Comparison · Updated October 4, 2026
Lightspeed vs Shopify POS for retail stores
Lightspeed
B+
Lightspeed Commerce is a global cloud-based POS and commerce platform that provides retail, restaurant, and ecommerce businesses with integrated payments, inventory management, analytics, and omnichannel selling tools.
Shopify Payments
A-
Shopify Payments is Shopify’s own branded payments service — processed by Stripe, per Shopify’s published processor list — giving merchants one-click access to accepting cards and wallets inside Shopify, simplifying setup and eliminating third-party gateway fees for supported merchants.
VS
Overview
Payment Review's Shopify listing is Shopify Payments, the processor built into Shopify POS, so this page compares Lightspeed Retail with Lightspeed Payments against Shopify POS with Shopify Payments for a US store. As of October 2026 the card rates start in the same place: both charge 2.6% + 10 cents in person on their entry plans, and 2.9% + 30 cents online (Lightspeed states its online rate on its blog rather than its pricing page). Shopify's rates fall on its higher plans, while Lightspeed's stay the same on every plan. For one store with one register, Lightspeed Basic costs $109 a month billed monthly ($89 billed annually). Shopify Basic plus the POS Pro retail add-on costs $128 ($96 annually). Shopify is much cheaper per extra store: $89 a month per POS Pro location, against a full second Lightspeed plan per location plus $59 a month for each extra register. The bigger differences are in the terms. Lightspeed's service agreement requires Lightspeed Payments and charges $200 to $1,120 a month if you use another processor. Its plans run for a term set in your order form, and leaving early costs every fee left in that term. Shopify charges nothing extra on in-store sales taken through another processor, adds 0.2% to 2% on online orders, and has no contract on its standard plans. Lightspeed has deeper retail inventory tools and pays out sooner. Payment Review grades Lightspeed B+ and Shopify Payments A-.
Key Takeaways
- ✓Same starting rates: 2.6% + 10¢ in person and 2.9% + 30¢ online on both entry plans (Lightspeed's online rate is from its blog). Shopify drops to 2.4% + 10¢ in person on Advanced and 2.3% + 10¢ on Plus; Lightspeed charges 2.6% + 10¢ on every retail plan.
- ✓For one store with one register, Lightspeed Basic is $109 a month billed monthly. Shopify Basic plus POS Pro is $128. Every extra store costs another full Lightspeed plan ($109 to $339 a month billed monthly) but only $89 a month in POS Pro on Shopify, and Lightspeed adds $59 a month per extra register.
- ✓Lightspeed requires Lightspeed Payments. Using another processor costs a flat $200 to $1,120 a month depending on volume, per its US fee table. Shopify charges no penalty on in-store POS orders and 0.2% to 2% on online orders processed elsewhere.
- ✓Shopify's Basic, Grow and Advanced plans have no contract. Lightspeed's term is set in your order form, and leaving early costs every recurring fee left in that term.
- ✓Lightspeed pays out faster as standard (two business days against Shopify's three plus bank time) and has deeper stock tools such as supplier catalogues and landed costs. It also scores better on Trustpilot (3.7 against 1.3). Both companies carry an F from the BBB.
Lightspeed
Lightspeed suits an established US specialty retailer with a deep, variant-heavy catalogue, such as a bike, apparel or sporting-goods shop. These stores use purchase orders, supplier catalogues and landed costs every week and sell mostly in store from one or two locations. Accept three things up front: you must use Lightspeed Payments, the plan runs for a term with an early termination fee, and 24/7 phone support comes only with Plus. Get the term length and the exit cost in writing before you sign.
Shopify Payments
Shopify POS with Shopify Payments suits retailers that sell online as well as in store. It also suits stores planning to open more locations, and owners who want no contract and published prices for hardware and every plan. Online order volume is the reason to move up a plan, because the card rate falls with each one. Using another processor online costs 0.2% to 2% extra. Expect payouts to take a day or two longer than Lightspeed's.
Overall Winner
🏆 Winner
Shopify Payments
A-expert grade
Runner-up
Lightspeed
Why?
For most US retailers, Shopify POS with Shopify Payments is the safer choice. It has no contract on its standard plans and no penalty for running in-store sales through another processor. Extra stores cost $89 a month in POS Pro rather than a whole second plan, hardware prices are published, and both card rates fall as you move up a plan. Lightspeed is not the weaker product everywhere. It is a little cheaper for a single store, pays out a business day or more sooner, scores far better on Trustpilot, and its inventory tools are a class above. For a stock-heavy specialty retailer that will stay on one or two sites, those can outweigh everything else. But Lightspeed asks you to accept a term contract whose exit cost is every fee left in it, a monthly fee of up to $1,120 for using another processor, and hardware quoted only by sales. That is the same order as the site's grades: Shopify Payments A-, Lightspeed B+.
Feature by feature
Detailed Comparison
Filter Options
Software cost (US, retail, as of October 2026)
| Feature | Lightspeed | Shopify Payments |
|---|---|---|
| One store, one register, billed monthly | $109 a month (Retail Basic) Winner | $128 a month (Basic $39 + POS Pro $89) |
| Billed annually, it is $89 for Lightspeed Basic against $96 for Shopify ($29 Basic + $67 POS Pro). Lightspeed Basic includes inventory management, purchase-order sync and a basic version of its eCommerce store. Shopify's POS Pro add-on is what brings in-store inventory tracking, staff permissions, exchanges and in-store pickup. A shop that only needs casual in-person selling can run Shopify Basic alone for $39. Lightspeed's higher plans cost $179 (Core) and $339 (Plus) a month, or $149 and $289 billed annually. Shopify Grow is $105 and Advanced $399, or $79 and $299 billed annually. Shopify currently offers new stores three months at $1. | ||
| Each additional store | Another full plan: $109–$339 a month | $89 a month per POS Pro location Winner |
| Lightspeed's pricing calculator prices each extra location at the same rate as the base plan, so a second Core store adds $179 a month ($149 billed annually). Shopify's Basic, Grow and Advanced plans each include 10 inventory locations, and POS Pro is $89 a month per location, or $67 billed annually. Shopify Plus includes 20 POS Pro locations. | ||
| Each additional register | $59 a month | None listed; POS Pro is per location Winner |
| Lightspeed includes one register per plan, and its pricing calculator adds $59 a month for each additional register on every plan. Shopify's POS pricing FAQ says the total cost of Shopify POS is your plan, transaction fees and POS Pro locations, and none of its pricing pages lists a per-register or per-device charge. | ||
One store, one register, billed monthly
Lightspeed
$109 a month (Retail Basic)
Winner
Shopify Payments
$128 a month (Basic $39 + POS Pro $89)
Billed annually, it is $89 for Lightspeed Basic against $96 for Shopify ($29 Basic + $67 POS Pro). Lightspeed Basic includes inventory management, purchase-order sync and a basic version of its eCommerce store. Shopify's POS Pro add-on is what brings in-store inventory tracking, staff permissions, exchanges and in-store pickup. A shop that only needs casual in-person selling can run Shopify Basic alone for $39. Lightspeed's higher plans cost $179 (Core) and $339 (Plus) a month, or $149 and $289 billed annually. Shopify Grow is $105 and Advanced $399, or $79 and $299 billed annually. Shopify currently offers new stores three months at $1.
Each additional store
Lightspeed
Another full plan: $109–$339 a month
Shopify Payments
$89 a month per POS Pro location
Winner
Lightspeed's pricing calculator prices each extra location at the same rate as the base plan, so a second Core store adds $179 a month ($149 billed annually). Shopify's Basic, Grow and Advanced plans each include 10 inventory locations, and POS Pro is $89 a month per location, or $67 billed annually. Shopify Plus includes 20 POS Pro locations.
Each additional register
Lightspeed
$59 a month
Shopify Payments
None listed; POS Pro is per location
Winner
Lightspeed includes one register per plan, and its pricing calculator adds $59 a month for each additional register on every plan. Shopify's POS pricing FAQ says the total cost of Shopify POS is your plan, transaction fees and POS Pro locations, and none of its pricing pages lists a per-register or per-device charge.
Best For Your Business
Recommendations based on your business type
Specialty retailer with a deep, variant-heavy catalogue
Recommended
Lightspeed
Bike, apparel, footwear and sporting-goods shops that reorder from suppliers weekly get purchase-order sync, NuORDER and Lightspeed Wholesale catalogues on every plan, and landed costs from Core. Shopify's POS Pro covers counts, transfers and low-stock alerts but not supplier catalogues. Get the term length and exit cost in writing first.
Store that sells online as much as in person
Recommended
Shopify Payments
Shopify's online store, checkout and Shop Pay come on every plan and share inventory with the POS. Its online rate falls from 2.9% + 30¢ on Basic to 2.5% + 30¢ on Advanced, while Lightspeed's blog gives 2.9% + 30¢ for all online payments. Lightspeed's Basic plan gets only a basic version of its eCom store.
Retailer opening a second or third location
Recommended
Shopify Payments
On Lightspeed each location costs another full plan, $109 to $339 a month billed monthly, plus $59 a month for every extra register. On Shopify the plan covers up to 10 inventory locations and each store needs only POS Pro at $89 a month, or $67 billed annually.
Owner who will not sign a term contract
Recommended
Shopify Payments
Shopify's Basic, Grow and Advanced plans can be cancelled anytime. Lightspeed's term is set in the order form and auto-renews, and leaving early costs every recurring fee left in the term plus any discount you received.
Retailer that wants to keep its current card processor
Recommended
Shopify Payments
Shopify charges no third-party fee on POS orders and 0.2% to 2% on online orders processed elsewhere. Lightspeed requires Lightspeed Payments and charges a flat $200 to $1,120 a month, depending on volume, for every month you process through someone else.
Single-store shop that needs cash in the bank quickly
Recommended
Lightspeed
Lightspeed deposits in about two business days as standard, and instant payouts land in about 30 minutes, even at weekends, for 1% to 1.75%. Shopify's US settlement is three business days plus one to three days for the bank, unless you take payouts into a Shopify Balance account.
Lightspeed: Best for 2 use cases
Shopify Payments: Best for 4 use cases
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this comparison
For one store with one register, Lightspeed is slightly cheaper: Retail Basic is $109 a month billed monthly, against $128 for Shopify Basic ($39) plus POS Pro ($89). Billed annually, it is $89 against $96. Card rates start identical at 2.6% + 10¢ in person and 2.9% + 30¢ online (Lightspeed's online rate is from its blog, not its pricing page). Shopify gets cheaper as you grow: its rates fall on higher plans, and each extra store costs $89 a month in POS Pro instead of a full second Lightspeed plan plus $59 per extra register. All figures are as of October 2026.
Yes, where Lightspeed Payments is available. Section 5.3 of Lightspeed's Service Agreement says eligible customers must use it unless Lightspeed agrees otherwise in writing. Section 5.4 charges a monthly fee for each month you process through another provider, set by Lightspeed's US fee table: $200 a month at $5,000–$34,999 in monthly volume, $400 at $35,000–$99,999, and up to $1,120 at $200,000–$249,999. Volumes of $250,000 and above are quoted. For annual subscribers the fee starts at renewal.
Yes, and for in-store sales it costs nothing extra from Shopify. Shopify's help centre says third-party transaction fees do not apply to POS orders. Online orders processed through a provider other than Shopify Payments are charged 2% on Basic, 1% on Grow, 0.6% on Advanced and 0.2% on Plus, on top of that provider's own fees. Shopify's integrated card hardware works only with Shopify Payments, so another processor means a separate terminal.
Yes. Your term is set in the order form and renews automatically for the same length unless you give notice. The Service Agreement asks for 90 days' notice on terms longer than 90 days, while Lightspeed's help centre says at least 30 days before your next billing date. Cancelling early costs every recurring fee left in the term, plus unpaid one-off fees and the difference between list price and any discount you received. Shopify's standard plans have no contract, but annual billing and annual POS Pro are paid for the year, and Shopify Plus runs on a 1- or 3-year term.
Lightspeed generally deposits card sales two business days after the transaction, though one Lightspeed help article says 1–3 business days. Eligible merchants can request instant payouts that arrive in about 30 minutes, any day, for 1% to 1.75%. Shopify Payments' US settlement time is three business days, and your bank can take another one to three days to post the money; Shopify puts the typical total at 3 to 5 business days. Payouts into a Shopify Balance account can arrive within one business day.
No, but they are sold together. Shopify POS is the point-of-sale app and hardware. Shopify Payments is the card processing built into it and into Shopify's online checkout, at rates set by your Shopify plan. Payment Review reviews Shopify Payments, so that is the listing compared here.
Lightspeed, for a store whose stock is complex. Every Lightspeed retail plan includes purchase-order sync, Lightspeed Wholesale and the NuORDER supplier catalogue. Landed costs start on Core, and forecasting and order recommendations come with Plus. Shopify's POS Pro handles inventory counts, transfers, low-stock alerts and purchase orders, and shares one catalogue with your online store. That is enough for many shops but less specialised for heavy reordering.
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