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WooCommerce vs Revel

WooCommerce logo

WooCommerce

Software

The flexible, open-source ecommerce platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Revel logo

Revel

Software

iPad-based point of sale system

From
$99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only WooCommerce has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: WooCommerce the plugin is free but you must supply and pay for WordPress hosting, which WooCommerce itself puts at $25 to $350 per month for most stores; Revel mandatory use of Revel Advantage payment processing for new customers with no viable alternatives
  • They diverge on capability: WooCommerce covers Product management, Revel covers iPad point of sale.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which WooCommerce and Revel actually diverge.

Attributes where WooCommerce and Revel differ
AttributeWooCommerceRevel
Starting priceFree$99/month
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebiPad, iOS, Web
Founded20112010

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 WooCommerce

  • Product management
  • Shopping cart
  • Payment integration
  • Shipping management
  • Tax calculations
  • Customer accounts
  • Order management
  • Inventory tracking

Only in Revel

  • iPad point of sale
  • Inventory management
  • Customer profiles
  • Employee management
  • Sales analytics
  • Loyalty programs
  • Multi-location support
  • Payment processing

What people use each for

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

WooCommerce

  • Running an online store inside an existing WordPress sitenot Revel
  • Selling physical, digital or subscription products with full control of the codenot Revel
  • Building a customised commerce workflow through plugins and hooksnot Revel

Revel

No use cases recorded yet. See the Revel review.

Where each one falls short

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

WooCommerce

  • The plugin is free but you must supply and pay for WordPress hosting, which WooCommerce itself puts at $25 to $350 per month for most stores
  • Functionality such as subscriptions and bookings comes from paid extensions priced at $29 to $299 per year each, renewed annually
  • Card payments through WooPayments cost roughly 2.50 to 2.90 percent plus 30 cents per transaction
  • Total cost depends on how many extensions a store needs rather than a single published plan price

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

WooCommerce

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Core ecommerce features
    • Unlimited products
    • Community support
  • Premium$299/year
    • All Free features
    • Premium support
    • Performance optimization

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 WooCommerce if

  • You need product management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want shopping cart.
WooCommerce review

Choose Revel if

  • You need ipad point of sale.
  • You work on iPad, iOS, Web.
  • You also want inventory management.
Revel review

Questions people ask

Is WooCommerce or Revel better?
Neither clearly leads. WooCommerce 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, WooCommerce or Revel?
WooCommerce has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for WooCommerce and $99/month for Revel.
Does WooCommerce or Revel run on more platforms?
WooCommerce runs on Web. Revel runs on iPad, iOS, Web.
Can I use WooCommerce for free?
Yes. WooCommerce has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Revel starts at $99/month.
What is WooCommerce best used for?
WooCommerce is most often used for running an online store inside an existing wordpress site, selling physical, digital or subscription products with full control of the code, building a customised commerce workflow through plugins and hooks. Of those, running an online store inside an existing wordpress site and selling physical, digital or subscription products with full control of the code are not what Revel is typically brought in for.
What can WooCommerce do that Revel cannot?
WooCommerce covers Product management, Shopping cart, Payment integration, Shipping management. Revel covers iPad point of sale, Inventory management, Customer profiles, Employee 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.

Source
Revel: 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.

Source
Revel: 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.

Source
Revel: 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.

Source
Revel: 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
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