[Home](https://www.selecthub.com/) \> [POS](https://www.selecthub.com/category/pos/) \> [POS Software](https://www.selecthub.com/c/pos-software/) \> [Lightspeed](https://www.selecthub.com/p/pos-software/lightspeed/) \> Lightspeed vs Square POS # Lightspeed vs Square POS Last Updated: August 31st, 2026 Our analysts compared [Lightspeed](https://www.selecthub.com/p/pos-software/lightspeed/) vs [Square POS](https://www.selecthub.com/p/pos-software/square-pos/) based on data from our 400+ point analysis of [POS Software](https://www.selecthub.com/c/pos-software/), user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our [free software selection platform](https://www.selecthub.com/about/start-free-selection-project-site/?category=POS Software&cta=pos-software). [Overview](#product-overview) [Pricing](#product-pricing) [Our Review](#product-analyst-summary) [User Ratings](#user-sentiment-section) [Features](#product-benefits-features) [Analyst Ratings](#analyst-rating-section) [Comparison Charts](#product-comparison-charts) [Screenshots](#product-screenshots) Remove Add to Compare [![Lightspeed Software Tool](https://cdn.selecthub.com/products/326a8c055c0d04f5b06544665d8bb3ea-d531f1be6b15a0e5a9ad1eb2655c79cf/resources/normal/logo.png?1693316761)](https://www.selecthub.com/p/pos-software/lightspeed/) [ ![Product Awards](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/awards_badge.svg) ](#awards-section) Remove Add to Compare [![Square POS Software Tool](https://cdn.selecthub.com/products/adf7e293599134777339fdc40ddfa818-589bb9590ede06a9628262915d99bdf0/resources/normal/logo.png?1693318433)](https://www.selecthub.com/p/pos-software/square-pos/) [ ![Product Awards](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/awards_badge.svg) ](#awards-section) [Get Free Demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=POS+Software&product%5Fname=Lightspeed&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2F326a8c055c0d04f5b06544665d8bb3ea-d531f1be6b15a0e5a9ad1eb2655c79cf%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693316761) [Demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=POS+Software&product%5Fname=Lightspeed&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2F326a8c055c0d04f5b06544665d8bb3ea-d531f1be6b15a0e5a9ad1eb2655c79cf%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693316761) [Request Pricing](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-pricing/?category=POS+Software&product%5Fname=Lightspeed&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2F326a8c055c0d04f5b06544665d8bb3ea-d531f1be6b15a0e5a9ad1eb2655c79cf%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693316761&price=2) [Pricing](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-pricing/?category=POS+Software&product%5Fname=Lightspeed&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2F326a8c055c0d04f5b06544665d8bb3ea-d531f1be6b15a0e5a9ad1eb2655c79cf%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693316761&price=2) [Get Free Demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=POS+Software&product%5Fname=Square%2BPOS&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2Fadf7e293599134777339fdc40ddfa818-589bb9590ede06a9628262915d99bdf0%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693318433) [Demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=POS+Software&product%5Fname=Square%2BPOS&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2Fadf7e293599134777339fdc40ddfa818-589bb9590ede06a9628262915d99bdf0%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693318433) [Request Pricing](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-pricing/?category=POS+Software&product%5Fname=Square%2BPOS&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2Fadf7e293599134777339fdc40ddfa818-589bb9590ede06a9628262915d99bdf0%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693318433&price=1) [Pricing](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-pricing/?category=POS+Software&product%5Fname=Square%2BPOS&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2Fadf7e293599134777339fdc40ddfa818-589bb9590ede06a9628262915d99bdf0%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693318433&price=1) ### Products Insights Overall Rating Comparison [ Analyst Rating Lightspeed - Analyst Score: 86 out of 100 86 Detailed Analysis ](#analyst-rating-section) [ User Sentiment ![Great User Sentiment](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/scores/great.svg) (1168 Reviews) ](#user-sentiment-section) [ Analyst Rating Square POS - Analyst Score: 92 out of 100 92 Detailed Analysis ](#analyst-rating-section) [ User Sentiment ![Excellent User Sentiment](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/scores/excellent.svg) (2169 Reviews) ](#user-sentiment-section) Price Starts From $69 Monthly [Free Trial is available →](https://pmo.selecthub.com/free-trial/?product%5Fname=Lightspeed&category=POS Software&product%5Flogo=https://d3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net/products/326a8c055c0d04f5b06544665d8bb3ea-d531f1be6b15a0e5a9ad1eb2655c79cf/resources/normal/logo.png?1693316761) $0.15/Transaction + 2.6% Flat Rate [Free Trial is available →](https://pmo.selecthub.com/free-trial/?product%5Fname=Square POS&category=POS Software&product%5Flogo=https://d3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net/products/adf7e293599134777339fdc40ddfa818-589bb9590ede06a9628262915d99bdf0/resources/normal/logo.png?1693318433) Pros What we like about Lightspeed and Square POS: * Omnichannel tools let you sync online and in-store sales from one dashboard * Loyalty, analytics, and CRM features go well beyond basic POS * Users find the interface easy to navigate despite a deep feature set * Free plan and transaction-based pricing make it easy to start at low cost * Clean, mobile-friendly interface with minimal setup required * Accepts offline payments and syncs automatically when back online Cons What we dislike about Lightspeed and Square POS: * Tiered plans and add-on fees make upfront cost hard to predict * Inventory sync across multiple locations can be slow and inaccurate * Customizing the system for unique workflows often requires workarounds or added integrations * Per-transaction fees add up quickly as your sales volume grows * Reporting and inventory tools lack the depth needed for complex operations * Automated fraud detection can freeze or close accounts unexpectedly ### Our Review **Bottom line:** Lightspeed is the better fit if you're running a complex retail, hospitality, or restaurant operation and need omnichannel tools, deep reporting, and industry-specific features. Square POS makes more sense if you're just getting started, want to keep costs low, and don't need much beyond the basics. Lightspeed covers a wide range of business types, from retail to restaurants to golf courses, with modules built for each. You can sync your online store and physical locations, manage loyalty programs, and drill into sales and inventory data without leaving the platform. Square POS keeps things simpler. It works well for straightforward retail, lets you take payments on a phone or tablet, and gets you up and running with almost no ramp-up time. On pricing, Lightspeed starts at $69 per month. Square POS takes a different approach — the software is free to use, and you pay $0.15 per transaction plus a 2.6% flat rate on each sale. That model works well when volume is low, but as transactions add up, the processing fees can outpace what you'd pay for a flat monthly plan. Square does have one clear practical edge: it accepts offline payments and syncs when your connection comes back. Lightspeed needs a live internet connection to process sales, which can be a real problem in areas with unreliable service. If you need something that grows with a multi-location or multi-channel operation, Lightspeed has the depth for it. If you want something affordable, easy to pick up, and good enough for a smaller operation, Square POS is hard to beat at that price point — just watch the transaction fees as you scale. ### Analyst Rating Summary Overall Scores Based on the research and analysis by SelectHub's team of research analysts, Lightspeed has an analyst rating of 86\. By comparison Square POS has an analyst rating of 92\. Lightspeed - Analyst Score: 86 out of 100 86 Square POS - Analyst Score: 92 out of 100 92 Features Comparison **Compliance and Security** Safeguard customer payment data and protect your business from costly fines by meeting all industry security and regulatory standards effortlessly. 67 100 **Customer and Loyalty Management** Track customer buying habits and reward frequent shoppers with special deals, encouraging them to keep coming back to your store. 94 100 **Employee Management** Schedule shifts, track hourly performance, and manage staff permissions easily, giving you better control over labor costs and team efficiency. 60 100 [Show More](#) [Show More](https://pmo.selecthub.com/customize-data/?category=POS Software) Strengths The best features of Lightspeed and Square POS as judged by user reviews and analyst validation. Integration and Extensibility Types of POS Inventory Management Reporting and Insights Customer and Loyalty Management Compliance and Security Customer and Loyalty Management Employee Management Integration and Extensibility Items and Service Management ### Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements [Customize This Data](#) [Customize This Data](https://pmo.selecthub.com/customize-data/?category=POS Software) How Lightspeed and Square POS compare against the top 11 functional requirements as defined by SelectHub project data. Lightspeed Square POS \+ Add Product [\+ Add Product](https://pmo.selecthub.com/customize-data/?category=POS Software) Compliance and Security Customer And LoyaltyManagement Employee Management Inventory Management Items And ServiceManagement Payment TransactionsAnd Cash Management POS Hardware Reporting And Insights Sales And MarketingManagement Store Management Types Of POS 67 94 60 98 90 86 76 96 89 70 100 100 100 100 98 100 100 74 100 74 69 100 0 25 50 75 100 Implementation Level of Effort Estimation **Tier 1:** Fully/moderately supported out-of-the-box allowing for quick and easy deployment. [Read more](#) **Tier 2:** Supported with workarounds or add-ons that may require additional costs. **Tier 3:** Requires partner integrations or custom development that is often at an additional cost. **Compliance And Security** Safeguard customer payment data and protect your business from costly fines by meeting all industry security and regulatory standards effortlessly. 67% 0% 33% 100% 0% 0% **Customer And Loyalty Management** Track customer buying habits and reward frequent shoppers with special deals, encouraging them to keep coming back to your store. 90% 0% 10% 100% 0% 0% **Employee Management** Schedule shifts, track hourly performance, and manage staff permissions easily, giving you better control over labor costs and team efficiency. 40% 0% 60% 100% 0% 0% **Inventory Management** Keep track of what's in stock, automatically reorder low items, and see your most popular products to prevent running out of key sellers. 100% 0% 0% 100% 0% 0% **Items And Service Management** Organize and update your entire product catalog, including prices and variations, instantly across all selling channels for fast, accurate transactions. 86% 0% 14% 100% 0% 0% **Payment Transactions And Cash Management** Process all card, cash, and digital payments quickly and accurately, while easily tracking daily deposits and managing your cash drawer balance. 78% 11% 11% 100% 0% 0% **POS Hardware** Connect all your essential equipment, including receipt printers and card readers, ensuring your checkout process runs smoothly every time you make a sale. 50% 0% 50% 50% 0% 50% **Reporting And Insights** See a clear picture of your sales, products, and customer trends, enabling you to identify your best opportunities and make smart business decisions instantly. 88% 13% \-1% 100% 0% 0% **Sales And Marketing Management** Run targeted promotions, manage gift cards, and issue discounts easily, helping you to attract new customers and drive more revenue to your business. 80% 10% 10% 60% 0% 40% **Store Management** Manage multiple store locations, track sales performance across all branches, and control staff access from one central, easy-to-use platform. 67% 0% 33% 56% 0% 44% **Types Of POS** Choose the right setup for your business, whether you need a mobile device, a countertop terminal, or an all-in-one system for flexible selling. 100% 0% 0% 100% 0% 0% **Customize This Data For Your Unique Needs**and compare feature capabilities head-to-head [CUSTOMIZE NOW](#) [CUSTOMIZE NOW](https://pmo.selecthub.com/customize-data/?category=POS Software) ### Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements [Customize This Data](#) [Customize This Data](https://pmo.selecthub.com/customize-data/?category=POS Software) Implementation Level of Effort Estimation **Tier 1:** Fully/moderately supported out-of-the-box allowing for quick and easy deployment. [Read more](#) **Tier 2:** Supported with workarounds or add-ons that may require additional costs. **Tier 3:** Requires partner integrations or custom development that is often at an additional cost. **Integration And Extensibility** Connect your current accounting and eCommerce systems seamlessly, making sure all your sales and inventory data is always synchronized and accurate. 100% 0% 0% 100% 0% 0% **Requirements Summary**Of typical requirements, 77.1% are fully supported out of the box by Lightspeed including Integration And Extensibility, Types Of POS and Customer And Loyalty Management. Square POS supports 85.4% and excels at Compliance And Security, Customer And Loyalty Management and Employee Management. Lightspeed has an analyst rating of 86 and a user sentiment rating of 'great' based on 1168 reviews, while Square POS has an analyst rating of 92 and a user sentiment rating of 'excellent' based on 2169 reviews. Lightspeed and Square POS are both SelectHub award-winners. ### User Sentiment Summary Lightspeed has a user sentiment rating of 86 based on 1168 reviews. Square POS has a user sentiment rating of 93 based on 2169 reviews. ![Great User Sentiment](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/scores/great.svg) 1168 reviews ![Excellent User Sentiment](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/scores/excellent.svg) 2169 reviews Synopsis Evaluating all review platforms, our market analysts have compiled the following user sentiment data. 86% of users recommend this product Lightspeed has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 86% when considering 1168 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites. 93% of users recommend this product Square POS has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 93% when considering 2169 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites. User Review Scores **FinancesOnline** **5.0** (58) n/a **G2.com, Inc** **4.1** (160) **4.6** (495) **Software Advice, Inc** **4.75** (169) n/a **Capterra Inc** **4.2** (774) **4.7** (1637) **TrustRadius** **4.3** (7) **4.5** (37) ### Awards SelectHub awards earned by these products based on a comprehensive analysis by our research analysts. SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Lightspeed and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Types of POS. ![Types of POS Award]() SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Square POS and concluded it deserves the award for the Best Overall POS Software available today and earns best-in-class honors for Compliance and Security, Customer and Loyalty Management, Items and Service Management, Payment Transactions and Cash Management and Types of POS. Square POS stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite. ![Analysts' Pick Award]() ![User Favorite Award]() Show more ![Compliance and Security Award]() ![Customer and Loyalty Management Award]() ![Items and Service Management Award]() ![Payment Transactions and Cash Management Award]() ![Types of POS Award]() ### Product Assistance Training Resources Documentation In Person Live Online Videos Webinars Documentation In Person Live Online Videos Webinars Support Email Phone Chat FAQ Forum Help Desk Knowledge Base Tickets Training 24/7 Live Support Email Phone Chat FAQ Forum Help Desk Knowledge Base Tickets Training 24/7 Live Support ### Product Basics Company Size i Small Medium Large Small Medium Large Platforms Supported Windows Mac Linux Android Chromebook Windows Mac Linux Android Chromebook Deployment Supported Cloud On-Premise Mobile Cloud On-Premise Mobile Comparison of Top Alternatives [Lightspeed Alternatives ](https://www.selecthub.com/pos-software/lightspeed/alternatives/) [Square POS Alternatives ](https://www.selecthub.com/pos-software/square-pos/alternatives/) ### Screenshots ![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]() ![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]() ### Key Features * **Payment processing** – Handles EMV-compatible transactions with built-in PCI compliance, fraud detection, and dispute management support, though processing outside the U.S. requires third-party integrations. * **Inventory management** – Tracks stock in real time across multiple locations with low-stock alerts and purchase order management, though users report sync delays across sites. * **Loyalty and CRM** – Supports point-based loyalty tiers, auto-segmented customer profiles, and targeted marketing campaigns including birthday offers and seasonal promotions. * **Restaurant and industry tools** – Includes dedicated modules for restaurant management, delivery app sync, kitchen display systems, and golf course booking with tee sheet customization. * **Payment processing** – Accepts all major credit cards, contactless payments, gift cards, and cash, with offline payment support that syncs automatically when the device reconnects. * **Inventory management** – Tracks stock levels and generates low-stock alerts and purchase orders, though users find the reporting and inventory tools limited for more complex needs. * **Loyalty and CRM** – Stores customer profiles and purchase histories automatically, and supports loyalty programs, gift cards, and email marketing campaigns. * **Mobile app** – Lets you process payments, check inventory, and view sales reports from a smartphone or tablet, with a clean interface that requires minimal training to use. ### Top Alternatives in POS Software [ Bindo ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/pos-software/bindo/) [ Clover ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/pos-software/clover/) [ Epos Now ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/pos-software/epos-now/) [ Erply ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/retail-pos-systems/erply/) [ Helcim ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/pos-software/helcim/) [ Hike POS ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/retail-pos-systems/hike-pos/) [ International Bancard ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/payment-processing-software/international-bancard/) [ KORONA POS ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/pos-software/korona-pos/) [ Lightspeed Retail ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/retail-pos-systems/lightspeed-retail/) [ MICROS ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/pos-software/micros/) [ NCR Voyix ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/restaurant-management-software/ncr-voyix/) [ PHP POS ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/retail-pos-systems/php-pos/) [ Rain POS ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/retail-pos-systems/rain-pos/) [ Shopify POS ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/pos-software/shopify-pos/) [ SpotOn ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/pos-software/spoton/) ### Related Categories Lightspeed and Square POS can also be found with other leading products in these categories: [Equipment Rental Software ](https://www.selecthub.com/c/equipment-rental-software/) [Restaurant POS Systems ](https://www.selecthub.com/c/restaurant-pos-systems/) Show more [Equipment Rental Software ](https://www.selecthub.com/c/equipment-rental-software/) [Restaurant POS Systems ](https://www.selecthub.com/c/restaurant-pos-systems/) Show more ### Head-to-Head Comparison ![Lightspeed Software Tool]() ![Bindo Software Tool]() [Lightspeed VS Bindo](https://www.selecthub.com/pos-software/lightspeed-vs-bindo/) ![Lightspeed Software Tool]() ![Clover Software Tool]() [Lightspeed VS Clover](https://www.selecthub.com/pos-software/clover-vs-lightspeed/) ![Lightspeed Software Tool]() ![Erply Software Tool]() [Lightspeed VS Erply](https://www.selecthub.com/pos-software/lightspeed-vs-erply/) ![Lightspeed Software Tool]() ![KORONA POS Software Tool]() [Lightspeed VS KORONA POS](https://www.selecthub.com/pos-software/lightspeed-vs-korona-pos/) ![Lightspeed Software Tool]() ![Lightspeed Retail Software Tool]() [Lightspeed VS Lightspeed Retail](https://www.selecthub.com/pos-software/lightspeed-vs-lightspeed-retail/) ![Lightspeed Software Tool]() ![MICROS Software Tool]() [Lightspeed VS MICROS](https://www.selecthub.com/pos-software/lightspeed-vs-micros/) ![Lightspeed Software Tool]() ![PHP POS Software Tool]() [Lightspeed VS PHP POS](https://www.selecthub.com/pos-software/lightspeed-vs-php-pos/) ![Lightspeed Software Tool]() ![Rain POS Software Tool]() [Lightspeed VS Rain POS](https://www.selecthub.com/pos-software/lightspeed-vs-rain-pos/) ![Lightspeed Software Tool]() ![Shopify POS Software Tool]() [Lightspeed VS Shopify POS](https://www.selecthub.com/pos-software/lightspeed-vs-shopify-pos/) ![Lightspeed Software Tool]() ![SpotOn Software Tool]() [Lightspeed VS SpotOn](https://www.selecthub.com/pos-software/lightspeed-vs-spoton/) ![Lightspeed Software Tool]() ![Square POS Software Tool]() [Lightspeed VS Square POS](https://www.selecthub.com/pos-software/lightspeed-vs-square-pos/) ![Lightspeed Software Tool]() ![Toast Software Tool]() [Lightspeed VS Toast](https://www.selecthub.com/pos-software/toast-vs-lightspeed/) **About SelectHub (and our data)** We’re the employee-owned Austin-based startup democratizing software data so you can make your decisions in an influence-free zone. Our market data is crowdsourced from our user-base of 100,000+ companies. WE DISTILL IT INTO REAL REQUIREMENTS, COMPARISON REPORTS, PRICE GUIDES and more... ![SelectHub Products Reporting and Analytics]() [Build Your Requirements](https://pmo.selecthub.com/pos-software-requirements-onsite/) ![SelectHub Products Cost and Pricing Guide]() [Get Your Free Comparison Report](https://pmo.selecthub.com/request-custom-scorecard/?category=POS%20Software) **Tier 1:** Fully/moderately supported out-of-the-box allowing for quick and easy deployment. Fully or moderately supported out-of-the-box with industry-leading capabilities and is immediately available after installation without needing any add-ons, integrations, or custom development. **Tier 2:** Supported with workarounds or add-ons that may require additional costs. Not directly available in the software, but can be accomplished using other built-in features, workarounds, or add-ons/products from the vendor with or without any additional cost. **Tier 3:** Requires partner integrations or custom development that is often at an additional cost. Requires additional integrations, plugins, marketplace applications from a third-party vendor, or custom development using the APIs, libraries, extensions, and development framework supported by the software, with or without any additional cost. [Close](#) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.selecthub.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "POS", "item": "https://www.selecthub.com/category/pos/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "POS Software", "item": "https://www.selecthub.com/c/pos-software/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Lightspeed", "item": "https://www.selecthub.com/p/pos-software/lightspeed/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "name": "Lightspeed Vs Square POS" } ] } ```