Lightspeed Retail vs POS Nation

Last Updated:

Our analysts compared Lightspeed Retail vs POS Nation based on data from our 400+ point analysis of POS Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Product Basics

Lightspeed Retail, formerly Vend, is a cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) system suited for small and medium-sized businesses in retail, hospitality, and service industries. It offers core features like sales management, inventory tracking, customer profiles, and reporting, with additional options for ecommerce integration, marketing tools, and employee management. While praised for its user-friendly interface and omnichannel capabilities, some find its pricing complex and miss advanced features like offline functionality compared to competitors. Starting prices range from $69/month (billed annually) for a basic plan, with per-transaction fees and additional costs for advanced features and multiple registers.

Pros
  • User-friendly interface
  • Omnichannel capabilities
  • Robust features
  • Integrations with popular software
  • Scalable for growing businesses
Cons
  • Complex pricing structure
  • Limited offline functionality
  • Lacks some advanced features
  • Steeper learning curve for less tech-savvy users
  • Customer support wait times can be long
read more...
POS Nation provides solutions to help businesses handle sales, inventory, marketing, reporting and more. It offers advanced hardware solutions like cash drawers, chip card readers, barcode scanners, touch PCs and receipt printers. Users can track inventory by departments and categories, and establish reorder points for low-stock items. It maintains records of purchase orders and previous sales.
read more...
$69 Monthly
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
$99 Monthly
Free Trial is unavailable →
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
Small 
i
Medium 
i
Large 
i
Small 
i
Medium 
i
Large 
i
Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile

Product Assistance

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Improved Efficiency: Streamline operations with centralized inventory management, quick checkout processes, and automated tasks, freeing up time for other priorities.
  • Enhanced Customer Experience: Offer personalized interactions, loyalty programs, and omnichannel support (online and in-store) to build customer loyalty and satisfaction.
  • Data-Driven Decisions: Gain valuable insights from comprehensive sales reports, inventory analytics, and customer data to make informed business decisions.
  • Scalability for Growth: Adapt the system to your evolving needs with flexible plans and seamless integration of additional features as your business expands.
  • Simplified Inventory Management: Track stock levels across locations, automate purchase orders, and minimize stockouts with real-time inventory visibility and control.
  • Mobile Accessibility: Manage your business on the go with mobile apps for sales, inventory, and employee management, offering flexibility and convenience.
  • Integrated Marketing Tools: Launch targeted email campaigns, manage social media presence, and track marketing performance directly within the POS system.
  • Employee Empowerment: Equip staff with user-friendly tools for efficient tasks, improved communication, and enhanced productivity.
  • Payment Processing Flexibility: Accept various payment methods, including credit cards, contactless payments, and gift cards, with integrated payment processing options.
  • Reduced Costs: Potentially minimize operational expenses through improved efficiency, reduced manual tasks, and data-driven decision-making.
read more...
  • Pay Flexibly: Access and implement service through multiple subscription plan options. 30-day money back guarantee with no contract required. 
  • Process Secure Payments: Accept multiple payment options through Merchant Services, a secure, in-house payment processor that provides rate comparisons and assists with merchant services applications. 
  • Gain Valuable Insights: Monitor and analyze business performance using over 55 prebuilt, comprehensive reports. Customize reports based on unique needs and integrate with programs like Excel. 
  • Engage Customers: Forecast customer trends based on purchase history, preferences and other data. Initiate and publish marketing campaigns and promotions. 
read more...
  • Omnichannel Sales: Sell seamlessly across physical stores, online platforms, and marketplaces.
  • Inventory Management: Track stock levels, automate reordering, manage multiple locations, and receive low-stock alerts.
  • Point of Sale: Process transactions quickly, accept various payment methods, and apply discounts and loyalty programs.
  • Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Track customer data, purchase history, preferences, and create personalized marketing campaigns.
  • Reporting and Analytics: Gain insights into sales trends, inventory levels, customer behavior, and employee performance.
  • Employee Management: Track time and attendance, assign tasks, manage schedules, and control permissions.
  • Integrations: Connect with accounting software (QuickBooks, Xero), ecommerce platforms (Shopify), marketing tools (Mailchimp), and payment processors.
  • Mobile Apps: Access POS, inventory, and reporting features on mobile devices.
  • Hardware Options: Choose from compatible terminals, barcode scanners, receipt printers, and cash drawers.
  • Cloud-Based: Access from anywhere with internet connectivity, automatic updates, and secure data storage.
  • Security: Protects customer data with PCI compliance and industry-standard security measures.
  • Customer Support: Offers phone, email, and online resources for assistance.
read more...
  • Inventory Management: Streamline product movement on an integrated inventory management platform. Track items, manage purchase orders, update vendor information, replenish stock, adjust data and more on a single platform. 
  • Customer Engagement: Create loyalty programs, run marketing campaigns, promote sales, offer discounts and more. Make intelligent business decisions based on buyer behavior, buying patterns and service expectations. 
  • Employee Monitoring: Create a consolidated labor management system to ensure team coordination, efficient workflows and transparency. Track employee work hours and breaks, schedule advance shifts, process payroll, assign jobs and grant role-based permissions. 
  • Reporting and Analytics: Strategically improve business with extensive insights from the dashboard. Access and monitor reports, payment statements, purchase patterns, payroll summaries, marketing statistics, employee performance and other crucial business metrics through graphs and charts. 
  • Checkouts and Payments: Enable customers to pay using virtual and contactless payment methods and use discounts instantly. Employ barcode scanners, set promotion dates, verify IDs, create item-based departments and more to expedite payment processing and reduce wait times. 
read more...

Product Ranking

#23

among all
POS Software

#90

among all
POS Software

Find out who the leaders are

Analyst Rating Summary

72
we're gathering data
92
we're gathering data
35
we're gathering data
60
we're gathering data
Show More Show More

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Lightspeed Retail
POS Nation
+ Add Product + Add Product
Compliance And Security Customer And Loyalty Management Employee Management Inventory Management Items And Service Management Payment Transactions And Cash Management POS Hardware Reporting And Insights Sales And Marketing Management Store Management Types Of POS 92 35 60 98 71 89 59 88 100 73 33 0 25 50 75 100
83%
0%
17%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
30%
0%
70%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
60%
0%
40%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
100%
0%
0%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
50%
0%
50%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
89%
0%
11%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
57%
0%
43%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
88%
0%
12%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
100%
0%
0%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
67%
0%
33%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
33%
0%
67%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A

Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
N/A

User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 518 reviews
Excellent User Sentiment 218 reviews
85%
of users recommend this product

Lightspeed Retail has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 85% when considering 518 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

92%
of users recommend this product

POS Nation has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 92% when considering 218 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

4.7 (31)
1.0 (1)
4.1 (57)
n/a
4.22 (217)
4.6 (121)
4.3 (213)
4.6 (96)

Awards

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Lightspeed Retail and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Sales and Marketing Management.

Sales and Marketing Management Award

POS Nation stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Intuitive Interface: Users consistently praise Lightspeed Retail's user-friendly design, making it easy to navigate and perform tasks efficiently, even for those with limited technical experience.
Omnichannel Capabilities: Seamlessly manage online and physical stores, providing a unified customer experience and streamlining inventory and order management.
Robust Feature Set: Offers a wide range of features addressing diverse business needs, including inventory management, sales reporting, customer relationship management, and employee tools.
Integrations with popular software: Streamlines operations and data exchange by connecting with accounting, marketing, and e-commerce platforms like QuickBooks, Shopify, and Mailchimp.
Mobile Accessibility: Manage your business on the go with mobile apps for sales, inventory, and employee management, offering flexibility and convenience.
Show more
Usability: The product is user-friendly, easy to install and intuitive, according to 95% of users who mentioned this element.
Reporting: According to 80% of users who reviewed this aspect, the reporting module is comprehensive, flexible and easy to understand.
Customer Support: 100% of users who mentioned this said the support team is knowledgeable, quick to respond and friendly.
Inventory Management: Regarding this feature, 65% of users said it’s effective in managing inventory.
Pricing: According to 80% of users who mentioned cost, the software is economical.
Show more
Complex Pricing Structure: Tiered plans and additional fees for features like offline functionality can be confusing and lead to higher-than-expected costs.
Limited Offline Functionality: Reliance on internet connectivity can be problematic for businesses with unreliable internet or operating in remote areas.
Missing Advanced Features: Some users report limitations in specific areas like advanced inventory management, requiring workarounds or third-party integrations.
Steeper Learning Curve for Complex Needs: While user-friendly overall, the extensive feature set can be overwhelming for those needing in-depth customization or specific functionalities.
Customer Support Wait Times: While generally helpful, customer support can experience longer wait times during peak periods, potentially delaying issue resolution.
Show more
Features: The amount of features is overwhelming, according to 85% of users who reviewed this aspect.
Show more

Lightspeed Retail garners mixed reviews from users, highlighting both its strengths and potential drawbacks. On the positive side, users consistently praise its intuitive interface, making it easy for both tech-savvy and less-experienced individuals to navigate. The extensive feature set, encompassing inventory management, reporting, customer management, and omnichannel capabilities, caters to diverse business needs. Integrations with popular software like QuickBooks and Shopify streamline operations and data exchange. Notably, Lightspeed excels in omnichannel management, allowing businesses to seamlessly manage online and physical stores, a crucial strength in today's retail landscape. However, some find the pricing structure complex, with tiered plans and additional fees for features like offline functionality. The lack of true offline functionality can be a dealbreaker for businesses with unreliable internet or operating in remote areas. While the feature set is comprehensive, some users report limitations in specific areas like advanced inventory management, which might necessitate workarounds or third-party integrations. Compared to competitors like Square POS and Shopify POS, Lightspeed offers a wider range of features and caters to more complex business needs. However, these strengths come at a higher price point. Ultimately, the choice between Lightspeed and its competitors boils down to individual business requirements and budget constraints. If you prioritize omnichannel capabilities, extensive integrations, and a robust feature set, Lightspeed is worth considering. However, carefully evaluate your needs and budget against potential limitations before making a decision.

Show more

POS Nation offers a solution for retailers that streamlines tasks like payment processing, checkouts, marketing, CRM and inventory management. It provides a user-friendly suite of employee and customer support options. Users can effectively manage inventory, process credit card transactions, run marketing campaigns, generate insightful reports, access customer information and customize the system to meet industry-specific needs. However, users reported some downsides, including bugs in the software, limited filters for inventory management and an overwhelming amount of features. Overall, POS Nation provides comprehensive and low-cost solutions well-suited for many retail businesses.

Show more

Screenshots

Top Alternatives in POS Software


Bindo

Clover

Epos Now

Erply

Helcim

Hike POS

KORONA POS

Lightspeed

MICROS

NCR Silver

PHP POS

Rain POS

Revel POS

Shopify POS

SpotOn

Square POS

Toast

Related Categories

Head-to-Head Comparison

WE DISTILL IT INTO REAL REQUIREMENTS, COMPARISON REPORTS, PRICE GUIDES and more...

Compare products
Comparison Report
Just drag this link to the bookmark bar.
?
Table settings