Lightspeed vs Square
Lightspeed rates 4.2/5 and starts at $89/mo. Square rates 4.5/5 and starts at Free. Square is the cheaper entry point. Square is the higher rated. Only Square has a free tier.
Square rates higher (4.5/5 vs 4.2/5). Square is cheaper to start (Free vs $89/mo). Lightspeed suits Retail & multi-location, while Square is aimed at Retail, food & omnichannel SMBs.
Lightspeed vs Square at a glance
| Measure | Lightspeed | Square |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.2/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Reviews | 4,200 | 12,600 |
| Starting price | $89/mo | Free |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Public API | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations listed here | 5 | 5 |
Feature & pricing comparison
| Comparison | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.2 | 4.5 |
| Starting price | $89/mo | Free |
| Pricing model | Paid | Freemium |
| API available | ||
| Best for | Retail & multi-location | Retail, food & omnichannel SMBs |
| Cloud POS | ||
| Advanced inventory | ||
| Ecommerce | ||
| Analytics | ||
| Multi-location | ||
| In-person & online payments | ||
| Free POS software | ||
| Flat-rate fees | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Hardware ecosystem | ||
| Visit | Visit |
Pricing side by side
Lightspeed
Full pricing →| Plan | Price | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $89/mo | $1,068 |
| Core | $149/mo | $1,788 |
| Plus | $289/mo | $3,468 |
Square
Full pricing →| Plan | Price | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | — |
| Online | Custom | — |
Which should you choose?
Choose Lightspeed if…
- Strong inventory matters to you.
- Retail + hospitality matters to you.
- Good reporting matters to you.
- Less developer-flexible would be a problem.
Choose Square if…
- Great for in-person matters to you.
- Transparent flat fees matters to you.
- Free POS matters to you.
- Pricier entry point would be a problem.
Lightspeed
Pros
- Strong inventory
- Retail + hospitality
- Good reporting
Cons
- Pricier entry point
- Add-ons increase cost
Square
Pros
- Great for in-person
- Transparent flat fees
- Free POS
Cons
- Less developer-flexible
- Funds holds for new accounts
Frequently asked questions
Is Lightspeed better than Square?+
Square rates higher (4.5/5 vs 4.2/5). Square is cheaper to start (Free vs $89/mo). Lightspeed suits Retail & multi-location, while Square is aimed at Retail, food & omnichannel SMBs.
Which is cheaper, Lightspeed or Square?+
Square — it starts at Free, versus $89/mo for Lightspeed.
Do Lightspeed or Square have a free plan?+
Square has a free tier; Lightspeed does not (though trials may be available).
Which is better rated, Lightspeed or Square?+
Square, at 4.5/5 across 12,600 reviews, versus 4.2/5 for Lightspeed.
What is Lightspeed best for, and what is Square best for?+
Lightspeed is aimed at Retail & multi-location (retail stores, multi-location). Square is aimed at Retail, food & omnichannel SMBs (brick-and-mortar + online, restaurants).