Lightspeed Retail POS Review

Pros

• Strong retail inventory management for one or more locations
• B2B and B2C customer management
• Customizable loyalty program
• Several software integrations and open API

Cons

• Expensive for smaller businesses
• Occasional software glitches
• Recent reviews note poor customer service

Lightspeed Retail POS Overview

Lightspeed Retail is a point of sale system built for retail, rental, and service-based businesses. The cloud-based POS offers strong inventory and multi-location management, a good loyalty program builder, and lots of software integrations to create a system that works for your specific business.

Lightspeed Retail POS Pricing

Lightspeed Retail scores above average when it comes to pricing. We awarded the most points for offering a free trial, monthly pricing plans, an affordable POS card reader and iPad, and competitive payment processing rates.

The product loses points because there is an early termination fee and some undisclosed fees, and you can’t choose your own payment processor. Being stuck in a flat-rate payment processing structure is not cost-effective for slightly larger businesses processing thousands of dollars per month.

Lightspeed offers the following pricing plans that range from $109 - $339/month ($89 - $289/month billed annually).

Here’s a breakdown of Lightspeed Retail POS costs and packages:

• Basic: Includes POS interface, one register, integrated payments, inventory manager, and access to supplier catalogs.
• Core: Includes everything in the Basic plan plus a mobile scanner app, in-store loyalty, advanced reporting, eCommerce integrations, social media and online marketplace sales capabilities, and integrations for accounting software (QuickBooks, Xero, and Sage).
• Plus: Includes everything in the Basic & Core plans plus API access, custom workflows, custom user controls, and 24/7 customer support.

You can also get add-ons like Lightspeed Loyalty, one of the best POS rewards programs, as a separate add-on.

On all plans, you can integrate Lightspeed with compatible software. It’s important to note that there are two versions of Lightspeed Retail: Lightspeed R-Series and Lightspeed X-Series. The integrations available will depend on your version of the software. If you have a specific integration you want to use, make sure you get the right version.

Integrations such as the ID verification app make Lightspeed one of the best POS software systems for wineries.

X-Series users get access to a free barcode scanner app that syncs to your Lightspeed inventory manager and works on iOS and Android devices.

Lightspeed Retail Extra Costs & Fees

Note: With each new location, you get another register. For example, if you have two locations, you’ll get two registers, one in each location, but will only pay the added location fee. If you purchase a third register license, you’ll pay the added location fee and an additional $59/month.

Lightspeed offers several proprietary add-ons such as Lightspeed Subscriptions and Lightspeed Workflows. The company also offers third-party integrations like Booxi appointment scheduling software and Hubtiger rental software.

You must purchase the Lightspeed Payments-compatible WisePOS E card reader from the company to use Lightspeed Payments, the company’s in-house payment processor. All US and Canadian merchants must use Lightspeed Payments with Lightspeed Retail software.

While not required, Lightspeed offers a variety of hardware on its website, including iPads, stands, cash drawers, scanners, and printers ranging from $199 - $329

Lightspeed Retail Is Best Suited For

Lightspeed Retail is one of the best POS systems for retail businesses with one or multiple locations that want strong inventory management, specialized third-party software integrations, eCommerce compatibility, and marketing features such as loyalty programs and gift card sales.

Lightspeed also works well for blended B2B/B2C businesses, service-based businesses, rental item businesses, and subscription sales. The software offers several add-on products to meet the needs of these more niche business types.

Note: Lightspeed Retail POS offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required. Try the system risk-free to help you decide whether this POS works for your business.

Lightspeed Retail Features

Lightspeed Retail scores very highly in the features area because of its excellent register customization features, strong inventory management capabilities, and numerous niche features available, such as B2B customer management and third-party integration options.

The system loses points in the omnichannel sales category because you can’t sync your sales with online sales channels such as TikTok, Instagram, Amazon, or Etsy. If you don’t plan to sell on these places, you’ll find that Lightspeed may have just enough online sales features for your business.

To test out Lightspeed Retail’s extensive feature set, I created a test bridal boutique store. I added dress inventory, created a gown consultation service scheduler, generated order quotes, created bridal customers, built a loyalty program, and built an online store.

These are Lightspeed Retail’s best features based on my firsthand experience with the software and research from other use cases.

Register Features

Lightspeed Retail POS interface test sale.

From Lightspeed Retail’s POS user interface, you can:

• Add & Preorder Products: Add products by searching all available inventory or scanning a barcode. Integrate Lightspeed with a Hyperspace weight scale to sell by weight. Allow customers to preorder items for delivery or in-store pickup.
• Add Hotkeys: Create a custom POS interface with hotkeys. This will speed up checkout for customers and employees.
• Accept All Payment Types: Accept cash, credit, debit, check, gift card, and store credit.
• Send Receipts: You can print and/or email custom receipts (and gift receipts) with product descriptions and notes.
• Schedule Services: Create a service, including a service time and description, from the POS during checkout. To charge for a service such as a gown consultation, it must be a designated inventory item and be attached to a customer in the system.
• Create Quotes: Add all products to the cart, then choose “create quote”. You can print the quote out or send it to a customer, then convert it to a sale later.
• Accept Gift Certificates & Gift Cards: Accept gift cards and certificates by scanning a barcode. Gift cards can be reloaded and reused.
• Add Discounts: Add a discount as a dollar amount or percentage of the total. Accept promo codes, too.
• Holds & Layaway: Hold and suspend sales for later or transfer them to another device. You can also place items on hold/layaway for customers to pick up later, and accept deposit payments.
• Reward & Redeem Points: Lightspeed Loyalty allows you to reward your customers online and in-store with its point-based loyalty program.

Lightspeed’s quote and invoicing system, rental item management features, sales by weight, and service scheduling, make it one of the best garden center POS systems, especially for places that offer services such as landscape designing and garden tool rentals.

Inventory Management

Add a new inventory item on the Lightspeed Retail POS dashboard.

Lightspeed’s inventory management puts it on our list of the best POS systems with inventory management. The system includes these best features:

• Quick-Add Products: Quickly add new products to your catalog, generating brands, vendors, tags, and categories as you go.
• Variants & Bundling: Create variant attributes for items that come in different sizes, colors, or any custom descriptor. Adjust stock for each variant and set custom reordering points for each variant. Create bundles of products or specify that a bulk product can be broken down for individual sale.
• Stock Control: Manually adjust stock and transfer stock between locations. Include expected delivery dates and a history of product movements.
• Purchase Ordering: Build, send, and track purchase orders from within Lightspeed Retail. Track delivery dates and partial/full order receiving. Get reordering recommendations based on unfulfilled orders and set reordering points.
• Order Fulfillment: When you complete a customer’s preorder, the items on that preorder are set aside for your customer when you receive inventory. You can then mark orders as in progress, packed for in-store pickup, sent out for delivery, and fulfilled.
• Multistore Management: Transfer inventory between locations and get full visibility of all inventory from stores and warehouses. You can set different prices for the same SKU on a store-by-store basis.
• B2B Price Book Builder: Build custom price books for different customer segments. Create discounts for different customer tiers, minimum quantity purchased, and purchasing tiers. Feature specific brands and specials in your price books to entice more buyers.

Lightspeed’s business customer account manager, purchase order and invoicing features, product bundling/breakdown features, and price book creator for different customer segments make this system an excellent inventory manager for B2B businesses. For example, Lightspeed is an ideal POS system for liquor stores that sell bottles to businesses like restaurants, hotels, catering companies, and end consumers.

There are also niche inventory management features such as consignment item management, which makes Lightspeed work well as consignment store POS software.

Online Sales

Lightspeed Retail eCom E-Series online store builder.

Like Lightspeed Retail, there are two versions of Lightspeed eCommerce. With the X-Series of Lightspeed Retail, you get the E-Series. With the R-Series of Lightspeed Retail, you get the C-Series.

The E-Series, which you can test using the free trial, allows you to:

• Build a one-page online store from several site builder templates
• Offer in-store pickup, local delivery, and shipping
• Sell on social media apps including TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook
• List items on Amazon, eBay, and Google Shopping
• Sell through your own custom-built Apple/Android mobile shopping app (for a one-time fee)
• Link to your general site and specific products on blogs, email newsletters, social media posts, and anywhere else using an HTML link (great for guest posting/affiliate marketing)

Note: I recommend enabling eCom before you start loading your inventory because you need to specify that you want to list your products online and in-store. If you create your products before you enable eCom, you have to go back and toggle on the “sell online” option, which I learned the hard way.

Another online sales option for Lightspeed Retail X-Series users is the free Local Inventory with Google integration. With this integration, your Lightspeed inventory is synced with your Google Business profile. Your items, plus pricing, in-store/online availability, and star review ratings will automatically be shown on Google Search, Google Maps, and Google Shopping, so customers will see your products in general and location-based search results.

With Lightspeed eCom C-Series, you get more store builder features, including:

• More well-rounded multi-page store builder templates, including B2B templates
• Multilingual/multi-currency settings (great for international sellers)
• Customer account registration that includes a purchase and return tracker
• Displayed customer support options (live chat, “call now,” support tickets) so your customers can reach you
• Customer wishlists and saved product comparisons
• Marketing tools like daily deal banners, popup discounts/special sales, newsletter signups on-site, and suggested product combos

Admin Management

Lightspeed Retail POS loyalty program settings.

In your Lightspeed Retail dashboard, you can view customer purchases and account activity, generate reports on product performance and sales activity, customize employee roles and permissions, and customize your loyalty program.

Lightspeed Loyalty customizations include the ability to:

• Decide how much loyalty members earn as a percentage of the retail price of every sale in-store and through Lightspeed eCom (E-Series)
• Create custom loyalty points earnings for specific products
• Send a new customer welcome email that includes a loyalty program signup form
• Create a loyalty program signup bonus
• Choose when loyalty points expire, if at all

You can also view and manage the status of services, unfulfilled orders, and product packaging, and customize your store receipt template.

Lightspeed’s loyalty program allows you to give customers in certain groups more points and discounts. This feature, plus the subscription builder, makes Lightspeed one of the best bookstore POS systems for stores that want to offer customers certain membership perks, like 10% off any book with the purchase of a yearly membership.

Integrations

Lightspeed Retail Booxi personal shopping and appointment booking integration.

Lightspeed Retail integrates with many popular software, including Mailchimp, Klaviyo, QuickBooks, Xero, BigCommerce, Woocommerce, and Homebase (for employee management).

The system also integrates with niche software apps. For example, the Hubtiger repair and rental integration makes Lightspeed a good POS system for rental businesses. Newer integrations with products like Solink video surveillance software and Senitron RFID inventory tagging software make Lightspeed work well as a convenience store POS system and a good option for any store that faces employee or customer theft.

Lightspeed Subscriptions, a Lightspeed-built subscription manager add-on, helps Lightspeed function well as a grocery store POS system, especially for specialty stores and co-ops that offer memberships. Another Lightspeed product, Lightspeed Golf, is one of the best golf course POS systems.

Ease Of Use

I scored Lightspeed Retail highly in ease of use mostly because while it was slightly tedious to set up, Lightspeed Retail POS software is simple to use, requires no representative to get started or change the software, and makes updating inventory very fast. The product lost points due to reports of software outages while in use.

To test out how easy the software is to use, I set up an account for a bridal shop and ran several test transactions.

To get started, all I had to do was set up my locations and store registers, add employee information/permissions, and then input items of inventory. I had the choice to customize my receipts, but the default was fine. Finally, I was able to start making test sales using the POS training screen.

If you’re currently using a POS provider like Square or Shopify, or have your product information on a Google Sheet, Lightspeed Retail gives you the option to import all your existing inventory information into your Lightspeed account.

I didn’t have an existing inventory list, so I used the “quick add product” tool. You can get as detailed as you need to when entering inventory. I liked that I could add new vendors, brands, tags, and product categories while entering the products themselves, so I didn’t have to switch between different product and vendor information pages the whole time. The item matrix function made creating different product variants such as bridesmaid dresses in different colors faster and easier.

The Lightspeed eCom E-Series that comes with Lightspeed’s POS felt tedious to set up, but not very difficult. You had to create another account for Lightspeed eCom, which was slightly confusing, but you get the hang of it relatively quickly if you just trust the process. If you want to strongly focus on eCommerce sales or create a more elegant-looking website, you might want to spring for the Lightspeed eCom C-Series or integrate Lightspeed with a nicer eCommerce store builder.

Customer Service & Support

Lightspeed Retail scores well when it comes to customer support, but this is mainly because the company offers so many different ways to help, including intuitive self-service articles and video walkthroughs. The company loses points because real, recent customers have stated that they have not had a good experience with Lightspeed customer support.

Lightspeed states that all Lightspeed Retail users, regardless of plan level, get access to 24/7 phone support, live chat, and a dedicated support representative. However, we do have to note that more recent, organic user reviews state that phone support is slow and the live chatbot is not very helpful.

When setting up my test account, I found that the company’s support articles and videos were thorough enough that I could set up my system with no assistance. I did not have very extensive or complicated needs, though.

If you’re not very good with technology at all and will need lots of ongoing support, consider these recent customer reviews. You may want to choose a POS system with higher customer support ratings.

Payment Processing With Lightspeed Retail

Lightspeed Payments, the company’s in-house payment processor, is available in the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK.

All US and Canadian merchants must use Lightspeed Payments, which offers upfront and competitive rates of 2.6% + $0.10 per tapped, inserted, or swiped payment and 2.9% + $0.30 per manual entry. With Lightspeed’s eCommerce integration, you’ll pay 2.9% + $0.30 per online transaction.

Note: We place Lightspeed Retail on our list of the best Australian POS systems and the best UK POS systems.

Lightspeed Retail Contract & Commitment

Lightspeed Retail is relatively transparent about its contract and commitment. The new pricing structure gives business owners more insight into what they could end up paying for several POS registers and locations. However, we don’t like that some Lightspeed add-ons are not explicitly priced upfront and that you do have to watch out for a few things in your contract.

What To Watch Out For

Lightspeed Retail POS Reviews

Lightspeed Retail receives solid scores overall from its users. These are the most common complaints and praise about Lightspeed Retail.

Negative Lightspeed Retail Reviews & Complaints

• Ignored Customer Requests: Customers report slow response times from Lightspeed representatives during crucial times such as system outages or unexpected charges on bills.
• Glitches: Some users report system outages at times and that the company does not solve outage problems fast enough.
• Learning Curve: Lightspeed Retail is very feature-rich, especially when it comes to entering and moving inventory, but this makes the POS difficult for some users to manage.

Positive Lightspeed Retail Reviews & Testimonials

• Strong Feature Set: Many appreciate that Lightspeed Retail has a large and diverse set of features, especially in the areas of inventory management and POS interface customization.
• Fast Setup: Reviewers appreciated the personalized setup process and found it easy to train employees even on some of the more complicated aspects of the product.
• Integrations: Customers loved the variety of integrations available to them.

Getting Started With Lightspeed Retail

To get started, you can sign up for a 14-day free trial with just your business name and contact information. From there, you’ll be taken to your web-based admin dashboard where you’ll input information such as your locations and employees, add inventory, build item catalogs, and more.

Once you’re set up in the back office, you can order your card reader and install the Lightspeed Retail POS app on an Apple device.

Alternatives To Lightspeed Retail

The top Lightspeed alternatives are Square, Helcim, Shopify, and Clover. Each POS system offers retail and service-based business management features at varying prices.

Final Verdict Of Lightspeed Retail

Lightspeed Retail is a strong choice for midsize retailers, service providers, and subscription/membership sales-focused businesses, plus niche businesses like hotels, dropshippers, golf courses, and jewelers. The system’s retail inventory and customer management features make Lightspeed a great option for blended B2B and B2C businesses. The extensive integration capabilities can help business owners do things like reduce theft, request product reviews, sell tickets, appraise items, and provide live chat assistance.

However, Lightspeed Retail can easily get expensive, and recent reviews have many complaints about customer service.

If you’re still on the fence, Lightspeed Retail offers a free trial, and no credit card or business information is required. You can also check out some of the other best retail POS systems on our list if Lightspeed isn’t the right fit for you.

Retail POS Review Methodology

We evaluate and test each software system that we review at Merchant Maverick, placing special emphasis on certain key software characteristics in order to generate our granular product ratings.

For retail POS software in particular, we have a 62-point rubric we use to evaluate the system in terms of its pricing, ease of use, features, and user reviews. These points are based on attributes relevant to the retail POS niche—such as the availability of features like purchase ordering, customer-facing displays, BOPIS (buy online, pick up in-store), and others.

Our rating system also takes into account attributes that are desirable for POS systems and cloud-based software in general, such as the availability of monthly pricing plans, free trials, and transparent software contracts.

The Merchant Maverick Seal of Approval 🏆

Lightspeed Retail	Visit Site

After hours of in-depth research and evaluation, we can confidently recommend this brand to our readers. Get started today and see Lightspeed Retail for yourself.

The Merchant Maverick Seal of Approval 🏆

Lightspeed Retail	Visit Site

After hours of in-depth research and evaluation, we can confidently recommend this brand to our readers. Get started today and see Lightspeed Retail for yourself.