Lightspeed vs Epos Now

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Our analysts compared Lightspeed vs Epos Now 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 is a cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) system offering features for businesses in retail, hospitality, and service industries. Its core functionality includes managing sales, inventory, customers, and employees, with additional features like marketing tools and reporting. While suitable for various business sizes, it often caters to those needing more advanced features than basic POS systems. Lightspeed shines in its scalability and omnichannel capabilities, allowing businesses to manage online and physical stores seamlessly. Users praise its intuitive interface, robust reporting, and app integrations. However, some find its pricing structure complex and miss features like offline functionality. Compared to similar POS systems, Lightspeed offers a wider range of features and integrations, but at a higher price point. It caters to businesses seeking a feature-rich solution for managing their omnichannel presence, while simpler and often cheaper options might suffice for smaller businesses with basic needs.

Pros
  • Scalable & Omnichannel
  • Intuitive Interface
  • Robust Reporting
  • App Integrations
  • Feature-Rich
Cons
  • Complex Pricing
  • No Offline Mode
  • Steeper Learning Curve
  • Not Ideal for Basic Needs
  • Higher Price Point
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Epos Now is a cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) system designed for retail and hospitality businesses. It streamlines operations with features like inventory management, multi-channel sales, and customizable dashboards. Its strengths lie in flexibility and affordability, making it ideal for startups and growing businesses. Users praise its ease of use, wide range of integrations, and reliable customer support. Compared to similar products, Epos Now shines in its app store, offering numerous add-ons to tailor the system to specific needs. However, some users report limitations in advanced reporting and scalability for larger businesses. Pricing starts at a low monthly fee per device, with additional costs for advanced features and integrations.

    Pros:
  • Easy for staff
  • Inventory control
  • Sales insights
  • App integrations
  • Flexible plans
    Cons:
  • Limited trial
  • Add-on costs
  • Support inconsistency
  • Limited customization
  • Hardware concerns
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$69 Monthly
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Tailored to your specific needs
$39 Monthly
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
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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

  • Quickly Launch Online Storefronts: Upload content, choose templates and build an online store tailored to specific needs. 
  • Sync Online and Retail Sales: Consolidate digital and retail sales data in a centralized platform and offer a consistent brand experience using barcode scanners, point of sale systems, label printers and more. 
  • Streamline Restaurant Management: Restaurant owners can provide contactless payment, food delivery, order ahead and other options. 
  • Manage Golf Courses: Use a booking management module with tee sheets and customizations for standards, shotguns, crossovers and more. 
  • Work Remotely: Optimized for mobile devices and tablets for remote access. 
  • Perform Omnichannel Marketing: Advertise business on various social networks and marketplaces, and manage every listing from a dashboard. Offers SEO tools and metadata customizations for optimizing personal website’s visibility. 
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  • Simplified Operations: Streamline your workflow with intuitive sales processing, inventory management, and reporting tools, freeing up time and resources for what matters most.
  • Enhanced Insights: Gain valuable data-driven insights into your business performance. Track sales trends, identify top-selling items, and analyze customer behavior to make informed decisions.
  • Customer-Centric Focus: Delight your customers with faster service, flexible payment options, and loyalty programs. Build stronger relationships and keep them coming back for more.
  • Scalable Growth: Easily adapt your POS system to your evolving needs. Add new locations, integrate with online platforms, and manage multiple sales channels seamlessly.
  • Cost-Effective Solution: Choose from flexible pricing plans that fit your budget and scale with your business. Enjoy a low monthly fee with no hidden costs or long-term contracts.
  • Empowered Team: Equip your staff with user-friendly tools that boost efficiency and productivity. Improve accuracy, reduce errors, and ensure everyone is on the same page.
  • Mobile Accessibility: Access your POS system and key business data from anywhere, anytime. Manage your business on the go and stay connected even when you're not on site.
  • Secure and Reliable: Enjoy peace of mind knowing your data is safe with cloud-based storage and industry-leading security measures. Count on reliable performance and minimal downtime.
  • Adaptable and Customizable: Tailor Epos Now to your specific needs with a wide range of add-on apps and integrations. Create a POS system that works for you, not the other way around.
  • Ongoing Support: Benefit from helpful and responsive customer support. Get your questions answered, access training resources, and ensure you're getting the most out of your POS system.
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  • E-Commerce: Set up an online store with customizable, mobile-friendly templates and built-in SEO tools. Sync inventories across all physical locations, purchase stock from the Lightspeed Supplier Market and sell units from a unified dashboard. Manage in-store appointments and Google local inventory ads from the POS system. 
  • Payment Processing: Complete sales with simple pricing, no hidden fees, a fast and secure checkout experience, and built-in PCI compliance and fraud detection. Process transactions with EMV-compatible terminals and accept all payment methods. Receive a dedicated expert’s assistance on dispute management and chargeback issues. Available only in the U.S; external integrations are required for payment processing in Canada, Australia and the U.K. 
  • Loyalty: Offer a point-based loyalty program with flexible reward tiers to incentivize customer loyalty and boost retention. Manage both in-store and online promotions and coupons while providing one-time special offers on birthdays or to VIP shoppers. Boost custom marketing campaigns with seasonal promotions and auto-segment customers based on their purchasing habits. 
  • Analytics: Drill down on critical areas with customizable reports and monitor sales, inventory and employee performance to make growth-oriented decisions. With Analytics Core, pay only for the expert-crafted reports required for business instead of the whole suite of report templates. 
  • Lightspeed Accounting: This integration creates a link between a store’s POS and accounting systems. Record business finances with automatic bookkeeping and receive daily sales receipts, profit and loss statements and more. 
  • Hardware: Choose from various hardware bundles for businesses or acquire single items, including zebra label printers, USB or Bluetooth bar scanners, Verifone P400 PIN pads, TM-m30 receipt printers and more. Design branded gift cards for the store and ship them to customers’ doorsteps. 
  • Restaurant Point of Sale: Offers industry-specific POS system for restaurants. 
    • Delivery: Syncs menu with major delivery apps like UberEats, SkipTheDishes or DoorDash to scale business and reach more customers. Receive delivery orders, promote high-margin dishes, create delivery-only menus and more. 
    • Order Ahead: Provide customers with the flexibility to order ahead for takeout, curbside pickup and appointments. They can add custom notes, table and room number requested, whether utensils are required and more details. Keep customers in the loop with real-time SMS notifications. 
    • Self Order Menus: Let customers send their orders via an interactive digital menu directly to the kitchen, bypassing the need for waiters and servers. Realign employees to focus on faster cooking, increasing order accuracy and improving customer service. 
    • Kitchen Display System: Displays a detailed view of every order, including turnaround time and images, color codes orders according to assigned chefs, and sends alerts for pending orders. Have online orders directly go to the display board after submission for faster preparation. 
    • Customer Facing Display: Exhibit the total breakdown of customers’ orders, subtotal cost, tax percentage, tips paid and total price on a display screen. Customize the screen with business logo and brand colors while advertising high-margin dishes or the item-of-the-day. 
    • Enterprise: Run multiple restaurants located in different places with a cloud-based POS system. Monitor each location’s sales, employee and promotional data while centralizing customer data from numerous areas. Customize and scale as needed with an open API interface. 
  • Golf Course Management: Caters to businesses that operate golf courses. 
    • Tee Sheets: Personalize tee sheets according to the facility’s structure. Manage golf courses from nine to 54 holes. Accommodate any play type, including shotguns, crossovers, front or back nines and more. 
    • Booking Management: Players can register for tournaments and pick their tee times. Organize monthly or yearly leagues, track attendees and review metrics from the dashboard. 
    • Membership Management: Create unlimited types of memberships, customize booking restrictions and pricing structures per type, and automate the billing process. 
    • Professional Website: Increase online presence, showcase facilities, attract more golfers and provide flexible payment options through a personalized website and mobile application. Design websites with preset templates or customize them with source coding. The vendor takes charge of website maintenance. 
  • Integrations: Leverage various integrations for assistance in accounting, analytics, CRM, marketing, payment processing (In the U.K, Canada and Australia), ERP, invoicing and more. 
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  • Contactless Dining: Facilitate a coherent ordering and dining experience with an online, ticket-based system. Access the menu, make customizations, add notes, place orders and make payments using QR codes or a URL. Use error-free business management tools to reduce wait times and boost operational efficiency. 
  • Inventory Management: Track business functions and optimize the supply chain using efficient inventory management tools. Centrally manage merchandise, fulfill orders, process payments, scan barcodes, set stock alerts and streamline operations for a time-saving, effortless experience. 
  • Reporting and Analytics: Get full visibility into transactional data, analyze individual product performance, understand business operations, access sales reports, track profits, view data forecasts and monitor employee performance to make informed decisions. 
  • Customer Relationship Management: Boost website engagement and drive customer loyalty by staying in the loop with customer information. Build marketing campaigns based on purchase history, buying patterns, total spending and website visits. Offer promos and discounts, send gift cards, create rewards and improve communication. 
  • Integrations: Leverage robust integrations with major platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce to improve business efficiency. Sync in-store and online inventory, automate recurring functionalities, process faster checkouts, consolidate services and more. Integrate loyalty programs, store promotions and reward schemes to deliver consistent customer service. 
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Product Ranking

#10

among all
POS Software

#59

among all
POS Software

Find out who the leaders are

Analyst Rating Summary

86
76
67
50
94
67
60
80
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Integration and Extensibility
Types of POS
Inventory Management
Reporting and Insights
Customer and Loyalty Management
Integration and Extensibility
Items and Service Management
Inventory Management
Reporting and Insights

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Lightspeed
Epos Now
+ 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 67 94 60 98 90 86 76 96 89 70 100 50 67 80 93 100 63 78 88 68 63 74 0 25 50 75 100
67%
0%
33%
50%
0%
50%
90%
0%
10%
40%
0%
60%
40%
0%
60%
80%
0%
20%
100%
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0%
89%
0%
11%
86%
0%
14%
100%
0%
0%
78%
11%
11%
56%
11%
33%
50%
0%
50%
80%
0%
20%
88%
13%
-1%
75%
0%
25%
80%
10%
10%
60%
0%
40%
67%
0%
33%
56%
0%
44%
100%
0%
0%
75%
0%
25%

Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

100%
0%
0%
100%
0%
0%

User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 1168 reviews
Good User Sentiment 596 reviews
86%
of users recommend this product

Lightspeed has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 86% when considering 1168 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

74%
of users recommend this product

Epos Now has a 'good' User Satisfaction Rating of 74% when considering 596 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

5.0 (58)
n/a
4.1 (160)
3.9 (9)
4.75 (169)
3.57 (309)
4.2 (774)
3.8 (278)
4.3 (7)
n/a

Awards

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Lightspeed and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Types of POS.

Types of POS Award

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Epos Now and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Items and Service Management.

Items and Service Management Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

User-Friendly Interface: Users consistently praise Lightspeed's intuitive interface, making it easy to navigate and perform tasks efficiently, even with limited technical experience.
Robust Features: Lightspeed offers an extensive suite of features, addressing various business needs, including inventory management, sales reporting, customer relationship management, employee management, and omnichannel capabilities.
Integrations: The system integrates seamlessly with a wide range of popular third-party software, such as accounting, marketing, and e-commerce platforms, streamlining workflows and data exchange.
Omnichannel Functionality: Lightspeed excels in managing both online and in-store sales channels effectively, providing a unified experience for customers and streamlining operations across multiple touchpoints.
Reporting and Analytics: Users appreciate the comprehensive reporting tools that offer insights into sales trends, customer behavior, inventory levels, and employee performance, enabling data-driven decision-making.
Customer Support: Lightspeed offers multiple support channels, including phone, email, and online resources, with generally helpful and knowledgeable agents, providing assistance when needed.
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Easy for Staff: The intuitive interface and minimal training requirements are praised by users, including small businesses with staff of varying tech skills.
Inventory Control: Real-time stock tracking and low-stock alerts are cited as game-changers, preventing stockouts and improving order accuracy.
Sales Insights: Users highlight valuable reporting tools that provide actionable insights into sales trends, employee performance, and customer behavior.
App Integrations: Connecting seamlessly with popular accounting, loyalty, and delivery apps is appreciated for streamlining workflows and reducing manual data entry.
Flexible Plans: Users love the range of plan options with competitive pricing, allowing them to scale the software with their business needs.
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Pricing Structure: Some users find the tiered pricing plans and add-on fees confusing, making it difficult to calculate accurate costs upfront.
Limited Offline Functionality: Reliance on an internet connection can be problematic for businesses with unreliable internet or those operating in remote areas.
Inventory Management Issues: Some users have reported challenges with inventory tracking accuracy, slow syncing across multiple locations, and a lack of advanced inventory features.
Customer Support Wait Times: While generally helpful, customer support can experience longer wait times during peak periods, leading to potential delays in resolving issues.
Steeper Learning Curve: The extensive feature set can be overwhelming for less tech-savvy users, requiring a greater investment in training and onboarding.
Customization Limitations: Adapting the system to highly specific workflows or unique business models can be challenging without extensive workarounds or third-party integrations.
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Limited Free Trial: Some users find the 30-day trial period insufficient to fully explore the features and compatibility with their specific needs.
Add-on Costs: Essential features like advanced reporting or certain app integrations require additional monthly fees, potentially pushing up the overall cost beyond initial expectations.
Customer Support: While generally praised, occasional user reviews mention inconsistencies in the responsiveness and helpfulness of customer support, particularly through email inquiries.
Limited Customization: Some users, especially in niche industries, express a desire for deeper customization options for the interface and functionalities to perfectly fit their specific workflow.
Hardware Concerns: While offering hardware bundles, occasional reports mention issues with specific hardware options in terms of durability or compatibility, requiring replacements or alternative sourcing.
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Lightspeed POS, a cloud-based solution catering to retail, hospitality, and service industries, garners mixed reviews from users. While lauded for its user-friendly interface, robust features, omnichannel capabilities, and seamless integrations, some find its pricing complex, offline functionality limited, and specific functionalities lacking. Strengths that shine: Users consistently praise Lightspeed's intuitive interface, making it easy for both tech-savvy and less-experienced individuals to navigate. The vast feature set, encompassing inventory management, reporting, customer relationship management, and employee tools, 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 manage online and physical stores seamlessly, a crucial strength in today's retail landscape. Weaknesses to consider: The pricing structure, with tiered plans and additional fees for features like offline functionality, can be confusing for some users. 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. Standing out from the crowd: 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. In conclusion, Lightspeed POS is a feature-rich solution with a user-friendly interface, but its pricing structure and lack of true offline functionality can be drawbacks. 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.

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Recent user reviews of Epos Now reveal a spectrum of experiences. Praise centers around its user-friendly interface, robust inventory management, and actionable sales insights. These strengths, particularly the intuitive design, benefit smaller businesses with diverse staff skillsets, giving Epos Now an edge over tech-heavy competitors like Square or Shopify. Affordability adds to its appeal. However, limitations emerge for complex operations. Users call for more granular customization and highlight occasional gaps in customer support responsiveness, especially via email. Furthermore, optional fees for vital features like advanced reporting or select app integrations can inflate the initial cost, potentially swaying users towards competitors with more comprehensive plans. In conclusion, Epos Now excels in simplicity, affordability, and real-time data, making it a strong contender for businesses prioritizing ease of use and core POS functionalities. However, businesses with niche requirements or intricate workflows may find greater value in exploring competitors for enhanced feature fit and potentially lower long-term costs.

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