Toast vs Lightspeed
Toast rates 4.4/5 and starts at Free. Lightspeed rates 4.2/5 and starts at $89/mo. Toast is the cheaper entry point. Toast is the higher rated. Only Toast has a free tier.
Toast wins for restaurants with its purpose-built food-service tooling; Lightspeed wins for retail and multi-location businesses with strong inventory. Choose Toast for hospitality, Lightspeed for retail.
Toast vs Lightspeed at a glance
| Measure | Toast | Lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.4/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Reviews | 6,800 | 4,200 |
| Starting price | Free | $89/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Public API | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations listed here | 5 | 5 |
Feature & pricing comparison
Pricing side by side
Toast
Full pricing →| Plan | Price | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | Free | — |
| Point of Sale | $69/mo | $828 |
Lightspeed
Full pricing →| Plan | Price | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $89/mo | $1,068 |
| Core | $149/mo | $1,788 |
| Plus | $289/mo | $3,468 |
Which should you choose?
Choose Toast if…
- Built for restaurants matters to you.
- All-in-one operations matters to you.
- Strong hardware matters to you.
- Pricier entry point would be a problem.
Choose Lightspeed if…
- Strong inventory matters to you.
- Retail + hospitality matters to you.
- Good reporting matters to you.
- Restaurant-only focus would be a problem.
Toast
Pros
- Built for restaurants
- All-in-one operations
- Strong hardware
Cons
- Restaurant-only focus
- Processing rates + hardware cost
Lightspeed
Pros
- Strong inventory
- Retail + hospitality
- Good reporting
Cons
- Pricier entry point
- Add-ons increase cost
Frequently asked questions
Is Toast better than Lightspeed?+
Toast wins for restaurants with its purpose-built food-service tooling; Lightspeed wins for retail and multi-location businesses with strong inventory. Choose Toast for hospitality, Lightspeed for retail.
Which is cheaper, Toast or Lightspeed?+
Toast — it starts at Free, versus $89/mo for Lightspeed.
Do Toast or Lightspeed have a free plan?+
Toast has a free tier; Lightspeed does not (though trials may be available).
Which is better rated, Toast or Lightspeed?+
Toast, at 4.4/5 across 6,800 reviews, versus 4.2/5 for Lightspeed.
What is Toast best for, and what is Lightspeed best for?+
Toast is aimed at Restaurants & food service (restaurants, cafes & bars). Lightspeed is aimed at Retail & multi-location (retail stores, multi-location).