4 Top Lightspeed POS Alternatives: Consider These Competitors

Lightspeed is a large POS company that operates in a variety of industries. If you’re researching POS, you’ve probably heard of them.

However, Lightspeed POS does have pros and cons. That’s why you should consider Lightspeed POS alternatives, before making a choice.

What is the best Lightspeed POS competitor?

Some of the top alternatives to Lightspeed POS offer payment processing flexibility (an area where Lightspeed struggles). Plus, the best Lightspeed alternatives beat the platform on features like in-house support and user-friendliness.

Need some help weighing Lightspeed POS system alternatives? This guide explores four top Lightspeed competitors. Plus, we outline the pros and cons of Lightspeed (backed by real reviews) and provide recommendations if you should consider an alternative.

Why Consider a Lightspeed POS Competitor: Pros and Cons

Lightspeed POS excels in some areas and offers industry-specific solutions for restaurants and golf courses. It also offers some robust features. However, Lightspeed isn’t without its drawbacks, especially in terms of support.

Here’s a quick look at what customers love (and hate) about Lightspeed POS:

Lightspeed POS Pros

Lightspeed is effective for small businesses that want to get up-and-running fast. Plus, they do offer agile tech solutions for small operations.

Some pros of Lightspeed POS include:

• Accurate Reporting – Many customers say basic reporting is useful. However, for more robust reports, you must upgrade to their analytics tool.
• Industry-Specific – Lightspeed offers industry systems for restaurant, retail and golf. You won’t find many golf-specific POS systems on the market.
• Cloud-Based – Lightspeed is a cloud-based POS system . That means you can access the system from anywhere, with real-time accounting. Great for remote management.

Cons

The biggest con? Lightspeed offers very limited payment processing flexibility.

In 2023, the company said all new POS subscribers had to use Lightspeed Payments (its in-house payment processing solution). Additionally, the company started charging a “third-party payment processing” fee of $400/month, for customers who stayed with your existing processor. Needless to say, customers weren’t happy .

Some cons of Lightspeed POS include:

• Processing Flexibility – You must use Lightspeed Payments and pay Lightspeed fees for credit card processing. You can’t negotiate rates with a third-party processor.
• Support – Although they offer 24/7 support, it can be difficult to reach support staff quickly during business hours. As a larger company, your account manager may be assigned to multiple accounts.
• Lightspeed Fees – Many advanced POS features require you to pay additional Lightspeed fees. Therefore, for full use of the platform, Lightspeed POS pricing can get costly.
• Overly Complex – Not the most intuitive for tasks. Customers say inventory processes are difficult on Lightspeed, for example. Brittany B., a small business owner says: “Several things in Lightspeed seem to be more complicated than they need to be. Inventory is an all-day task.”

Should Your Business Consider a Lightspeed POS Alternative?

While Lightspeed is a popular POS system, it might not be the best fit for every business. Here are some scenarios where you might want to consider a Lightspeed POS system alternative:

• Age-restricted industries: If your business sells age-restricted products like alcohol, tobacco, or cannabis, you might find Lightspeed’s features lacking. Some POS systems offer more specialized tools for age verification, scan data reporting, and compliance.
• High credit card processing fees: Credit card processing fees can significantly impact your bottom line. If Lightspeed’s quoted rates are too high, exploring alternatives with better terms could save you money.
• You like your processor: Lightspeed requires businesses to use their in-house card processing solution. If you are happy with your existing processor, you need a POS system that allows third-party processing (like FTx POS).
• Reliance on third-party tools: If your business relies heavily on specific third-party processes or integrations that aren’t supported by Lightspeed, switching to a more compatible POS system might be necessary.
• Small team with limited tech support: Lightspeed’s customer support might not be readily available or responsive, especially for smaller businesses without dedicated IT support. A POS system with better customer service could be a game-changer.

Additionally, if you’re looking for specific features or functionalities that Lightspeed POS doesn’t offer, or if you prefer a different user interface or pricing model, exploring alternatives is worthwhile.

1. FTx POS (Best Lightspeed POS Alternative for Retail)

FTx POS serves retail business owners, and thanks to its scalability, it’s one of the best POS systems for small business and multi-store retailers.

In particular, FTx POS is well-suited for businesses that sell age-restricted products (and offers integrated ID scanning). That makes it an ideal choice for liquor stores, vape shops, convenience stores, and grocery stores. Plus, it’s fully customization. Businesses can tailor the platform to fit their needs.

Here’s an overview of how it compares to Lightspeed:

Inventory Features

Inventory management is more intuitive in FTx POS. Specifically, retailers can:

• Case Break – A useful liquor store inventory feature, this allows you to count inventory by the case, and automatically create new inventory items (singles or 6-packs), when you sell less than a case.
• Warehouse Management – Scale up to multi-store inventory as your business grows. We offer robust inventory features for larger, multi-store retailers.
• Automate reordering – Set reorder points that trigger purchase orders. Great for automating replenishment.
• Tax Customization – Use FTx POS to manage pricebook items, including setting %- or amount-based taxes.

Card Processing Features

FTx POS offers flexible payment processing options for retailers.

• Integrated – Use FTx POS for payment processing. FTx POS will meet or beat your card processing rate.
• Third-Party – Stay with your existing processor. FTx POS integrates with third-party processors.
• No High-Risk Fees – We offer better rates for “high-risk businesses” like smoke shops.

Integrations

The FTx Retail Suite includes first-party integrations with our in-house retail tools. They include:

• Digital Signage – Create and manage your store’s digital signage screens from your POS.
• Loyal Program – Use an app-based platform to entice and grow your loyalty program – integrates seamlessly in checkout.
• Register Upsells – Create upselling prompts at the register to drive traffic.
• Ecommerce – an online shop and start selling through multiple channels.

Pricing

Compared to Lightspeed, we offer similar software pricing tiers, with plans starting at $89 / month. We offer a variety of Windows-based POS hardware solutions and free or discounted hardware when you combine FTx POS with payment processing.

Demo FTx POS Today. Explore how FTx POS stacks up against Lightspeed POS. Book a demo to learn more about our robust feature set.

2. Shopify POS (Best Lightspeed Competitor for Ecommerce)

Shopify POS is a popular point-of-sale system, and it’s best for businesses that already use Shopify for ecommerce.

First, users love it because of its affordability. But another selling point is its tight integration with Shopify ecommerce. This allows businesses to manage in-store and online sales from a single platform with unified inventory, customer data, and reporting.

Ultimately, Shopify POS offers a more basic feature set compared to Lightspeed POS. But for ecommerce-first businesses, Shopify offers unique advantages.

Key Features

• Omnichannel Selling – Sell both online and in-store with ease. Shopify POS seamlessly integrates with your Shopify store. This makes it helpful for syncing orders, inventory and customer data.
• Inventory Management – Track your inventory in real-time to avoid stockouts and ensure you always have enough products on hand.
• Customer Management – Store customer information and purchase history to personalize the shopping experience, build customer loyalty, and run targeted marketing campaigns.
• Reporting – Generate sales reports to gain insights into your business performance, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions.

Pricing

Shopify POS tends to be the more affordable option, especially if you already have a Shopify subscription. However, Lightspeed POS might be a better fit if you need the extra functionality and are willing to pay a premium.

3. Clover POS (Best Lightspeed POS Alternative for Solo Entrepreneurs)

Clover POS is a point-of-sale system designed for businesses of all sizes. But due to its ease to launch, it’s popular among sole proprietors.

Ultimately, Clover is an off-the-shelf POS system. So, you won’t find the level of customization you would in a more robust POS system. But this also means it’s more user-friendly. Sellers can get on the platform quickly to start selling.

Key Features

• Ease of Use – Clover POS is known for its user-friendly interface, making it easy to set up and use, even if you’re not tech-savvy.
• Mobility – Clover offers mobile POS systems like Clover Go, which allows you to accept payments on the go, whether you’re at a market or making a delivery.
• Inventory Management – Track your inventory levels to avoid stockouts and ensure you always have what customers need.
• Sales Reporting – Gain valuable insights into your sales performance with Clover’s reporting tools. You can see what’s selling well, identify trends, and make informed business decisions.
• Customer Management – Create customer profiles to track purchase history and personalize the shopping experience.

Pricing

Clover POS offers different tiers and pricing plans, so you can choose a system that fits your budget. There are even free mobile plans for basic payment processing. However, Clover POS requires integrated payment processing, and charges transaction fees. This can add up for large-volume processors.

Additionally, some Clover POS plans require a contract. So be aware of the commitment before signing up.

4. Club Caddie (Best POS System Alternative for Golf)

Club Caddie is a cloud-based software suite designed specifically for golf course management. It goes beyond just a POS system, offering a comprehensive solution to streamline all aspects of your golf course operations, from tee sheet management to member billing.

Compared to Lightspeed POS, it offers a more robust feature set for golf course management.

Key Features

• Integrated POS System – Manage all your point-of-sale needs across your pro shop, restaurant, bar, even mobile carts servicing players on the course.
• Tee Sheet & Booking – Use tools to manage tee times, bookings, and reservations through an online booking engine and mobile app.
• Member Billing – Advanced member management tools to track memberships, dues, and billing cycles. Club Caddie also facilitates automated billing and sending notifications.
• Events – Plan and manage tournaments, outings, and other events efficiently. The software provides tools for registration, scheduling, food and beverage service, and financial tracking for events.
• Inventory Management – Track inventory levels across your pro shop, restaurant, and other departments.

Pricing

Club Caddie’s pricing is not publicly available. Some reviews say it is on the higher end compared to Lightspeed. However, pricing plans are based on the size of your golf club and operation.

Before You Sign, Consider Alternatives to Lightspeed POS

While Lightspeed offers a robust POS system, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Consider exploring the alternatives we’ve outlined in this article.

These options cater to specific business needs, from budget-friendly solutions to those designed for age-restricted industries. Take some time to evaluate your priorities and find the POS system that best positions your business for success.

Remember, the perfect fit can mean the difference between a smooth-running operation and a system that hinders your growth.

Put FTx POS on your point-of-sale shortlist. We offer flexible pricing and a top retail point of sale system for growing business. Book your demo today!