Heartland Retail vs Helcim
Heartland Retail
heartland.usHelcim
helcim.comSide by side
| Figure | Heartland Retail | Helcim |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $89/mo | $0.40/mo |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 6 |
| Spec score · Point-of-Sale Software | 8.5 (#21) | 9.0 (#5) |
| Spec score · Point of Sale POS software | 8.5 (#7) | 9.3 (#1) |
| Founded | 1997 | LinkedIn lists Helcim as founded in 2006. |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Inventory | Inventory features include real-time updates, stock alerts, inventory imports and transfers between locations. | Inventory tools support product catalogs, CSV imports, stock counts and low-inventory alerts. |
| Product | Heartland Retail is a cloud POS and retail management system aimed at apparel stores and retailers ranging from boutiques to multi-location franchises. | Helcim provides payment processing tools for businesses to accept payments in person, online, by invoice, or through a virtual terminal. |
| Security | Heartland Secure uses EMV, end-to-end encryption and tokenization to protect payment card data. | Helcim identifies itself as a PCI Level 1 Service Provider and says it protects cardholder data with AES-256 encryption and TLS 1.2 or higher in transit. |
| Support | The product page advertises live-agent support with 24/7/365 availability and tailored onboarding. | Helcim offers phone support Monday through Friday 7 a.m.–5 p.m. MT and Saturdays 9 a.m.–5 p.m. MT, and says contact-form questions receive a reply within one business day. |
Plans
Helcim
- Helcim payment processingFree
- Helcim platformFree
- Recurring payments$0.40 a month
- 4G wireless data$7 a month
- Helcim Card Reader$199, paid once
- Helcim Smart Terminal$349, paid once
In their own words
Heartland Retail
Heartland Retail is a cloud POS and retail management system for apparel stores, from boutiques to multi-location franchises. Its inventory tools include real-time updates, stock alerts, imports, and transfers, alongside purchase orders, vendor profiles, SKU setup, and reporting. It tracks customer purchase history and preferences and offers a loyalty program. Ecommerce integrations named by Heartland include BigCommerce, Shopify, Magento, and WooCommerce; QuickBooks and Management One are also listed, as is an open API. The company says integrations can sync inventory, carts, promotions, and customer data between stores and ecommerce channels. Listed payment options include credit and debit cards, gift cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. The POS runs on iOS and Android touchscreen terminals, and most POS hardware, including iPads, is compatible. Heartland advertises live-agent support available 24/7/365 and tailored onboarding. The starting price is $89 a month. A $0 offer is subject to eligibility and requires Heartland processing, a three-year contract, and 4% cash discounting; it covers up to 10 POS stations.
Helcim
Helcim provides businesses with payment processing tools for in-person and online sales, invoices, and virtual-terminal transactions. Its tools include point of sale, online checkout, payment links, recurring payments, invoicing, a customer vault, and an inventory catalog. In-person payments support major payment types such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. Eligible merchants can also accept ACH through invoicing, recurring payments, payment requests, and the Virtual Terminal. Helcim lists integrations with QuickBooks Online, Xero, and WooCommerce, as well as its API and HelcimPay.js for custom integrations and website payments. The Card Vault tokenizes stored payment details for future or recurring payments, while Helcim says it protects cardholder data with AES-256 encryption and TLS 1.2 or higher in transit. It identifies itself as a PCI Level 1 Service Provider. The POS app is available for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, with listed device requirements. The processing plan costs nothing, with no account monthly fees; transaction rates vary by volume and payment method.