Square Retail vs Lightspeed
Choose Square Retail if you want a retail POS with a free plan; choose Lightspeed if wholesale sourcing and more configurable retail workflows are central to your business. Both are available for retailers and cover checkout, inventory, online selling, and multiple locations. Square now offers its retail features through Square’s unified plans and the retail mode of Square Point of Sale, so its older, separately named retail-plan prices should not guide this comparison.
Last updated October 27, 2026.
At a glance
| Dimension | Square Retail | Lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| Starting subscription price | Square Free: $0/month; processing fees apply | Retail Basic: $89/month displayed; pricing may vary |
| Published paid plans | Plus: $49/month per location; Premium: $149/month per location | Core: $149/month; Plus: $289/month displayed |
| Wholesale sourcing | Vendor profiles and purchase orders | Lightspeed Wholesale, NuORDER catalog, and PO sync |
| POS devices | Square POS on iOS and Android; Square hardware | iPad app or desktop-browser POS |
| Registers | Not published | One included per outlet; additional registers available |
| Multiple locations | Per-location paid plans; transfer orders on Premium | Additional locations available; custom multi-location plans |
| Online selling | Square Websites with connected sales and inventory | Built-in Lightspeed eCommerce |
| Advanced inventory tools | Barcode labels and vendor management on Plus | Inventory management and purchase-order tools |
| Integrations | Third-party apps through Square App Marketplace | Accounting, ecommerce, and marketing integrations |
| Phone support | Plus: weekdays, 6 a.m.–6 p.m. PT; Premium: 24/7 | 24/7 phone support listed |
| Trial and billing | 30-day Plus and Premium trials; cancel or switch anytime | Free trial; monthly and annual billing options |
Scroll the table sideways to compare each row.
Which should you choose?
Choose Square Retail if
- Stores that want a $0-per-month starting plan
- Retailers already using Square payments and hardware
- Teams that want retail and other Square tools under unified plans
- Stores that need vendor and purchase-order tools on a paid plan
Choose Lightspeed if
- Retailers that source products through wholesale catalogs
- Teams that want purchase orders connected to NuORDER
- Stores planning for custom workflows and user roles
- Retailers that want a desktop-browser or iPad POS
The verdict
The deciding factor is what you need beyond everyday checkout and inventory. Square Retail is the better fit for a store that wants to start without a monthly subscription and add paid inventory tools as needed. Lightspeed is the better fit for a retailer that expects to use its wholesale network, purchase-order syncing, or higher-tier workflow customization. Compare the features and total cost at the plan and number of locations you actually need.
Square Retail vs Lightspeed: common questions
- Is this comparison worth publishing?
- Yes. Square offers retail features through its current Square plans and retail POS mode, and Lightspeed sells an active retail POS. Both serve retailers choosing a system for checkout and inventory.
- Does Square Retail still have its old separate Plus price?
- Square now publishes unified Square Free, Plus, and Premium plans for its retail features. Its current U.S. retail pricing lists Plus at $49 per month per location, rather than the older $60 Square Retail Plus price.
- Does either product have a free plan?
- Square Retail features are available on Square Free, which has no monthly subscription fee but charges payment-processing fees. Lightspeed advertises a free trial, not a free ongoing retail POS plan.
- Which is a better fit for wholesale purchasing?
- Lightspeed is the better fit if you want to discover suppliers through Lightspeed Wholesale and connect NuORDER catalogs and purchase orders to your POS. Square supports vendor profiles and purchase orders on a paid plan.
- Can both manage more than one store?
- Yes. Square charges its Plus and Premium subscriptions per location, with transfer orders listed on Premium. Lightspeed supports additional locations and asks multi-location businesses to discuss a custom plan.
- Can I use either POS on an iPad?
- Yes. Square Point of Sale supports iOS devices in retail mode, and Lightspeed Retail offers an iPad POS app. Lightspeed also supports point-of-sale use on a desktop computer.
- How do their support hours compare?
- Square lists weekday phone support from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific for Plus and 24/7 phone support for Premium. Lightspeed lists 24/7 phone and chat support on its retail pricing page.
- What should I check before choosing a plan?
- For Square Retail, check which inventory and multi-location features require Plus or Premium. For Lightspeed, confirm the quote for your locations and registers, annual or monthly billing, and any additional service fees.