Head to head
Square POS vs Lightspeed Retail
Which POS system keeps more in your pocket? We rank both purely on total monthly cost — then weigh contract, settlement and reviews. Independent, with no paid placements.
The Compayr verdict
Weighing cost, contract and reviews together, Square POS edges out Lightspeed Retail as the stronger all-round choice for most merchants.
Square POS lands about $117/month — roughly $1,398/year — cheaper at a sample $42,500 in monthly card sales.
Choose Square POS if you want…
- the lowest all-in monthly cost at a typical volume
- little or no fixed monthly fee
- a cleaner, more flexible contract
- stronger independent merchant reviews
Choose Lightspeed Retail if you want…
- a lower headline card rate
- cheaper hardware to get started
Side by side
| Feature | Square POS | Lightspeed Retail |
|---|---|---|
| Total cost / month | $680/mo | $797/mo |
| Card rate (ex-GST) | 1.60% | 1.50% |
| Fixed monthly fee | $0 | $159 |
| Hardware from | $65 | $0 |
| Chargeback fee | — | — |
| Settlement speed | Next business day | Next business day |
| Contract | No lock-in | Annual contract |
| Merchant rating | 4.6/5 | 4.1/5 |
Figures as advertised, estimated at a sample $42,500 in monthly card sales. A highlighted cell marks the better result on that row.
Square POS
Best for: Cafes, retail and services wanting a free POS with integrated payments and no lock-in.
Lightspeed Retail
Best for: Inventory-heavy retail and hospitality wanting deep stock, reporting and integrations.
Leaning towards Square POS?
Run your own numbers by sector in our free calculator — or let us audit and negotiate for you.
Compayr may earn a referral fee when a merchant switches via our links. This never affects rankings, which are based purely on lowest total monthly cost. Quote-only providers are never ranked as cheapest while a complete-cost option exists. Rates last verified 2026-07-19. This head-to-head is generated from published pricing and independent review scores — always confirm current pricing with each provider before switching.