Lightspeed vs SumUp
Lightspeed and SumUp both offer quality POS systems, but they target very different business stages. Lightspeed is built for ambitious retailers needing deep inventory features and multi-location support. SumUp focuses on simplicity, transparent fees, and fast customer loyalty tools for smaller shops. The choice often comes down to transaction volume versus required complexity.
Robust platform with exceptional onboarding.
We find Lightspeed offers an exceptionally detailed and user-friendly platform, successfully unifying inventory, POS, and loyalty features for ambitious businesses. While the implementation and onboarding support are repeatedly excellent, the platform faces criticism for inconsistent post-setup responsiveness and high long-term costs. Overall, Lightspeed is a robust solution for ambitious retailers who prioritize comprehensive features and can manage the escalating price of specialization.
Pros
- Exceptional onboarding and setup support from dedicated specialists.
- Comprehensive cloud-based platform encompassing POS, inventory, and loyalty.
- User-friendly system with detailed features and frequent updates.
- Effective inventory management functionality is highly praised.
Cons
- Customer service for resolving ongoing issues can be slow or inconsistent.
- Cost increases significantly with add-ons (e.g., rewards program nearly doubles the price).
- Base pricing excludes the cost of extra locations and additional registers.
- Some core features lack basic functionality, such as modifying or duplicating Purchase Orders.
Simple payments meet growth tools.
We find SumUp offers a compelling package for small businesses seeking transparent pricing and robust POS tools starting at $99/month. While users consistently praise the intuitive interface and affordable transaction fees, we observed significant recurring concerns regarding hardware reliability and slow customer support response times. Overall, SumUp is a powerful, low-cost solution best suited for users who value simplicity and can tolerate occasional technical glitches.
Pros
- Highly user-friendly app and intuitive interface for easy tracking.
- Transparent pricing with competitive in-person transaction fees (2.6% + 10¢).
- Next-day payouts boost cash flow efficiency.
- Comprehensive POS plans include dedicated installation and training.
Cons
- Customer service is often reported as slow, unhelpful, or inaccessible.
- Mobile/tap-to-pay functions sometimes prove unreliable or slow.
- Connectivity issues reported with card readers and WiFi stability.
- Some users felt surprised by unannounced changes to pricing or features.
AboutLightspeed
Lightspeed is a comprehensive commerce platform built specifically for growing businesses. It provides one seamless touchpoint for all your operational needs. Whether you run a retail store, a fast-paced restaurant, or a specialised golf facility, Lightspeed helps you manage crucial tasks better. It’s an innovative, easy-to-use system that combines multilocation tools, integrations, and reports into a single hub. This reliable platform is trusted by businesses in over 100 countries, supporting roughly 144,000 customer locations globally.
AboutSumUp
SumUp provides comprehensive payment solutions including Card Readers and POS Systems. This integrated ecosystem is designed to help you run your entire business smoothly. It manages everything from processing orders to full customer acquisition. Over 4 million businesses worldwide have already chosen SumUp to be their partner 💡.
You can select products based on your specific needs, including powerful POS tools, Card Readers, and Invoicing capabilities. The platform serves a wide range of entrepreneurs, from coffee shops and fast casual restaurants to barber shops and clothing boutiques. Simply download the free SumUp App to access these business solutions quickly.
Highlights
Feature Comparison
Features Overview
We highlight the main differences and pick a winner for each feature.
Transaction Fees
Lightspeed offers a lower fixed rate, saving high-volume retailers significant money.
Lightspeed provides a very competitive 1.5% fixed rate for card-present transactions. This rate is strong leverage for stores processing high sales volume. SumUp charges a 2.6% + 10¢ fee for in-person transactions using their card readers. This higher rate can quickly accumulate costs as sales volume increases annually. For massive retailers, Lightspeed will result in radically cheaper processing costs overall. Though SumUp's monthly fee may be lower, Lightspeed wins the long game on fees. The difference strongly influences your total operational costs.
Scalability & Complexity
Lightspeed dominates complex, multi-location, and multichannel retail operations.
Lightspeed is engineered to manage complexity and scaling across channels and locations. It provides innovative multilocation tools and comprehensive reporting visibility across your business. SumUp’s core offering focuses on simplicity for single-shop operations and mobile payment needs. Lightspeed requires custom quotes for extra locations, proving its dedication to complex scaling needs. For fast-growing businesses moving into their second or third store, Lightspeed is the obvious choice. SumUp is best for staying small and simple.
Advanced Inventory
Lightspeed offers enterprise-grade inventory features; SumUp provides basic management.
Lightspeed Core and Plus unlock powerful retail inventory functions. This includes Landed Costs calculation and advanced Forecasting Insights built right into the platform. SumUp includes standard cloud-based POS tools suitable for basic product tracking and data management. Lightspeed provides detailed oversight required by serious retailers to optimize stock purchasing decisions. If inventory accuracy and forecasting drive your profit, Lightspeed delivers essential tools.
Pricing Transparency
SumUp offers highly transparent pricing; Lightspeed requires a conversation for full costs.
SumUp clearly publishes their fixed monthly fees and all transaction rates. They explicitly promise no hidden admin fees or minimum transaction limits each month. Lightspeed lists competitive base monthly prices ($89-$289) for one register and one location. However, obtaining the actual cost for extra registers or additional store locations requires contacting their sales team directly. SumUp is ideal if you value predictable, clear-cut monthly expenses for budgeting purposes. Lightspeed's total cost grows less predictably with scaling.
Marketing & Loyalty
SumUp heavily prioritizes customer acquisition with aggressive automated marketing features.
SumUp Connect Pro offers unlimited daily, AI-enhanced SMS and email promotions. It actively integrates with the Fivestars App for dedicated customer rewards and savings. Lightspeed includes standard built-in loyalty program features for both in-store and online use cases. SumUp provides a ready-to-go, powerful engine focused purely on driving customer retention and daily traffic. If maximum marketing reach is your goal, SumUp is specifically built for it.
Payout Speed
SumUp guarantees fast next-day access to your sales funds, a major cash flow benefit.
SumUp supports next-day payouts when you utilize their dedicated SumUp Business Account. This is crucial for small businesses needing rapid access to working capital. Lightspeed’s information does not explicitly feature next-day payouts in its plan details. Lightspeed assumes standard bank transfer times, which are typically slower than SumUp's offering. If cash flow speed is vital for daily operations, SumUp is the superior choice for guaranteed quick access.
Onboarding Support
Lightspeed provides tailored 'whiteglove' service; SumUp offers standard installation.
Lightspeed offers expert 'whiteglove onboarding' services for a highly personalized setup experience. Industry specialists ensure a smooth transition and data migration for ambitious businesses. SumUp includes dedicated installation and training with all three POS Connect plans. This guarantees your team is comfortable from day one. Lightspeed's bespoke service is better equipped to handle the complexities of large, established systems switching platforms. SumUp's approach is sufficient for simpler, fast setups.
Our Verdict
Choosing between Lightspeed and SumUp is really about choosing your business stage: scaling complexity or simple velocity. Both are strong, but they serve completely different operational needs. Determining the winner depends entirely on your current sales volume and future growth plans. Lightspeed is the powerhouse built for serious long-term retail growth and integration. Its major superpower is volume optimization; the 1.5% processing fee slashes operational costs when you process millions in sales. Lightspeed also offers crucial advanced tools like Landed Costs and Forecasting insights for established, scaled retailers. SumUp's superpower is approachable simplicity and transparent financial management. It guarantees next-day payouts, a huge benefit for managing immediate cash flow. SumUp also includes powerful, affordable marketing automation in its Connect Pro plan to boost customer retention proactively. The deciding factor is the total long-term cost. If you scale fast, Lightspeed’s cheap transaction fee will eventually outweigh the high, custom monthly subscription. If you prioritize transparency for your budget and need quick cash flow with low initial complexity, pick SumUp. Choose Lightspeed if you plan to hit multi-million dollar volume or operate multiple locations. Choose SumUp if you are a specialty small business aiming for low overhead and streamlined payment acceptance via mobile devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for multi-location retail: Lightspeed or SumUp?
Lightspeed is explicitly designed for multi-location and complex retail operations. It provides innovative tools and unified reports across multiple properties. SumUp is better targeted toward single-location, mobile, or simplified storefront operations. Lightspeed will provide significantly better management tools for scaling.
Does Lightspeed offer next-day payouts like SumUp?
SumUp confirms next-day payouts when using the associated SumUp Business Account. Lightspeed’s plan details do not specify a next-day payout speed. For guaranteed quick access to funds, SumUp is the proven choice.
Is SumUp cheaper than Lightspeed on average?
It depends highly on sales volume. SumUp's monthly subscription starts slightly higher at $99 but is simpler. Lightspeed has a lower overall transaction rate (1.5%), which makes it drastically cheaper for high-volume retailers. Lightspeed’s base plan is also $10 cheaper at $89 monthly.
What is the key difference in customer setup support?
Lightspeed provides 'whiteglove onboarding' services for highly customized setup and migration. SumUp offers dedicated installation and training included with all POS plans. Lightspeed’s approach is more specialized for complex data environments.
Which system provides better tools for loyalty and customer acquisition?
SumUp offers more aggressive, dedicated growth marketing tools in its higher tiers. SumUp Connect Pro includes unlimited, AI-enhanced email and SMS promotions daily. Lightspeed provides comprehensive but standard built-in loyalty programs.
Does Lightspeed or SumUp offer better pricing transparency?
SumUp wins on transparency by guaranteeing no minimum fees or hidden admin costs. Lightspeed requires a sales consultation to determine the true cost of scaling beyond the initial register or location.
Ready to Choose?
Both tools have their strengths. Choose based on your specific needs.