Square vs Lightspeed
Square comes out ahead of Lightspeed on 4 of the 6 things that decide this, going by what each company publishes and what independent review sites report. The one that matters for you may be one the leader loses.
The verdict
Square takes it, 4–1 on rounds.
On the published figures and the independent review sites, Square takes 4 of 6 rounds. Treat that as a starting point and check the current figures on both pages, because prices and plans move.
Choose Square if…
- • You want Square's edge on what the software costs and how easy it is to use
Choose Lightspeed if…
- • You want Lightspeed's edge on who picks up when the till is down
Round by round
- Round 1What the software costsSquare winsLightspeed5/10
$89
the cheapest plan, per month billed annually
- $89, against $0
Source: hustlerslibrary.com ↗
Square wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 2Who picks up when the till is downLightspeed winsSquare5/10
weekday hours on the free plan
Monday to Friday, 6am to 6pm PT on the free plan
- weekday hours on the free plan, against 24/7 phone, email and chat
Source: posusa.com ↗
Lightspeed8/1024/7 phone and chat support
Support channels
- included with all plans
Source: posusa.com ↗
Lightspeed wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 3How easy it is to useSquare winsLightspeed5/10
3.6 out of 5
ease-of-use rating from Capterra reviewers
- 3.6 out of 5, against 4.6 out of 5
Source: capterra.com ↗
Square wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 4What each card sale costsTieLightspeed7/10
2.6% + 10¢
in-person card sale through Lightspeed Payments
Source: hustlerslibrary.com ↗
Nothing to separate them here.
- Round 5Trying it before you paySquare winsSquare8/10
30-day trial of Square Plus
Square Free ($0/mo per location); trial = Square Plus
Source: squareup.com ↗
Lightspeed5/1014-day free trial
Retail (X-Series) Basic, billed annually (Annually tab, default)
- 14-day free trial, against 30-day trial of Square Plus
Source: lightspeedhq.com ↗
Square wins this round on what the published sources say.
- Round 6What the top plan costsSquare winsSquare8/10
Premium $149/mo
Square Free ($0/mo per location); trial = Square Plus
Source: squareup.com ↗
Lightspeed5/10Plus $289/mo, billed annually
Retail (X-Series) Basic, billed annually (Annually tab, default)
- Plus $289/mo, billed annually, against Premium $149/mo
Source: lightspeedhq.com ↗
Square wins this round on what the published sources say.
Side by side
- Square Free ($0/mo per location); trial = Square Plus
- in-person card sale
- included with all plans
- weekday hours on the free plan, against 24/7 support
- Reader from $59, against $0 upfront for first device
- Premium $149/mo, against Point of Sale from $69/mo
- weekday hours on the free plan, against 24/7 phone support
- $89, against $0
- 3.6 out of 5, against 4.6 out of 5
- 14-day free trial, against 30-day trial of Square Plus
- Plus $289/mo, billed annually, against Premium $149/mo