and machine learning workflowsnot Shopkeep
  • Multi-format data ingestion and processingnot Shopkeep

Shopkeep

No use cases recorded yet. See the Shopkeep review.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

DuckDB

  • Client-server setup remains in beta and not recommended for production distributed scenarios

Shopkeep

  • All plans require 24/7 phone and chat support; no tiered support options
  • Prices vary by business type and industry with additional service fees possible
  • Extra locations and registers incur additional charges beyond base plan cost

Pricing, plan by plan

DuckDB

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the DuckDB review.

Shopkeep

$89/month
  • Basic$89/month
    • Retail POS platform
    • 1 register included
    • Integrated Payments 1.5%
  • Core$149/month
    • All Basic features
    • Advanced management tools
    • Business growth support
  • Plus$289/month
    • All Core features
    • Advanced customization
    • Established retail operations support

Which should you pick?

Choose DuckDB if

  • You need in-process execution.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows, WebAssembly.
  • You also want columnar storage.
DuckDB review

Choose Shopkeep if

  • You need point of sale.
  • You work on iPad, Web.
  • You also want payment processing.
Shopkeep review

Questions people ask

Is DuckDB or Shopkeep better?
Neither clearly leads. DuckDB starts at Free and Shopkeep at $89/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, DuckDB or Shopkeep?
DuckDB has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for DuckDB and $89/month for Shopkeep.
Does DuckDB or Shopkeep run on more platforms?
DuckDB runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, WebAssembly. Shopkeep runs on iPad, Web.
Can I use DuckDB for free?
Yes. DuckDB has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Shopkeep starts at $89/month.
What is DuckDB best used for?
DuckDB is most often used for analytics and data warehousing, olap queries and data exploration, data science and machine learning workflows, multi-format data ingestion and processing. Of those, analytics and data warehousing and olap queries and data exploration are not what Shopkeep is typically brought in for.
What can DuckDB do that Shopkeep cannot?
DuckDB covers In-process Execution, Columnar Storage, Vectorized Execution, Rich SQL Support. Shopkeep covers Point of sale, Payment processing, Inventory management, Customer profiles.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

DuckDB: Is DuckDB free to use?

Yes, DuckDB is completely free. There are no subscription tiers, user limits, or paid plans. The software has zero licensing costs.

Source
Shopkeep: What is included in the Lightspeed Retail Basic plan at $89 per month?

The Basic plan includes 1 register, retail POS platform, integrated payments at 1.5% card-present rate, inventory management, Lightspeed Wholesale access, NuORDER Catalog with 5 million+ products, built-in eCommerce, loyalty programs, and 24/7 support.

Source
DuckDB: What license is DuckDB distributed under?

DuckDB is open source under the MIT License, governed by the independent DuckDB Foundation. The MIT License permits commercial use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions.

Source
Shopkeep: How much can I save by paying annually instead of monthly?

Shopkeep (Lightspeed Retail) offers up to 18% discount when paying annually instead of month-to-month. All three plans (Basic, Core, Plus) qualify for this annual discount.

Source
DuckDB: Can I use DuckDB in commercial applications?

Yes, the MIT License allows commercial use without restrictions or requirements to publish proprietary code. You can deploy DuckDB anywhere from edge devices to high-core servers.

Source
Shopkeep: What additional costs should I budget beyond the monthly subscription?

Beyond the monthly plan cost, extra locations require additional charges, extra registers incur per-register fees, and hardware (terminals, scanners, iPad devices) have separate costs. Integrated payment processing charges 1.5% per transaction.

Source
DuckDB: Are there any limitations on how many instances I can run?

No, there are no user limits, usage limits, or instance restrictions. You have unlimited access to all DuckDB features.

Source
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