In this comparison blog, we’ll delve into the intricacies of Lightspeed and Clover POS, evaluating their strengths, weaknesses, and suitability for different business types.
From pricing structures and hardware offerings to software features and ease of use, we’ll provide an in-depth analysis to help you make an informed decision.
Whether you’re a retailer seeking robust inventory management tools, a restaurant owner looking for streamlined order management, or a service-based business in need of a flexible POS solution, this guide will illuminate the key factors that should influence your choice between Lightspeed and Clover.
By the end, you’ll clearly understand which POS system aligns best with your specific requirements, allowing you to maximize efficiency, enhance customer experiences, and drive business growth.
Lightspeed vs Clover: Product Roundup Comparison Table
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Monthly subscription | Retail: $89 to $269 Restaurant: $69 to $399 | Restaurant: $165/mo to $325/mo; Retail: $60/mo to $190/mo |
Free trial duration | 30 days | 14-days |
Ease of use | Very easy and intuitive | Steep learning curve |
Industry focus | Restaurant, retail, golf courses | Restaurant, retail, service businesses |
Customer support | 24/7 phone and email support & video tutorials | 24/7 phone and email support & video tutorials |
Inventory management | Product variants; assign unique serial numbers; bundling and kitting; Multi-Location Inventory; Vendor Management | Inventory, specify names, descriptions, and SKUs, bulk import data from a CSV fileAdd New |
Integrations | Lightspeed integrates with popular software like QuickBooks, Xero, WooCommerce, Kosmos eSync,
Mailchimp, NexusApps, BigCommerce, Homebase, and many more.
| The Clover App Market provides a vast selection of third-party applications that can significantly extend the functionality of the base system, including Time Clock, Pay Bills, Order Paper, etc. |
Processing fees | 2.6% + $0.10 | 2.3% to 3.5%, with an additional $0.10 fee per transaction. |
Pros | Strong inventory management, many integration capabilities | Sleek hardware, easy-to-ease, convenient app marketplace |
Cons | Learning curve, long-term contracts, higher software fees | Can be a little pricier, limited integration options
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Looking for an alternative to Lightspeed Retail or Clover POS? Try KORONA POS, a powerful solution for your business needs.
Speak with a product specialist and learn how KORONA POS can power your business needs.
Lightspeed vs Clover POS: Quick Glance
Lightspeed and Clover POS are popular POS systems businesses use for transactions and inventory management.
Lightspeed offers robust features tailored for the retail and hospitality industries. The solution provides detailed sales analytics and inventory tracking, ideal for larger enterprises.
Conversely, Clover POS focuses on simplicity and flexibility, making it a favorite among small businesses. Clover is also known for its hardware-agnostic system and sleek terminals. The POS software stands out for its sleek design and ease of use and caters to service businesses.
Lightspeed vs Clover POS: Pricing, Costs, Fees, and Contracts
In the detailed review, we’ll explore their pricing, POS hardware options, integrations, and customer support to help you choose the best fit for your business needs.
Lightspeed POS Pricing
Lightspeed offers different pricing structures depending on whether you run a retail store or a restaurant. All plans come with a processing rate of 2.6% plus a $0.10 fee per transaction, though enterprise retailers requiring a custom solution can negotiate for potentially lower rates.
Here’s a breakdown:
Retail
Lightspeed Retail offers three plans:
- Basic: This is the most affordable plan at $109/month or $89 if billed annually. It’s suited for basic needs like managing inventory, processing sales, and customer management.
- Core: This plan costs $179/month or $149 if billed annually and offers more features than Basic. You’ll get advanced sales, staff management, inventory reports, and employee management and reporting tools.
- Plus: This plan is priced at $289/month or $239 if billed annually. It offers advanced inventory management capabilities, custom reporting, API access, workflows, and custom user roles.
Restaurant
- Starter: This plan starts at $69 per month and includes basic POS functionalities like order taking, table management, and inventory management.
- Essential: This plan is priced at $189 per month and offers all the features of Essentials, along with more advanced functionalities like employee management, loyalty programs, and reporting tools. It also provided multi-location POS management, advanced inventory management, and online ordering.
- Premium: This is the most comprehensive plan, priced at $399 monthly. It includes all the features of Plus and additional functionalities for multi-location businesses, such as centralized management and advanced reporting.
- Enterprise: This plan is designed to be tailored to the specific needs of your restaurant business. This likely includes features, hardware, and functionalities beyond standard plans.
Clover POS Pricing
Clover POS is a popular point of sale system designed for various businesses, including retail stores, restaurants, and service-based companies. It offers flexible pricing plans tailored to different business needs and sizes.
Pricing typically includes a monthly software subscription fee, which varies depending on the selected plan and features. Additionally, upfront costs may apply for hardware, such as the Clover station or mobile devices, depending on the business’s specific requirements.
Clover POS provides transparent pricing information on its website, allowing potential customers to explore and compare the available plans to find the best fit for their operations. Across all plans, the processing rates range from 2.3% to 3.5%, with an additional $0.10 fee per transaction.
Full-Service Restaurant Pricing
Clover offers three pricing plans for full-service restaurants with different features and payment options.
- Starter: $165 for 36 months, or a one-time upfront payment of $1,699, followed by $89.95/mo. This plan does not include any hardware or the ability to accept tap-and-pay or tableside orders.
- Standard: $220 for 36 months or a one-time upfront payment of $2,298, followed by $109.90/mo. This plan includes the Clover Flex, a handheld POS with an integrated receipt printer.
- Advanced: $325 for 36 months, or a one-time upfront payment of $4,097, followed by $129.85/mo. The plan is designed for full-service restaurants with separate front and back-of-house operations. It also includes the Clover Station Duo with a customer-facing screen.
Quick-Service Restaurant Pricing
- Starter: $105 for 36 months, or a one-time upfront payment of $799, followed by $59.95/mo. This plan includes a simple mini-touchscreen tablet designed for businesses that need to take orders and process payments quickly.
- Standard: $145 for 36 months, or a one-time upfront payment of $1,799 followed by $59.95/mo. This plan comes with a full counter POS device and offers more operational tools for business management.
- Advanced: $200 for 36 months, or a one-time upfront payment of $2,398, followed by $79.90/mo. It’s suitable for tableside ordering and payments and includes the Clover Flex and add-on options.
Retail Pricing
- Starter: $60 for 36 months or a one-time upfront payment of $799, followed by $14.95/mo. Designed for small businesses with a simple checkout system, this plan processes payments on a countertop tablet.
- Standard: $135 for 36 months, or a one-time upfront payment of $1,799 followed by $49.95/mo. This plan adds a countertop touchscreen terminal with a tablet for customer use. It also comes with more advanced retail features such as item variants, returns and exchanges, and scale integrations.
- Advanced: $190 for 36 months, or a one-time upfront payment of $2,398, followed by $69.90/mo. In addition to the Standard Plan features, this plan includes the Clover Flex handheld device, allowing for more flexibility in checkout locations.
Professional Services Pricing
- Starter: $14.95 per month. This plan allows you to automate recurring payments, send automated client notifications and receipts, and track the status of all invoices.
- Standard: $50 for 36 months or a one-time upfront payment of $599, followed by $14.95/mo. This plan allows you to accept payments anywhere with a portable, handheld POS system. It helps you accept swipe, dip cards, PayPal, and Venmo payments.
- Advanced: $125 for 36 months, followed by a one-time upfront payment of $1,699 and then $49.95/mo. This plan offers a Clover Station Solo POS system with a 14-inch screen, ideal for countertop use, and includes all the Standard plan features.
Personal Services Pricing
- Starter: $50 for 36 months, or a one-time upfront payment of $599 followed by $14.95/mo. This plan provides a Flex Handheld POS with a built-in receipt printer. It also includes promotions, a loyalty program, private feedback, and Clover gift cards (physical or digital).
- Standard: $95 for 36 months or a one-time upfront payment of $799, followed by $49.95/mo. With this plan, you can accept payments and run your business with a compact 8-inch countertop POS. It also allows you to track costs by item.
- Advanced: $135 for 36 months, or a one-time upfront payment of $1,799, followed by $49.95/mo. This plan includes a paired 14-inch touchscreen terminal and an 8-inch customer-facing display.
Home & Field Services
- Starter: At just $14.95/mo, this plan allows you to accept payments and manage your business through a web browser. It provides item and category management, stock tracking by item, itemized order creation, client data management, and more.
- Standard: One-time upfront payment of $49, followed by $14.95/mo. This plan allows you to accept payments and manage your business from anywhere using your mobile device. It supports mobile wallets (like Apple Pay and Google Pay), PayPal, Venmo, and Clover gift cards.
- Advanced Plan: $50 for 36 months, or a one-time upfront payment of $599 followed by $14.95/mo. This plan offers a handheld POS with an 8-hour battery life and a built-in receipt printer.
Lightspeed vs Clover POS: Hardware
Deciding on a POS system involves both software and hardware. Let’s examine how Lightspeed and Clover POS compare in terms of hardware offerings.
Lightspeed POS Hardware
Lightspeed offers a flexible approach to POS hardware, allowing you to choose what works for your business. Here’s a breakdown of what they typically provide:
- Devices: Lightspeed integrates with various devices, including iPads (a popular choice), traditional POS terminals, and even self-service kiosks for a more modern touch.
- Essential Hardware: They offer core POS equipment like receipt printers (both LAN and Bluetooth options) to provide customers with physical receipts. Cash drawers are also available to store cash securely.
- Scanners: Lightspeed integrates with barcode scanners, which can improve checkout speed and inventory management. They likely sell compatible scanners directly or recommend specific models.
- Additional Hardware: Lightspeed supports other peripherals that might be useful for your business, like WiFi dongles for improved connectivity and USB hubs for iPads if you need to connect extra devices.
Lightspeed’s website doesn’t provide hardware pricing information, so merchants must contact its sales team for a custom quote.
Clover POS Hardware
Clover offers a range of hardware options to suit different business needs and budgets. The hardware pricing typically involves an upfront cost for the devices, which can vary based on the specific models and capabilities.
Clover POS Hardware
Specific Clover Station Models:
- Clover Station Mini: Compact and budget-friendly, ideal for kiosks or small businesses
- Clover Station Flex: Portable and versatile, suitable for mobile transactions or curbside pickup
- Clover Station: The classic all-in-one system, ideal for most retail and restaurant needs
- Clover Station Pro: The most powerful option with a large touchscreen, fingerprint reader, and high-resolution camera
Beyond Clover Stations:
While Clover prioritizes their own hardware stations, it supports some external hardware for increased functionality. Here’s what you might encounter:
- Cash Drawers: Clover specifies compatible cash drawers from certain brands to ensure smooth integration and cash management.
- Receipt Printers: Similar to cash drawers, Clover approves specific receipt printer models for reliable printing. Depending on your needs, these may be thermal or impact.
- Barcode Scanners: While some Clover Stations have built-in scanners, additional options exist for increased scanning power or mobility. Compatible models are usually wireless Bluetooth scanners.
Lightspeed vs Clover POS: Software Features
Features are critical considerations for your business when picking a POS system. Both Lightspeed and Clover offer robust feature sets to streamline operations. Lightspeed provides advanced inventory management, eCommerce POS integration, and analytics tools.
Clover, on the other hand, excels in customer engagement features like reward programs and online ordering. Depending on your specific business needs, one system may align better than the other regarding features.
Lightspeed POS Features
Here’s a breakdown of its most outstanding features, offering a deeper understanding of its capabilities specific to different business models:
For Restaurants:
- Unified takeout & delivery: Manage takeout orders seamlessly with tools for pickup coordination and integrations with popular delivery services.
- Flexible bill splitting: Offer options for splitting bills by diner, course, or individual item.
- Unified takeout & delivery: Manage takeout orders seamlessly with tools for pickup coordination and integrations with popular delivery services.
- Kitchen management system (KMS): Clover offers a robust KMS (optional add-on) that allows you to streamline kitchen operations.
For Retailers:
- Customer engagement tools: Clover offers built-in tools to boost customer engagement. These include loyalty programs, targeted promotions based on purchase history, and digital receipts with surveys or special offers.
- Multi-variant products: Efficiently manage product variations (size, color, etc.). Track stock levels for each variant and optimize purchasing based on granular data.
- Purchase order management: Generate automated purchase orders based on pre-set reorder points and real-time inventory levels. This eliminates manual ordering tasks and reduces stockouts.
- Advanced inventory reporting: Go beyond basic stock reports. Analyze trends in demand, identify slow-moving items, and optimize pricing strategies with in-depth inventory insights.
Clover POS Features
For Restaurant
- Time tracking and payroll integration: Clover integrates with payroll services, simplifying the process by automatically capturing employee hours worked based on login and logout times.
- Order modifiers and upselling: Create modifiers that can be easily added to existing menu items.
- Table management tools: Clover allows for splitting checks easily, accommodating large groups or diners with separate bills.
- Course firing: Take control of order flow. Prioritize dishes by course (appetizers, entrees, desserts), ensuring a smooth dining experience and preventing kitchen bottlenecks.
For Retail
- CRM integration: Integrate Clover with a CRM system to gain a 360-degree view of your customers. Track purchase history, preferences, and buying habits, allowing you to tailor recommendations and improve customer retention.
- App marketplace & third-party integrations: The Clover App Market offers a vast selection of third-party apps that integrate seamlessly with the POS system. These apps cater to various needs, including accounting, marketing, delivery services, and CRM.
- Gift cards & loyalty programs: Design and manage custom gift cards and loyalty programs that incentivize repeat business. Clover offers features like points-based rewards, tiered loyalty programs, and birthday promotions to keep customers engaged.
For Service-Based Businesses
- Virtual terminal: Clover Virtual Terminal gives you the flexibility and convenience of processing payments and refunds. You only have to log into your Clover Web Dashboard from a smartphone, tablet, or computer, and you’re ready for business anytime and anywhere.
- eCommerce solutions: This feature of Clover POS helps you accept orders, take payments, create a webstore, or enable online appointment bookings. You can manage your sales channels in one dashboard accessible on the web or mobile.
Lightspeed vs Clover POS: Ease of Use
Let’s compare Lightspeed and Clover in terms of ease of use.
Clover boasts a user-friendly interface, making it great for beginners. Lightspeed offers more features but is a bit more complex to learn.
We’ll weigh the pros and cons to help you pick the system that gets you ringing up sales in no time.
Lightspeed POS Usability
Lightspeed POS leans more towards functionality than immediate ease of use. Here’s what to expect:
- Learning curve: Lightspeed offers a wider range of features and customization options than Clover. This depth can initially make it feel more complex, especially for those new to POS systems.
- Industry-specific features: Lightspeed caters to various industries, which can be a plus if it aligns with your business. However, these specialized features might add to the initial learning curve if not directly relevant to your needs.
- Training resources: Lightspeed offers tutorials and guides to help users navigate the system. While these may be helpful, they require time investment to get entirely comfortable.
Despite the initial learning hurdle, Lightspeed users often find the system becomes intuitive after familiarization. However, if getting your staff up to speed quickly is a priority, Clover might be a better fit.
Clover POS Usability
Clover POS is designed with user-friendliness and ease of use in mind. Some key aspects of Clover POS usability include:
- Intuitive interface: The layout is designed to be simple, with clear icons and minimal clutter. This reduces training time for new employees and makes it easy for anyone to jump in and start processing sales.
- Minimal setup: Getting started with Clover is generally quick and painless. The hardware is designed to be plug-and-play, and the software walks you through the initial configuration steps.
- App marketplace: While the core functionality is user-friendly, Clover offers additional features through its App Market. These apps can add complexity, but they are typically designed to be easy to integrate and use within the Clover ecosystem.
Overall, Clover is a strong choice for businesses prioritizing user-friendliness and a smooth learning curve for their staff.
Lightspeed vs Clover POS: Strengths and Weaknesses
Feature | Lightspeed POS | Clover POS |
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Pros of Lightspeed and Clover POS
Pros of Lightspeed
- Inventory management: Lightspeed offers robust inventory management capabilities, including stock level tracking, purchase order creation, and automatic reordering.
- Scalability: Lightspeed is a scalable system that can grow with your business. Whether you’re a small startup or a larger company with multiple locations, Lightspeed can accommodate your needs.
- Customizable interface: The software has a highly customizable interface that can be tailored to match different businesses’ specific needs and workflows. Users can create custom menus, button layouts, and product categories, ensuring a streamlined and efficient checkout process.
See our full Lightspeed POS review.
Pros of Clover
- Variety of hardware options: Unlike some POS systems, Clover offers a variety of hardware options to suit different business needs and budgets. These include mobile POS systems like Clover Flex for on-the-go transactions, countertop stations for traditional checkout setups, and even self-service kiosks.
- App marketplace: Clover offers a robust App Market with a wide selection of third-party applications that can extend the functionality of the base system.
- Cloud-Based System: Clover POS is a cloud-based POS system, which means that data is stored and accessed remotely, eliminating the need for on-site servers or complex IT infrastructure.
Cons of Lightspeed and Clover POS
Cons of Lightspeed
- Poor customer service: Some customers experienced a nightmare with Lightspeed’s customer service. They mentioned that the support team was unhelpful, and their onboarding person was non-communicative, making it difficult to get the POS system up and running.
- Risk of chargebacks without merchandise return: A Lightspeed user mentioned that Lightspeed’s merchant services allow debit card chargebacks to proceed without requiring merchandise return. This poses a significant risk to businesses, as they may lose both the merchandise and the payment, leading to potential financial losses.
- Vendor lock-in: Clover hardware is locked to the processor from which you purchase it. If you switch providers, you’ll likely need new hardware, adding another layer of cost.
Cons of Clover POS
- Cost: Clover POS systems and software plans can be expensive, especially for small businesses with limited budgets. The hardware, software subscriptions, and payment processing fees can add up quickly.
- Contract and early termination fees: Clover typically requires merchants to sign long-term contracts, and early termination of these contracts can result in hefty fees.
- Limited integration options: While Clover offers some integrations with third-party apps and services, the selection may be more restricted than other POS platforms.
Lightspeed vs Clover POS POS Alternatives
When comparing Lightspeed vs Clover POS and considering alternatives, KORONA POS emerges as a viable option that addresses some of the potential drawbacks of these systems. Here’s how KORONA POS excels in areas that Lightspeed and Clover POS don’t:
Payment processing flexibility
KORONA POS is processing-agnostic, which means it can integrate with various payment processors. This flexibility allows businesses to choose the payment processor that best suits their needs and avoids being locked into a specific processor, which can be a limitation with some POS systems.
Are payment processors
giving you trouble?
We won’t. KORONA POS is not a payment processor, so we’ll always find the best payment provider for your business’s needs.
Specialized for high-risk retail businesses
KORONA POS is designed to cater to the unique needs of high-risk retail businesses, such as liquor stores, vape shops, convenience stores, CBD retailers, and smoke shops. These businesses often face challenges finding suitable POS solutions due to their industry-specific requirements and compliance regulations. KORONA POS understands and accommodates these needs, providing a tailored experience for these businesses.
Scalability and customization
Unlike some retail POS systems, which may be limited in scalability or customization, KORONA POS offers businesses the flexibility to grow and adapt to their changing needs. With its customizable features and ability to integrate with various third-party applications, KORONA POS can evolve alongside your business, ensuring a seamless and efficient operation as your requirements change.
Industry-specific features
KORONA POS has been developed with a deep understanding of the high-risk retail industry, incorporating features and functionalities specific to these businesses. This includes age verification, inventory management for controlled substances, and compliance with relevant regulations, which may not be readily available in more generic POS solutions.
By addressing the limitations of payment processing flexibility, industry specialization, scalability, and customization, KORONA POS presents itself as a compelling alternative to Lightspeed and Clover POS for businesses operating in the high-risk retail sector. Its processing-agnostic nature, tailored features, and ability to adapt to changing business needs make it a viable choice for these types of businesses.
Frequently Asked Questions: Lightspeed vs Clover POS POS
Yes, Lightspeed and Clover are somewhat compatible. Lightspeed Retail can be used with Clover Mini devices for payment processing, and some cash drawers are compatible with both systems.
Lightspeed operates in two main verticals: retail and restaurants. It supports a wide range of retail businesses, from clothing and gift shops to electronics and sporting goods stores.
Lightspeed POS is a good brand with robust features. However, some users report that customer support can be lacking, which may be a consideration for potential buyers.
Choosing between Shopify and Lightspeed depends on your business needs: Shopify excels in e-commerce integration, while Lightspeed offers robust in-store features. For high-risk businesses like liquor, smoke, CBD, convenience, and vape shops, KORONA POS is a great alternative, being processing-agnostic and tailored to these industries.
Conclusion
Lightspeed shines with its robust inventory management capabilities, scalability, and extensive integration options, making it an excellent choice for growing businesses in the retail and hospitality sectors.
However, its feature-rich interface can come with a steeper learning curve. On the other hand, Clover’s user-friendly approach, sleek hardware options, and thriving app marketplace cater well to businesses prioritizing simplicity and mobility.
While Clover may have higher upfront costs and limited integration options, its ease of use appeals to those seeking a more streamlined POS experience.
Ultimately, your decision should align with your business needs, prioritizing either Lightspeed’s depth of features or Clover’s accessibility and hardware elegance. And click below to learn more about how KORONA POS can help transform your business.
