Compare Lightspeed Retail and Toast 
At a Glance
Market Segments
Small-Business (82.9% of reviews)
Small-Business (66.7% of reviews)
Entry-Level Pricing
Starting at $69.00
Starting at $0.00 Per Month
Lightspeed Retail
Star Rating
(294)4.0 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (82.9% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
Starting at $69.00
Browse all 4 pricing plansToast
Star Rating
(363)4.3 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (66.7% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
Starting at $0.00 Per Month
Browse all 3 pricing plansSummary
AI Generated Summary
AI-generated. Powered by real user reviews.
- G2 reviewers report that Lightspeed Retail excels in inventory management, with features like a universal inventory repository that supports both retail and eCommerce sales. Users appreciate the advanced capabilities for managing seasonal inventory and custom menus, which enhance operational efficiency.
- Users say that Toast shines in employee management, particularly for handling clock-ins and payroll. Reviewers highlight its effectiveness in providing detailed reports on menu item performance, which helps streamline operations and improve decision-making.
- According to verified reviews, Toast offers a more user-friendly experience with a higher ease of use rating. Users find it intuitive for new staff, noting features like table-side payment options that enhance customer service and operational flow.
- Reviewers mention that while Lightspeed Retail has strong customer support, Toast's overall support quality is slightly lower. However, Lightspeed's support is described as "top tier," which can significantly aid users in maximizing the software's potential.
- G2 reviewers highlight that Toast's offline mode is a standout feature, allowing operations to continue seamlessly even during network outages. This reliability is crucial for businesses that cannot afford downtime, making it a strong choice for restaurant environments.
- Users report that Lightspeed Retail is particularly well-suited for small businesses, with a significant portion of its user base coming from this segment. This focus allows it to cater specifically to the needs of smaller retailers, while Toast also serves small businesses but has a broader appeal in the restaurant industry.
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
Lightspeed Retail
Lean
Starting at $69.00
For your essential business needs.
- Retail POS
- 1 Register
- Integrated Payments
Toast
Starter Kit
Starting at $0.00
Per Month
Ideal for small restaurants who need one or two terminals to get up and running.
- Cloud-based point of sale
- Hardware configuration including one terminal
- Real-Time Sales & Menu Reporting
Free Trial
Lightspeed Retail
Free Trial is available
Toast
No trial information availableRatings
Meets Requirements
8.2
236
8.5
265
Ease of Use
8.4
236
8.9
265
Ease of Setup
8.1
138
8.2
179
Ease of Admin
8.4
136
8.5
161
Quality of Support
7.9
231
7.7
256
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
7.9
137
8.3
162
Product Direction (% positive)
7.5
229
8.4
255
Features by Category
Core HR
Not enough data
8.2
14
Not enough data
8.9
14
Not enough data
8.3
7
Not enough data
8.0
11
Not enough data
9.0
13
Not enough data
8.5
11
Generative AI
Not enough data
Not enough data
Platform
Not enough data
7.5
36
Not enough data
7.3
28
Not enough data
8.1
25
Not enough data
8.4
40
Not enough data
7.9
38
Not enough data
8.2
34
Not enough data
8.1
40
Not enough data
8.1
37
Employee Self Service
Not enough data
8.4
38
Not enough data
7.6
22
Not enough data
7.7
32
Administration
Not enough data
8.4
41
Not enough data
8.1
32
Not enough data
8.6
39
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.1
31
Not enough data
7.7
30
Not enough data
7.8
29
Not enough data
8.4
37
Not enough data
8.5
36
Taxes
Not enough data
8.4
38
Not enough data
8.2
32
Not enough data
8.4
30
Integration
Not enough data
7.6
28
Not enough data
8.3
33
Not enough data
8.1
26
Not enough data
7.5
25
Platform
Not enough data
7.8
45
Not enough data
8.3
45
Not enough data
8.6
45
Not enough data
8.2
37
POS
8.9
96
Not enough data
9.1
102
Not enough data
8.8
100
Not enough data
8.7
108
Not enough data
9.0
108
Not enough data
Marketing
8.0
61
Not enough data
7.4
49
Not enough data
Administration
9.1
103
Not enough data
8.6
79
Not enough data
8.7
106
Not enough data
7.7
69
Not enough data
Administration
Not enough data
8.8
148
Not enough data
8.0
87
Not enough data
7.6
70
Not enough data
8.2
114
Not enough data
8.6
154
Not enough data
8.1
93
Meal Service
Not enough data
8.8
146
Not enough data
8.9
114
Not enough data
8.7
146
Not enough data
8.9
141
Not enough data
8.7
128
Platform Basics
Not enough data
8.6
74
Not enough data
8.3
58
Back Office
Not enough data
8.7
65
Not enough data
8.0
70
Not enough data
8.6
72
Not enough data
7.8
45
Front of Office
Not enough data
9.2
81
Not enough data
8.7
62
Not enough data
8.8
76
Not enough data
7.3
40
Platform Data
Not enough data
9.0
72
Agentic AI - Restaurant Management
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Generative AI
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Generative AI
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Customer Data and Insights
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Campaign Management
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Engagement and Retention
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Integration and Compliance
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Payments
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Employee Management
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Customer Management
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Inventory Management
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Integrations
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Analytics
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Categories
Categories
Shared Categories
Lightspeed Retail and Toast are categorized as Retail POS
Unique Categories
Lightspeed Retail has no unique categories
Toast is categorized as Restaurant Marketing Tools, Restaurant POS, Restaurant Management, Core HR, Payroll, and HCM Software
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
Lightspeed Retail
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Toast
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Small-Business
(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market
(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise
(> 1000 emp.)
Reviewers' Industry
Retail
48.6%
Apparel & Fashion
5.7%
Sporting Goods
4.6%
Consumer Goods
4.3%
Food & Beverages
3.6%
Other
33.2%
Restaurants
51.7%
Food & Beverages
26.6%
Hospitality
6.5%
Accounting
1.9%
Entertainment
0.9%
Other
12.4%
Alternatives
Discussions
What does the company Lightspeed do?
5 Comments
JG
Manage inventory on a physical store, manage the Sales and the reporting for OnSite orders as the Retail Store Management SystemRead more
What are the key features of a POS system?
1 Comment
GR
Lightspeed is very user friendly. The search tool is very handy. The option to show pictures of the items you are selling on the screen helps as a teaching...Read more
Lightspeed Retail has no more discussions with answers
Is there any way to make toast work in a retail non restaurant
2 Comments
EM
I would advise against it. They are made for restaurants, and even that isn’t handled very well. Read more
What are the most important features to consider when buying a restaurant point of sale system?
1 Comment
GH
able to handle offline mode.
This is very important that not many systems can do this.
(toast is great offline)Read more
Is Toast just a point of sale system?
1 Comment
GH
yes, and much more.
they can do inventory, payroll, & martketing
Read more
Hunting for software insights?
With over 3 million reviews, we can provide the specific details that help you make an informed software buying decision for your business. Finding the right product is important, let us help.
