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Lightspeed Retail vs Loyverse: $89 a month with payments against a free app without them
Updated Oct 15, 2026
Lightspeed Retail's Basic plan costs $89 a month billed annually or $109 monthly, processes cards at 2.6% + 10¢ and includes inventory and a basic online store, on a term with an early termination fee. Loyverse is a free POS with essential inventory and loyalty, but it doesn't process cards: a separate partner sets the rate. Its add-ons are $5 to $25 a month per store and cancel anytime.
At a glance, by our score
#6 Lightspeed Retail
Retail stores: inventory and a basic online store on Basic, $89 a month billed annually
5.4/10PoorOur scoreVisit Lightspeed RetailOn lightspeedhq.com- Lowest price
#8 Loyverse
A free POS with inventory, loyalty and a kitchen display, used with a separate card processor
4.9/10PoorOur scoreVisit LoyverseOn loyverse.com
Loyverse's lowest monthly price is lower than Lightspeed Retail's, checked Sep 27, 2026 and Oct 9, 2026.
Side by side
| Criterion | Lightspeed Retail | Loyverse |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 5.4/10PoorOur score #6 of 8 | 4.9/10PoorOur score #8 of 8 |
| Card rate (30%) | 9.3 / 10 | 0.0 / 10 |
| Monthly software fee (25%) | 1.1 / 10 | 10.0 / 10 |
| Contract (15%) | 0.0 / 10 | 10.0 / 10 |
| Cheapest card reader (15%) | 7.4 / 10 | 0.0 / 10 |
| Included on the entry plan (15%) | 8.0 / 10 | 6.0 / 10 |
| Price from | $109 / month | $0 / month |
| Best for | Retail stores: inventory and a basic online store on Basic, $89 a month billed annually | A free POS with inventory, loyalty and a kitchen display, used with a separate card processor |
| Visit | Visit Lightspeed RetailOn lightspeedhq.com | Visit LoyverseOn loyverse.com |
Who should pick which
- Lightspeed Retail: Retail stores: inventory and a basic online store on Basic, $89 a month billed annually
- Loyverse: A free POS with inventory, loyalty and a kitchen display, used with a separate card processor
At a glance
| Lightspeed Retail | Loyverse | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | Basic | Free |
| In-person card rate | 2.6% + 10¢ | not published; set by the payment partner |
| Fee on a $30 card sale | about $0.88 | its pages don't say |
| Monthly software fee | $89 billed annually, $109 monthly | free; paid add-ons per store |
| Cheapest card reader | Mobile Tap v2 $79 | sells none |
| Contract | renewing term; rest of the term if you cancel early | none; add-ons cancel anytime |
| Inventory tracking | yes | essential inventory, free |
| Online store or ordering | basic eCom | only through integrations |
| Offline payments | beta, Smart Terminal only (counted as no) | yes (sales sync later) |
| Customer directory or loyalty | customer directory; loyalty from Core | loyalty program, free |
| Employee timecards | time clock | Employee management add-on, $25 a month |
Entry plans from Lightspeed's pricing page and Loyverse's pricing page, read Sep 27, 2026.
Price
Lightspeed Retail Basic is $89 a month billed annually ($1,068 a year) or $109 billed monthly, for one location and one register. Card-present sales through Lightspeed Payments cost 2.6% + 10¢, about $0.88 on a $30 sale. Its Mobile Tap v2 reader is $79 (hardware store).
Loyverse is free. Its add-ons are per store: unlimited sales history $5 a month ($50 a year), employee management $25 ($250 a year) and advanced inventory $25 ($250 a year), each with a 14-day free trial. All three together come to $55 a month, or $550 a year paid annually. Loyverse "doesn't directly process card payments": you add a partner such as SumUp or Shift4, and its pages publish no card rate or reader price.
Where they differ
- Card payments. Lightspeed processes cards itself. With Loyverse you sign up with a separate payment provider and budget its fees and hardware on top.
- Contract. Lightspeed's service agreement says: "Customers who cancel their subscription prior to the end of the term, will be charged with an early termination fee", the recurring fees for the rest of the term, with 30 days' notice. Loyverse add-ons can be added or cancelled "whenever your needs change".
- Inventory. Both include it on the entry plan. Lightspeed ticks inventory management on every plan. Loyverse's free essential inventory tracks stock and sends low-stock alerts; purchase orders and stock transfers need the $25 add-on.
- Loyalty and staff. Loyverse's loyalty program is free; Lightspeed's in-store and online loyalty starts at Core, $149 a month billed annually. Lightspeed has a time clock; Loyverse's pages conflict on time cards, and we use its pricing FAQ's reading: they need the $25 employee management add-on.
- Online and offline. Lightspeed Basic includes a limited online store (eCom help); Loyverse offers online selling only through integrations. Loyverse's app keeps selling offline and syncs later (features); Lightspeed's offline card payments are a beta on the Smart Terminal only (help centre).
- Support. Lightspeed Basic has 24/7 chat. Free Loyverse users get the help centre and community; 24/7 live chat is for paid add-on subscribers (download page).
Who should pick which
Pick Lightspeed Retail if you run an established shop that wants payments, inventory, a basic web store and 24/7 chat from one company, and you are ready to commit to a term.
Pick Loyverse if you want to start at no software cost, need loyalty and basic stock tracking, and are happy to arrange card processing with a partner.
See both in our POS ranking.