Lightspeed POS pricing is structured to cater to businesses of varying sizes. Its pricing options are crafted to support both small operations and larger, more complex businesses, scaling to meet specific needs.
However, merchants should account for additional costs, including hardware, advanced tools, and payment processing fees.
In this post, we’ll outline the key elements of Lightspeed’s pricing to help you evaluate how well-suited the solution is for your business.
Additionally, we’ll explore alternatives to Lightspeed POS. You’ll compare features and pricing to find the best solution for your unique needs.
Lightspeed POS Pricing Plans: At a Glance
Lightspeed Plan | Subscription Price | Transaction fees | Hadware | Benefits |
Retail | Starts at $109/mo when billed monthly | 2.6-2.9% + $0.10 | Smart Terminal with Printer, Hospitality: $399.00Black iPad Stand: $199.00Mobile Tap V2 Dock, Retail: $49.00Apple iPad 10th Gen: $424.00 | Advanced inventory management, omnichannel sales, analytics, and integrations |
Restaurant | Starts at $189/mo when billed monthly | 2.6-2.9% + $0.10 | Same as above | Table management, customizable menus, reporting, and integrations for streamlined operations |
Golf | Custom billing | 2.6-2.9% + $0.10 | Same as above | Tee sheet management, pro shop and restaurant POS, membership management, and analytics. |
Monthly Subscription Costs of Lightspeed POS
Lightspeed POS offers distinct subscription plans tailored to the needs of retail businesses and restaurants. Below is a breakdown of the monthly subscription costs, the target audience for each plan, and the features included.
Lightspeed Retail Pricing POS Plans
Lightspeed Retail is designed for apparel, jewelry, sporting goods, toys, vape, multi-store, bike, CBD, electronics, gift stores, and furniture stores. Its pricing structure accommodates businesses of various sizes.
Basic Plan
Monthly Cost: $89 per month when billed annually, $109 when billed monthly.
Best For: Small businesses or startups needing essential retail POS functionalities
Key Features:
- Inventory management for tracking products
- Basic reporting tools to monitor sales and performance
- Free onboarding session to assist in setup
- Access supplier catalogs
Core Plan
Monthly Cost: $149 per month when billed annually, $179 when billed monthly
Best For: Growing retailers with moderate inventory and reporting needs
Key Features:
- Advanced reporting and analytics
- Mobile scanner app
- In-store and online loyalty
- Advanced sales, staff, and inventory reports
- Accounting, eCommerce, and marketing integrations
Plus Plan
Monthly Cost: $289 per month when billed annually, $339 when billed monthly
Best For: Medium to large retailers requiring advanced inventory and customer management. – this plan supports more significant operations with complex needs, helping manage extensive inventories and multi-location setups
Key Features:
- Comprehensive analytics tools for in-depth insights
- Personalized onboarding and training
- Custom reporting
- Integrated forecasting
- API access
- Workflows
- Custom user roles
Lightspeed Restaurant Pricing POS Plans
Lightspeed Restaurant POS caters to hospitality businesses, including cafes, quick-service restaurants, full-service restaurants, hotels, and fine dining establishments.
Essential Plan
Monthly Cost: $189 per month
Best For: Small cafes and single-location restaurants
Key Features:
- Basic order and table management
- Order and pay at table
- Lightspeed Live app
- Multi-location management
Premium Plan
Monthly Cost: $399 per month
Best For: Growing restaurants needing more substantial management capabilities
Key Features:
- Multiple revenue center support for hotels
- Custom rates available
- Raw API access
Enterprise Plan
Monthly Cost: Customized pricing.
Best For: High-volume restaurants and multi-location establishments
Key Features:
- Multi-location management for seamless operation across sites
- Advanced POS analytics and customer insights
- Full suite of integrations for payroll, inventory, and customer loyalty
- Personalized software and hardware package
- Unlimited launch and consultation services
Lightspeed POS Hardware Pricing
Lightspeed sells a wide range of equipment, including cash drawers, receipt printers, Bluetooth scanners, a Lightspeed iPad stand, and receipt paper. The prices of some of these POS hardware products are below.
Lightspeed Stand for iPad
Lightspeed’s $169 hardware stand features a sleek design with a stable metal base, a magnetic swivel for customer interaction, and compatibility with iPad 10th gen, Air 5th gen, and Pro 11″ 5th/6th gen. It includes a USB-C cable.
Black iPad Stand
This $199 iPad stand features a stable base and card reader enclosure, making it ideal for POS setups. It fits the 10.2″ iPad and is compatible with 7th, 8th, and 9th-generation models.
Universal Stand for Tablets
The Universal Tablet Stand costs $89 and features a swivel base for customer-facing displays, quick tablet removal for portability, and clear Lightspeed branding. It includes a 180º USB-C cable and supports tablets from 7 to 13 inches.
Smart Terminal with Printer, Hospitality
A sleek terminal for processing transactions in hospitality settings, with an integrated printer for receipts. This smart terminal with a printer costs $399.
Mobile Tap, Hospitality
The $69 Mobile Tap is a compact Bluetooth card reader for iPad and Lightspeed Payments, supporting swipe, EMV, and tap-to-pay transactions.
Lightspeed 16″ Cash Drawer—APG Minota
This Lightspeed cash drawer costs $129. It is durable, has ample space for organizing bills and coins, and is compatible with most POS systems.
Wi-Fi Dongle – Star Micronics
At $79, this enables wireless connectivity for printers and other hardware, ensuring seamless POS operations.
Apple iPad 10th Gen
The 10.9-inch silver iPad is a sleek, powerful option for iOS-based POS setups, priced at $424.
Lightspeed Payment Processing Fees
Lightspeed’s payment processing fees depend primarily on the region, the business type, and the volume of transactions processed. Generally, for businesses in the United States, Lightspeed Payments charges a flat rate of 2.6% + $0.10 per transaction for card-present transactions and 2.9% + $0.30 for card-not-present transactions, such as online or manually entered payments.
Below is an estimate of monthly transactions based on your monthly transaction volume:
Source: Lightspeed Payment Transactions
Lightspeed POS allows businesses to use third-party payment processors if Lightspeed Payments does not meet their needs. Choosing a third-party processor will enable businesses to negotiate rates, leverage existing relationships, or integrate specialized payment solutions.
Lightspeed integrates seamlessly with third-party processors, including Stripe, PayPal, Worldpay, and Moneris. Opting for a third-party payment processor implies a few considerations:
Most importantly, Lightspeed’s monthly subscription rates will increase if the merchant is not using Lightspeed Payments. Though merchants will be able to find cheaper rates through other providers, the cost of the additional monthly fee will offset any savings.
Additional costs might be associated with integrating or maintaining separate agreements for payment processing. Merchants using third-party processors must also ensure compatibility between the chosen processor and their Lightspeed POS system.
For instance, while Lightspeed makes the integration process straightforward, some advanced features available with Lightspeed Payments, such as integrated chargeback management and in-depth payment reports, may not be fully accessible when using an external processor.
Additionally, relying on a third-party processor requires businesses to manage customer service or troubleshoot issues through that processor, which can add another layer of complexity.
Are payment processors
giving you trouble?
We won’t. KORONA POS is not a payment processor. That means we’ll always find the best payment provider for your business’s needs.
Lightspeed POS Customer Reviews
Lightspeed POS is known for its extensive features and user-friendly design. However, customer reviews reveal mixed experiences, highlighting strengths and areas for improvement. If you’re interested in learning more about the software, you can also check our Lightspeed POS review.
Positive Reviews of Lightspeed POS
User-friendly interface: Lightspeed POS is praised for its ease of use and intuitive interface.
Source: Trustpilot Lightspeed Reviews
Comprehensive features: Customers appreciate the extensive suite of features, including barcode scanning, inventory management, real-time analytics, and integrated payment processing, which help businesses manage operations efficiently.
Effective payment integration: The system’s payment integration simplifies vendor management and reduces time and costs.
Support experiences: Some customers reported receiving excellent support from account managers and support staff, highlighting quick and efficient assistance during setup and system modifications.
Growth enablement: Businesses mentioned that Lightspeed helped them grow by providing a reliable technological solution tailored to retail needs.
Negative Reviews of Lightspeed POS
Unmet promises: Some customers expressed frustration with unfulfilled promises from sales representatives, particularly concerning hardware support or discounted offers. Some customers encountered hardware functionality and reliability issues, such as scanners losing connectivity and limited options for returns or replacements.
Source: Trustpilot Lightspeed Reviews
Customer support challenges: Several users reported delayed responses or ineffective resolutions from the support team, particularly after the sale, which impacted their trust in the service.
System bugs and glitches: Users highlighted recurring bugs, such as visual glitches, deleted product reappearances, or financial discrepancies, which the support team struggled to address satisfactorily.
Payment delays: A few businesses faced significant delays in receiving payments, leading to financial strain and dissatisfaction.
Pricing concerns: Customers expressed concerns about pricing discrepancies, such as higher hardware costs than other POS companies or unexpected charges like surcharges for card payments not processed through Lightspeed. Some customers reported feeling misled about rates, discounts, or contractual terms, leading to financial losses and legal disputes.
Data migration and setup issues: The inability to import large SKU lists and difficulty in resolving tax or reporting issues were cited as setup challenges that required manual workarounds.
Lightspeed POS Alternatives and Competitors
Lightspeed POS is popular, but several alternatives offer competitive features tailored to various industries. Below is a comparison of KORONA POS, Celerant POS, Toast, and Shopify POS to help you determine which system best fits your business.
Check out our more in-depth blog post for other Lightspeed POS alternatives you can choose from.
POS System | Best For | Transaction fees | Processing Fess | Benefits |
 KORONA POS | Retail stores, vape shops, liquor stores, quick-service restaurants | Starts at $59/month (no additional transaction fees) | Processing-agnostic; fees depend on the integrated payment processor | Unlimited free trial, customizable reporting, processing flexibility, inventory management, 24/7 support |
 Celeranr POS | Retail businesses of all sizes, especially those with complex inventory needs | Custom pricing; starts ~$125/month | Varies depending on the integrated payment processor | Omnichannel platform, advanced eCommerce integration, CRM, inventory management, purchase orders, robust analytics |
 Shopify POS | eCommerce retailers with physical stores | Starts at $32/month;Advanced plan at $339/month | Card rates start at 2.9% + 30¢ online, and 2.6% + 10¢ USD in person | Seamless eCommerce integration, omnichannel sales, inventory tracking, analytics, customizable checkout, and mobile POS hardware |
 Toast POS | Full-service restaurants and bars | -Starts at $0/month- Custom Pricing | 2.49% + $0.15 (in-person); custom rates available | Restaurant-specific tools, menu management, employee scheduling, KDS, delivery integration, and customer loyalty tools |
Lightspeed POS: Overall Review
Lightspeed POS is built for retailers, restaurants, and eCommerce businesses. It offers industry-specific features such as advanced inventory management for restaurant retail ingredient tracking and omnichannel features.
Pricing-wise, Lightspeed isn’t the cheapest option on the market. Its starting monthly fee is $89, making it more expensive than some alternatives. However, the cost includes a wide range of features like detailed analytics, customer relationship management (CRM) tools, and access to an integrated payment processor, with fees starting at 2.6% + $0.10 per transaction.
Lightspeed offers add-ons such as eCommerce integration and advanced accounting features for businesses looking to scale, though these can increase overall costs. Additionally, the system’s reliance on Lightspeed Payments may limit flexibility for businesses seeking alternative processors.
However, some users have reported occasional technical glitches and steep pricing, especially for advanced features and additional hardware. While it may be a bit pricier than some alternatives, its ease of use and extensive feature set make it a compelling option for many businesses.
FAQs: Lightspeed POS Pricing
1. Is Lightspeed a good POS system?
Lightspeed is a good POS system known for its inventory management, ease of use, reporting tools, and industry-specific features, especially for retail, restaurants, and eCommerce.
2. What is the transaction fee for Lightspeed POS?
Lightspeed Payments charges 2.6% + $0.10 per card-present transaction and 2.9% + $0.30 per card-not-present transaction. Third-party payment processor fees may vary if Lightspeed Payments is not used, though Lightspeed charges additional fees if merchants opt for outside processors.
Lightspeed POS Pricing: Wrapping Up
This blog has explored Lightspeed POS pricing, shedding light on its pros and cons and why it might or might not be the right fit for your business. While Lightspeed caters to many industries with its robust features, finding a POS system that aligns perfectly with your specific needs and budget is crucial.
KORONA POS stands out as a strong alternative, offering a straightforward pricing structure and versatile features. Its processing-agnostic capability sets it apart. It’s especially advantageous for high-risk industries like vape and smoke shops, liquor stores, and convenience stores that rely on secondary processors.
If flexibility and cost-efficiency are priorities for your business, KORONA POS might be the solution you’ve been looking for. Explore its features today and discover how it can support your growth. Click below to learn more!
