Software · head to head
Revel vs Ecwid
The short version
- Only Ecwid has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Revel mandatory use of Revel Advantage payment processing for new customers with no viable alternatives; Ecwid the $5 a month Starter plan caps the catalogue at 10 products
- They diverge on capability: Revel covers iPad point of sale, Ecwid covers Omnichannel selling.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Revel and Ecwid 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 Revel
- iPad point of sale
- Customer profiles
- Employee management
- Sales analytics
- Loyalty programs
- Multi-location support
Only in Ecwid
- Omnichannel selling
- Product catalog
- Email marketing
- Analytics
- Mobile app
- API access
Both cover
- Inventory management
- Payment processing
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Revel
No use cases recorded yet. See the Revel review.
Ecwid
- Adding a store to an existing website or social pagenot Revel
- Selling physical goods and digital downloads from one cataloguenot Revel
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Ecwid
- The $5 a month Starter plan caps the catalogue at 10 products
- Staff accounts start at the Business plan, and are limited to 2 until the Unlimited plan
- Abandoned cart recovery requires the Business plan at $65 a month
- In person selling through POS integration is Unlimited only, at $149 a month
- The Venture plan at $35 a month still caps products at 100
Pricing, plan by plan
Revel
$99/month- Standard$99/month
- POS
- Inventory management
- Employee management
- Premium$649/month
- All standard features
- Advanced integrations
- API access
Ecwid
Free- FreeFree
- Up to 10 products
- Basic storefront
- Standard payment methods
- Unlimited$99.08/month
- Unlimited products
- Advanced features
- Priority support
Which should you pick?
Choose Revel if
- You need ipad point of sale.
- You work on iPad, iOS, Web.
- You also want customer profiles.
Choose Ecwid if
- You need omnichannel selling.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want product catalog.
Questions people ask
- Is Revel or Ecwid better?
- Neither clearly leads. Revel starts at $99/month and Ecwid at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Revel or Ecwid?
- Ecwid has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $99/month for Revel and Free for Ecwid.
- Does Revel or Ecwid run on more platforms?
- Revel runs on iPad, iOS, Web. Ecwid runs on Web.
- Can I use Ecwid for free?
- Yes. Ecwid has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Revel starts at $99/month.
- What can Revel do that Ecwid cannot?
- Revel covers iPad point of sale, Customer profiles, Employee management, Sales analytics. Ecwid covers Omnichannel selling, Product catalog, Email marketing, Analytics. Both handle Inventory management, Payment processing.
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.
Source