Software · head to head
Magento vs Revel
The short version
- Only Magento has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Magento magento Open Source is available under the OSL v3 license as a free self-hosted edition, but Adobe sells a separate proprietary Adobe Commerce edition with additional B2B, page builder and cloud features not included in the open source code; Revel mandatory use of Revel Advantage payment processing for new customers with no viable alternatives
- They diverge on capability: Magento covers Multi-store management, Revel covers iPad point of sale.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Magento and Revel actually diverge.
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Magento
- Multi-store management
- Advanced product catalog
- Customer segmentation
- Order management system
- Progressive Web App
- GraphQL API
- Security & compliance
Only in Revel
- iPad point of sale
- Customer profiles
- Employee management
- Sales analytics
- Loyalty programs
- Multi-location support
- Payment processing
Both cover
- Inventory management
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Magento
- Magento Open Source is available under the OSL v3 license as a free self-hosted edition, but Adobe sells a separate proprietary Adobe Commerce edition with additional B2B, page builder and cloud features not included in the open source code
Revel
- Mandatory use of Revel Advantage payment processing for new customers with no viable alternatives
- Long-term 3-year contracts with high early termination fees
- Hidden fees for API access and mobile inventory management app not included in base pricing
- Frequent system crashes and connectivity issues that disrupt operations
- Limited ability to retrieve historical data after extended use of the system
Pricing, plan by plan
Magento
Free- Magento Open SourceFree
- Unlimited products
- Multiple storefronts
- Advanced marketing
- Adobe Commerce$20000/year
- All Open Source features
- 24/7 enterprise support
- Managed cloud hosting
Revel
$99/month- Standard$99/month
- POS
- Inventory management
- Employee management
- Premium$649/month
- All standard features
- Advanced integrations
- API access
Which should you pick?
Choose Magento if
- You need multi-store management.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want advanced product catalog.
Choose Revel if
- You need ipad point of sale.
- You work on iPad, iOS, Web.
- You also want customer profiles.
Questions people ask
- Is Magento or Revel better?
- Neither clearly leads. Magento starts at Free and Revel at $99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Magento or Revel?
- Magento has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Magento and $99/month for Revel.
- Does Magento or Revel run on more platforms?
- Magento runs on Web. Revel runs on iPad, iOS, Web.
- Can I use Magento for free?
- Yes. Magento has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Revel starts at $99/month.
- What can Magento do that Revel cannot?
- Magento covers Multi-store management, Advanced product catalog, Customer segmentation, Order management system. Revel covers iPad point of sale, Customer profiles, Employee management, Sales analytics. Both handle Inventory management.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Revel: Does Revel have a free trial?
Revel Systems does not offer a free trial for its standard POS plans. However, Revel+ premium subscriptions include a two-month free trial period.
SourceRevel: Can Revel work offline?
Yes. Revel uses hybrid architecture to run offline or on a local network, and Always On Mode enables credit card processing during internet outages. The only limitation is that you cannot verify if a credit card has declined until your connection is restored.
SourceRevel: Does Revel integrate with Shopify?
Yes. Revel integrates with Shopify to synchronize inventory levels, automatically transfer sales data, and manage both online and brick-and-mortar stores from a single dashboard.
SourceRevel: What are Revel's typical contract terms?
Revel typically requires 3-year contracts with high early termination fees (ETFs). Users report difficulty canceling and facing steep penalties if they exit before the contract period ends.
SourceRevel: Can I use my own payment processor with Revel?
New customers are almost always required to use Revel Advantage payment processing. Using an outside payment processor is typically not allowed or is heavily penalized.
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